Written Answers of 6 June 1989

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Attorney-General whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by the Lord Chancellor's Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Such devices are not used by the Lord Chancellor's Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf.

  Legal Reform
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will list the meetings which the Law Officers and the Lord Chancellor have had with representatives of the legal profession to discuss the Green Papers; and what further meetings are planned.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor and the Law Officers have frequent meetings with representatives of the legal profession at which a variety of topics, which may include the Green Papers, are discussed.

  Liverpool Law Circuit
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Attorney-General what action is being taken to deal with complaints about the Liverpool law circuit; if he will undertake an investigation into procedures on the Liverpool circuit; if he will consider suspending the circuit administrator; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  A number of complaints about delays in the county court at both Birkenhead and Liverpool have been made. The position at Birkenhead has improved over the past few months and a more satisfactory service is now being provided. At Liverpool difficulties have been experienced, due in part to shortages at junior staff levels and extra staffing resources are being made available in order to provide some immediate relief. A thorough appraisal is also being carried out with a view to strengthening the management structure. There is no intention to suspend the circuit administrator.

WALES

  Mid Wales Development Board
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total expenditure of the Mid Wales Development Board in each of the years June 1978 to June 1988 inclusive.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested. I refer the hon.2
  Gentleman to the reply given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 23 February 1987 at columns 8–10 and to the recently published Welsh Office "Commentary on Public Expenditure in Wales 1989–90 to 1991–92" (Table 23), which provides details of the Development Board for Rural Wales' gross expenditure for the financial years 1977–78 onwards.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from general practitioners in Wales about the proposed changes in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We have received a number of representations from GPs and their representatives. We shall be considering them, along with the views expressed during a series of meetings which we and our senior officials are holding with a wide range of interested bodies, before finalising the proposals.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to ensure that inward investment in Wales is evenly spread between all regions of Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Potential inward investors are encouraged to consider all parts of Wales for their projects. Welsh Development International has regional executives to effect this policy and liaise with local authorities and other bodies to ensure a co-ordinated response to inquiries. In Mid Wales, the co-ordinating role is undertaken by an official of Mid Wales Development who also acts as the area's direct contact point with Welsh Development International. In addition, initiatives have been taken, or are under consideration, for promoting particular areas such as Swansea bay and Gwynedd.

  I am confident that the stronger framework provided by the launch of Welsh Development International will ensure that all of Wales benefits from the inward investment drive, though the choice of location for each project will ultimately always reflect the commercial judgment of the enterprise concerned.

  Airports
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on bringing into operation local airports in(a) Aberystwyth, (b) Anglesey, RAF Valley and (c) RAF Brawdy in order to facilitate quick access to European business centres via Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and London.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Airport facilities serving south-west and north-west Wales already exist at Haverfordwest (Withybush) and Caernarfon. There is also a helicopter facility at Aberporth. A privately owned airstrip will soon be in operation at Welshpool. Proposals to develop these facilities or open further airports would be matters for the civil aviation industry in the first instance.

  North-South Road
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for constructing a new north-south Wales road before the end of the century.
  3
  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My plans for selective improvements to north-south routes in Wales are set out in "Roads in Wales 1989".

  Roads (Expenditure)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the inflation-adjusted expenditure on different categories of roads in Wales has been for each year between 1975 and 1988.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information is as follows:

  Motorways and trunk roads

  Local authority roads

  £'000

  £'000

  1975–76

  146,670

  208,378

  1976–77

  204,977

  241,529

  1977–78

  138,451

  226,250

  1978–79

  128,906

  215,970

  1979–80

  125,938

  192,138

  1980–81

  120,841

  169,451

  1981–82

  150,923

  216,530

  1982–83

  160,826

  227,418

  1983–84

  197,264

  222,545

  1984–85

  138,420

  215,794

  1985–86

  125,646

  219,762

  1986–87

  133,051

  214,577

  1987–88

  145,333

  1230,468

  1988–89

  3153,895

  2195,935

  1 Estimate.

  2 Budget.

  3 Does not include EC receipts of £9.0 million.

  Note: All figures at 1988 prices, up-dated using the road construction price index.

  M54
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to extend the M54 to Welshpool or Newtown.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No, but there are substantial improvements in preparation to trunk roads on both sides of the border as indicated in "Roads in Wales 1989" and in "Policy for Roads in England 1987".

  North, Central and South Rail Link
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has made any representations to British Rail about the case for constructing a new railway linking north, central and south Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No.

  Railway Electrification
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make representations to British Rail about the case for electrifying railways from England to(a) Holyhead, (b) Aberystwyth and (c) Pembroke and Fishguard harbour.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This is a matter for British Rail.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now consider reimbursing local authorities with an additional £3 million to meet the cost of introducing the poll tax.
  4
  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend made it clear at the time that the terms of the 1989–90 RSG settlement were fixed, and that remains the position. Under the settlement, the total revenue provision made in 1989–90 for the implementation of the community charge in Wales was £9 million. Local authorities are budgeting to spend £10·9 million. Capital allocations of £10·3 million were given and local authorities are budgeting to spend £9·1 million. These are budget estimates and it is too early to form a judgment on the level of actual expenditure which might be incurred. I have made it clear to local authorities in Wales that overall spending should not exceed the Government's plans.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available figures for people waiting for urgent in-patient treatment in(a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport; and what were the figures in 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  The available information is given in the following table.

  People waiting for urgent in-patient treatment as at 30 September

  19801

  1988

  Wales

  4,240

  2,887

  Gwent

  1,212

  855

  Newport2

  778

  428

  1 Reliable information in this form is not available prior to this date.

  2 People waiting for treatment at royal Gwent and St. Woolos hospitals.

  I welcome the substantial improvement and hope it will continue.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what are the latest available figures for non-urgent cases waiting for one month or more in each of the Welsh health authorities; and what were the figures for 1979;

  (2) what are the latest available figures for urgent cases waiting one month or more in each of the Welsh health authorities; and what were the figures for 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  The available information on in-patient waiting lists is given in the following table. Information on non-urgent cases is collected on the basis of the number waiting for one year or more.

  Urgent cases waiting one month or more as at 30 September

  Non-urgent cases waiting one year or more as at 30 September

  19801

  1988

  19801

  1988

  Clwyd

  108

  —

  680

  440

  East Dyfed

  —

  —

  111

  236

  Pembrokeshire

  101

  283

  708

  1,470

  Gwent

  848

  553

  1,958

  2,207

  Gwynedd

  160

  95

  427

  341

  Mid Glamorgan

  417

  250

  3,942

  2,077

  Powys

  9

  3

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  842

  466

  1,666

  1,767

  West Glamorgan

  350

  181

  790

  988

  1 Reliable information in this form is not available prior to this date.

  5
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to reduce the non-urgent hospital waiting lists in Gwent.

  Mr. Grist
  Responsibility for the management of waiting lists in Wales rests with district health authorities, within their allocated financial resources. The recurrent revenue provision for Gwent health authority for 1989–90 is some £127 million which represents a growth of 34 per cent. over 1978–79 after taking account of inflation. In order to reduce waiting times £1 million of additional moneys were allocated to health authorities by the Welsh Office in each of the last three years to enable them to tackle specific problem lists. A further £1.1 million has recently been made available for 1989–90 of which Gwent's share is £220,000 to fund a scheme to reduce trauma and orthopaedics waiting times in south Gwent. In addition, all health authorities have produced action plans for reducing waiting times and officials of the Welsh Office will be kept in touch with the position through six-monthly reports from authorities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Nerds
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take following the finding of glass in Nerds sweets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  Reports reached Government Departments in the afternoon of 23 May. Following discussions and the receipt of more information, the company decided in the interests of consumers to withdraw stocks of the product from sale on the following day.

  Agricultural Development Programmes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural development programmes are operating in(a) the three counties of Yorkshire, and (b) Humberside; where are the locations; what is the total value of grants made to farmers under these schemes; and what is the source of these funds.

  EAGGF Aid for Fishing Vessels 1979–1989

  Year

  Humberside

  Yorkshire

  Vessel Construction

  Vessel Modernisation

  Vessel Construction

  Vessel Modernisation

  Number of Awards

  Amount (£)

  Number of Awards

  Amount (£)

  Number of Awards

  Amount (£)

  Number of Awards

  Amount (£)

  1979

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1980

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  169,915

  —

  —

  1981

  1

  85,470

  8

  131,880

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  2

  168,014

  5

  103,472

  1

  87,562

  —

  —

  1983

  4

  367,860

  3

  55,199

  3

  54,798

  —

  —

  1984

  3

  291,209

  8

  69,114

  —

  —

  1

  8,874

  1985

  —

  —

  14

  174,763

  —

  —

  6

  55,815

  1986

  6

  1,305,515

  13

  183,968

  1

  105,856

  5

  40,492

  11987

  3

  1,134,316

  2

  8,719

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  4

  65,818

  —

  —

  3

  23,413

  Total

  19

  3,352,384

  57

  792,933

  7

  418,131

  15

  128,594

  1 From 1987 awards are made from Fisheries Budget and not from the Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

  The following organisations have received EC awards for projects involving fish processing under the EC processing and marketing regulation 355/77.
  6
  Mr. Ryder
  Agricultural development programmes may be part funded by the Commission of the European Communities under article 18 of Regulation 797/85, the balance of the costs being found from national and local resources. There are none in operation in England and Wales.

  New rules established at the end of 1988 enabled the Commission to designate "rural areas" the development of which need promotion and may be assisted financially under all three of the Community's structural funds. The Commission announced the first list of such areas on 10 May: none were in Yorkshire or Humberside.

  Fishing (Aid)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many grants have been given to members of(a) the Yorkshire, and (b) the Humberside fishing industry under the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund scheme from May 1979 to May 1989; and how many new vessels were built with those grants;

  (2) how much financial aid has been given to the fishing industry in (a) Yorkshire, and (b) Humberside under the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund scheme since May 1979 to date;

  (3) if he will list the projects in the fish processing industry for (a) Yorkshire and (b) Humberside, which received European Community grant aid in the period May 1979 to May 1989 and the total value of grants given to each product;

  (4) in the period May 1979 to May 1989 (a) how many owners of fishing vessels in (i) Yorkshire and (ii) Humberside, received grant aid or the modernisation programme; and what was the total value of these grants, and (b) what was the total value of grand aid give to (i) the Yorkshire, and (ii) the Humberside fishing industry for building of new fishing vessels.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The financial aid available to these regions consists of national and EC grants for fishing vessel construction and modernisation and grants for processing and marketing schemes under EEC regulation 355/77.

  £

  (a) Yorkshire

  1984: Selltop Ltd.

  Scarborough

  25,223

  7

  £

  (b) Humberside

  1979: William Hobson Ltd.

  Grimsby

  31,982

  1981: Cawoods Fishcurers Ltd.

  Hull

  11,329

  1982: L. Williamson (Shetland) Ltd.

  Hull

  38,200

  1982: The Grimsby Exchange Ltd.

  Grimsby

  30,001

  1983: Youngs Seafoods Ltd.

  Grimsby

  215,687

  1984: Marr Frozen Foods Ltd.

  Hull

  18,788

  1985: Marr Frozen Foods Ltd.

  Hull

  10,741

  1985: Seataste (International) Ltd.

  Bridlington

  54,229

  1985: The Grimsby Exchange

  Grimsby

  19,109

  1986: Maconochie Seafoods Ltd.

  Hull

  104,488

  1986: Marr Frozen Foods Ltd.

  Hull

  30,259

  1986: Glenrose (Fish Merchants) Ltd.

  Hull

  47,250

  1986: Schooner Seafoods

  Hull

  44,250

  1986: Bluecrest Foods Ltd.

  Grimsby

  133,017

  1987: Marr Frozen Foods Ltd.

  Hull

  55,745

  Note: Total for Yorkshire and Humberside—16 awards totalling £870,298 (May 1979 to May 1989).

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of loans made to(a) the Yorkshire, and (b) the Humberside fishing industry from the Sea Fish Industry Authority in the period May 1979 to May 1989; and how many vessels these loans covered.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested is as follows:

  SFIA Loans 1979–1989

  Number of Vessels

  Amount £

  Yorkshire

  12

  597,194

  Humberside

  Nil

  Nil

  Note: SFIA loans ceased to be available after June 1986.

  Farmers (Payments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total values of payments made to farmers in(a) the three counties of Yorkshire and (b) Humberside for the sheepmeat regime since 1979; and

  Number of fishing vessels1

  Port

  Under 40 ft

  40–79·9 ft

  80–109·9 ft

  110–139·9 ft

  140 ft +

  Total

  (a) Yorkshire

  21977

  21987

  1977

  1987

  1977

  1987

  1977

  1987

  1977

  1987

  1977

  1987

  Staithes, Port Mulgrove and Runswick Bay

  5

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  22

  Whitby

  15

  53

  22

  20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  37

  73

  Scarborough

  20

  34

  33

  27

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  53

  61

  Filey

  16

  25

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16

  25

  Other

  n/a

  10

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  10

  Total

  56

  144

  55

  47

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  111

  191

  (b) Humberside

  Flamborough

  2

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  4

  Bridlington

  13

  26

  35

  28

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  48

  54

  Hull

  —

  1

  11

  —

  —

  1

  —

  5

  58

  4

  69

  11

  Grimsby

  11

  13

  162

  105

  5

  —

  40

  3

  30

  —

  248

  121

  Other

  n/a

  26

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  26

  Total

  26

  70

  208

  133

  5

  1

  40

  8

  88

  4

  367

  216

  n/a = not available
  8
  how much of this was from (a) the European Community and (b) central Government in the period May 1979 to May 1989.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Farmers in Great Britain have received support since 1980 under the EC sheepmeat regime through both the sheep variable premium and the annual ewe premium. Both schemes are 100 per cent. financed from European Community funds. A breakdown of payments since 1979 is not available in the form requested by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total values of payments made to farmers in(a) the three counties of Yorkshire and (b) Humberside for the beef premium in the period from May 1979 to May 1989; and how much of this was funded (i) from the European Community and (ii) from central Government.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The beef variable premium scheme operated throughout the period mentioned until it ceased at the beginning of April 1989. Funding from the European Community was at 25 per cent. until 19 May 1982 and at 40 per cent. thereafter.

  The beef suckler cow premium was introduced in 1980 and continues. It was fully funded by the European Community for the first two years and has been partly funded at varying rates since then.

  Statistics are not maintained in a form to provide the information on a county basis as requested by the hon. Member.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total complement of(a) the Yorkshire and (b) the Humberside fishing fleets; what are the categories of vessels; how many fishermen are employed in the industry; where are the home ports of the vessels, for the latest year for which figures are available, and what were the figures 10 years ago.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information is as follows:
  9

  Numbers of Fishermen

  Regularly Employed

  Partially Employed

  Total

  21977

  21987

  1977

  1988

  1977

  1987

  (a) Yorkshire

  425

  586

  110

  354

  535

  940

  (b) Humberside

  2,773

  951

  333

  472

  3,106

  1,423

  Total

  3,198

  1,537

  443

  826

  3,641

  2,363

  1 Changes in the number of vessels under 40ft are due partly to changes in the definitions used for this sector of the fleet.

  2 2 1977= Figures as at 31 December 1977.

  1987= Figures as at 31 December 1987.

  Fish Landings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total values of all fish landings in Yorkshire and Humberside for each year for the last 10 years to date for the current year.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The total values of all fish landings by United Kingdom and foreign vessels in Yorkshire and Humberside for the last 10 years and for January to April 1989 are as follows:

  1Yorkshire

  2Humberside

  (£'000)

  (£'000)

  1979

  7,577

  73,733

  1980

  6,269

  60,623

  1981

  7,582

  46,002

  1982

  8,886

  54,104

  1983

  10,477

  48,206

  1984

  9,542

  41,362

  1985

  11,519

  39,333

  1986

  12,412

  37,237

  1987

  13,556

  37,193

  19883

  13,305

  34,030

  19893 4

  2,967

  9,320

  1 Landings at the ports of Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington and Filey.

  2 Landings at the ports of Hull, Grimsby, Immingham and Goole.

  3 Based on provisional landing statistics.

  4 January—April.

  Source: MAFF fisheries statistical retrieval system.

  Artificial Insemination
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will confine restrictions on artificial insemination services exclusively to those required for reasons of animal health.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Yes, subject to the constraints of Community zootechnical legislation.

  Salmonella
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many poultry flocks and how many birds, have been slaughtered since the signing of the Zoonoses Order 1989;

  (2) what compensation has been paid to poultry farmers affected by the slaughter of their flocks subsequent to the signing of the Zoonoses Order 1989.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Since the introduction of the Zoonoses order on 1 March, 25 poultry flocks and 338,963 birds have been slaughtered at a cost of £261,163·76p. In addition 6,333 diagnostic samples have been taken from 45 flocks at a cost of £10,459·79p.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many random inspections 10
  have been carried out by his Department to ensure that the terms of the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order 1989 are being fully and correctly complied with;

  (2) on how many occasions poultry farmers have been detected failing to comply fully and correctly with the provisions of the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order 1989; and what action his Department has taken;

  (3) what evidence his Department had uncovered of the falsification of specified samples as required under the provisions of the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order 1989; on how many occasions; and what action his Department has taken;

  (4) what system of checks his Department has put in place to verify that poultry farmers are supplying full and accurate information in compliance with the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Responsibility for enforcement of the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order 1989 lies with local authorities. As the measure has been in force only since 16 March, and as measures for the registration of poultry flocks are not yet in place, it would be premature to reach a judgment on the extent of compliance. At this early stage, poultry farmers and enforcement authorities are still in the process of introducing the necessary procedures and my Department is providing advice and guidance as necessary.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the evidence available on the extent of salmonella infection in the laying flocks of the United Kingdom and other EEC countries.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There have been 35 reports of isolation of salmonella enteritidis in table egg-laying flocks in the United Kingdom so far this year. We have no information on the number of cases reported in other EC countries but know that salmonella infection has been identified in Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, West Germany and Denmark.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his European colleagues to ensure standard checking for salmonella infection in eggs.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 4 April at column 51, the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 20 April at column 280 and my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 25 April at column 492.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that all eggs imported into the United Kingdom are subject to the same examination for salmonella infection as those produced in the United Kingdom.
  11
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 20 April at column 280.

  Food Defences (Thames Estuary)
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what detailed information he has on the maintenance work done by the Anglian Water Authority on the flood barriers and flood gates in the Thames estuary, with particular reference to the area from Southend-on-Sea to Purfleet in each of the last five years; and whether he is satisfied with the authority's standards of maintenance.

  Mr. Ryder
  Maintenance of the flood gates and barriers in the Southend-on-Sea to Purfleet areas of the Thames estuary is a matter for the National Rivers Authority unit of Anglian water authority. Anglian gives high priority to effective and reliable operation of these gates and barriers and sets standards of maintenance accordingly. The gates and barriers are in any case of "fail safe" design and current overhaul work on barrier machinery is to be completed before the surge tide season commences next autumn.

  I am satisfied that the authority's arrangements are satisfactory.

  BSE
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any tests exist to diagnose the presence of scrapie or bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected material in animal feed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There is no test available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 375, when he first introduced recording procedures in respect of the progeny of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle; how such recording takes place; and how many such progeny have so far been recorded in each year of the scheme's operation.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The collection and recording of data from all affected herds commenced in June 1987 and included details of all previously known cases. The Ministry's central veterinary laboratory holds computerised records of female progeny born up to six months before or at any time after the onset of clinical symptoms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the dam and which are being retained in their herds of origin. Up to 9 May 1989 details of 562 such progeny had been recorded. Details of the years in which they were recorded are not held as the information is of no epidemiological value.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 375, under what provision he has taken power to control the movement of progeny from bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Powers to control the movement of progeny are provided by article 7 of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No. 2 ) Order 1988, which is made under section 8 of the Animal Health Act 1981.
  12
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has concerning the relative concentration level of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent in the brains, spinal columns and thymus of infected animals.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Proposals for research into this area are currently being considered by Dr. Tyrrell's research consultative committee.

  Animal Test Certificate (Pharmaceutical Products)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those pharmaceutical products being tested in 1988 under an animal test certificate under the Medicines Act which were subject to conditions banning the ultimate animal product from sale to the public.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Animal test certificates granted under the Medicines Act 1968 authorise field trials to be carried for the purpose of medicinal tests on animals. Such certificates are granted for two years and are renewable. Trials may not be in progress under all certificates at any one time and it would not be possible to identify products undergoing testing during any specific period.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances he bans from sale for human consumption products from animals subject to trials of pharmaceutical products under an animal test certificate.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Before an animal test certificate is granted all aspects relating to the safety of the product to be tested are rigorously assessed. In this assessment consideration is given to the safety to consumers of produce from treated animals. If this cannot be assured by a suitable withdrawal period then it would be made a condition of the certificate that treated animals or produce from treated animals should not be sold or supplied for human consumption.

  Nitrate-sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the area in hectacres which he assesses merits consideration for inclusion in a nitrate-sensitive areas scheme, and the level of funding he intends to allocate to the scheme in its first year.

  Mr. Ryder
  I am seeking the views of interested parties on all aspects of the nitrate-sensitive areas scheme including potential areas and compensation arrangements and I will make a further announcement when those consultations have been completed. I reassure the hon. Member that the Government have undertaken to pay compensation in the event of substantial restrictions going beyond good agricultural practice.

  Hydatid Disease
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the incidence of hydatid diseases; what action he is currently taking to monitor the disease; and what research his Department is conducting or funding into it.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Hydatid (tapeworm) infestation is not notifiable but slaughterhouse monitoring suggests
  13
  that, nationally, about 3 per cent. of sheep may be affected, although the problem is greater in Wales, particularly in Powys. The condition results from the ingestion by sheep of the eggs of the dog tapeworm by direct transfer from dog faeces or through contaminated food or water. The Ministry, in conjunction with the Welsh Office Agriculture Department, has undertaken a six-year control programme in Powys in which all dogs have been de-wormed at six-week intervals free of charge. This has resulted in a significant reduction of hydatid infestation. The Department is not currently funding research into hydatid.

  Sheepmeat Regime
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate his timetable for the introduction of a new sheepmeat regime; and what prior discussions with farmers he will be having in this connection.

  Mr. Ryder
  Discussions on the EC Commission's proposals for changes to the sheepmeat regime have made little progress. Negotiations may therefore continue for some time. My officials and I shall continue to maintain regular contacts with representatives of farmers throughout these negotiations.

  Agricultural Statistics Act 1979
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the repetitious nature of the information required from farmers and horticulturalists by virtue of the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979, he will arrange for such returns in future to be on an annual or biennial basis.

  Mr. Ryder
  Most of the information required under the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979 is collected annually, in the June agricultural census. This covers farm holdings above a specified threshold size and results in a wide range of statistical data which are necessary for Government purposes and are also much valued by the industry. Twenty per cent. of holdings are smaller, and are enumerated only every five years or so.

  Information on some items is also collected at other points in the year, to meet particular needs, but normally only from a sample of farmers. The need for statistical surveys, their content and their frequency are kept under regular review.

  Untreated Milk
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available to him about the legal position relating to the supply of untreated milk in each European Community member state.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Detailed information is not readily available but I am aware that other member states impose various restrictions on the sale of untreated milk and I understand that in Denmark sales are prohibited with the exception of sales from one small family dairy in North Zealand.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) of 25 May,Official Report, column 1111 if he will make it his
  14
  policy to extend consumer freedom of choice by abandoning plans to outlaw the sale of green top milk to the general public.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Waller) on 25 May at columns 735–36.

  Milk (Bovine Somatotropin)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) on 25 May,Official Report, column 1111, whether he will also make it his policy to require milk treated with bovine somatotropin to be labelled before going on sale to the general public.

  Mr. Ryder
  No. I fully recognise the need for consumers to be given adequate information to enable them to make an informed choice. However, the BST hormone occurs naturally in milk and it is not possible to distinguish between the natural hormone in the milk and that induced by the treatment of the cow with BST, since the detectable levels of the hormone in the milk are within the same range in both cases.

  Food Quality and Safety
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received urging that the responsibility for food quality and safety be removed from the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  There is a firm link between agricultural production and the rest of the food chain, and therefore sense and logic in having the whole of the food chain within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This enables policy changes to he assessed for the whole of the food chain rather than just part of it for which it might have direct responsibility. I do not think that there is any evidence to suggest that the Ministry does not give sufficient emphasis to the health implications of food. Indeed our overriding concern is that the food supply should be safe, wholesome and properly labelled.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Regional Pay
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the introduction of regional pay in schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I shall shortly be holding further meetings with the employers and the teaching unions to discuss future pay determination arrangements.

  Teachers (Recruitment)
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage the recruitment of former teachers back to the classroom.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We are already very successful in recruiting former teachers: over 50 per cent. of new
  15
  appointments in the four years up to March 1987 were taken up by former teachers. But we are increasing our efforts and have recently announced a new £2 million education support grant programme to support measures to support returners. I look to authorities to come up with imaginative schemes aimed at women in particular, which might include child care facilities and more flexible employment arrangements, such as part-time working and job sharing.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest figures he has available as regards science and mathematics graduates going into teaching; and what are the corresponding figures for five years ago.

  Mr. Butcher
  In the year ending March 1986 (the latest for which figures are available) the numbers of new entrants to teaching in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England with degrees (including B Eds) in science and mathematics were 1,710 and 860 respectively. The corresponding figures for the year ending March 1981 were 2,040 and 800.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he is making in meeting the problem of potential teacher shortages in certain subject areas.

  Mr. Butcher
  Since our action programme was launched nearly three years ago the decline in recruitment to teaching in the shortage subjects which we witnessed up to 1986 has been reversed. We shall continue and reinforce our action programme to ensure that we have the well-qualified teachers that we shall need in our schools in the 1990s.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received recently on the funding of student unions.

  Mr. Jackson
  Since April 1988 we have received 44 letters commenting on the funding of institutional student unions. Thirty two questioned the present system.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's review of student unions.

  Mr. Jackson
  We plan shortly to publish the factual analysis of the Department's survey of student unions. We are considering separately what action might best be taken and in due course will consult all those concerned on our conclusions.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received(a) supporting and (b) opposing automatic membership of student unions; what percentage the latter represents of the former; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Since April 1988 we have received 55 letters expressing a view on automatic membership of institutional student unions. Of these, 20 (36·4 per cent.) supported and 35 (63·6 per cent.) were against automatic membership.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the state of preparations for the introduction of the national core curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Preparations are well in hand. Statutory orders for mathematics, science and English have been laid; the National Curriculum Council has distributed guidance and training materials free; and LEAs' training programmes, supported by Government specific grants, are under way.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement concerning the provision of mother tongue teaching under the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend laid on 19 May the Education (National Curriculum) (Modern Foreign Languages) Order 1989 which specifies those languages eligible to be taught as the national curriculum foundation subject. The order includes the mother tongue languages of some ethnic communities in this country. A school would be able to offer any of these languages towards the national curriculum requirements, provided that it also offered at least one of the European Community working languages. Pupils would choose one modern foreign language from those offered by the school.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that teachers are fully prepared to implement the national curriculum in primary schools next term.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to ensure that adequate resources will be available to ensure full access to the national curriculum for children with special educational needs, where appropriate.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Government are making specific grants available to local education authorities to support the introduction of the national curriculum. In this financial year, there will be support for over £100 million expenditure. It is for authorities to decide how much to spend within this total in order to ensure full access to the national curriculum for children with special educational needs, where appropriate.

  Careers Education
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any discussions with local authority associations with regard to careers education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend has not done so recently but he and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Employment and for Wales have promoted the widest collaboration in careers education and guidance through the "Working Together" initiative which they launched two years ago.
  17
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has given in the current year to secondary schools with regard to careers education.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery).

  Higher Education
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the case for widening access to higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  Many of the large number of representations we receive on higher education matters explicitly favour wider access, as do the Government.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to review the identification and educational treatment of dyslexia in school pupils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  It is for individual local education authorities in the exercise of their statutory duties under the 1981 Education Act to make provision for the identification of children with special educational needs and the provision of appropriate education to meet their needs. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to amend these statutory procedures.

  Pupil Testing
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has to report on his plans for testing at age seven; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Contracts have been let for the development of standard assessment tasks in the core subjects and technology for seven-year-old pupils. Work has already begun to develop, trial and pilot these SATs in preparation for the first unreported assessments in summer 1991. The first reported assessments will take place in summer 1992. Assessment arrangements for other foundation subjects will be phased in later.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his progress in implementing a system of testing for pupils at ages seven, 11 and 14 years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The national curriculum system of testing rests on the establishment, for each foundation subject, of programmes of study and attainment targets. These will be introduced for mathematics and science for five and 11-year-olds, and for English for five-year-olds, this autumn. Those pupils will be assessed in these subjects on a trial basis when they reach the ages of seven and 14 respectively in 1991 and 1992, and on a reported basis in subsequent years. Contracts have already been let for the development of standard assessment tasks for seven-year-olds and bids for SATs for 14-year-olds are under consideration. Assessment arrangements in these subjects for 11 and 16-year-olds and in other subjects at each age will be phased in over succeeding years.

  Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals; and what he discussed.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend and I meet representatives of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals from time to time in the course of normal business.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about his plans to introduce top-up loans for students.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received on his proposal to introduce student loans.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the response of the financial institutions to his White Paper on student loans.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implementation of his White Paper on student loans.

  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implementation of his White Paper on student loans.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) and my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway).

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the representations he has received from Scottish universities regarding his White Paper on student loans.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the representations he has received from Scottish universities regarding his White Paper on student loans.

  Mr. Jackson
  We have received responses to the While Paper from each of the Scottish universities or their student bodies, and from the Standing Conference of the Universities of Scotland. They are being taken into account, along with all other responses, as we proceed to develop a scheme for the introduction of top-up loans.

  Careers Education
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has issued advice to careers departments in secondary schools in the past year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Her Majesty's Inspectorate published "Careers education and guidance from 5 to 16" in its "Curriculum Matters" series last year. This has informed local education authorities and schools, and authorities drew upon it when preparing the statements of future policy which they submitted recently to my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Language Study
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals to increase the number of Russian language assistants currently in secondary schools.

  Mr. Jackson
  The programme of co-operation in the scientific, educational and cultural fields between the United Kingdom and the USSR for 1989–1991 provides for the number of Russian language assistants currently in the United Kingdom to be increased to a maximum of six a year from academic year 1989–90.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to enable schools to take advantage of opportunities provided by the European Community of other member nations in assisting the teaching in their schools of languages that are currently unavailable to schools in England and Wales.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to enable schools to take advantage of opportunities provided by the European Community for other member nations in assisting the teaching in their schools of languages that are presently unavailable to schools in England and Wales.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend is not aware that there are opportunities relating to the teaching of languages in schools provided by the European Community that are available to schools in the other members states but not in England and Wales. He informed the House on 24 May of the agreement on 22 May over the terms of the Community's Lingua programme. The programme is concerned with the support for the improvement of foreign language competence through initial and continuing vocational education. This includes the training of foreign language teachers in schools in the United Kingdom as in other member states and our schools will benefit in equal measure.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage secondary school pupils to study two modern languages.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The national curriculum will include a modern foreign language as a foundation subject at secondary level to be studied by all pupils between the ages of II and 16. From this autumn, pupils will have to study a modern foreign language for a reasonable time in the first three years of secondary schooling. This requirement will be extended to the last two years of compulsory schooling later. Schools will be free to offer a second foreign language during the 11–16 phase or in the sixth form, in addition to meeting the national curriculum requirements. This reflects the Government's policy on modern foreign languages in the school curriculum which was set out in my right hon. Friend's policy statement "Modern Languages in the School Curriculum" published in January 1988.

  Morris Report
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Morris report on research councils' responsibilities for biological sciences.
  20
  Mr. Jackson
  This report was commissioned by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils in June 1988 and Mr. Morris presented his report to the board at the end of April. The board is now seeking the views of the research councils on the report before submitting detailed advice to my right hon. Friend later in the year. In the meantime the chairman of the board has sent the report to my right hon. Friend and a copy has been placed in the Library. He would not wish to comment on the report until he has had the opportunity to consider the board's advice.

  School Governors
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress his Department has made in encouraging parents to become school governors.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the number of schools which have established governing bodies containing parent governors as required by the Education Reform Act.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A recent survey for the Department suggests that more than 99 per cent. of parent governor places at county and maintained special schools have been filled.

  Parents
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans for providing education or training for parents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The committee of inquiry into discipline in schools has recommended that the Government should develop a post-school education strategy aimed at promoting socially responsible parenthood. I am considering this recommendation.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the initial teacher training course at the faculty of education at University College, Cardiff.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received several representations at the faculty of education at what is now the University of Wales College of Cardiff.

  Capital Programme (Cornwall)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the capital programme for schools in Cornwall.

  Mr. Butcher
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State discussed the 1989–90 capital allocation with a deputation from the Cornwall education committee whom she saw during her visit to the county on 12 April. A number of hon. Members, the chief education officer of the authority and members of the public have written to Ministers on this subject.

  City and Guilds Institute
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Secretary of State last met the general secretary of the City and Guilds Institute; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend last met the Director General of the City and Guilds of London Institute on 17 November 1987. A range of vocational education issues were discussed with the chairman and senior members of CGLI. Opportunities have arisen since that time for a number of informal discussions with both the Secretary of State and myself.

  My right hon. Friend has a meeting arranged with the chairman and Director General of CGLI for 14 June when he intends both to review the achievements of CGLI and discuss the initiatives suggested in his speech to the Association for Colleges of Further and Higher Education on 15 February 1989.

  Zidovudine
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the figures of participants in the MRC/INSERM trial of zidovudine given in reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 22 February,Official Report, column 636.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of participants enrolled in the MRC/INSERM trial of zidovudine up to 26 May 1989 was 382 in the United Kingdom and 384 in France.

  Creches
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage the provision of creches to attract experienced teachers with their own children back into the profession.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Our education support grant programme for 1990–91 includes support for expenditure of £2 million on local recruitment of returners and mature new entrants to the teaching profession. We are looking for imaginative proposals from local authorities which we can support, and which might include the provision of childcare facilities for teachers' children.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Electronic surveillance listening devices are not used by the Department of Education and Science, nor by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will express the salary received by a primary school teacher at the top of scale 2 in 1973–74 in current day's prices; and what salary a primary school deputy head receives at the present day.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A teacher with a good honours degree at the top of scale two in 1973–74 would have received a22
  basic salary of £2,699. This is equal to £13,358 at April 1989 prices. The salaries of deputy head teachers vary acording to the size of the school. The deputy head of a typical (group 4) primary school now earns £16,809.

  School Milk
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that all state nurseries are made aware of their right to claim reimbursement for school milk supplied to their children under the Welfare Food Regulations 1988.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for an initiative of this kind.

  Medical Research
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (I) what Government funding is currently available for research into the causes and treatment of retinal conditions;

  (2) what information he has concerning current research projects studying the detection and alleviation of retinal conditions.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Medical Research Council which receives a grant-in-aid from this Department, is the main agency through which the Government fund medical research in the United Kingdom. The council determines its own priorities for the support of research, with advice from its expert boards and committees. In 1987–88, the last year for which figures are available, the MRC spent £134,000 on research relevant to retinal conditions.

  I understand from the MRC that one of the major current interests in research on retinal conditions, and particularly in connection with retinitis pigmentosa, relates to the genetic basis of such diseases. This is the focus of work generally at the MRC human genetics unit which is located at the western general hospital, Edinburgh. Specifically, the unit is undertaking the following studies concerning retinitis pigmentosa:

  i. DNA sequence markers in single gene disorders;

  ii. Mapping the x-linked retinitis pigmentosa gene with a view to the development of clinically useful probes.

  Some support for research on retinal conditions may also be provided by this Department through UFC block grants to universities and medical schools.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether any public funded current or proposed research project into genetic handicap involves the use of the human embryo; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether the Medical Research Council is involved in any research project into genetic handicap which necessitates the use of the human embryo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that the Medical Research Council is involved in research at the Hammersmith hospital on the pre-implantation diagnosis of genetic disease; and at Edinburgh and Oxford, on the development of techniques for the diagnosis of genetic handicap. There is other research concerning pre-implantation diagnosis at Bourn hall, Cambridge, on sexing of human embryos; at Hammersmith hospital, for prevention of genetic diseases; and at Oxford by the
  23
  Cancer Research Campaign on derivation of cell lines from the human conceptus to investigate the growth regulation of embryonic and tumour cells.

  Staff Dispersal
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to disperse staff from his Department in London to Darlington; how many staff are involved, and in what grade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Government policy requires Departments to review the location of their work with a view to relocation where advantageous. The Department is accordingly considering whether there is scope for relocation of any of its headquarters based activities and, if so, where such activities would be best placed. Relocation of work to Darlington is amongst the options under consideration.

SCOTLAND

  Actions for Debt
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will implement the recommendation of the Grant committee, Cmnd. 3248, that both actions of adjudication in implement and actions of adjudication for debt should be competent in the sheriff court.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As part of its second programme of law reform, the Scottish Law Commission has inititated consultations on proposals for the reform of the law on adjudications for debt and related matters. Its report is awaited.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the amounts of nuclear wastes, spent fuel and plutonium which will be inherited by Scottish Nuclear Ltd. from the South of Scotland Electricity Board after privatisation.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 11 May 1989 at column 429.

  Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to issue a circular on alcohol misuse similar to circular (89)4 issued by the Department of Health on 20 February.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The circular was issued in draft on 25 May to a range of bodies who have been invited to submit comments to the Scottish Home and Health Department by 30 June.

  Liver Transplants
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on the funding of a unit for liver transplants in Scotland; and what recent discussions have been held on such a proposal.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The national specialist services advisory committee is currently considering the need for 24
  liver transplant facilities in Scotland. Members of the committee have visited existing transplant units at Birmingham and Leeds. They have also had recent discussions with clinicians who have an interest in the provision of a liver transplant service in Scotland. When I have received the committee's advice I shall look at what needs to be done.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the remaining seven health boards to operate a computerised cervical cytology call/recall scheme for women aged 20 to 65 years at three-yearly intervals.

  Mr. Rifkind
  We asked health boards to establish a computerised call/recall cervical cancer screening service for all women in Scotland aged between 20 and 60 years of age at five yearly intervals. Of the five health boards which have not yet introduced a computerised system, Grampian and Shetland health boards intend to do so during July, Orkney health board during August, Dumfries and Galloway health board during September and Lothian health board during December 1989.

  Hospital Consultants (Study Leave)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give for each health board for each of the past three yarn the amount spent on study leave for consultants;

  (2) what information he has on the number of consultants in each health board who take their full allocation of study leave.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures are taken by health boards to encourage consultants to take their full allocation of study leave.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards provide financial resources to enable consultants to take study leave and boards also provide staff with information on suitable courses. The question of what study is appropriate is essentially a professional matter for the individual consultant to decide.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each of the last five years for which figures are available the amount paid to individuals in expenses for local planning appeals.

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

  Forestry
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from forest tree nurserymen and other forestry interests concerning the effects which the ending of schedule D reliefs for investment in forestry is having on the sale of young trees for planting.
  25
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Representations on this subject have been received by my right hon. and learned Friend and by other Ministers from the Horticultural Trades Association, from six hon. Members on behalf of four nursery managers and from one nursery manager directly.

  Student Fees
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will announce the fees to be charged to students attending Scottish institutions other than universities in the academic year 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  For the academic year 1989–90, my right hon. and learned Friend has prescribed the following fee levels for home students and for students from other European Community (EC) countries on full-time advanced courses in the central institutions and colleges of education (fees for 1988–89 are shown in brackets):

  £

  £

  Postgraduate courses

  1,890

  (1,800)

  Undergraduate and equivalent courses

  607

  (578)

  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided that with effect from the academic year 1990–91 the fee levels he will prescribe will relate only to the maximum amounts for the reimbursement of fees through the awards system, so that the colleges will be free in practice to set fees above this level if they so wish.

  For non-advanced courses, the central institutions and colleges of education will he invited to set their own fees, having regard to fees charged for comparable courses at local authority further education colleges.

  Fees for home and other EC students on courses at local authority colleges are the responsibility of the local authorities. I understand that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has decided to recommend fees for such students as follows:

  £

  £

  Advanced full-time courses

  610

  (578)

  Non-advanced full-time courses

  502

  (440)

  For overseas students the Government's policy is that students should pay fees that cover the cost of their education. Local authorities and institutions are free to determine the fees to be charged in accordancee with that policy, and in the light of their own circumstances. I understand that COSLA has decided to recommend to local authorities the following fees for students at local authority colleges paying the overseas rate:

  £

  £

  Advanced courses

  4,145

  (3,890)

  Non-advanced courses

  2,285

  (2,145)

  Plastic Flowers (Lennox Castle Hospital)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Greater Glasgow health board spent on plastic flowers for Lennox castle hospital in the financial year 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the financial year 1988–89 Greater Glasgow health board spent £300 on plastic 26
  flowers. The board has committed funds to improving the appearance of the wards at Lennox castle, of which I note that the hon. Member has been critical.

  Dental Practice Board
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what additional costs have been incurred in the change in organisation from the Dental Estimates Board for Scotland to the Dental Practice Board; and whether he will itemise the main headings of expense;

  (2) whether the change from the Dental Estimates Board for Scotland to the Dental Practice Board has been accompanied by any additional employment of personnel;

  (3) whether he will list the main administrative categories of personnel in the Dental Practice Board for Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The change in the board's name to reflect its functions more accurately has not resulted in additional costs or personnel. The main administrative categories of personnel are set out below.

  Whitley Council Grade

  Numbers as at 1 June 1989

  Grade 18

  1

  Grade 14

  1

  Grade 4

  3

  Executive Officer (2)

  2

  Grade 1

  11

  Higher Clerical Officer

  46

  Clerical Officer

  75

  Machine operator-typist

  31

  Part-time Clerical Officer

  ·5

  Total

  171·5

  Dental Practitioners
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for maintaining a continuous supply of high calibre dental practitioners in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A working party was set up in October last year to consider changes in the current provision of dental education in Scotland. The working party, as part of its remit, is examining the needs of the NHS in Scotland for an adequate supply and distribution of dentists, and for effective and high quality programmes of postgraduate and continuing education. I expect its report shortly.

  Community Care
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department is doing to improve community care provision in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Since taking office we have increased the planning figure for local authority spending on social work services by 67 per cent. in real terms. In the current year the planning figure is £461·7 million, 13 per cent. higher than last year and 6 per cent. higher than. authorities' own budgets for last year. Within these resources it is primarily for local authorities in consultation as necessary with health boards and other interests to provide levels of community care provision appropriate to their area. More specifically, the Government are studying the report by Sir Roy Griffiths on community care and will bring forward proposals in due course.

  Concessionary Travel
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to encourage all local authorities in Scotland to introduce or extend a travel concessionary scheme to include people with mental health problems.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under the terms of the Concessionary Travel for Handicapped Persons (Scotland) Act 1980 any local authority may make arrangements for the granting of travel concessions to persons suffering from mental disorders. It is, however, for the local authorities to decide what type of scheme is appropriate to their areas.

  Self-governing Schools
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the information gathered on the likely change of teacher numbers resulting from his proposals for opting-out schools and their devolved budgetary power.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The recurrent grant to a self-governing school will be determined so that the school will be neither better nor worse off than it could reasonably have expected if it had remained under local authority management. The grant will thus reflect the education authority's spending on salaries, superannuation and national insurance for teachers. It will be for the board of management of each self-governing school to decide how to spend this grant and how many teachers it wishes to employ in that school.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has given to the Scottish section of the Civil Engineering Contractors regarding its objections to his paper on Scottish Enterprise.

  Mr. Lang
  We are currently reassessing the proposals in the Scottish Enterprise White Paper in the light of all the responses received, and shall announce our detailed decisions in due course.

  Community Charge
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding payment of commercial rates and the community charge by guest-house owners and bed-and-breakfast landladies in Scotland catering for more than six guests.

  Mr. Lang
  A number of representations have been received about the liability to non-domestic rates of properties which provide accommodation for tourists and which are also used in part as a sole or main residence. Decisions as to the value on which non-domestic rates are levied are for the assessor, subject to the appropriate appeal procedures.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the regulations covering severe weather cash aid to local authorities.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Special financial assistance to local authorities has been offered on an extra-statutory basis 28
  with the approval of the Treasury. Any payments due once claims have been assessed will be presented for the approval of Parliament in the form of a supplementary estimate in due course. The terms of the assistance made available were sent to every local authority in a Scottish Office circular (Finance Circular No. 6/89) dated 28 April 1989.

  Bellwin Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider abolishing the minimum level for claims of £120,000 from individual local authorities under the Bellwin scheme.

  Mr. Rifkind
  There is no minimum level of £120,000 for claims under the Bellwin scheme of special financial assistance to local authorities. However, on all occasions when assistance under the scheme has been made available, authorities have been expected to meet an initial tranche of emergency expenditure up to a threshold set to reflect the fact that authorities have statutory powers to deal with emergencies and are expected to plan accordingly. Thresholds, based on a proportion of their penny rate, ensure that the smaller the authority the lower the threshold.

  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of coniferous and deciduous wasteland, respectively, were planted under the new woodland grant scheme in the first 12 months of its operation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Grants are available under the new woodland grant scheme for the rehabilitation of neglected woodlands under 20 years of age, provided they contain an adequate stocking of suitable species and have not been previously grant-aided. In the nine months of 31 March 1989, the Forestry Commission had paid such grants under the scheme in respect of four hectares of conifer woodland and 26 hectares of broadleaved woodland.

  Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which media outlets were notified by the Scottish Information Office of the home visit of Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State the hon. Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth) on Sunday 14 May; and what advance notice of press involvement was given to Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for education and health did not visit the home of anyone called Gilchrist on May 14.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage change in the numbers of local government electoral registers between 1988 and 1989 in the Dumbarton district.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to table 1 in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Monitor EL 89–1, from which the percentage change may be derived. A copy of the monitor is in the Library.

  Single Market
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what preparations are being made by his Department to improve communications with the continent via the south-east of England in preparation for the introduction of the single European market on 1 January 1993.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has had meetings with the Chairman of the British Rail Board on how to ensure that Scotland benefits fully from rail links to the Channel tunnel. Section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act requires British Rail to publish a plan by the end of 1989 setting out its proposals for international rail services through the Tunnel. British Rail are consulting widely with interested parties in the regions over the preparation of this plan. With regard to trunk roads, the A74 is being upgraded to motorway, thus linking the central Scotland motorway network to the M6/Ml/M25 route, Scotland's essential link to the south and Europe. In addition, a major study into routes south of Edinburgh is nearing completion.

  EC Funds
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the nature of all funds granted to Scotland from the European Community in the period May 1979 to May 1989; and if he will give headings of the European fund titles and list the total value under each heading of funds granted to Scotland.

  Mr. Ian Lang
  [holding answer 9 May 1989]: Scotland has been awarded some £1,400 million in grants during the period 1979–88 from the European Community's structural funds—the European regional development fund, the European social fund and the agricultural guidance fund. In addition, some £1,500 million has been awarded to Scotland from other Community sources, principally in the form of loans from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Investment Bank. Details of the main funding sources are set out in the table below.

  Awards 1979–88

  £ million

  European Regional Development Fund

  736

  European Social Fund1

  246

  Agricultural Guidance Fund2

  385

  European Coal and Steel Community3

  82

  European Investment Bank

  1,384

  Notes:

  1 Figures available only for 1982–88. Previously figures were not broken down into regions.

  2 Excludes Scottish share of market support expenditure incurred by the Intervention Board for Agricultural produce.

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

  Prisons (Lawyers' Visits)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for the Lord Advocate to make a study of the claims made by a random selection of legal firms in Scotland for visits to prisoners in Barlinnie, Saughton, Perth, Shots and Peterhead prisons, using the legal aid system; and if he will set out the findings against the actual entries made in the official visitors' records of those prisons of lawyers and other personnel from the firms studied.
  30
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 May 1989]: No. The administration of legal aid, including the settlement of solicitors' accounts, is the responsibility of the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Claims from solicitors are subject to examination, and the board's audit and investigation section would report any cases of possible fraud to the procurator fiscal. If the hon. Member has information which is relevant to the board's assessment of legal aid accounts, he should pass that to the board for consideration.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the United Kingdom has given by way of(a) grants and (b) loans to Iraq during each of the last five years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Government grants to Iraq over the past five years have been exclusively for training of Iraqi students. The DTI has disbursed:

  £

  1987–88

  60,000

  1988–89

  60,000

  The three other principal schemes are: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme, the British Council fellowship scheme and the Department of Education and Science—overseas research students award scheme, for which the figures are:

  £

  1984–85

  86,400

  1985–86

  51,200

  1986–87

  72,600

  1987–88

  73,800

  1988–89

  92,000

  Under the United Kingdom-Iraq financial protocols, the Government have negotiated the following Export Credit Guarantee Department-backed credits during the past five years:

  £

  1984

  300 million

  1987

  175 million

  1988

  340 million

  Kurds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the United Nations to investigate allegations of human rights violations, torture and genocide by the Iraqi Government against the Kurds.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have repeatedly made clear to the Iraqi authorities our concern at their failure to respect human rights, particularly those of the Kurdish community. We play a leading role in discussion of Iraqi human rights violations at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. A strongly-worded British-sponsored resolution in March was blocked by an Iraqi procedural motion.

  Mr. John McCarthey
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken this year to secure the release of Mr. John McCarthey, a hostage in Beirut; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Before the break in relations with Iran, we raised the issue frequently with the Iranians. We have also raised the matter with other Governments and groups who might have influence on the hostage holders. Her Majesty's Ambassdor in Beirut remains active in a difficult and dangerous environment in following up all available information. We will continue to do the maximum possible.

  Nelson Mandela
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply has been received to the request by the British ambassador to South Africa to visit Nelson Mandela.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our main concern is to see Mr. Mandela freed unconditionally. Our efforts are devoted to that end. In response to a letter from Mr. Mandela, the ambassador said that he would welcome a fact-to-face discussion. We understand that it would be for Mr. Mandela formally to notify the South African authorities if he wishes to pursue this.

  Refuseniks
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Soviet authorities the case of the long-term refuseniks Emanuel and Judith Lurie who have recently been refused an exit visa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have raised the Lurie's case with the Soviet authorities on numerous occasions—most recently during Mr. Gorbachev's visit to Britain in April. The latest Soviet response was that their application to emigrate is currently under consideration by a Supreme Soviet commission. We shall not let up until they are allowed to leave.

  George Belitsky
  Mr. John L. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russians about their continued failure to grant an exit visa to George Belitsky.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have made repeated representations to the Soviet authorities about Dr. Belitsky, most recently during Mr. Gorbachev's visit to Britain in April, and we will continue to press them until he is allowed to emigrate.

  Partial Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and where the initial discussions on the amendment conference for the 1963 partial test ban treaty took place; and when and where he expects the trilateral discussions between the partial test ban treaty depository states to take place.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Initial discussions between the depository Governments have taken place over the last 32
  two months in London, Washington, Moscow and Geneva. We expect that the depository Governments will meet trilaterally later this month, probably in Geneva.

  Mr. Douglas Forsyth
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations have been made and when by his Department to the Egyptian Government to hasten the determination of the case brought by Mr. Douglas Forsyth in the Egyptian courts to recover the control and possession of his villa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No representations have been made on this matter since the Egyptian Court of Appeal announced its determination on 22 June 1988. Mr. Forsyth subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) in Cairo. He has been warned by his legal advisers that it may take four or five years for a decision.

  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by his Department to the Egyptian Government concerning the payment of a tax refund owing to Mr. Douglas Forsyth by the Egyptian Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A letter from Her Majesty's consul in Cairo to the general director of taxes in the appropriate tax office was given to Mr. Forsyth's legal advisers on 9 May. This asked for payment of the refund to be expedited. On 16 May Mr. Forsyth's legal adviser informed the consul that a cheque had been issued and passed to the Central bank. This has now been credited to Mr. Forsyth's account.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to the future continued requirement for United Kingdom retention of nuclear weapons in the light of threshold and aspirant nuclear weapons states capacity to develop or obtain nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We continue to subscribe to the NATO policy that our security will depend for the foreseeable future on an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional weapons. We fully observe our obligations under the 1968 non-proliferation treaty including those relating to the non-transferral of nuclear weapons technology.

  Environmental Protection
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations has made any recent representations at the United Nations to promote environmental protection and global initiatives to achieve this.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific environmental initiatives the United Kingdom representative at the United Nations supported during 1989.

  Mr. Eggar
  The United Kingdom permanent representative to the United Nations recently proposed the early
  33
  negotiation of a convention on climate change and the strengthening of existing United Nations institutions concerned with environmental matters, especially the United Nations environment programme.

  Missiles
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell),Official Report, 13 April, columns 646–47, what assessment has been made of the SAAD-16 contract; what contacts have been made with the ambassadors of Egypt, Iraq and Argentina, or their diplomatic representatives in the United Kingdom arising from the Condor-2 missile development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have no reason to doubt the recent media speculation that the SAAD-16 project is connected to Iraq's missile development programme. I made clear to the Iraqi ambassador on 19 April our serious concern over ballistic missile proliferation.

  Falkland Fisheries
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress within the Falklands fisheries.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Falklands fishery is in its third successful year. The number of licences issued is regulated to meet conservation targets recommended by the renewable resources assessment group, Imperial college. Accordingly, the Falkland Islands Government reduced the number available for the 1989 second season. Revenue in 1989 is estimated to be £29 million.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to introduce a Bill to incorporate the United Nations declaration of human rights into the law applicable to Hong Kong citizens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are considering with the Hong Kong Government as a matter of priority whether to enact a human rights ordinance in Hong Kong and, if so, what form it should take.

  Namibia
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the South African withdrawal from Namibia.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  South African forces in Namibia are restricted to base and their phased withdrawal in accordance with the United Nations plan is in progress.

  Israel
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his meeting with the Prime Minister of the state of Israel on 23 May.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and I had a frank and friendly exchange 34
  of views on middle eastern issues with Mr. Shamir. We welcomed his proposals for elections in the occupied territories as a useful step forward, but emphasised the need for progress towards a solution based on territory for peace.

  Spying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) accredited diplomats and (b) other foreign nationals given official working permits have been expelled or deported from the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 for activities deemed to be incompatible with their status; and if he will list them by countries.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As the information is not readily available, I will write to the hon. Member once it is to hand.

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to other Governments to take Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are working for a successful outcome to the international conference on Indo-Chinese refugees in Geneva on 13 and 14 June, which we hope will result in a major international effort to resettle all the remaining Indo-Chinese refugees in the region, including the 14,300 in Hong Kong, as part of a comprehensive solution to this problem.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what undertakings he has received from the Chinese Government regarding the treatment and status of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The matter has not arisen. It is our firm intention to ensure that the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong is resolved well before the transfer of sovereignty in 1997.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is not the practice to comment on matters of this sort.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Geneva talks on chemical weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 9 May. The next round of the negotiations begins on 13 June.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many seizures of ivory have been made by the Hong Kong authorities from organisations and premises owned by the Poon family.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if CITES certificates are attached to the export of worked ivory from Hong Kong.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  CITES certificates are normally attached to exports of worked ivory from Hong Kong because most importing countries require them, although this is not a legal requirement of the Hong Kong Government.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what value of worked ivory was imported from the United Arab Emirates into Hong Kong in October 1988; how many CITES permits were issued for the United Arab Emirates in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No worked ivory was imported from the United Arab Emirates in October 1988. Hong Kong extended its import licence control to cover all forms of ivory on 5 August 1988, and since then no licences have been issued for import of worked ivory from the United Arab Emirates.

  Military Aid
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much military aid has been granted by Her Majesty's Government in the current financial year.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We expect to spend £3 million on supplies of non-lethal military equipment during the current financial year. In addition, £23 million will be spent on foreign and Commonwealth military training in the United Kingdom and overseas.

  Belize
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to maintain the military presence of Britain in Belize as long as the people and government of Belize wish it.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our policy is to maintain the British garrison in Belize for an appropriate period.

ENERGY

  Coal Industry (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the total number of jobs directly and indirectly dependent on the coal industry of(a) South Yorkshire and (b) North Yorkshire; what were these figures for five years and 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Figures for the number of jobs indirectly dependent on the coal industry are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  36
  Information on jobs directly dependent on the coal industry for the areas and dates requested, is as follows:

  North Yorkshire

  South Yorkshire

  March 1979

  36,856

  38,803

  March 1984

  31,710

  31,840

  March 1989

  14,705

  14,724

  The data refer to men associated with British Coal's North and South Yorkshire areas.

  Nuclear Safeguards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas),Official Report, 15 May, column 109, the United Kingdom has any continuing interest in the imposition of bilateral nuclear safeguards implemented before May 1979 on plutonium exported for use in the Rapsodie test fast reactor in France since November 1964.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The plutonium was exported under the terms of the United Kingdom Euratom agreement 1959 which emphasised the peaceful nature of the co-operation. As far as the Department is aware it remains subject to Euratom safeguards.

  Harwell Nuclear Plant
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how far the refurbishment of the Harwell reactor has progressed following the July 1987 plan set out for refurbishment.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority informs me that the refurbishment programme for the nuclear research reactors at Harwell is reviewed annually. The current programme has been amended to take account of the closure of the PLUTO reactor in March 1990. This amended programme has been approved by Harwell's reactor safety committee and will be discussed with the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how long it is proposed to store Harwell reactors sea dump barrels containing intermediate level waste in their present condition; and what plans there are to make them safer.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Drums of radioactive wastes prepared for the 1983 sea disposal operation will continue to be stored in a safe condition and will be prepared for eventual disposal in the deep facility for low and intermediate level wastes which Nirex has been asked to develop.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many workers at Harwell reactors exceeded the radiation dosages of(a) 15mSv and (b) 50mSv; and what was the average dose of those working in the reactor area alone;

  (2) what measures are being taken to ensure that doses received by the Harwell work force and local population are as low as reasonably possible; and what dose levels Harwell is working towards achieving.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Details of the radiation exposures incurred by Harwell staff are published annually in the UKAEA report on radiological protection and occupational health.
  37
  The UKAEA seeks to keep doses to the lowest reasonably practicable level. From 1 January 1988 it set an upper limit on individual dose of 30mSv per year, which is not normally to be exceeded except in cases of extreme occupational necessity. No one on the Harwell reactor site exceeded this level in 1988.

  Exposure of the public to discharges of radioactive wastes from Harwell is monitored routinely and the monitoring results and dose estimates published annually in the Harwell laboratory report on radioactive discharges and environmental monitoring. I am arranging for copies of this report and the report on radiological protection and occupational health to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if there are any plans to improve the current state of the effluent treatment works at Harwell; and what mechanisms exist to shut down the flow of effluent into the Thames in the event of it exceeding waste safety levels;

  (2) what measures have been taken to ensure that discharges and waste from the Harwell reactors in the river Thames are below the new general derived limits in the NRPB document GS-8.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The liquid effluent treatment plant is maintained in a condition which enables it to meet the requirements imposed by the relevant discharge consents issued by the Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The measured effect of these discharges is typically between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. of NRPB general derived limits. Treated effluent is stored for analysis and is not discharged unless it complies with the requirements of the consents.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when a detailed inventory of the Harwell reactor core will be made available to the public.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This information has already been made available in a letter to Dr. P. Taylor of the political ecology research group associated with Oxford city council, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he plans to publish the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate safety audit of Harwell.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that 1 gave him on 31 January at column 156.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the route of the waste pipelines from the Harwell reactors to the Thames will be made public.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand that information about the route of the pipeline is made available upon request, by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority as required to avoid accidental damage to the pipeline.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  No.

  Nuclear Reactors (Safety)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the fact that the proposed pressurised water reactors at Sizewell B and Hinkley C will be the first to depend for their reactor safety solely on computer systems(a) what assessment he has made of the safety implications of and (b) what discussions he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board about the advisability of relying solely on these computer systems; and if he has any plans to extend the new defence standard (Defstan 00–55) to those reactors.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Sizewell B and the Hinkley Point C pressurised water reactors (PWRs) will have a computer based primary protection system designed to protect against all faults, and a non-computerised secondary system which will provide protection against the less unlikely faults. Both systems are at the design and development stage. The approval of the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate will be required before the reactors are allowed to operate. The Ministry of Defence computer software standard "Defstan 00–55" is still in the process of development. It is for the Central Electricity Generating Board to decide if it wishes to use this standard. Its decision would be considered by the Nil as part of the safety case.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Natural Gas
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government is considering to pipe natural gas from the South of Ireland to the North; what implications there are for those plans of the current state of repair of the gas works in the North; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  The Government have no such plans.

  Carrick House Hostel
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will investigate the alleged intimidation of residents by Northern Ireland Housing Executive staff to prevent them from taking their grievances and fears about the future of the Carrick House hostel to the media; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  I am advised by the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that the residents of Carrick House hostel have not been intimidated in any way by staff of the Housing Executive. While residents have access on a daily basis to Housing Executive management on matters of concern to them they are, of course, free as private individuals to approach the media at any time about their concerns which have been given considerable publicity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the short-term and long-term future of Carrick House hostel for homeless men, Belfast.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by the chairman that no changes will be made in the day-to-day running of the
  39
  hostel until 1 April 1990 at the earliest. In the meantime the future of the hostel in its present form will be the subject of a strategic review. No plans for Carrick House will be finalised without prior consultation with the residents.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to consult the residents, staff and other interested bodies about both the short and long-term future of Carrick House; and what steps it is intended to take in the future to carry out such consultations.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by the chairman that staff of the Carrick House hostel have been made fully aware of the review of the hostel's role which will be undertaken by Housing Executive management. Regular meetings are taking place between residents' representatives and hostel management at which issues of mutual interest are discussed. These will shortly be supported by a regular newsletter to all residents aimed at reinforcing the consultative process.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that adequate health and safety standards, medical facilities, hygiene facilities, social counselling facilities and staffing levels exist for the residents of Carrick House.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive and I am advised by the chairman that Carrick House hostel has for many years provided basic facilities and support services for residents. There has been no diminution of existing standards and services since the hostel came under the Housing Executive management. The prospects for enhanced facilities and services commensurate with the needs of residents will be addressed as part of a forthcoming strategic review of the future of the hostel.

  Dental Examinations
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been refunded as a consequence of the illegal charges for dental examinations between 1 and 16 January.

  Mr. Needham
  The total amount refunded to patients was £16,455·60.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional use of personnel was incurred and what was the time element involved in rectifying the error relating to illegal dental examination charges between 1 and 16 January.

  Mr. Needham
  No additional personnel were used. As the work involved was undertaken by existing staff as part of their normal duties, it is not possible to assess the time element involved in rectifying the error.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs were incurred in rectifying the errors relating to the illegal charges for dental examinations between 1 and 16 January.

  Mr. Needham
  The administrative cost of arranging for dentists to refund charges paid by patients for dental examinations carried out during the period I to 16 January was £2,612.

  Grey Squirrels
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in force to control grey squirrels in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Under article 15(1) of The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 it is an offence to release grey squirrels into the wild. Grey squirrels may be killed or taken, other than by prohibited methods, by owners or occupiers, or persons authorised by them on their own land. The present population of these animals does not constitute a threat.

  Health Board Assets
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of assets disposed of by each health board during 1987–88; and what was the total value of those assets.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 24 April 1989]: Monies received in respect of assets disposed of by each Health and Social Service board for 1987–88 are as shown in the table:

  Equipment and Vehicles

  Land and Buildings

  £

  £

  Northern Board

  14,256

  125,894

  Southern Board

  15,787

  145,265

  Eastern Board

  nil

  529,887

  Western Board

  40,637

  195,077

  70,680

  996,123

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by his Department in 1985–86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office of Information together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989–90.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: The information has been placed in the Library.

  Police Posts
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many incidents requiring Royal Ulster Constabulary action have occurred in the area formerly served by each limited opening Royal Ulster Constabulary sub-station in east Antrim since these limited opening stations were closed;

  (2) whether he will discuss with the new Chief Constable as a matter of priority the impact of closure of limited opening stations in east Antrim.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: The Chief Constable tells me that no limited opening police stations have been closed in East Antrim. There were however three police posts closed in the area—Craigyhill (Larne), Sunnylands (Carrickfergus) and Knockfergus

  41
  (Greenisland). Since their closure in November 1988 the number of reports received for these areas which required some form of police action was 529, 346 and 169, respectively. The deployment of police resources is an operational matter for the judgment of the Chief Constable in which I do not propose to intervene.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been any change in levels of crime reported in each of the areas formerly covered by limited opening Royal Ulster Constabulary stations in east

  Craigyhill

  Sunnylands

  Knockfergus

  Period

  burglary

  theft

  burglary

  theft

  burglary

  theft

  26 November 1986 to 28 April 1987

  20

  7

  33

  27

  71

  67

  26 November 1987 to 28 April 1988

  20

  13

  28

  15

  56

  45

  26 November 1988 to 28 April 1989

  25

  7

  19

  17

  45

  58

  It is considered too early to reach a judgment as to the overall trend in the level of crime in these areas since the closure of the police posts.

  Telephone System
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the Department of Economic Development's plans to upgrade the telephone system in Northern Ireland; what role is envisaged for Mecury Communications in this; and what measures his Department plans to ensure competition.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  Plans to upgrade telecommunications systems in the United Kingdom are normally a matter for the telecommunications operators to make in the light of commercial considerations and any relevant obligations in their operating licences. The Telecommunications Act 1984 has already established the framework in which competing companies operate. We have no plans to change the present framework of telecommunications competition in Northern Ireland.

  Exceptionally, Northern Ireland qualifies for support under the European Community STAR programme, under which the European Commission made funding available for the economic development of certain less-favoured regions. I understand the Department of Economic Development discussed the STAR programme with both British Telecom and Mercury and subsequently selected BT to provide the infrastructure funded under the programme.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Alcohol Misuse
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the ministerial group on alcohol misuse.

  Mr. Hurd
  The group, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council has made good progress. A report of action taken during the group's first year is published today. This gives an account of work in progress and takes a forward look at issues to be considered in the coming months.42
  Antrim since they were closed; and if he will publish details of available statistics for a comparable period in the two years prior to closure.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: The total number of reported burglaries and thefts in the areas formerly covered by police posts (not limited opening stations) in Craigyhill (Larne), Sunnylands (Carrickfergus) and Knockfergus (Greenisland), which were closed in November 1988 in comparable periods over the last three years was as follows:

  Crime Prevention
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his Department's budget is currently being devoted to crime prevention.

  Mr. Hurd
  Expenditure on crime prevention is met from Class XI, Vote 3, Home Office administration, immigration and police support services, England and Wales. In the current year, 2·8 per cent. of the total provision for this Vote is devoted to crime prevention.

  Vote Tracing
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received following the recent local elections with regard to the possibility of vote tracing.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since the county council elections on 4 May we have received five letters from hon. Members forwarding correspondence from constituents and two letters from members of the public on the procedure whereby a voter's electoral registration number is written on the ballot paper counterfoil when he or she votes.

  Passport Checks (Airports)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give reasons for the abolition of channels designated for British passport holders at airports for passengers returning to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) on 27 April 1989 at column 637.

  Crime Prevention (Surrey)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to encourage crime prevention in Surrey.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our strategy for crime prevention applies to all parts of England and Wales. Police manpower and resources have been substantially
  43
  increased, Crime Concern was launched with Government support in May 1988 to stimulate, support and develop local crime prevention activity and the largest ever national crime prevention publicity campaign was launched last year.

  My right hon. Friend approved a further 10 police posts for the force from 1 April bringing the authorised establishment up to 1,649, and I understand there are now 389 watch schemes covering approximately 20,000 households throughout Surrey, together with nine panels and four junior panels. The Surrey constabulary is one of 10 south east forces involved, with Home Office support, in an ambitious scheme "Secured By Design" which aims to encourage the construction industry to incorporate security measures as standard in new homes; the scheme will be launched on 7 June.

  Prison Officers (Relocation)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance is given to officers who are relocated in the prison system since the transfer grant for members of the prison service was stopped in 1984.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Established prison officers qualify for financial assistance in accordance with the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code unless they are transferred at their own request. This covers, for example, the cost of a preliminary visit to search for new accommodation, night subsistence and lodging allowance, legal expenses of house purchase and sale, reimbursement of interest charges on bridging finance, interest free advance of salary for house purchase, removal and storage expenses, additional housing costs allowance and transfer grant.

  This financial assistance is not generally available to civil servants including prison officers when taking up their first appointment.

  Asylum
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to set up a major independent review of Home Office policy and practice with regard to asylum seekers.

  Mr. Renton
  No.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which date he received notification from the independent adjudicator that he had acted wrongly in relation to the cases of five Tamils, Mr. S. Sivakumaran, Mr. N. Vathanan, Mr. V. Rasalingam. Mr. V. Skandarajah and Mr. N. Vilvarajah, who had applied for asylum in the United Kingdom; on what date an application was made by Her Majesty's Government to the immigration appeal tribunal to hear an appeal against the adjudication; and on what date an application was made to the High Court for a judicial review of the tribunal's refusal to hear the appeal.

  Mr. Renton
  On 13 March 1989 an adjudicator upheld appeals against refusal of leave to enter in these five cases. My right hon. Friend sought leave to appeal to the tribunal on 22 March but on 19 April the tribunal decided that it had no jurisdiction to consider this appeal because of a clerical error in the service of the papers. On 12 May 44
  my right hon. Friend sought leave to move for judicial review of the tribunal's decision and leave was granted on 17 May.

  Youth Custody
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the regime in youth custody institutions, and on any representations thereon which he has received.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Youth custody centres and detention centres were replaced by young offender institutions when the new unified custodial sentence was introduced last October. Revised guidance on regimes for young offenders was issued then, emphasising the need to prepare young offenders for their return to the community, and recognising the importance for juveniles and short-sentenced young adults of participating from the outset in brisk, modular regimes built on experience gained in detention and youth custody centres.

  In general, the guidance was well received and regimes for the new sentence are working well. Representations have been received about one or two establishments which have experienced some difficulties and every effort is being made to resolve these problems.

  Popplewell Report
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations of the Popplewell report which bear on the responsibilities of his Department have not been implemented; what were those recommendations; and, in each case, what are the reasons they have not been acted upon.

  Mr. John Patten
  Four recommendations of the final report of the Popplewell inquiry which bear on the responsibility of my right hon. Friend have not been wholly implemented.

  Recommendation 9(i) and (iii): as set out in the consultative document published in June 1986 the Government took the view that as safety certificates are instruments of continuing control it would not be appropriate to renew them annually or for local authorities to have powers to revoke them. The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 provides for offences for a breach of any term or condition in a safety certificate and gives a separate power to local authorities to prohibit or restrict the admission of spectators to any part of a sports ground if there is judged to be a serious risk to their safety.

  Recommendation 11: the Government considered that it would be wrong to provide a power of search which went further than existing statutory powers based on reasonable suspicion. A club may refuse admission to its ground to persons unwilling to be searched.

  Recommendation 12: section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 provides an offence of disorderly conduct which is applicable in all public places, with the qualification that someone within hearing or sight of the conduct in question is likely to be caused alarm, distress or harassment. The Government is not persuaded that this qualification should be dispensed with.

  Recommendation 13: section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936 has recently been re-enacted in the Public Order Act 1986 and is supplemented by the wide general powers of

  45
  arrest in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The Government are not convinced that it is necessary to broaden these provisions further.

  Police (Video Surveillance Equipment)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the use by police forces in the United Kingdom of video surveillance equipment in the community as a means of crime detection and prevention.

  Mr. Hurd
  The use of surveillance equipment is a matter for the operational judgment of the police acting in accordance with guidelines issued by the Home Office on 19 December 1984.

  Turkish Nationals
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to impose a visa requirement on Turkish nationals who wish to enter the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hurd
  I will shortly lay before Parliament a statement of changes in the immigration rules which will include provisions requiring Turkish nationals to obtain visas before travelling to the United Kingdom. The necessary written notice of one month under the 1960 agreement for the abolition of visas (Cmnd. 1043) was given to the Turkish Government on 23 May. The new visa regime will come into effect on 23 June.

  As part of the increasingly close co-operation between the member states of the European Community on immigration matters EC interior Ministers have for some time been discussing a proposal that visa requirements should be harmonised, and in this context that Turkish nationals should have to obtain visas to enter any European Community country. Most member states already require visas of Turkish nationals. Operational reasons now make it necessary for us to do the same.

  For many years, the proportion of Turkish nationals arriving in the United Kingdom who were refused admission and removed has been growing. Between 1985 and 1988 it rose from less than 1·5 per cent. to 3 per cent. The number of Turkish nationals against whom action was started for breaches of the immigration law increased from 136 in 1985 to 401 in 1988. A growing number of
  46
  Turks have claimed asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom. Whereas there were only about 60 such applications in 1987, during May alone this year there were more than 1,500. We are observing the meticulous procedures for examining each application which are necessary under the 1951 United Nations convention, and they necessarily take time. Many of those who have been interviewed are young men who have admitted to making their claim because of employment difficulties in Turkey. During May 106 applicants for asylum withdrew their applications and returned to Turkey.

  These developments have placed strains on the immigration control, creating long delays on occasion and inconvenience for the main body of passengers. We have no wish to detain more Turkish asylum applicants than is necessary. But it is often not possible to grant temporary admission, where those involved have no connections in the United Kingdom, have been unable to support or accommodate themselves without help, and may be tempted to abscond. The accommodation which we have for detaining immigrants is being fully used, but because of the large numbers we have also had to use prisons in the south-west. We are grateful to the churches and other organisations and individuals who have undertaken to provide emergency shelter and food for those who can properly be granted temporary admission. We have made it clear that we will consider reimbursing specific costs which community groups have incurred. My officials are also in contact with the British Refugee Council about the establishment of a short-term hostel in Tower Hamlets.

  It will be several months before the cases of those who have already arrived can be processed. All claims to asylum by Turkish nationals will continue to be carefully considered. Priority is being given to interviewing those in detention.

  Unless we take action now the situation is likely to deteriorate through the summer. That is why we have decided to impose a visa requirement on Turkish nationals who wish to enter the United Kingdom. The new visa regime will inevitably take a little time to settle down but the introduction of a visa requirement should benefit all bona fide travellers including business visitors who will be less likely to encounter delays on arrival in this country. Regular visitors to this country will be eligible for multiple-entry visas.

  Passports
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what emergency action he intends to take for those who require full passports; and if he will issue guidance for those requiring group passports.

  Mr. Hurd
  Delays which had been occurring in some areas during the peak season have been made worse by the recent industrial action in the passport offices. I very much regret the inconvenience that this has caused and will continue to cause to the public.

  Following a ballot held by the Civil and Public Services Association (CPSA), 84 out of 295 staff in the Liverpool office came out on indefinite strike on 30 May. Following ballots at all other offices, members of the CPSA staged a one-day sympathy strike on 2 June in favour of the Liverpool action, when a total of 219 failed to report for work. A ballot held by the National Union of Civil and Public Servants (NUCPS) obtained no majority for a sympathy strike and, as a result, there has so far been no official action by NUCPS members.

  All passport offices have remained open and counter services are being maintained, with priority being given to urgent cases. I am asking my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to contact certain other Governments to see whether, in the special circumstances in which we find ourselves, they would consider accepting expired British passports or (where they do not do so already) British visitor passports (BVPs).

  Travellers should be given the best possible advice and I am urgently considering ways of improving this. Those with an urgent need to travel in western Europe may apply for a BVP to any main post office in England, Scotland or Wales. BVPs are now available on Mondays to Fridays, and on Saturday mornings. Where a standard passport has been applied for in good time and has not been processed, BVP fees will be refunded on application. For countries where a BVP is not acceptable, travellers who have an urgent requirement (including for group passports) are advised to call in person at the most convenient passport office, where every effort will be made to ensure that a suitable travel document is provided.

  We shall seek to bring this dispute to a satisfactory end. Management and unions are meeting tomorrow and I hope that they will be able urgently to identify means of resolving the dispute.

  The unions' principal demand is for an increase of 381 staff on the permanent complement of 1,000. The demand for passports is partly seasonal. Demand rises in the new year, reaches its peak in early summer and falls away in the autumn. It makes sense to deal with the busy period partly by employing temporary staff and using overtime. At present, for example, a total of 1,420 staff are employed. The unions are not asking for any increase in this total but that the permanent proportion be increased.

  It is common ground that there have been changes in the pattern of demand. There is now a smaller difference between the peaks and the troughs. We therefore looked again at the case for a higher proportion of permanent staff. The National Audit Office has recently pointed out that it is not acceptable to staff troughs relatively more favourably than peaks. Nor would it be sensible to pre-empt the findings of the staffing review which both sides have already agreed should be undertaken once we
  48
  know of the effects of the present computerisation programme so far implemented only in Glasgow and Liverpool.

  But as a result of this examination, the Home Office concluded that the present justifiable maximum addition to the permanent complement was 158, subject to the impending staffing review. We began to recruit these extra permanent staff some weeks ago and propose to complete the process by the end of July.

  We have always been ready to provide in total—whether permanent or temporary—as many staff as can be justified by the workload and accommodated in the offices concerned. But we would not be justified in employing on a permanent basis staff who would have little or nothing to do during the slack period in the autumn and early winter.

  We have begun the computerisation of offices with the new passport. This must be the right long term solution. There have been teething problems with the introduction of computerisation in Glasgow and Liverpool, but we must see these through with the help of the staff.

  We intend to give the passport office the status of an executive agency, and are discussing the timing and details of the change. We believe that this will free the energies of staff and management to give better service to the public.

  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current delay in(a) acknowledging receipt of applications to renew passports, (b) acknowledging receipt of applications for new passports, (c) issuing renewed passports and (d) issuing new passports in respect of the Newport passport office; and what specific advice he has given applicants by way of newspaper advertisements as to the lead-time for the two classes of applications.

  Mr. Renton
  Straightforward non-urgent postal applications of all types are being processed at the Newport passport office within a maximum of 46 working days. Urgent applications are given priority and are processed in accordance with travellers' requirements. Applications are not normally acknowledged. Information about current delay times is frequently given in response to enquiries from the news media, and in the recorded telephone message facility for callers to the Newport office, which is extensively used and updated weekly.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider appointing major sub-post offices as agents for the issue of British visitors passports; what size of local population would be suitable for such an appointment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The issuing of British visitors passports is generally limited to the 1500 Crown post offices for reasons of security and economy. By agreement with the passport department, the facility is being retained by those Crown offices which are regraded to sub-office status under the Post Office's current restructuring plans, but we would not wish to extend this arrangement to other sub-offices.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to deal with the inadequacies of the telephone system and inquiry service at the Liverpool passport office.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the Liverpool passport office telephone inquiry service.
  49
  Mr. Renton
  The Liverpool passport office has a 24 exchange line switchboard. A recorded message facility offering an additional 26 telephone lines was installed in April, and further improvements are planned which will route incoming calls directly to the inquiry section. Efforts are being made to reduce the backlog of passport applications which is the reason for most of the telephone enquiries received, but the situation has been adversely affected by the current industrial action at Liverpool.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport applications are awaiting process in(a) Liverpool and (b) London passport offices; what is the current average delay, in weeks; and what reasons there are for this backlog.

  Mr. Renton
  The information for the week ended 28 May is shown in the table:

  Passport office

  1Application

  2Maximum processing times

  Liverpool

  215,469

  15 weeks

  London

  22,622

  5 weeks

  1 Shows the estimated number of applications at the various stages of processing.

  2 Shows the maximum processing time in weeks (averages are not recorded).

  Normally most applications are processed well within the maximum period, with priority being given to urgent cases, but a sharp increase in demand early this year has led to an increase in processing times, and staff at Liverpool are also having to adapt to a new computerised system of passport issuing. Additional staff have been employed to help deal with the backlogs, and a system of free two-year extensions to the life of certain expired passports submitted for replacement has been introduced at Liverpool to help relieve the immediate problem there. The situation at Liverpool has recently been made more serious as a result of industrial action by some members of staff.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to process passport applications at(a) Liverpool and (b) Glasgow; and what he expects the position to be by 1990.

  Mr. Renton
  Passport applications are processed according to the applicant's travel requirements, with priority being given to urgent cases. As a result, processing times in a given period vary considerably, and averages are not recorded.

  The current maximum processing time for straightforward non-urgent postal applications at the Liverpool Passport Office is 73 working days, and at Glasgow 50 working days. Most applications are processed well within these maximum periods.

  Processing time should be reduced next year when the new computer system is fully established, and staff have become fully conversant with its operation.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate loss of revenue to be incurred as a result of his decision to allow a two-year extension to passports without charge.

  Mr. Renton
  I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the special arrangement at the Liverpool passport office announced by my right hon. Friend on 11 May at column 978.
  50
  We estimate that the measure will cost in the region of £1·3 million in the current financial year. Since, however, the great majority of the applications concerned are likely to be renewed on or before expiry of the two year extension period, the overall loss in passport fee receipts is likely to be small.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since the introduction of the guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations authorisation to use electronic surveillance listening and visual devices in each of the provincial police forces has been given by officers other than the chief officer.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer to my reply to my hon. Friend's questions on 26 May at columns 756–7.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what control he exercises over the Metropolitan police use of electronic surveillance listening and visual devices other than that exercised by the force inspectorate.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer to my reply to my hon. Friend's questions on 26 May at columns 756–7.

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Vietnamese refugees there are currently in Hong Kong; how many he estimates will apply to settle in the United Kingdom; on what criteria their applications will be judged; and how many it is proposed to admit.

  Mr. Renton
  On 25 May, there were 14,200 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. A further 19,243 Vietnamese were awaiting examination of their claim for asylum. It had been decided that 1,410 did not qualify for refugee status.

  On 23 February 1989 the Government confirmed its intention to admit a further 1,000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong for settlement in the United Kingdom. The 1,000 will include relatives of Vietnamese already here and others with the potential quickly to become self-sufficient in the United Kingdom, together with some who have been in the camps for a long time and have not been accepted elsewhere.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Vietnamese refugees have had their travel documents confiscated for using those documents to travel to Vietnam.

  Mr. Renton
  Refugee status is accorded to those who have a well-founded fear of persecution in their own country. Although withdrawal of status is not automatic, travel to that country may put into question a continuing claim to refugee status and eligibility for refugeee travel documents. Following visits to Vietnam, 39 refugee travel documents have been impounded on return. So far, seven holders have been required to surrender their documents and decisions about the remainder will be made shortly, after careful consideration of the individual circumstances. In all cases, the persons concerned retain indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. It would be open to them to apply for discretionary travel documents.

  Visa Applications
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will indicate the reason for the delay in processing visa applications by his Department; what he proposes to do about it; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) on which date those applications for visas to enter the United Kingdom now being completed were submitted to his Department;

  (3) what is the average length of time taken to decide visa applications made by non United Kingdom nationals.

  Mr. Renton
  The reasons for the time taken to complete visa applications and the steps in train or already taken to reduce unnecessary delay were explained in my reply of 23 March to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) at column 809 in respect of all entry clearance applications.

  The way in which visa applications are allocated within the immigration department means that it is not possible to give a common date on which those applications now being completed were first referred to the department. Visa applications are dealt with according to, first, their perceived priority and, second, the date on which the application was first received within the department.

  Information about the average length of time taken to decide visa applications is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Remand (Leeds)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce time limits on periods of remand imposed on young people by magistrates in the Leeds area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Custody time limits were introduced in West Yorkshire on 1 June. They apply to all those of whatever age remanded in prison department custody.

  Prison Service (Recruits)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new recruits to the prison service resign in the first 12 months of service due to unacceptable postings, according to the latest available figures.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Between 3 May 1988 and 30 April 1989, 73 basic grade prison officers resigned from the prison service within 12 months of joining. Information about their reasons for doing so is not available.

  Incest
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to decriminalise incest between brothers and sisters aged over 21 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  No.

  Prison Staff
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to improve working conditions for administrative staff in prisons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Proposals to improve working conditions for staff in existing establishments are 52
  considered on an individual basis according to the needs of the establishment and competing demands on the building programme. The improved provision which is to be made for administrative staff in new training prisons is described in the prison design brief which was published in March, 1989. Copies have been placed in the Library. Work is in hand on the adaptation of the brief to the requirements of local, female and young offender establishments.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many administrative staff are employed in Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 1 May, there were 1,942 members of the administrative group (including part-time staff) employed in prison service out-stations.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the use and cost effectiveness of agency staff in the hospital wing of Her Majesty's prison, Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Nurses employed by agencies have been used at Leicester prison from time to time to meet short-term needs. The director of prison medical services considers this to be a medically and financially acceptable means of filling temporary gaps in health care services.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the introduction of female prison officers at Her Majesty's prison, Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Four female officers have now been posted to Leicester. In the governor's view they have settled in well and are making a useful contribution to the work of the establishment.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why certain petitions from Her Majesty's prison, Leicester to his Department have not been acknowledged, and others have remained unanswered; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All petitions addressed to the Secretary of State received from prisoners at Leicester and which were handed in prior to 2 April have either been acknowledged or a reply has been sent. All petitions received since that date have been acknowledged.

  As a local prison, Leicester has a rapid turnover of inmates. Most of the men whose petitions were recorded as outstanding in the Leicester petitions register have been transferred, and replies have been sent to their current establishment. Arrangements are being made to bring Leicester's records up to date.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to end the overcrowding of Her Majesty's prison, Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's prison, Leicester, in common with other overcrowded local prisons, will benefit from the delivery of substantial numbers of places under the prison building programme. The greatest measure of relief will be provided by the opening of a new local prison at Milton Keynes in 1992.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are taken to put non-smoking prisoners in cells with other non-smokers if they so wish at Her Majesty's prison, Leicester.
  53
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Arrangements are made, as far as is practicable, to meet requests from inmates who ask to be located with other non-smokers in circumstances where they are required to share a cell with others.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to increase the availability of workshops for prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are no plans to increase the number of workshop places at Leicester but efforts are continuing to ensure the full utilisation of existing places.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why modernisation of the kitchen at Her Majesty's prison, Leicester is behind schedule.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A new kitchen was to have been provided at Her Majesty's prison Leicester by late 1994. Design work on this scheme has however recently been suspended, as part of an effort to focus resources on schemes in the prison building programme which are either under way, or where work has to start on site in the next two financial years.

  Alcoholic Prisoners
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help has been given to alcoholic prisoners since the pre-release scheme was abolished.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am not aware of the pre-release scheme to which the hon. Member refers.

  The number of pre-release courses, which will often include advice on the dangers of alcohol abuse, is increasing steadily. It has long been the prison department's policy to seek to educate prisoners about these dangers. In addition, there is now a branch of Alcoholics Anonymous within most adult establishments, and prisoners nearing the end of their sentence can be put in touch with the local Alcoholics Anonymous group near their home address should they wish to take advantage of the counselling service provided.

  Eames Report
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the Eames report into suicides in Armley prison, Leeds, to the prison officers' representatives on the Whitley council negotiating body.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No, but the trade union side on the departmental Whitley council has been made aware of its main conclusions and recommendations.

  Police Vehicles
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to streamline police vehicle fleet management as set out in the third police paper "A Report by the Audit Commission".

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is for individual chief officers and their police authorities to determine how best to manage their vehicle fleets. I understand that forces are now reviewing their arrangements in the light of the Audit Commission report. Her Majesty's inspectorate of 54
  constabulary will be examining these arrangements in the course of their annual inspection. The Home Office intends to issue guidance to forces on best practice.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Disaster and Refugee Units
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff have been employed in each year since 1979 by the disaster and refugee units of the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Disaster unit1

  Refugee unit2

  1980

  4·0

  —

  1981

  3·0

  —

  1982

  3·0

  —

  1983

  3·0

  —

  1984

  2·5

  2·5

  1985

  2·5

  2·5

  1986

  2·5

  2·5

  1987

  2·5

  2·5

  1988

  2·5

  2·5

  1989

  2·5

  2·5

  1 Temporary additional staff are assigned to the disaster unit during major and prolonged disasters.

  2 The refugee unit was set up in 1984.

  The total number of permanent posts in the disaster and refugee units will shortly increase from five to seven.

  Disaster Relief
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the Overseas Development Administration and non-Government agencies concerned with arrangements for disaster relief since the time of the Armenian earthquake; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Regular meetings, some of which I chair, are held between the Overseas Development Administration and those non-Government organisations concerned with providing disaster and refugee relief. I am planning a review of disaster relief arrangements with non-Government organisations before the summer.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the progress that has been made by the United Nations disaster relief organisation in drawing up a register of the assistance available by donor nations to countries facing major disasters.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  United Nations disaster relief organisation is in the process of drawing up such a register and I understand is in contact with donor Governments.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to provide further assistance to the United Nations disaster relief organisation in order to improve its effectiveness.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have already provided financial assistance to United Nations disaster relief organisation for its important disaster prevention and preparedness
  55
  activities. I am planning to increase this assistance in the context of the forthcoming United Nations international decade for natural disaster reduction.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to assist developing countries in the development of renewable energy sources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Over the last decade the Overseas Development Administration has promoted the use of renewable energy sources in developing countries through funding research and development for a wide range of technologies, including efficient wood-fuelled cooking stoves, efficient charcoal manufacture, biogas production, windpumps, microhydro turbines, solar crop drying and the use of waste materials for process heating.

  Aid funds have also been used to implement projects aimed at utilising geothermal energy, wind-powered electricity generation, and solar-powered water pumping. They have also been used to help finance the manufacture of efficient wood-fuelled stoves, as well as for building and rehabilitating substantial hydropower installations.

  We continue to seek ways of helping to carry forward developments in renewable energy which carry real promise of being effective.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to assist developing countries with measures for energy conservation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Through our aid programmes we have been assisting developing countries for some years with measures aimed at improving the efficiency of their energy sectors. The provision of British equipment, skills and training has been financed to improve generating efficiency, reduce transmission losses and improve distribution networks. In conjunction with other donors we have also encouraged Governments to adopt appropriate pricing policies for power to ensure that it is used effectively and economically. Against the background of our environmental concerns, we shall continue to give high priority to this kind of assistance in the energy sector.

  Mozambique
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current situation relating to the development by the Commonwealth Development Corporation of schemes in Mozambique; and if he will give details of proposals relating to their financing.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I authorised the Commonwealth Development Corporation to operate in Mozambique in November 1987.

  The CDC is discussing a draft operating conditions agreement with the Government of the People's Republic of Mozambique which we hope will be signed shortly. The CDC are investigating a number of investment possibilities including projects for the development of tea, sugar, forestry, cashew nuts and citrus.

  Fiji
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of grant aid has been allocated to Fiji by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will list it by category.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The latest provisional figure for our bilateral aid to Fiji is £1,595,000 in 1988. £39,000 of this total represents expenditure under grant financial aid agreed in 1981. About £1,555,000 was spent on technical co-operation (the provision of expert manpower and advice from the United Kingdom and the training of Fijians). I envisage that technical co-operation will continue at around this level. These figures exclude expenditure by the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service College
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made towards establishing the Civil Service college as an executive agency.

  Mr. Luce
  I am pleased to announce that the Civil Service college will today become an executive agency of the Cabinet Office (OMCS). The college is the chief central provider of training for civil servants. It charges for its courses and government departments are free to go elsewhere. Agency status will add to the managerial freedoms which the college has enjoyed for some time and will enable it to compete more effectively for its business. It will provide a sharper focus for the college's operations and a clearer relationship with my Department. I have set demanding targets against which its performance will be measured in future. Copies of the framework document are being placed in the Library of the House.

EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Staff (Relocation)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to relocate staff of his Department to Runcorn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The Employment Department, in common with other Departments, has been conducting a study into the potential for moving posts out of London and the south east. The study is nearing completion and we expect to announce its conclusions and our decisions to the House shortly. At present 27 per cent. of Employment Department head office staff are located in Runcorn.

  Strikes (Statistics)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the number of strike days lost per 100,000 workers for each year since 1975 in(a) the United- Kingdom, (b) France, (c) West Germany, (d) Italy, (e) the EEC average, (f) the United States of America, (g) Sweden and (h) Japan.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information for the years 1977 to 1986 is given in the article "International
  57
  comparisons of industrial stoppages for 1986" published in the Employment Gazette, June 1988, page 335, a copy of which is in the Library. This article also gives a description of the different coverage of the statistics in the various countries. For the data for 1987, the latest available, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) on 4 May 1989, Official Report, column 241. Figures for 1975 and 1976 are given in the article "International comparisons of industrial stoppages for 1984" published in the Employment Gazette, July 1986, page 266, a copy of which is in the Library.

  EEC average figures would not be meaningful because of the wide variation in the coverage of the industrial dispute figures in member states.

  International Agreements (ILO)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the occasions on which Britain has been found guilty of breaking international agreements by the United Nations International Labour Organisation.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government are convinced that United Kingdom law and practice fully conform with ILO obligations.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with the chairman of the construction industry training board in early April.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am holding a series of meetings with the chairman of the construction industry training board to discuss plans for training within the construction industry as envisaged in the White Paper, "Employment for the 1990s" (cmd 540).

  I have asked the chairman to put forward proposals agreed by the industry for future training arrangements.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in the last year for which figures are available how many people in the Chesterfield area have had their unemployment benefit payment reduced; by what average amount; and for what average period.

  Mr. Lee
  No figures are kept on the number of people who have their unemployment benefit payments reduced.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  No electronic surveillance listening devices are used by the Department of Employment or by any organisations or agency acting on its behalf.

  Disablement Advisory Service
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people the Disablement Advisory Service employs; and if he will make a statement.
  58
  Mr. Lee
  There were 190 Disablement Advisory Service (DAS) staff in post on 31 March 1989. I believe that the Disablement Advisory Service performs an invaluable role in encouraging and assisting employers to apply good policies and practices in the employment of people with disabilities.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the Disablement Advisory Service is resourced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Disablement Advisory Service consists of specially trained employment service staff. They are organised in 68 teams, covering all parts of the country, and can be contacted through local jobcentres. For very large employing organisations, there is a special head office advisory service, the major organisations development unit, based in London, but available nationwide.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Disablement Advisory Service distributes leaflets concerning its activities to general practitioners' surgeries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  No. The Disablement Advisory Service's main role is to help employers to adopt and implement good policies and practices in the employment of people with disabilities. It is not directed towards general practitioners or their patients. A new booklet, "Job Hunting for People with Disabilities", appropriate to disabled jobseekers and their advisers, will be issued shortly for distribution to local points of contact, including surgeries, at disablement resettlement officers' discretion.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if there are any plans to expand the Disablement Advisory Service's activities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no current plans to expand the Disablement Advisory Service's (DAS) activities. However, DAS activities are being considered as part of my Department's internal review of its policies and services for people with disabilities.

  Non-EEC Workers
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action against the restaurant chain Garfunkels over the employment of illegal non-EEC workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I have been asked to reply.

  Action has been taken in the past to deal with illegal entrants and other immigration offenders employed by the restaurant chain Garfunkels. However, there was insufficient evidence available to act against their employer. I will, of course, consider any such evidence which my hon. Friend may wish to provide.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created since May 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures for job gains and job losses. Between June 1979 (there are no estimates for May) and December 1988, the latest date for which figures are
  59
  available, there was a net increase of 1,148,000 in the work force in employment in the United Kingdom. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variation. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has of the average number of people employed by companies with turnovers of(a) less than £250,000, (b) £250,000 to £500,000, (c) £500,000 to £1,000,000, (d) £1,000,000 to £2,000,000, (e) £2,000,000 to £5,000,000 and (f) £5,000,000 and above.

  Mr. Cope
  The information requested is not available. The Department's employment estimates are taken from short term surveys and censuses of employment which do not relate employee numbers to company turnover.

  Employees in employment1 in the Leeds metropolitan district2

  Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 1980

  Division of SIC

  September 1981

  September 1984

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  (thousand)

  (thousand)

  Manufacturing industries of which:

  2·4

  85·5

  100·0

  71·8

  100·0

  Male part-time

  —

  0·9

  1·0

  0·7

  1·0

  Female part-time

  —

  5·5

  6·5

  4·3

  6·0

  Service industries of which:

  6·9

  187·4

  100·0

  196·1

  100·0

  Male part-time

  —

  7·7

  4·1

  9·4

  4·8

  Female part-time

  —

  47·0

  25·1

  49·8

  25·4

  Non-manufacturing industries

  0,1, 5·9

  216·3

  —

  223·0

  —

  All industries and services

  0·9

  301·7

  —

  294·7

  —

  1 Excludes the self·employed and members of Her Majesty's forces; employees in temporary employment are included but are not separately identified; part·time workers are defined as those working not more than 30 hours a week.

  2 The district is defined in terms of ward boundaries as at 1981.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were self-employed in the Leeds metropolitan district for each of the years 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is available only for Census Day in April 1981. In the census returns 24,601 people living in the Leeds district said that they were self-employed.

  Unemployment rates for persons of working age2 by highest qualification and region

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  19883

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Northern region

  'A' level or higher

  10·1

  1—

  10·9

  10·3

  11·3

  9·3

  10·0

  8·9

  9·1

  1—

  9·1

  1—

  'O' level or equivalent

  15·7

  12·8

  17·8

  10·8

  14·2

  11·3

  16·2

  13·1

  11·8

  12·5

  1—

  10·9

  Below 'O' level

  24·3

  15·4

  19·6

  28·1

  23·8

  18·2

  20·5

  1—

  28·7

  16·6

  16·9

  16·2

  No qualification

  22·5

  11·5

  24·6

  15·0

  21·5

  13·2

  23·9

  13·3

  21·1

  11·9

  26·0

  14·5

  Yorks and Humberside region

  'A' level or higher

  8·3

  7·2

  7·1

  9·0

  7·0

  7·9

  7·5

  6·7

  6·8

  5·1

  6·1

  8·5

  'O' level or equivalent

  11·4

  11·3

  13·4

  11·5

  14·0

  11·0

  11·9

  9·4

  9·4

  10·3

  9·2

  8·1

  Below 'O' level

  18·9

  14·2

  17·3

  15·3

  15·1

  13·6

  17·8

  16·8

  15·6

  11·0

  14·6

  1—

  No qualification

  18·8

  10·9

  17·4

  11·8

  19·9

  12·2

  18·2

  11·4

  21·5

  11·8

  20·4

  11·8

  East Midlands region

  `A' level or higher

  5·4

  1—

  4·8

  1—

  5·7

  6·9

  6·1

  7·6

  6·0

  6·1

  3·6

  6·3

  'O' level or equivalent

  1—

  10·2

  11·2

  9·8

  1—

  6·4

  10·1

  8·9

  9·6

  7·9

  1—

  9·2

  Below 'O' level

  12·9

  1—

  15·7

  13·5

  16·1

  13·0

  12·7

  14·6

  9·9

  11·2

  11·3

  1—

  60
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many(a) part-time and (b) temporary employees there were in the Leeds metropolitan district for each of the years 1979 to 1989 shown by (i) gender and (ii) as a percentage of all employees (1) in manufacturing industries (2) in the service sector;

  (2) how many employees were in employment in manufacturing in the Leeds metropolitan district in each of the years 1979 to 1989;

  (3) how many manufacturing and non-manufacturing employees there were in employment in the Leeds metropolitan district for each of the years 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Lee
  The available employee estimates for the area are from censuses of employment taken in September 1981 and September 1984 and are given in the table. More up-to-date employee estimates for local areas, from the September 1987 census of employment, will become available later this year.

  This information is available in the Library.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the unemployment rates by highest qualification held for men and women in each of the standard regions and for Wales for each of the years 1983 to 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 19 May 1989]: Estimates from labour force surveys are as shown in the following table:
  61

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  19883

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  No qualification

  12·3

  10·1

  15·0

  10·0

  15·5

  11·9

  13·5

  9·8

  17·2

  13·5

  13·1

  8·4

  East Anglia region

  'A' level or higher

  6·3

  1—

  4·6

  1—

  4·5

  1—

  4·5

  1—

  6·2

  1—

  1—

  1—

  'O' level or equivalent

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Below 'O' level

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—]

  No qualification

  12·4

  8·2

  9·3

  7·8

  10·4

  11·8

  10·3

  9·6

  8·7

  10·9

  6·2

  7·0

  South East region

  'A' level or higher

  5·3

  6·9

  4·8

  6·9

  4·6

  6·9

  5·1

  7·1

  5·2

  6·0

  3·2

  4·5

  'O' level or equivalent

  8·5

  7·4

  7·0

  7·9

  6·8

  6·7

  7·3

  7·8

  6·0

  7·5

  5·0

  5·2

  Below 'O' level

  11·9

  11·4

  11·4

  10·3

  11·8

  11·3

  11·2

  9·9

  8·4

  8·5

  6·6

  7·8

  No qualification

  12·4

  9·6

  12·6

  10·0

  12·3

  9·9

  13·5

  9·5

  13·1

  8·9

  10·7

  8·2

  Greater London

  'A' level or higher

  6·6

  6·8

  5·9

  7·7

  5·3

  7·0

  7·1

  8·1

  6·6

  6·0

  4·5

  5·6

  'O' level or equivalent

  10·0

  8·3

  8·1

  9·3

  8·3

  8·0

  9·2

  8·1

  8·6

  8·0

  6·8

  5·3

  Below 'O' level

  11·9

  11·9

  12·4

  13·0

  14·1

  13·3

  14·4

  11·3

  9·6

  7·5

  8·2

  9·6

  No qualification

  14·3

  10·0

  14·7

  12·3

  14·8

  12·4

  16·5

  11·4

  16·7

  9·6

  15·4

  10·7

  South West region

  'A' level or higher

  6·0

  6·7

  5·2

  8·7

  5·0

  6·7

  5·7

  7·6

  4·6

  6·8

  3·8

  3·9

  'O' level or equivalent

  9·1

  8·0

  8·6

  9·1

  1

  9·2

  8·8

  7·8

  6·2

  9·9

  5·6

  7·1

  Below 'O' level

  10·9

  13·6

  14·2

  11·4

  12·4

  9·2

  10·3

  11·3

  8·7

  9·9

  6·8

  8·1

  No qualification

  12·1

  8·9

  11·2

  9·2

  10·4

  8·7

  12·9

  9·1

  14·1

  10·1

  9·2

  9·0

  West Midlands region

  'A' level or higher

  7·7

  7·4

  7·9

  9·7

  6·5

  8·2

  6·0

  7·3

  6·6

  5·2

  4·9

  4·1

  'O' level or equivalent

  13·0

  12·3

  15·2

  12·4

  13·5

  12·8

  13·3

  10·4

  15·3

  12·9

  7·2

  8·2

  Below '0' level

  17·7

  17·1

  19·4

  17·8

  21·5

  15·3

  15·6

  16·1

  14·7

  13·2

  10·8

  9·8

  No qualification

  21·2

  13·2

  20·4

  11·7

  21·6

  13·9

  18·5

  11·8

  20·5

  11·4

  13·3

  9·8

  North West region

  'A' level or higher

  8·7

  7·9

  9·7

  9·1

  8·6

  6·9

  8·0

  8·0

  7·8

  7·4

  6·9

  6·8

  'O' level or equivalent

  13·8

  11·1

  12·4

  10·5

  12·5

  11·1

  11·7

  12·3

  9·6

  11·0

  8·3

  8·0

  Below 'O' level

  19·8

  14·2

  20·6

  17·5

  18·2

  15·4

  21·5

  18·1

  18·8

  14·4

  14·1

  14·4

  No qualification

  21·7

  13·6

  23·9

  14·0

  21·7

  13·7

  22·9

  12·4

  21·1

  15·1

  22·2

  12·9

  Wales

  'A' level or higher

  10·1

  1

  9·3

  10·9

  8·7

  1

  8·4

  8·5

  8·4

  8·2

  7·8

  1

  'O' level or equivalent

  15·4

  11·6

  1

  12·4

  1

  1

  13·2

  13·0

  11·2

  10·5

  1

  10·2

  Below 'O' level

  16·6

  1

  1

  1

  19·1

  1

  28·0

  21·8

  17·6

  1

  17·0

  1

  No qualification

  20·9

  13·3

  20·7

  14·5

  20·2

  14·9

  21·9

  13·5

  21·8

  13·7

  17·1

  14·5

  1 Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

  2 Men aged 16–64, women aged 16–59.

  3 Preliminary results (1988 only).

  Source: Labour Force Surveys.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his reply of 23 May,Official Report, columns 506–7, he will provide the references to any published evidence from employers in wages council trades that they are more ready to offer young people employment; if he will place in the Library copies of any written but unpublished evidence available to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The evidence consists of comments made by certain organisations in their responses to the consultation document on wages councils and in other correspondence. It is not the Department's practice to ascribe particular comments to individuals or organisations.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider introducing a gardening and caretaking scheme under employment training.
  62
  Mr. Nicholls
  Training in both gardening and caretaking occupations is already offered under employment training where there is a demand for such training from long-term unemployed people and where there are suitable employment opportunities following training.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Sprint Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the spending of the EEC Sprint programme was spent in Britain in each year of the programme's existence; and if he will list the projects and agencies supported by Sprint in Britain since the programme started.

  Mr. Forth
  The detailed breakdown of funding requested by the hon. Gentleman is unavailable. However, during the 1984–88 Sprint pilot phase, it is possible to attribute at least 2·3 million ecu to United Kingdom beneficiaries out of Sprint funding of 18·63 million ecu.
  63
  Excluding funding of 2·73 million ecu for EC groups and associations (eg EuroTechAlert) the United Kingdom proportion of the Sprint budget amounted to 14·5 per cent.

  The list indicates that 80 United Kingdom contractors received support for 123 projects under Sprint since the programme began.

  Contractors supported under Sprint

  Contractors

  Projects

  Smida Herts

  2

  Mackintosh Beds

  1

  British Executive Overseas London

  1

  Newtech Clwyd

  3

  Worldtech Ventures Ltd. London

  1

  I.C.O.M Yorks

  2

  Scottish Development Agency Lanarks

  7

  New Products-EC Gloucester

  3

  Nesda Aberdeen

  1

  Europa Industrial Products Berks

  2

  Wintcch Cardiff

  2

  Shekell-Mooring Herts

  2

  Shekell Mooring International Licensing Herts

  1

  North of England Development Council Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1

  Kelvington International London

  1

  C.T.A. (Cosgrove) Berks

  2

  QMC-Wolfson Fire and Materials CNT London

  1

  PIRA Surrey

  1

  University of Bath Bath

  1

  Macro Group London

  1

  Mari Advanced Microelectronics Ltd. Gateshead

  1

  Institute of Physics London

  2

  P.T.R.C. London

  1

  64

  Contractors

  Projects

  Scottish Development and Industry Edinburgh

  1

  BSRIA Berkshire

  3

  Licensing Executives Society (Britain and Ireland) London

  1

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne University (Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies) Tyne and Wear

  2

  Peat Marwick McLintock London

  1

  United Kingdom Science Park Association Birmingham

  1

  BHRA, The Fluid Engineering Centre Bedford

  1

  City University London London

  1

  SATRA Footwear Technology Centre Northamptonshire

  1

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers London

  1

  Glasgow Business School Glasgow

  1

  C.T.A. Economic and Export Analysis Berkshire

  1

  Technology Exchange (Ex GLEB) London

  1

  The Technology Exchange Bedford

  1

  P.E. Consulting Ltd. Surrey

  3

  Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale Yorkshire

  4

  Purvis and Company St. Andrews

  1

  Life Business Development Agency Lanarkshire

  1

  Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh

  3

  Lanarkshire Industrial Field Executive Ltd. Lanarkshire

  1

  Worldtech Ventures Ltd. London

  1

  Scottish Enterprise Foundation Stirling

  1

  Pax Technology Transfer London

  3

  Deloitte Haskins and Sells (UK) London

  1

  Capital Partners International London

  1

  Technology International Exchange London

  2

  65

  Contractors

  Projects

  March Technologies Limited Manchester

  2

  Sallingbury Casey Ltd. London

  1

  European Technology Entrepreneurs Centre Belfast

  2

  TRC-Education and Research Services Ltd London

  1

  University of Surrey Surrey

  1

  Design Council London

  2

  TWA-The Welding Institute Cambridge

  2

  Building Research Establishment Hertfordshire

  1

  Production Engineering Research Association Leicestershire

  2

  Trada-Timber Research and Development Association Buckinghamshire

  4

  Satra Footwear Technology Centre Northamptonshire

  3

  Warrington Fire Research Centre Cheshire

  2

  B.C.S.A. London

  1

  Shirley Institute Manchester

  2

  BCIRA Birmingham

  1

  B.C.R. Ltd Staffordshire

  1

  Paint Research Association Middlesex

  2

  Campden Food Preservation Research Association Wiltshire

  1

  British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association Surrey

  1

  ERA Technology Surrey

  2

  British Textile Technology Group Leeds

  1

  Leatherhead Food Research Association Surrey

  2

  British Maritime Technology Ltd Tyne and Wear

  1

  Technology Policy Unit Aston Birmingham

  1

  NRDC London

  1

  66

  Contractors

  Projects

  Sheffield City Council Sheffield

  2

  Cleveland County Council Cleveland

  1

  PE Inbucon West Midlands

  1

  Mr. McMullan Antrim

  2

  Total

  123

  Innovation and Technology Transfer
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will name the British members of the consultative committee on innovation and technology transfer; and what proportion of the total EEC membership they comprise.

  Mr. Forth
  There are two members of my Department on the committee for innovation and technology transfer out of a total membership of twenty four. They are Mr. J. Niblett and Mr. M. Porter.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, further to his reply of 27 April,Official Report, columns 614–5, concerning gross output of finished manufactures and imports of semi-manufactures, intermediate products and basic materials, whether he will provide comparable figures for clothing; and if he will add figures for 1973 and for exports.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The available figures for gross output of finished manufactures for clothing follow. A split of trade into semi-manufactures, intermediate finished manufactures and basic materials is not appropriate as clothing is a finished manufacture for consumer use.

  Gross output of finished manufactures: clothing1 1985 prices

  £million

  1970

  5,023

  1973

  5,627

  1979

  5,844

  1988

  5,654

  1 Finished clothing is defined as clothing, hats and gloves, hosiery and other weft knitted goods (SIC[80] group 453 and activity 4,363).

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the top 20 trading countries for the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is in the following tables:

  United Kingdom top 20 trading partners

  1979

  1. Germany

  2. United States of America

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Switzerland

  6. Belgium/Luxembourg

  67

  7. Ireland

  8. Italy

  9. Sweden

  10. Norway

  11. Japan

  12. Denmark

  13. Canada

  14. Saudi Arabia

  15. Spain

  16. Australia

  17. South Africa

  18. Soviet Union

  19. Finland

  20. Hong Kong

  1980

  1. Germany

  2. United States of America

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Switzerland

  6. Belgium/Luxembourg

  7. Ireland

  8. Italy

  9. Sweden

  10. Saudi Arabia

  11. Japan

  12. Norway

  13. Canada

  14. Denmark

  15. South Africa

  16. Spain

  17. Hong Kong

  18. Nigeria

  19. Finland

  20. Australia

  1981

  1. United States of America

  2. Germany

  3. Netherlands

  4. France

  5. Ireland

  6. Belgium/Luxembourg

  7. Italy

  8. Switzerland

  9. Sweden

  10. Saudi Arabia

  11. Norway

  12. Japan

  13. Canada

  14. Denmark

  15. South Africa

  16. Spain

  17. Nigeria

  18. Hong Kong

  19. Finland

  20. Australia

  1982

  1. United States of America

  2. Germany

  3. Netherlands

  4. France

  5. Belgium/Luxembourg

  6. Ireland

  7. Italy

  8. Sweden

  9. Japan

  10. Norway

  11. Switzerland

  12. Denmark

  13. Canada

  14. South Africa

  15. Spain

  16. Hong Kong

  17. Nigeria

  18. Austrialia

  19. Finland

  20. Saudi Arabia

  68
  1983

  1. United States of America

  2. Germany

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Belgium/Luxembourg

  6. Italy

  7. Ireland

  8. Sweden

  9. Japan

  10. Norway

  11. Switzerland

  12. Denmark

  13. Canada

  14. Spain

  15. South Africa

  16. Hong Kong

  17. Finland

  18. Australia

  19. Saudi Arabia

  20. Nigeria

  1984

  1. United States of America

  2. Germany

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Belgium/Luxembourg

  6. Italy

  7. Ireland

  8. Sweden

  9. Norway

  10. Japan

  11. Switzerland

  12. Spain

  13. Denmark

  14. Canada

  15. Hong Kong

  16. South Africa

  17. Finland

  18. Australia

  19. Soviet Union

  20. Saudi Arabia

  1985

  1. United States of America

  2. Germany

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Italy

  6. Belgium/Luxembourg

  7. Ireland

  8. Norway

  9. Sweden

  10. Japan

  11. Switzerland

  12. Spain

  13. Canada

  14. Denmark

  15. Hong Kong

  16. Australia

  17. Finland

  18. South Africa

  19. Nigeria

  20. India

  1986

  1. Germany

  2. United States of America

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Belgium/Luxembourg

  6. Italy

  7. Ireland

  8. Japan

  9. Sweden

  10. Switzerland

  11. Norway

  12. Spain

  69

  13. Canada

  14. Denmark

  15. Hong Kong

  16. Finland

  17. Australia

  18. South Africa

  19. Saudi Arabia

  20. India

  1987

  1. Germany

  2. United States of America

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Italy

  6. Belgium/Luxembourg

  7. Ireland

  8. Japan

  9. Sweden

  10. Switzerland

  11. Norway

  12. Spain

  13. Canada

  14. Denmark

  15. Hong Kong

  16. Finland

  17. Saudi Arabia

  18. Australia

  19. India

  20. South Africa

  1988

  1. Germany

  2. United States of America

  3. France

  4. Netherlands

  5. Italy

  6. Belgium/Luxembourg

  7. Japan

  8. Ireland

  9. Switzerland

  10. Sweden

  11. Spain

  12. Norway

  13. Canada

  14. Denmark

  15. Hong Kong

  16. Finland

  17. Australia

  18. South Africa

  19. Portugal

  20. Saudi Arabia

  Note: In descending order, based on value of exports plus imports.

  Source: OECD Series A.

  Iraq
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the value of(a) United Kingdom exports to Iraq, and (b) United Kingdom imports from Iraq in the last year for which information is available.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The provisional figures for 1988 are(a) United Kingdom exports to Iraq £412·1 million; (b) United Kingdom imports from Iraq £43·4 million.

  Textile Products
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the United Kingdom's trade deficit relates to trade in textile products; and if he will make a statement on the extent of import penetration in this sector of the economy.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The crude deficit on trade in textiles in 1987 was £1,816·3 million compared with an overall crude deficit of £24,177·5 million. Comparable figures for 1988 70
  show crude deficits of £1,921·4 million and £24,936·7 million. Import penetration for textiles in 1987—the latest year for which figures are available—was 48 per cent.

  Manufacturing Investment (North-East)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the level of manufacturing investment in the north-east for each of the last 10 years, giving 1979 as 100.

  Mr. Atkins
  No regional breakdown of manufacturing investment for 1988 is yet available. The required information for the period 1979 to 1987 is shown in the following table:

  Manufacturing investment1 in the North-East2, at, constant prices, as a percentage of 1979 level

  North-East

  1979

  100

  1980

  66

  1981

  42

  1982

  41

  1983

  41

  1984

  47

  1985

  59

  1986

  50

  1987

  53

  1 Excluding expenditure on assets leased from the financial industries.

  2 The North-East is not a standard region of the United Kingdom but can be defined as the North less Cumbria. It comprises Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

  Source: Annual census of production.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department's radiocommunications division regularly monitors the radio spectrum to establish patterns of use, to trace radio interference and to assist in the management of radio services, in keeping with its licensing function under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts. Commercially available radio receivers are used for monitoring purposes.

  EC (Footwear Imports)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to initiate talks at European Community level between non-European Community producers and European Community members on the regulation of footwear imports to the European Community; and if he will seek to establish an agreement for footwear similar to the multi-fibre arrangement in textiles and clothing.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United Kingdom already operates a range of quantitative restrictions on imports of footwear from Eastern Europe and China. EC member states will need to consider the findings of the Commission's Community-wide investigation into imports of footwear from Taiwan and South Korea before deciding what further action might be appropriate. We have asked the
  71
  Commission to look in particular at the effect of imports into the United Kingdom from Taiwan of women's made-to-order footwear.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to seek an early decision from the European Commission arising out of its investigations into the injury caused to the United Kingdom footwear industry by excessive imports from Korea and Taiwan.

  Mr. Clark
  I have written to Commissioner Andriessen seeking an early decision on the need for safeguard action on imports into the United Kingdom of women's made-to-order footwear from Taiwan. The Commission is anxious, however, not to pre-judge the outcome of the Community-wide investigation into imports of footwear from South Korea and Taiwan. Commissioner Andriessen has assured me that the Commission will conclude their investigation as quickly as possible. I will of course consider what action is appropriate once the Commission's recommendations are known.

  Post Office Users National Council
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received the latest report of the Post Office Users National Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I receive all Post Office Users National Council reports. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster referred to its latest joint announcement with Royal Mail Letters in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 25 May (Official Report, column 651).

  Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received a copy of the most recent report of the Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I believe the question refers to the report prepared by the Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management on "The Market for Express Goods Services between the UK and Europe, North America and the Far East". The British Overseas Trade Board decided that there were good reasons to examine in detail aspects of the fast growing express freight market for manufactured goods and so funded this study. My Department is considering the report and views on it from interested parties but has not yet reached conclusions on it or on follow-up action.

  Postal Monopoly (LSE Report)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received a copy of the report on the postal monopoly, published in September 1988 by the London School of Economics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department has received the report on the Post Office's letter monopoly by Saul Estrin and David de Meza of the London School of Economics. We keep all the options for change in the letter monopoly under review, including those put forward in the LSE report.

  Post Office Counters
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will announce the timetable for the privatisation of Post Office Counters.

  Mr. Forth
  We have no present plans for the sale of Post Office Counters Ltd. The Post Office has, however, announced plans for regrading 250 Crown post offices to sub-offices, which will mean increased private investment in the post office network. Sub-offices already make up most of the counters network.

  Post Office Parcels
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will announce the timetable for the privatisation of Post Office Parcels.

  Mr. Forth
  We have no present plans for privatisation of Royal Mail Parcels.

  Post Office Board
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the salaries and review dates of each member of the Post Office Board, with the date and length of his appointment.

  Mr. Forth
  The Post Office annual report and accounts lists the names of the members of the Post Office Board and the years of their appointment, and also gives the number in different ranges of remuneration. Their remuneration is revised with effect from 1 April of each year. Appointments are made for periods of up to five years.

  ECPT (EC Paper)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper submitted to the European Commission by members of the CEPT, as mentioned in his oral reply to the hon. Member for Battersea of 17 May,Official Report, column 313.

  Mr. Forth
  No, CEPT working papers are restricted to the membership. The rules of the CEPT do not allow such documents to be disseminated and I am therefore unable to place them in the Library.

  Post Office
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent the Post Office subsidises its competitive services by its monopoly services.

  Mr. Forth
  There is no subsidy from the Post Office's monopoly services to its competitive services.

  Remail
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he has taken to support international express carriers regarding Remail.

  Mr. Forth
  None. I am, however, aware that the EC is investigating a complaint by courier services about postal administrations.

  Postal Service
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what aspects of the postal service have been investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year from 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  Since 1979 the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has published four reports on aspects of the postal service. These were:

  1979 Inner London letter post.

  1984 The Post Office letter post service.

  1986 Post Office procurement activities.

  1988 Post Office counters services.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what evidence he has submitted to the European Commission on European postal services from 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Courier Services (Anti-competitive Practices)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what evidence he has submitted to the European Commission on the formal complaint made by private courier services about anti-competitive practices by postal administrations.

  Mr. Forth
  None. It is for the Post Office to reply to questions put to it by the European Commission.

  Letter Deliveries
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to how many letters and what percentage of letters, posted first class, fail to arrive the following delivery day.

  Mr. Forth
  The Post Office's new end to end monitoring system, which records results separately for each district by destination, shows that for 1988–89 the percentage of first class letters not delivered the day after posting varied widely between districts. The range was:

  per cent.

  Delivery within district of posting

  6–36

  Delivery to neighbouring districts

  8–41

  Delivery to distant districts (excluding Belfast)

  20–50

  The detailed figures for each district, which were published by the Post Office on 25 May, have been placed in the Libraries.

  Public and Private Postal Services Working Group
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when his Department last chaired a meeting of the public and private postal services working group; what was discussed; when it will next meet; and whether representatives of the Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management will attend.

  Mr. Forth
  The working group chaired by my Department to which I believe my hon. Friend refers is a technical working party of officials and representatives of the industries concerned with Her Majesty's Customs" treatment of express consignments. Its meetings are private and it would be inappropriate to publish details. The Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management is not represented.

  Postal Officials (New Zealand)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when his Department last met postal officials from New Zealand; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My officials last met postal representatives from New Zealand at the Executive Council meeting of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in April of this year. A wide range of postal topics was disccussed between the representatives of about 40 postal administrations.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will refer to the Director-General of Fair Trading claims made in advertisements by RRR Ltd. that one of its products can regain crystal clear hearing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Advertisements for hearing aids are covered by specific provisions in the British code of advertising practice, which is administered by the Advertising Standards Authority. False statements in advertisements are covered by the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. The Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988 enable the Director-General of Fair Trading to seek a court injunction to prevent the publication of a misleading advertisement, where other means of control have failed.

  I have no powers to intervene in the way in which the director-general performs his functions under the regulations. The hon. Member may wish to write to the Advertising Standards Authority or, if he prefers, to the Director-General of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans to implement stricter regulations for the dispensing of hearing aids in the private sector to protect the consumer.

  Mr. Forth
  The Hearing Aid Council (Amendment) Bill sponsored by the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones), which the Government supports, would achieve stricter controls over the dispensing of hearing aids for the benefit of hearing-impaired consumers.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much worked and raw ivory has been exported to Dubai in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There has been no export of worked or raw ivory to Dubai in any of the last five years.

  Finished Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 27 April,Official Report, columns 615–16, concerning trade in finished manufactures with the United States of America, whether he will provide the correlation co-efficient between the change in the United States of America share of United Kingdom exports lagged by one year after the change in relative export unit values in United States dollars.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The correlation coefficient is negative with a value of 0·2.
  75
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 27 April,Official Report, columns 614–5, concerning gross output of finished manufactures and imports of semi-manufactures, intermediate products and basic materials, whether he will provide comparable figures for finished textiles, including man-made fibres with other fibres as basic materials; and if he will add figures for 1973 and for exports.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The available figures are given in the tables. Trade figures at 1985 prices are not available at the required level of detail. Current price data are shown instead.

  Exports and imports: textiles OTS basis, current prices

  1Semi-manufactures

  2Intermediate finished manufactures

  3Basic materials

  exports

  imports

  exports

  imports

  exports

  imports

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1970

  335·9

  217·5

  —

  —

  96·5

  183·7

  1973

  485·4

  431·5

  —

  —

  172·1

  322·2

  1979

  1,093·0

  1,413·4

  —

  —

  315·7

  475·5

  1988

  1,615·2

  2,965·5

  —

  —

  439·5

  688·4

  1 Semi-manufactured textiles are defined as division 65 of SITC less made-up articles (658) and floor coverings (659)

  2 Intermediate finished manufactures are not appropriate to textiles.

  3 Basic materials for textiles are defined as division 26 of SITC (textile fibres)

  Hand-held Video Cameras
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action the Government are taking concerning the European Commission's proposal to increase the tariff on compact hand-held video cameras from 4·9 per cent. to 14 per cent.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Neither the United Kingdom nor any other member state, supported the Commission proposal. It has therefore been withdrawn.

  Tariffs
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether(a) the United Kingdom or (b) the EEC maintain tariffs on any products where there are no idigenous industries to protect.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United Kingdom applies the common Customs tariff of the European Community. This includes duties on goods not produced in the Community.

  Iron and Steel Imports
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications the Department of Trade and Industry import licensing board received from traders wishing to exclude existing contracts from the import prohibition on iron and steel from South Africa set out in NTI2097; how many applications were approved; what was the total value of approved applications; what were the dates of entry into such contracts; and how long they will run.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: Records are kept of licences issued, not of applications. Since 1 January 1987, 377 licences have been issued. Allowing for licences returned unused, the total quantity licensed was 66,187 tonnes. Details for 1986 could be provided only at disproportionate expense.
  76

  Gross output of finished manufactures: textiles1 1985 prices

  £ million

  1970

  2—

  1973

  2,039

  1979

  1,833

  1988

  2,011

  1 Finished textiles is defined as carpets and other textile floor coverings, household and made-up textiles (SIC[80] groups 438 and 455).

  2 Not available.

  Information relating to contract terms is provided in confidence by applicants.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what quantity and value of iron and steel goods in each of the commodity categories described in Notice to Importers 2097 and 2180 were imported in each month (i) from all sources and (ii) from South Africa, in the period since September 1986; and what was South Africa's ranking among all sources.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: The information requested is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  State Pension Age
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations with the European Commission and other member states on the state pension age.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The proposal for a Council directive "completing the implementation of equal treatment for men and women in statutory and occupational social security schemes" was first tabled in October 1987. Since March 1989 there have been three working group meetings of officials from member states in Brussels and the draft directive was also discussed at the informal meeting of Ministers at Toledo on 28 April which I attended. While progress has been made there still remain a number of outstanding problems. Negotiations are continuing to see how these might best be resolved so as to ensure unanimous agreement by member states.

  Deaf-blind People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many deaf-blind people are currently in
  77
  receipt of the mobility allowance; how many have appealed after an initial refusal; and how many have succeeded on appeal.

  (2) what is the estimated cost of extending the mobility allowance to (a) all deaf-blind people, and (b) deaf-blind people between the age of five and 75 years.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that we do not collect information about the number of deaf-blind people who have claimed or who arc in receipt of mobility allowance. In view of this and the lack of information about the number of deaf-blind people in the population, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the cost of making the allowance available specifically for deaf-blind people.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in the Official Report the community care grants expenditure in respect of the Department of Social Security offices in Smethwick and West Bromwich for the year 1988–89; what percentage these figures are of the total amount of community care grants allocations for those offices in Smethwick and West Bromwich for the year 1988–89; and what arrangements are made so far as the disposal of the surplus expenditure for 1988–89 is concerned.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The 1988–89 outturn data for individual local offices will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Local office allocations are made for a financial year. Unspent balances at the end of a financial year are not available for expenditure in the following year.

  Income Support Claimants
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of income support claimants for each Department of Social Security office.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest information available, for 28 February 1989, has been placed in the Library. The source of the information, which is provisional and subject to amendment, is the quarterly count of cases in action which may include some cases not actually in receipt of benefit.

  Community Charge
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the period of time in which people can apply for a poll tax rebate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no plans to extend the 56-day limit. The regulations provide that people who claimed community charge benefit within 56 days of 1 April 1989, or who claim within 56 days of receiving their first community charge demand notice if this is later, will have their claim treated as if it had been made on 1 April 1989 provided that they were liable for the charge from that date and the appropriate authority is satisfied that any delay in issuing the demand notice was not caused by the claimant's attempts to evade payment of the charge. The 56-day period was arrived at following discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. It has been extensively publicised. It represents a real concession to the 78
  concerns expressed and is a significant departure from the principle that benefit cannot normally be awarded until it has been claimed. The 56 days allow reasonable time for the making of claims, even where people may not have claimed benefit before.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish(a) his latest estimates of how many people in England and Wales will be entitled to community charge rebate, and (b) the expected level of take-up.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that no estimates are available of the numbers of people who might be entitled to community charge rebate if they were to claim it, so it is not possible to derive an estimated level of take up. Estimates of the numbers of people expected to receive it were given in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay) on 19 October 1988 at columns 897–8. Revised estimates will be available in due course.

  AIDS
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reply he has sent to the letter from ACT-UP delivered to him on 18 May; what action he is taking to ensure that all people with AIDS or ARC are able to afford the food recommended to them by their doctors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  A copy of my reply to the letter from ACT-UP which was handed to their representative on 22 May has been forwarded to the right hon. Member. We will be giving careful consideration to the implications for benefits of the results of all the OPCS surveys. We welcome the views of interested groups such as ACT-UP on those results and their implications.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  "Our Business is Service"
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of publishing the leaflet entitled "Our Business is Service".

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

  Budgeting Loans and Community Care Grants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) the East Midlands region and (ii) each of the offices serving the Nottingham, North constituency.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the revised estimate for family credit take-up by caseload included the estimated number of families entitled to family credit due to the freeze in the child benefit rate.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest estimate relates to 1988 only. It is based on an examination of family expenditure survey returns for April to December 1988 and therefore has regard to the child benefit rates applicable at that time.

  Benefits
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) families and (b) children are in receipt of means tested benefits broken down into family credit, income support and housing benefit as a result of the freeze in child benefit, taking into account the new estimates of the take-up of family credit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 9 May 1989]: Estimates are only available on the caseload assumptions in the Public Expenditure White Paper (Cm. 615). They are based on combined 1985 and 1986 family expenditure survey data uprated to reflect the position in 1989–90. Estimates of this kind are particularly uncertain because of small sample sizes. Bearing these factors in mind, it is possible that an extra 15,000 families (with perhaps 30,000 children) are now claiming family credit because child benefit was not uprated in April 1989. The number of extra families receiving income support and housing benefit are likely to have increased by about 5,000 (with perhaps 10,000 children).

ENVIRONMENT

  Archaeological Investigations
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce statutory controls to require developers to undertake archaeological investigations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Many developers already contribute voluntarily to archaeological investigations before development. Where a site is scheduled, archaeological evaluations may be required before an application for scheduled monument consent can be determined, or an opportunity for excavation may be required as a condition of consent. Local planning authorities may in some circumstances require further information about the archaeological implications of development proposals before they determine a planning application. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden) on 24 May at column 602 about our proposals to issue guidance on such matters.

  Water Undertakings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply of 27 April,Official Report, column 522, concerning installing water treatment plant to meet EEC standards, whether he will publish in the Official Report the sum of the initial projections together with his view of what constitutes a reasonable return capital on capital invested in water undertakings.
  80
  Mr. Howard
  Projections of costs are still under discussion with individual water undertakers. We are also still considering the rate of return appropriate for water and sewerage undertakers.

  Historic Buildings
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether lists of historic buildings have yet been fully compiled.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The national resurvey of listed buildings, which began in 1970, is virtually complete. Three areas have still to be resurveyed: Isle of Lundy; the parishes of Bracebridge Heath, Canwick, Heighinton, Washingborough in Lincolnshire; and the parish of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, and six areas are in the process of being resurveyed. A further 50 lists are being prepared for publication. To date a total of 1,757 resurvey lists have been published. Some of the lists produced during the early years of the resurvey have been found to be deficient in various respects. English Heritage will be reviewing them over the next few years.

  Commercial Premises
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the alteration of valuation lists for commercial premises, he intends to make regulations revising the basis of calculation for compensation to tenants under part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes.

  Planning
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the matter of B1 planning consents in general following the recent High Court case, London borough of Camdenv v. Department of the Environment, and on local authorities' powers to attach conditions to such consents in particular.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 11 May at column 521. I do not believe the recent High Court judgment is inconsistent with the Government's policy in relation to the "business" use class.

  South Yorkshire Valuation and Community Charge Tribunal (Members)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by name and nominating body the current serving members of the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following people are all members of the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal.

  Members appointed by Barnsley metropolitan borough council:
  Mrs. A. Bailey; Mrs. N. Collett; Councillor T. Dixon; Mr. P. Doyle; Councillor Mrs. C. Evans; Councillor B. G. Goodard; Mr. M. Harper; Councillor Mrs. M. Harrison; Mr. S. Hepworth JP; Mr. F. Hollins; Mrs. N. Hollins JP; Mr. J. Marsden; Mr. D. Roberts; Mrs. P. Smith; Mr. A. Tucker; Mr. A. Vodden.
  81
  Members appointed by Doncaster metropolitan borough council:
  Mr. M. Burns; Councillor B. Cassley JP; Mr. M. Collins; Mr. H. Dutton; Councillor G. Gallimore JP; Mr. H. Gladders; Mr. A. Greening; Mr. C. Griggs; Councillor A. Grimson JP; Councillor K. S. Judge; Councillor A. Lanaghan; Mr. M. McCoy; Councillor G. M. McDade JP; Miss E. Plumb; Councillor C. W. Verrill; Mr. C. Wedd.

  Members appointed by Rotherham metropolitan borough council:
  Mr. D. W. Dale; Mr. A. M. Davies JP; Mr. J. P. Dolbon; Mrs. I. Farren; Mrs. A. Jarvis; Mr. A. Kiddy; Mr. R. H. Noble; Mr. R. S. Russell; Councillor Miss M. Sides; Mr. P. Thirlwall; Mr. V. M. Thornes; Councillor B. Walker; Councillor S. Walker; Councillor G. Whelbourn; Mr. B. Williams; Councillor W. Winder.

  Members appointed by Sheffield metropolitan district council:
  Mr. F. W. Adams; Mrs. M. Burrow; Councillor J. A. Butler; Mr. J. M. Davey; Mr. J. G. Marshall; Mr. M. Nicholson; Mr. C. Oates; Mrs. D. Podlesny; Mrs. G. L. Randell; Councillor Mrs. E. Smith; Mr. M. E. Smith; Mr. G. A. Winter; Mr. P. E. Wood.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites in the three counties of Yorkshire, and in Humberside which are licensed to dispose of(a) radioactive waste, (b) special waste, and (c) clinical waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the Department's "List of premises in England and Wales currently authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 to dispose of radioactive waste" which includes premises in the three counties of Yorkshire and Humberside. A copy of this list is in the Library of the House. The numbers of sites in these counties licensed for the disposal of other wastes are listed below. Information on the types of waste licensed for disposal is held by the appropriate waste disposal authority, which is required to maintain a public register.

  Number

  North Yorkshire

  118

  South Yorkshire

  257

  West Yorkshire

  443

  Humberside

  154

  Steel-framed Houses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those constituencies where he has information that there are steel-framed houses.

  Mr. Trippier
  Locations of steel-framed houses built in England, and reported to the Building Research Establishment. are listed in its 1987 report "Steel-framed and steel-clad houses: inspection and assessment". A copy is in the Library.

  Capital Accounting
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to implement the proposals contained in the consultative document on capital accounting requiring local authorities to maintain a comprehensive inventory of assets.
  82
  Mr. Gummer
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the consultative implementation manual, "Capital Accounting in Local Authorities—The Way Forward", published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Association of County Councils, the Association of District Councils, and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. This document is the responsibility of the bodies by which it was published and its implementation is a matter for the local authorities to whom its recommendations are addressed. I am sympathetic to the general approach set out in the manual.

  Popplewell Report
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many recommendations of the Popplewell report which bear on the responsibilities of his Department have not been implemented; what were those recommendations; and, in each case, what are the reasons they have not been acted upon.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None. In December 1986, the Home Office issued a revised version of the guide to safety at sports grounds. Chapter 11 of the document—"Fire Safety"—dealt, among other fire-related issues, with recommendation 10 of the Popplewell report. The technical content of the building regulations continues to be under review. Later this year, the Department will issue a consultation document covering all aspects of the building regulations as they relate to fire.

  The Government's proposals for a football membership scheme (recommendation 15 of the Popplewell report) are contained in the Football Spectators Bill.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times between 1985 and 1987 water sources in England and Wales were shown to exceed maximum admissible concentrations of pollutants.

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the period from May 1988 to May 1989 maximum admissible concentration levels have been exceeded in water supplies for Leicestershire.

  Mr. Howard
  I understand that water supplies for Leicestershire regularly complied with the EC drinking water directive in the period May 1988 to May 1989 except for water supplies serving a small part of north-west Leicestershire, which marginally exceeded the standard for magnesium. There were occasional breaches of the pesticide standard set in the EC directive. However, all were within levels considered acceptable by medical advisers.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on proposals to privatise certain functions of the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) today.

  Riso Conference
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what Ministers or officials of his Department will(a) be present, (b) present papers and (c) be involved in round-table discussion sessions at the Riso international conference on environmental models; emissions and consequences, to be held on 22 to 25 May in Denmark.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  One of the Department's principal scientific contractors, an expert on environment modelling, attended parts of the Riso meeting. He gave a paper and participated in discussions.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was his Department's participation at 84
  the conference on protecting the ozone layer held in Finland on 2 May; what papers were presented by it; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attended the first meeting of the parties to the Montreal protocol in Helsinki. Copies of the United Kingdom national statement, and of the message from the London "Saving the Ozone Layer" conference, which he presented to the meeting, are available in the Library. The European Community's call, made in response to a United Kingdom initiative, for CFCs to be eliminated by the end of the century, was endorsed by the Governments attending the Helsinki meeting. We shall work towards amendment of the protocol to this effect at next year's second meeting of the parties in London.

  "Health for All By The Year 2000"
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that rate support grant reflects the call for local authorities to invest in programmes to achieve the targets set in the "Health For All By The Year 2000" programme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for local authorities to decide to what extent the targets outlined in the WHO "Health For All By The Year 2000" programme should be reflected in their plans and priorities. Rate support grant is unhypothecated and provides support for local authority spending on all services.

  Corby New Town
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total sum realised by sale of assets by the Commission for the New Towns in Corby for each year since 1979–80.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is as follows:

  Sums realised by the Commission for the New Towns for the sale of assets

  Year

  £ million

  Corby

  1979–80

  6·43

  —

  1980–81

  29·61

  ·952

  1981–82

  61·85

  ·580

  1982–83

  51·18

  5·840

  1983–84

  55·25

  2·517

  1984–85

  57·59

  1·506

  1985–86

  78·67

  1·826

  1986–87

  169·31

  4·464

  1987–88

  216·66

  10·564

  11988–89

  334·00

  17·414

  1,060·55

  45·663

  1 Provisional.

  Notes:

  1. Figures do not include sums realised by development corporations prior to wind-up.

  2. Figures are gross, before deduction of selling expenses.

  Air Quality
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will be introducing measures to protect public health based on the World Health Organisation air quality guidelines for Europe 1987;

  (2) whether his Department has assessed the World Health Organisation air quality guidelines for Europe 1987;

  (3) whether the Government intend to introduce air quality standards for particulates and tropospheric ozone based on the World Health Organisation air quality guidelines for Europe 1987;

  (4) whether the Government intend to introduce air quality standards for Britain for sodium dioxide and nitrous dioxide which are more stringent than EEC standards.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Warren Spring Laboratory published a report—LR650 (AP)—in January 1988 comparing the available United Kingdom air quality data with the World Health Organisation guide values. WHO emphasises that these are not limit values but rather targets for improved air quality, to be considered in the context of prevailing exposure and environmental, social, economic and cultural conditions.
  86
  We continue to keep air quality under review in relation to the WHO guidelines and other environmental information. At present we see no reason to set more stringent limits in the United Kingdom than are generally applicable in the EC for sulphur dioxide, particulates and nitrogen dioxide. Nor do we have plans to set a standard for tropospheric ozone.

  Acid Rain
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the most recent figures on the levels of acidification in rainfall(a) in Warrington, (b) the north-west and (c) the average for Britain as a whole.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The data requested are provided for 1988 in the table. The United Kingdom average has been computed from 60 stations in the Department's acid rain network, the north-west average from seven stations and the Warrington value has been interpolated from nearby stations.

  Annual mean precipitation weighted acidity in rainfall

  Data region

  u eq H+/litre

  pH

  United Kingdom

  25

  4·6

  North-West

  31

  4·5

  Warrington

  33

  4·5

  Simplified Planning Zones
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for the establishment of simplified planning zones have been(a) received arid (b) approved in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Greater London.

  Mr. Chope
  The adoption of simplified planning zones is handled locally. At present, two simplified planning zones have been adopted in England, none in Wales arid none in Greater London.

  Ports (Rating)
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his review of rating procedure for statutory and non-statutory ports; if he will publish the conclusions of the review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Discussions with representatives of the ports about rating are continuing and we shall be making proposals later in the year.

  Water Use
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any water use restrictions currently in operation.

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is giving to water authorities and water users during the current dry spell.

  Mr. Howard
  Responsibility for action, including advising consumers, rests with the water undertakers. We are, however, monitoring water resources closely.

  Water Stocks
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what regions of the United Kingdom impounded water stocks are below average.

  Mr. Howard
  Only in the Southern water authority's area are some impounded water stocks below normal.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for full implementation of recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee on the control and funding of housing associations, in its 16th report of Session 1985–86, HC 108.

  Mr. Trippier
  Action taken and in hand on the Committee's recommendations is described in the report No. 312 by the Comptroller and Auditor General "Department of the Environment: Housing Association Grant", published on 13 April 1989.

  Management and Maintenance
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest comparable information on the average level of spending on management and maintenance by(a) local authorities and (b) housing associations, in (i) Greater London, (ii) metropolitan districts and (iii) non-metropolitan districts in England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  The latest available study comparing the management costs of local authorities and housing associations is in section 2 of "The Nature and Effectiveness of Housing Management in England" produced by the Centre for Housing Research at the university of Glasgow. This distinguishes metropolitan authorities including London boroughs from non-metropolitan authorities and national or regional housing associations from local housing associations. Copies of the report, which was published earlier this year, are in the Library.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest estimates of the levels of expenditure on management and maintenance by local authorities that will take place in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Trippier
  I assume this is a reference to management and maintenance of local authority housing. This is a matter for the councils concerned.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Department does not possess or use any listening equipment for surveillance of its telephone network.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those newspapers contacted by his Department in connection with the Minister for Local Government's community charge articles.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, further to his reply of 23 May to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, (Mr. Nellist)Official Report, column 488, he will list the newspapers to which more than 500 articles were sent.

  Mr. Gummer
  I will write to the hon. Members with this information.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have indicated that they will incorporate the whole or part of the contents of the leaflet, "The Community Charge: The So-Called Poll Tax: How It Will Work For You" in material they are to distribute; and if he will list them.

  Mr. John Gummer
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: The leaflet was not intended for incorporation into other information material although some local authorities have expressed an interest in using it in this way. However, it stands on its own as a concise, accurate and factual introduction to the community charge.

  Nene Washes Site
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conditions were attached to the offer of a grant by the Nature Conservancy Council to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for the purchase of 16·5 acres of lowland damp grassland within the Nene Washes site of special scientific interest near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire to extend the existing Nene Washes Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  After careful consideration the NCC decided that no offer of grant should be made in this instance.

  Sewage Sludge (Dumping)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the blockade by the Greenpeace ship Moby Dick of the tanker Mancunium, due to be loaded with sewage sludge for dumping at sea, at the Slowhill Copse sewage works at Marchwood and about Her Majesty's Government's policy on the dumping of sewage sludge at sea.

  Mr. Howard
  On 23 May 1989, a vessel operated by Greenpeace UK Ltd. obstructed the departure of a vessel loaded with sewage sludge from Slowhill Copse sewage works of the Southern water authority for disposal at sea. Following an application to the High Court, an injunction was granted to the Southern water authority restraining Greenpeace from this or similar action.

  I deplore action of this sort which in this case could itself have caused significant environmental problems. At present the United Kingdom disposes at sea each year of about 30 per cent. of a total of 1·2 million dry tonnes of sewage sludge. The basis of our policy in this area, as for other wastes, is to select the best practicable environmental option for each waste stream.
  89
  In the case of sea disposal, dumping operations require approval from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and his colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland and a licence is granted only where it is clear that no practicable alternative on land is available and it can be shown that there is no risk to the marine environment.

  Community Charge (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment is he yet in receipt of information necessary to give the national community charge for the city of Nottingham for the year 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 9 May at column 386 and to the hon. Member for Sheffield Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 25 April at column 532.

  Severn Estuary
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for safeguarding the outstanding natural interest of the Severn estuary, in the light of current development pressures; whether he plans further designations and safeguards in the wider Severn estuary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Severn estuary has been notified by the Nature Conservancy Council as a site of special scientific interest under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This notification provides the site with legal protection from activities likely to harm its nature conservation interests and ensures that the views of the NCC are taken into account when development proposals affecting the site are being considered.

  Two parts of the estuary, Bridgewater Bay and the upper Severn have been designated as special protection areas for birds under the European Communities directive 79/409/EEC and/or as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention. The whole estuary has also been indentified by NCC as having the potential for designation under the directive and the convention but no formal case for further designations has yet been submitted.

  Classification as an SPA imposes stringent criteria, above and beyond those related to SSSI notification, that must be applied when development proposals are being considered; these criteria are set out in detail in DOE circular 27/87—"Nature Conservation". The circular makes it clear that, for planning purposes, potential SPAs should be treated in the same manner as formally designated sites.

  Beaches
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in the Official Report the names and locations of all United Kingdom beaches which in 1988 failed to comply with the EEC bathing water directive 76/160 for enteroviruses and salmonella;

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report, all United Kingdom beaches which were tested in 1988 for compliance with the EEC bathing water directive 76/160 for enteroviruses and salmonella.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 May at column 265.
  90
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sources of pollution into the Bristol channel he can identify; and if he will set a target date of 1 January 1993 for the adjacent beaches to meet European Community bathing water standards.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: This information is not held centrally in the Department but information on consented discharges is available on the public registers held by water authorities. We are currently discussing with water authorities, programmes for improving bathing waters; however, individual schemes necessarily take up a number of years from initial feasibility studies to completion, and may involve major engineering work. Consequently, I am unable to set a target date of 1 January for all the waters along the Bristol channel to meet EC standards.

  North West Water (Land Development Officer)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the implications of the advertisement by North West Water for a senior management post for a land development officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The notice was an internal staff circular related to the making permanent of a temporary post concerned with disposal of surplus land. The disposal of surplus land by public bodies is well-established Government policy. I would expect the future water plc to pursue the disposal of surplus land. As I have recently announced, provision is being made through the Water Bill for the benefit of proceeds of land disposals to be shared between customers and shareholders.

  Housing Costs
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, in the Official Report, the permitted expenditure limits for house building, repair, renovation and maintenance and the actual expenditure, for each of the Somerset district councils, in the years 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: It is for each local authority to decide how its resources should be targeted; the actual expenditure figures are as follows:

  Table 1

  Somerset—1986–87 outturn £'000

  New build (including land)

  Repair and maintenance

  Renovation

  Mendip

  2,218

  2,545

  2,926

  Sedgemoor

  2,114

  2,061

  1,263

  Taunton Deane

  822

  3,190

  1,893

  West Somerset

  806

  737

  443

  South Somerset

  2,046

  2,493

  1,424

  Table 2

  Somerset—1987–88 provisional outturn £'000

  New build (including land)

  Repair and maintenance

  Renovation

  Mendip

  1,005

  1,872

  1,435

  Sedgemoor

  1,682

  2,452

  2,066

  Taunton Deane

  718

  3,033

  2,079

  West Somerset

  894

  425

  492

  South Somerset

  2,065

  3,818

  1,377

  91

  Table 3

  Somerset—1988–89 estimated outturn £'000

  New build (including land)

  Repair and maintenance

  Renovation

  Mendip

  1,010

  3,004

  1,239

  Sedgemoor

  3,621

  4,078

  2,379

  Taunton Deane

  2,848

  4,742

  4,085

  West Somerset

  1,050

  650

  770

  South Somerset

  1,732

  4,571

  3,834

  Gipsies
  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide comparative figures for the number of gipsy families known to be in England and Wales at present, five years and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: Accurate information on the numbers of gipsy families is not available. The numbers of gipsy caravans in England as recorded by the twice-yearly counts carried out by the Department for the periods in question were:

  Number

  January 1989

  11,321

  January 1984

  9,929

  January 1979

  8,358

  The Welsh Office has its own arrangements for monitoring numbers of gipsies in Wales.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to prevent trade in endangered species in the United Kingdom; and if he has any plans for new initiatives.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: The United Kingdom complies fully with the requirements of EC regulation 3626 which implements the convention on international trade in endangered species within the European Community. Our most recent initiative is to call for concerted European support for a total ban on trade in new ivory. We shall do this at the next Council meeting of Environment Ministers on 8 June.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what quantity of ivory from the African elephant is currently held or has recently been held at Heathrow airport awaiting retrospective import clearance; what information he has as to whether this ivory was obtained in breach of the convention on international trade on endangered species; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: I understand from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise that details of individual consignments cannot be released where Customs action is not yet completed.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he recently allowed the delivery to the United Kingdom of several tons of African elephant tusks originally obtained in contravention of the convention on international trade on endangered species.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: The Department has allowed no such delivery.
  92
  Under the convention on international trade in endangered species it is the Department's responsibility to issue import and export permits for ivory. We do so only with the agreement of the CITES secretariat ivory unit in Lausanne, Switzerland and when we are satisfied that the requirements of EC regulation 3226/82 have been met.

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to secure the sale of nationally owned nature reserves; which reserves may be sold during the next two years; and what evidence he has of public support for such disposal.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: The Nature Conservancy Council is reviewing policy for NNRs. In response to the council's preliminary report published on 3 May, the Government welcomed the suggestion of increased participation by the voluntary and private sectors in reserve ownership and management. We also recognised that there would be a need for some reserves to be held in the NCC's ownership, and assurances that the ownership and management of sites could only be transferred on condition that there continued to be adequate safeguards to ensure the conservation of their wildlife or geological interest. I understand that the council is planning to submit proposals later this year.

  The majority of national nature reserves are already owned and managed for conservation by private landowners or voluntary bodies.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, regarding storage of radioactive waste for which there is presently no disposal site available, whether it is Government policy that radioactive waste shall be stored at the site at which the waste is created in the case of Crown-exempt nuclear operators including the Ministry of Defence.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Waste should be safely stored in an appropriate place where it is created or elsewhere. This Department has no statutory control over the storage by Crown-exempt operators such as the Ministry of Defence. However, they have agreed to observe practices no less stringent than those subject to statutory control.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) regarding storage of radioactive waste for which there is presently no disposal site available, whether it is Government policy that radioactive waste shall be stored at the site at which the waste is created;

  (2) regarding storage of radioactive waste for which there is presently no disposal site available, whether Government policy allows for the transfer of radioactive waste from one storage facility to another;

  (3) what is the Government's policy on the storage of radioactive nuclear waste for which there is, at present, no disposal facility available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: The Government's policy is that wherever such waste is stored it must be safe. This may be at the site where it is created or elsewhere. The safe transport from one storage facility to another is not precluded.

  Tributyl Tin (Pollution)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what rivers in England and Wales are known to have been polluted by the use of tributyl tin by boat owners.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: The main freshwater rivers affected have been those carrying large numbers of pleasure craft, which were treated with tributyl tin antifouling paints before the Government banned their sale and supply in 1987. We have direct evidence of contamination of the Rivers Bure, Yare, Great Ouse, Thames, Aire and Medway. It is too soon to detect the effect of the ban in reducing tributyl tin concentrations in rivers.

  Drought Forecasts
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest forecasts available to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: On latest information, areas at risk due to low levels of water resources are confined to limited parts of the south-east and east Devon. Elsewhere, resources are in a healthy state. We are monitoring the position closely.

  Rents
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 9 May,Official Report, column 386, to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that tenants outside the protection of the Rent Acts are not charged rents inclusive of rates after the introduction of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Gummer
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: The Housing Act 1988 will apply to most tenancies entered into after 15 January 1989 and any rents determined by the rent assessment committee under that Act will be exclusive of rates. Any reductions in inclusive rents arising from the introduction of community charge should be settled on the basis of individual contracts.

  General Anaesthetic (Minors)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the occasions on which a parent or guardian of a minor does not need to sign the consent form for general anaesthetic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Parental consent to examination or treatment of a minor is not required in the following circumstances:

  1. Where the child has reached age 16;

  2. Where there is a medical emergency and parental consent is not obtainable;

  3. Where a child has sufficient understanding of the treatment proposed to give consent on his or her own behalf. (It will be a matter of medical judgment as to whether any particular child has sufficient understanding).

HEALTH

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific proposals is he preparing to tackle the problem of food poisoning in airline meals.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is the responsibility of the airlines and the airline caterers to ensure that their food does not cause food poisoning.

  Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the food legislation where applicable and this is currently under review.

  We are shortly to issue reviewed guidelines on cook-chill preparation and airline caterers using the cook-chill system should follow the recommendations.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning associated with untreated milk occurred in England and Wales in each of the years from 1983 to 1987.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number of cases

  1983

  285

  1984

  406

  1985

  233

  1986

  347

  1987

  366

  Dentists
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the report of Professor Dawid's study on measurement of the work load of dentists; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The report, "Measurement of Dentists' Workload" by Professor A. P. Dawid, of the department of statistical science, University College, London, was commissioned jointly by the Department and the British Dental Association to advise on the principles on which the measurement of work load in the general dental services should be based. Officials from the Department and the association have studied the report and agree that it is a useful starting point for a programme of further work designed to achieve an agreed position on work load measurement for the purposes of the dental rates study group and the preparation of evidence for the doctors and dentists review body. Initial discussions on how to take this programme forward are already under way. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional costs have been incurred in the change in organisation from the Dental Estimates Board to the Dental Practice Board; and whether he will itemise the main headings of expenditure.

  Mr. Freeman
  There have been no costs associated with the change of name from the Dental Estimates Board to the Dental Practice Board.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions are currently being
  95
  undertaken with the object of improving emergency dental services; and when he anticipates being able to report progress;

  (2) what provision he intends to make to enable patients in the community dental service to have access to emergency dental services.

  Mr. Freeman
  Arrangements for the provision of local emergency dental services are a matter for the relevant family practitioner committee and any such services are also available to persons who have been treated by the community dental service. Discussions, with representatives of the dental profession, on the terms of a new contract for general dental practitioners will cover emergency treatment provision but we cannot say when we shall be able to report on the discussions.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in computerising the remuneration of general dental practitioners in England and Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The translation of returns from dentists to the Dental Practice Board into schedules of payments for family practitioner committees to make to them is already fully computerised. A pilot trial to test the feasibility and value of electronic data transmission between dentists and the Dental Practice Board is currently in progress, involving 60 dentists in 26 practices in England and Wales. A full report on the trial is expected in July.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has held an internal inquiry into the late arrival of form FPN 472 relating to dental charges; and what redress is available through departmental machinery for the general dental practitioners in the event of subsequent under-remuneration.

  Mr. Freeman
  Family practitioner notice 472 advised dentists of changes in dental charges as from 1 April 1989. The department distributed the notice to family practitioner committees (FPCs) in time for them to deliver to dentists before the changes came into effect. In a very small number of cases there was a delay of a few days in the transmission of the notice from FPCs to dentists. There is no reason why this should lead to any under-remuneration.

  Abortions
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultants and (b) nurses have taken a conscientious objection to abortion under section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967; and what have been the comparable figures each since 1968.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown by regional health authority of the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales under the Abortion Act 1967; in each region, how many of these abortions were performed to save the life of the mother; and what percentage the latter represents of the former.
  96
  Mr. Freeman
  The exact information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost; the nearest readily available information, covering the years 1970 to 1987, is shown in the table.

  Number of notifications of (a) total abortions, (b) abortions performed under grounds of 5 or 6 1of the 1967 Abortion Act, by area of usual residence, 2England and Wales 1970 to 1987.

  Area of usual residence

  A

  B

  Percentage B of A

  England and Wales

  2,137,120

  251

  0·012

  Wales

  101,393

  15

  0·015

  Northern

  98,905

  21

  0·021

  Yorkshire

  120,448

  12

  0·010

  Trent

  159,398

  28

  0·018

  East Anglia

  64,424

  8

  0·012

  North West Thames

  258,054

  24

  0·009

  North East Thames

  229,278

  15

  0·007

  South East Thames

  184,154

  11

  0·006

  South West Thames

  156,905

  14

  0·009

  Wessex

  89,641

  24

  0·027

  Oxford

  90,772

  7

  0·008

  South Western

  108,272

  14

  0·013

  West Midlands

  230,402

  18

  0·008

  Mersey

  91,559

  13

  0·014

  North Western

  153,515

  27

  0·018

  Note: A =Total abortions 1970–87 inclusive.

  B = Performed under grounds 5 or 6.

  1 The Act allows abortions to be performed in emergency to savey the life of the pregnant woman (ground 5) or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (ground 6).

  2 1970–73: Hospital regions.

  1974–87: Regional health authorities.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of abortions that have so far been performed in the United Kingdom under the Abortion Act 1967; how many of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother; and what percentage this latter figure represents of the former.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total number of notifications of legal terminations, to resident and non-resident women, carried out in the United Kingdom under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 from 27 April 1968 to 31 December 1987 is 2,960,234. Of these 142 (0·005 per cent.) were performed under ground 5 of the Act, in emergency to save the life of the pregnant woman.

  Complete United Kingdom data for 1988 are not yet available; currently available data, which are provisional, are as follows:

  Total

  Ground 5

  England and Wales (1 January to 30 September 1988)

  137,103

  14

  Scotland (1 January to 31 December 1988)

  10,003

  0

  1 (0.003 per cent. of total).

  Note The Abortion Act 1967 does not apply in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of abortions performed on girls under the age of 16 years have been carried out in(a) non-National Health Service premises and (b) pay beds in National Health Service hospitals in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
  97
  Mr. Freeman
  No data on the number of terminations performed in pay beds in National Health Service hospitals are collected centrally. The other data requested are shown in the table.

  Number of notifications of (a) total abortions and (b) those performed in non-NHS premises, on girls under 16 years of age, England and Wales, 1983–87

  A

  B

  Year

  Total number

  Performed in non-NHS premises

  Percentage B of A

  1983

  4,566

  1,898

  41·6

  1984

  4,609

  1,971

  42·8

  1985

  4,427

  1,874

  42·3

  1986

  4,240

  1,734

  40·9

  1987

  4,075

  1,747

  42·9

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received(a) supporting and (b) opposing a reduction in the upper time limit for abortions to 20 weeks; what percentage the latter represents of the former; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since March 1989 we have received 25 representations; 14 supported a reduction in the time limit. None referred specifically to a 20-week limit.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the saving to the National Health Service as a result of the compulsory wearing of front seat belts, in each year since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No precise estimate has been made. The introduction of compulsory wearing of front seat belts has undoubtedly saved the lives of some of those involved in road traffic accidents. However, many of those whose lives have been saved have instead received injuries with consequent costs to the National Health Service which would not previously have been incurred.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staffed hostels for discharged psychiatric patients provided by(a) local authorities and (b) voluntary bodies are available for (i) short-term accommodation andd (ii) long-term accommodation.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not collected centrally in the form requested. The numbers of homes, hostels and residential places for mentally ill people in each local authority in England is published in "Homes and Hostels for Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped People (A/F 11)". A copy of the 1986 publication is in the Library; and a copy of the 1987 publication, which it is hoped will be available shortly, will also be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health districts which have care registers for patients with special mental health needs; and when he plans to direct other districts to establish such registers as recommended in the report of the inquiry into the care and after-care of Miss Sharon Campbell.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected centrally. Planning guidance, issued to health and local 98
  authorities in July 1988, requires each district to have developed by 1991 a "care programme" to provide a system of co-ordinated continuing care for people chronically disabled by mental illness. Further guidance being prepared by the Department will include the need for a register of patients.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the inquiry into the care and after-care of Miss Sharon Campbell that he issue a written summary, classifying their statutory duties to provide after-care for former mentally disordered patients, to health and local authorities.

  Mr. Freeman
  This recommendation is under consideration.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that employing authorities have issued guidelines to staff in respect of violence from clients, and the reporting of such incidents of violence, as recommended in the report of the inquiry into the care and after-care of Miss Sharon Campbell.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Health and Safety at Work legislation places a statutory duty on employers to provide a safe working environment for their staff and the Health and Safety Executive published "Preventing Violence to Staff" with general guidance on this subject last year.

  Complementing this for the health and personal social services are: The report, "Violence to Staff, DHSS Advisory Committee on Violence to Staff", chaired by Lord Skelmersdale, which was issued at the same time as the Sharon Campbell report to directors of social services and NHS general managers and the report of the Association of Directors of Social Services, "Guidelines and Recommendations to Employers on Violence Against Employees" which was sent to local authorities in 1987. Last February we issued a video on violence to staff to directors of social services and to general managers. W hen issuing the video we said the aim was that authorities should use the Skelmersdale report and the video to stimulate constructive discussions amongst members, managers at all levels, staff and their representatives about the development of strategies and the other recommendations in the Skelmersdale report, which included the need for staff to report violent incidents. We said also this material should be useful in training courses to increase the awareness among the staff and managers of the problem of violence and what might be done to counteract it.

  At law it is for local authorities and health authorities, as the employers of the staff in these services, to take appropriate action and this was generally considered to be the best level at which action should be taken.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to issue the guidelines about psychiatric case management and community care reviews, as recommended in the report of inquiry into the care and after care of Miss Sharon Campbell; and to whom these guidelines will be made available.

  Mr. Freeman
  Further guidance to health and local authorities is being prepared on the components of "care programmes".

  Doctors and Nurses (Derbyshire)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of doctors and nurses in Derbyshire in 1979; and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Mellor
  The available information is given in the tables. Due to the 1982 NHS re-organisation, consistent data is not available for earlier years for these Districts.

  NHS Staff in post in North Derbyshire and South Derbyshire District Health Authorities

  At 30 September

  Whole time equivalents

  District health authority

  Medical and Dental

  Nursing and Midwife

  1982

  1987

  1982

  1987

  1WTE

  1WTE

  North Derbyshire

  84

  88

  1,875

  2,161

  Southern Derbyshire

  202

  184

  3,939

  3,947

  Source: D of H (SM13) Annual Censuses of NHS Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures independently rounded to nearest whole time equivalent (WTE).

  2 Figures includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff and exclude all consultants and senior registrars whose contracts are held by the regional health authority. The district health authority where

  The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff

  Numbers of old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: South Derbyshire

  Previous grade

  Staff3

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  (Whole time Equivalents)

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  2G

  H

  I

  Nursing Auxiliary

  941·53

  853·73

  79·80

  8·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nursery Nurse

  18·10

  —

  11·70

  6·40

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled Nurse1

  603·21

  —

  —

  307·44

  275·59

  20·18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled District Nurse1

  10·44

  —

  —

  —

  10·44

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Enrolled Nurse1

  40·60

  —

  —

  —

  27·50

  11·39

  1·71

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse1

  657·48

  —

  —

  —

  169·07

  451·03

  37·38

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Midwife1

  50·00

  —

  —

  —

  16·89

  33·11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister1

  18·37

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17·33

  1·00

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister II1

  451·92

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  264·02

  174·22

  13·69

  —

  Midwifery Sister II1

  106·13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  40·95

  65·28

  —

  —

  District Nurse (Sister II)1

  94·33

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94·33

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister I

  5·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  2·00

  1·00

  Midwifery Sister I

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  —

  —

  Health Visitor

  94·53

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94·53

  —

  —

  Senior Nurse 9

  53·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11·00

  34·00

  8·00

  Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife)

  11·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·00

  5·00

  1·00

  Senior Nurse 7

  33·60

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15·60

  15·00

  Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife)

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  —

  Clinical Teacher

  22·16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22·16

  —

  Fieldwork Teacher

  10·75

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10·75

  —

  Practical Work Teacher

  32·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  29·00

  —

  Tutor

  19·53

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19·53

  Tutor Midwife

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·00

  Post basic students

  Enrolled

  23·00

  —

  —

  23·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  56·00

  —

  —

  —

  40·00

  16·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sister II

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Others

  4·21

  2·21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·09

  Totals

  3,365·89

  855·94

  91·50

  344·84

  539·49

  531·71

  361·29

  452·36

  133·23

  55·53

  1 Excludes post basic students

  2 Excludes some additional '6' posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.

  3 Staff in post plus vacancies.

  100
  those staff work cannot be identified centrally. There will therefore be more doctors and dentists actually working in North Derbyshire and Southern Derbyshire district health authorities than are accounted for in the table.

  3 Includes agency nursing and midwifery staff.

  FPC staff in post

  Number of all practitioners

  Number of nurses

  Whole-time equivalent

  1982

  452

  52

  28

  1987

  507

  103

  56

  Note: The number of doctors include all general medical practitioners (unrestricted and restricted principals, assistants and trainees) for which Derbyshire family practitioner committee was responsible. Also the number of nurses employed by those doctors, and their whole-time equivalent.

  Grading Returns (Derbyshire)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available the grading returns received from the Southern Derbyshire district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The grading returns specified the number of nursing and midwifery staff in each old grade that were assimilated to each of the new clinical grades. This information is given in the table.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  As referred to in the Younger report on privacy, electronic listening devices are sometimes used in the observation of patients in hospitals.

  Hospitals (Policy Decisions)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether prior to his proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients", he gathered information on the amount of time necessary to make decisions on general policy for the management of hospitals, and specifically on(a) organisation of services for in-patients and out-patients, (b) co-ordination of time-tables for staff-rotas and (c) organisation and control of funding exercises required for (i) adequate pay rewards for the medical, nursing and auxiliary staff, (ii) demands for changes in numbers of hospital staff and (iii) adequate provisions for the good operation of the different hospital units.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We undertook a comprehensive review of all relevant aspects of the NHS before bringing forward our proposals for change.

  Hearing Loss
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he plans to provide to the public more information and a wider education programme on the facts surrounding loss of hearing.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department publishes the booklet "How to use your hearing aid" which is issued free to all NHS hearing aid users. It gives useful general advice and includes reference to other services which may be of help to hearing impaired people. The Department of Social Security publishes leaflet NI 207 on occupational deafness which explains how industrial injuries disablement benefit may be claimed. There are no plans to issue any additional guidance at present. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf has however, referred to the need for better information for consumers in their "Fair Hearing" campaign document "Hearing Aids—The Case for Change", and we shall be considering this along with the other proposals that it has put forward.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to implement the Royal National Institute for the Deaf proposal, set out in the document "Hearing Aids—a Case for Change", for a new system of dispensing hearing aids, and helping the deaf or hard of hearing to obtain help;

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's review of its policy on hearing aid provision and services; what proposals he has to improve counselling to those who are deaf or hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are grateful to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf for their comprehensive package of proposals relating to the provision of hearing aids. We 102
  have now received their refined proposals which take into account the comments they have received from other interested organisations. The issues involved are complex and because of the wide-ranging implications of any change in the present system of provision, we shall need to take time to consider them, in the light of the views of all concerned. We shall of course bear fully in mind the need for rehabilitation and after-care services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to widen the range of hearing aids available on the National Health Service to cover cosmetically designed hearing aids.

  Mr. Mellor
  The National Health Service range of hearing aids is provided to ameliorate loss of hearing rather than for cosmetic reasons. In-the-ear hearing aids, which are sometimes regarded as more cosmetically acceptable, can be provided where an NHS consultant can see clear clinical reasons for doing so. Skin tone hearing aids are available in each of the NHS series of behind-the-ear aids.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will implement stricter regulations concerning compensation and maintenance cover for users of hearing aids;

  (2) what is his policy towards free maintenance of hearing aids in the public and private sectors.

  Mr. Mellor
  Routine maintenance of all hearing aids issued under National Health Service arrangements is free. However, the cost of repair or replacement of a hearing aid may be recovered in cases of repeated loss or damage from patients or parents of children who are patients. Hearing aids provided by the private sector are the responsibility of my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Retinal Conditions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those centres within the National Health Service which currently specialise in the treatment of retinal conditions.

  Mr. Freeman
  All district health authorities have access to ophthalmology departments which treat retinal conditions, although some may have a particular interest in certain retinal conditions.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning centres currently undertaking research into retinal conditions.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is currently funding research for the screening of diabetic patients for diabetic retinopathy at Oxford, Sheffield and Exeter. A report of this work will be submitted later this year.

  We are aware that work in this area is also being funded by some medical research charities.

  Cryptosporidia
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's officials' involvement in investigations of the incidence of cryptosporidia in the water supply.
  103
  Mr. Freeman
  An official of the Department is medical secretary to the expert group on cryptosporidium in water supplies, which was announced on 2 March by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State for Water and Planning at column 286; another attends its meetings as an observer. The Department monitors other outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis, irrespective of source, in association with the communicable disease surveillance centre which collects data on this disease.

  Higher Diploma Examinations
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will raise with the relevant professional bodies the recommendation of the Hoffenberg committee that questions about brain stem death organ transplantation and related matters should be asked from time to time in higher diploma examinations in medicine, surgery and anaesthesia.

  Type of Whole Scanner in use

  Location in West Midlands

  Installation date

  Main source of funding

  CT

  Birmingham Childrens Hospital

  1986

  Public Appeal/Health Authority

  CT

  Birmingham General Hospital

  1988

  Health Authority

  CT

  Corbett Hospital Dudley (District Consortium includes Kidderminster and Bromsgrove)

  1985

  Public Appeal/Health Authority

  CT

  Coventry, Walsgrave Hospital

  1976

  Public Appeal

  CT

  Coventry, Walsgrave Hospital

  1988

  Health Authority

  MRI1

  Coventry, Walsgrave Hospital

  1988

  Public Appeal/Health Authority

  CT

  Good Hope Hospital, North Birmingham

  1987

  Public Appeal

  CT

  Midland Centre for Neurosurgery, Sandwell

  1976

  Health Authority/DoH

  CT

  Midlands Centre for Neurosurgery, Sandwell

  1984

  Health Authority

  CT

  Mobile Unit, serving Hereford/West and East Birmingham/ Burton/Walsall

  1985

  Health Authority

  CT

  New Cross, Wolverhampton

  1987

  Health Authority

  CT

  North Staffs Royal Infirmary

  1983

  Public Appeal

  CT

  North Staff Royal Infirmary

  1987

  Health Authority

  CT

  North Staffs Royal Infirmary

  1987

  Health Authority

  CT

  Q E Medical Centre, Central Birmingham

  1984

  Health Authority

  CT

  Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt, Oswestry, Shropshire

  1986

  Health Authority

  CT

  Ronkswood, Worcester

  1989

  Public Appeal

  CT

  Sandwell D G Hospital

  1985

  Public Appeal

  CT

  Walsall

  1989

  Health Authority

  1Magnetic Resonance Imager

  In the next 12 months, new CT scanners are planned at Dudley road hospital, West Birmingham, and Selly Oak hospital, South Birmingham, both to be funded from health authority sources.

  Creutzfeldt Jakob Dementia
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 May,Official Report, column 289, what alternative methods of monitoring Creutzfeldt Jakob dementia he is considering.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are seeking to establish a national register of all cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, validated by experts in this field. A similar methodology has been used with success in the past: details can be found in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry (1975) Vol. 38, pages 210–13 and (1988) Vol. 51, 1113–19.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department now possesses about the incidence of Creutzfeldt Jakob dementia.

  Mr. Freeman
  The mean annual mortality rate of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in England and Wales for the last period studied in detail (1980–84 inclusive) was 0·49 million. Currently, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is given on death certificates as the underlying cause of death in about 30 deaths a year.
  104
  Mr. Freeman
  The medical royal colleges are responsible for deciding the content of their examinations. However, officials wrote to the Conference of medical royal colleges on 10 November 1988, drawing attention to the relevant recommendation of the Hoffenberg report.

  Body Scanners
  Mr. Dave Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redwood) of 10 May,Official Report, column 450, and the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, 23 May, Official Report, column 488, he will take steps to obtain the information on whole body scanners in the West Midlands regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Wakefield Family Practitioner Committee
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has issued guidelines on the number of members of the Wakefield family practitioner committee that should be appointed to meet hon. Members representing local constituencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have issued no such guidelines. It is a matter for individual FPCs to decide the level of representation at particular meetings.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he issued guidelines to the Wakefield family practitioner committee on when the White Paper "Working for Patients" should be considered and discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have issued no such guidelines. I welcome discussion by FPCs on the implications for implementing locally the proposals contained in the White Paper.
  105
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the chairman of the Wakefield family practitioner committee has been appointed an agent on behalf of the Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  FPCs are the Secretary of State's agents responsible for administering and managing family practitioner services. Chairmen and members are appointed by the Secretary of State and are accountable to him for the discharge of these duties.

  Anaesthetics (Consent)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to introduce legislation to require that the parent or guardian of a minor signs the consent form for general anaesthetic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Arrangements for ensuring that patients (and parents or guardians where appropriate) are informed about proposed treatments and for obtaining their consent are under review. Revised guidance will be issued as soon as the review has been concluded. The Government has no plans to introduce legislation.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the population of each district health authority, the mortality rate for those aged under 75 years in each district health authority and the number of people aged over 85 years in each district health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  Estimates of resident population for district health authorities in England at mid-1987 are given in the tables. Mortality rates for particular age groups in each area can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Estimated resident population at mid-1987

  Thousands

  Regional and District Health Authorities in England

  All ages

  Aged 85+

  Northern

  3,076·8

  36·8

  Hartlepool

  89·8

  0·9

  North Tees

  175·9

  1·5

  South Tees

  288·8

  2·6

  East Cumbria

  177·7

  2·5

  South Cumbria

  172·2

  2·8

  West Cumbria

  136·9

  1·4

  Darlington

  124·0

  1·6

  Durham

  235·2

  2·6

  North West Durham

  86·3

  1·1

  South West Durham

  153·2

  1·7

  Northumberland

  300·9

  3·8

  Gateshead

  206·9

  2·5

  Newcastle

  282·7

  4·3

  North Tyneside

  192·9

  2·4

  South Tyneside

  156·3

  2·0

  Sunderland

  297·1

  2·9

  Yorkshire

  3,604·7

  49·1

  Hull

  301·9

  3·9

  East Yorks

  192·2

  2·9

  Grimsby

  158·8

  1·8

  Scunthorpe

  193·7

  2·1

  Northallerton

  113·9

  1·5

  York

  263·4

  3·5

  Scarborough

  144·4

  3·0

  Harrogate

  135·4

  2·3

  Bradford

  337·2

  4·1

  Airedale

  173·9

  2·9

  Calderdale

  194·8

  2·9

  Huddersfield

  212·1

  2·9

  Dewsbury

  163·7

  1·7

  106

  Regional and District Health Authorities in England

  All ages

  Aged 85+

  Leeds Western

  362·3

  5·7

  Leeds Eastern

  346·7

  4·7

  Wakefield

  144·1

  1·5

  Pontefract

  166·2

  1·7

  Trent

  4,646·3

  57·2

  North Derbyshire

  362·0

  4·6

  South Derbyshire

  527·0

  6·4

  Leicestershire

  879·4

  10·8

  North Lincolnshire

  270·6

  3·2

  South Lincolnshire

  304·0

  4·4

  Bassetlaw

  104·9

  1·1

  Central Nottinghamshire

  288·5

  3·2

  Nottingham

  614·4

  7·8

  Barnsley

  221·5

  2·3

  Doncaster

  290·1

  3·0

  Rotherham

  251·7

  2·5

  Sheffield

  532·3

  7·8

  East Anglian

  2,013·7

  28·9

  Cambridge

  273·0

  3·9

  Peterborough

  205·0

  2·0

  West Suffolk

  226·8

  2·7

  East Suffolk

  321·3

  5·2

  Norwich

  468·9

  8·1

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  197·6

  3·2

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  187·9

  2·8

  Huntingdon

  133·3

  1·2

  North West Thames

  3,488·3

  44·6

  North Bedfordshire

  249·6

  2·6

  South Bedfordshire

  276·4

  2·5

  North Hertfordshire

  185·6

  1·9

  East Hertfordshire

  295·6

  3·4

  North West Hertfordshire

  261·1

  3·1

  South West Hertfordshire

  244·6

  3·4

  Barnet

  305·9

  4·6

  Harrow

  200·1

  3·3

  Hillingdon

  231·0

  3·1

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  281·1

  3·8

  Ealing

  296·9

  3·8

  Brent

  256·6

  2·9

  Paddington and North Kensington

  120·6

  1·5

  Riverside

  283·4

  4·6

  North East Thames

  3,771·5

  52·6

  Basildon and Thurrock

  281·5

  2·4

  Mid Essex

  289·9

  3·2

  North East Essex

  304·5

  5·5

  East Essex

  252·0

  2·5

  Southend

  323·3

  5·5

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  455·8

  5·6

  Hampstead

  109·8

  2·0

  Bloomsbury

  128·8

  2·3

  Islington

  168·7

  2·3

  City and Hackney

  192·1

  2·4

  Newham

  206·5

  2·5

  Tower Hamlets

  159·0

  2·1

  Enfield

  261·5

  4·3

  Haringey

  193·7

  2·7

  Redbridge

  230·1

  3·6

  Waltham Forest

  214·5

  3·6

  South East Thames

  3,635·4

  60·8

  Brighton

  299·0

  6·8

  Eastbourne

  232·5

  6·8

  Hastings

  166·6

  5·0

  South East Kent

  266·6

  4·7

  Canterbury and Thanet

  303·0

  6·5

  Dartford and Gravesham

  219·6

  2·2

  Maidstone

  197·1

  2·2

  Medway

  328·5

  3·3

  Tunbridge Wells

  195·8

  3·3

  Bexley

  220·6

  2·7

  Greenwich

  216·6

  2·8

  Bromley

  298·2

  4·4

  West Lambeth

  161·7

  2·5

  107

  Regional and District Health Authorities in England

  All ages

  Aged 85+

  Camberwell

  212·3

  2·8

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  317·6

  4·8

  South West Thames

  2,959·6

  50·1

  North West Surrey

  206·4

  2·9

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  275·1

  2·7

  South West Surrey

  181·3

  3·2

  Mid Surrey

  165·2

  2·6

  East Surrey

  182·8

  2·7

  Chichester

  180·2

  4·1

  Mid Downs

  276·3

  3·5

  Worthing

  243·5

  8·0

  Croydon

  319·2

  4·3

  Kingston and Esher

  175·9

  3·1

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  231·9

  4·3

  Wandsworth

  189·2

  2·8

  Merton and Sutton

  332·6

  5·9

  Wessex

  2,905·6

  46·5

  East Dorset

  448·81

  10·6

  West Dorset

  200·5

  3·8

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  529·7

  7·2

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  418·8

  6·4

  Winchester

  210·4

  2·7

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  217·2

  2·2

  Salisbury

  121·1

  2·0

  Swindon

  230·2

  2·5

  Bath

  402·7

  6·3

  Isle of Wight

  126·9

  2·8

  Oxford

  2,501·8

  82·1

  East Berkshire

  359·7

  3·6

  West Berkshire

  451·7

  4·7

  Aylesbury Vale

  144·3

  1·85

  Wycombe

  269·8

  3·2

  Milton Keynes

  170·8

  1·2

  Kettering

  255·0

  3·2

  Northampton

  306·8

  3·6

  Oxfordshire

  543·6

  6·4

  South Western

  3,205·85

  54·7

  Bristol and Weston

  367·2

  6·1

  Frenchay

  220·6

  3·1

  Southmead

  232·4

  3·1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  453·1

  7·5

  Exeter

  306·1

  6·4

  North Devon

  133·4

  2·6

  Plymouth

  329·9

  5·0

  Torbay

  240·5

  6·3

  Cheltenham and District

  210·6

  3·5

  Gloucester

  311·6

  4·1

  Somerset

  399·9

  7·80

  West Midlands

  5,197·7

  57·3

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  166·9

  1·2

  Herefordshire

  156·0

  2·84

  Kidderminster and District

  101·7

  1·2

  Worcester and District

  240·6

  3·2

  Shropshire

  396·5

  4·7

  Mid Staffordshire

  311·3

  2·9

  North Staffordshire

  461·1

  5·4

  South East Staffordshire

  255·1

  2·1

  Rugby

  85·2

  0·9

  North Warwickshire

  174·0

  1·7

  South Warwickshire

  255·0

  2·8

  Central Birmingham

  180·7

  2·85

  East Birmingham

  197·6

  2·2

  North Birmingham

  163·7

  1·9

  South Birmingham

  246·3

  3·1

  West Birmingham

  209·89

  2·0

  Coventry

  308·9

  3·3

  Dudley

  302·6

  3·1

  Sandwell

  298·4

  3·7

  Solihull

  203·9

  1·9

  Walsall

  261·8

  2·1

  Wolverhampton

  250·5

  2·9

  108

  Regional and District Health Authorities in England

  All ages

  Aged 85+

  Mersey

  2,408·7

  30·3

  Chester

  177·0

  2·1

  Crewe

  247·8

  2·7

  Halton

  143·1

  1·2

  Macclesfield

  179·3

  2·4

  Warrington

  185·4

  1·7

  Liverpool

  476·0

  7·0

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  348·7

  3·1

  Southport and Formby

  118·7

  2·6

  South Sefton

  178·5

  2·2

  Wirral

  354·1

  5·3

  North Western

  3,991·1

  51·4

  Lancaster

  130·4

  2·6

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  318 8

  6·6

  Preston

  126·7

  1·8

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  268·6

  3·3

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  227·8

  2·9

  West Lancashire

  106·7

  0·7

  Chorley and South Ribble

  194·7

  1·8

  Bolton

  262·3

  3·1

  Bury

  173·7

  2·2

  North Manchester

  142·9

  1·8

  Central Manchester

  125·0

  1·6

  South Manchester

  182·1

  2·4

  Oldham

  219·5

  2·5

  Rochdale

  214·2

  2·4

  Salford

  237·7

  3·2

  Stockport

  291·1

  3·6

  Tameside and Glossop

  245·7

  2·8

  Trafford

  216·1

  2·9

  Wigan

  307·2

  3·1

  Source: OPCS 1987 mid-year estimates

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech therapists are employed by the Leicestershire health authority with special responsibility for work in schools; how many vacancies the Leicestershire health authority has for such speech therapists and for how long these vacancies have been open; what recruitment efforts are being made to fill these positions and whether these efforts include salary incentives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold the information centrally in the form requested. The hon. Member may care to write to the chairman of Leicestershire health authority for the information he seeks.

  Medical and Dental Education
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the steering group on undergraduate medical and dental education.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The steering group, which contains representatives of all the major bodies concerned with undergraduate medical and dental education, was set up in November 1987 following a conference called by the permanent secretaries of my Department and the Department of Education and Science (Hansard, column 577–8, 18 November 1987). The steering group has now produced an interim report which clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the bodies concerned and makes recommendations relating to the principles underlying undergraduate medical and dental education, and to improved planning, management and information. I have today placed copies of the report in the Library.
  109
  Paragraph 4.30 of "Working for Patients" emphasised the Government's continuing commitment to maintaining the quality of medical education and research, and said that the steering group would develop its work and make recommendations in the light of the proposals in the White Paper.

  The group began this second phase of its work by considering arrangements for the payment of the service increment for teaching (SIFT) which is designed to offset the excess service costs associated with medical education. The group has recommended that SIFT should continue to be paid through NHS channels and according to the following four principles which I have accepted.

  (i) SIFT should be allocated to regions, pro-rata to student numbers;

  (ii) Regions or Districts, as appropriate to local curcumstances, taking advice from medical and dental schools, should contract with hospitals (including self-governing hospitals) to provide service facilities for teaching in return for SIFT payments;

  (iii) SIFT payments should be made in consultation with medical and dental schools and reflect the teaching activity in each hospital—if the number of students increased or decreased, the allocation of SIFT should be reconsidered;

  (iv) while in the past sub-regional allocation of SIFT had been unspecific in many cases, in future payments from regions should be clearly identifiable to all parties as a recognition of the service costs of teaching.

  The group has further work in hand and will offer recommendations as soon as they reach conclusions on the issues they must address.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will lay regulations relating to consumer safeguards on sight tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I intend shortly to lay before the House the Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) Regulations. I have considered carefully comments made in the course of consultation on these regulations and I have decided in the light of those received that all sight tests, whether National Health Service or private must include a refraction, an eye examination and other tests appropriate for individual patients. In addition all patients will be given a copy of their optical prescription to enable them to shop around for spectacles in order to ensure that the competition which has developed in the optical market continues to grow. The regulations will not apply to people having sight tests for employment or insurance purposes or who are resident in hospital or who are referred to their general practitioner for further investigations or treatment. These will be the only exceptions.

  In reaching my decision I noted with interest the intention of the General Optical Council to carry out within the next 12 months a wide-ranging programme of investigations in connection with my consultation document on sight tests. I have made it clear that I shall reconsider the sight test regulations in the light of the council's report.

TRANSPORT

  Roads (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if any of the new roads being considered by his London assessment studies, or the extension of the North Circular road across the east London river crossing are included in the list of projects for consideration as part of his toll road proposals.

  Mr. Channon
  The consultants reports on the assessment studies are expected in the summer. It is too early to say what road schemes may flow from the studies and whether any will involve tolls.

  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 May on the East London River Crossing at column 113.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No.

  Traffic Flows (Popham—M27)
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest available summer and winter five-day and seven-day traffic flows for the M3/A33 route between Popham and the M27, for the following sections(a) Popham-Easton Lane, (b) Easton Lane-Bar End, (c) Bar End-Hockley, (d) Hockley-Compton, (e) Compton-Chandlers Ford and (f) Chandlers Ford-M27; and if he will list the peak hour flows for each direction separately for each section.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Information is not available on summer and winter traffic flows.

  The estimated Annual Average Daily Flows (24 hours) for all motor vehicles for 1987 are as follows:

  All days

  Weekdays

  Popham-Easton Lane M3

  19,300

  20,500

  Popham-Easton Lane A33

  26,700

  27,400

  Easton Lane-Bar End A33

  41,800

  42,700

  Bar End-Hockley A33

  54,600

  55,500

  Hockley-Compton A33

  54,500

  56,100

  Compton-Chandlers Ford A33

  46,500

  46,800

  Chandlers Ford-M27 A33

  25,600

  25,700

  There are limited data on peak flows. The information relates to May 1987 and is for combined directions, as follows.

  AM peak

  PM peak

  Popham-Easton Lane M3

  2,948

  2,954

  Easton Lane A33

  918

  924

  Bar End Road A33

  1,204

  1,119

  Morestone Road A33

  835

  783

  Compton-Chandlers Ford A33

  5,116

  4,777

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what length of the M3-A33 between Popham and the M27 is currently equipped with sensors in the carriageway lanes to detect queues and incidents; what is the spacing of these sensors; whether they indicate speeds of traffic; and for what length of road CCTV can be used to verify queueing or incidents.
  111
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Three queue detectors are provided at 500 m intervals on the southbound carriageway of the A33 between Bar End and Hockley. They are connected to a "Queue Ahead" sign 1·3 km north of Hockley traffic lights and a speed detector 2 km north of the traffic lights, which detects speeds above 50 mph.

  CCTV cameras are sited at junction 9 on the M3 with an approximate viewing distance of 2 km north and south, and at A33 Hockley traffic lights viewing 1 km north and 300–400 m south. The camera at Hockley can also view traffic approaching A33 on the A333 (Ghost Corner) and B3335 Twyford with a viewing distance on the side roads of about 75 m.

  Traffic Flows (A33-M3)
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the present daily and peak-hour flows entering and leaving the A33-M3 at the following junctions:(a) M3/A34 interchange, Easton Lane, (b) Bar End, (c) Hockley, all movements, (d) Compton, northfacing slip roads, (e) Shawford, A31 junction, (f) Chandlers Ford and (g) M27 and A35 (northbound flows on to A33).

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is not available.

  Winchester Bypass
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average lane occupancy in vehicles per mile of the A33 Winchester bypass in each direction in(a) offpeak and (b) peak hours; and what is the average speed recorded for each situation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is not available.

  A33 (Bar End-Compton)
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the minor schemes and expenditure undertaken on the A33 between Bar End and Compton since the decision letter on the 1976–77 inquiry was issued in 1979.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A33 Hockley crossroads £500,000.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average number of incidents per week significantly affecting traffic flow on the A33 between Bar End and Compton; and what is the average response time between an incident occurring on this length of dual carriageway and a recovery vehicle removing the vehicle or vehicles immobilised.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This information is not held by the Department.

  SS Ave
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he took to ascertain that the wages and conditions of the crew on the SS Ave, which recently called at Teesport and Immingham, conform to international regulations.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Ave was not visited by Department of Transport marine surveyors at Imingham or Teesport. A112
  port state control inspection had been conducted in Rotterdam on 2 May 1989 and a valid inspection form issued.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the movements of the SS Ave which recently discharged a cargo of South African coal at Teesport.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Ave is believed to have arrived in Rotterdam from Maputo, Mozambique, and to have sailed from Rotterdam on 3 May. She arrived in Immingham later the same day, remaining there until 7 May when she sailed for Teesport. The Ave was in Teesport from 7 May until 13 May when she sailed bound for Hamburg.

  Vehicles (Silencer Kits)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has concerning the safety implication of fitting air brake silencer kits to heavy goods vehicles;

  (2) what recent representations he has received concerning the requirement that in order to qualify for a permit under the London area lorry scheme vehicles must be fitted with air brake silencer kits;

  (3) when he last met the London boroughs transport scheme to discuss the issue of air brake silencer kits; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) whether he has had any consultations with representatives of the insurance industry concerning the invalidation of policies by the fitting of air brake silencer kits.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Secretary of State has not met the London boroughs transport scheme to discuss the issue of air brake silencer kits. A vehicle's braking system needs to ensure efficient responsive braking. It is for vehicle manufacturers to ensure that this is done. The possible use of air brake silencers should therefore be considered at design stage. If air brake silencers are fitted retrospectively, then as with any other modification, care must be taken. The air brake silencer must be carefully positioned and the manufacturer of the vehicle should be consulted before it is fitted. Good maintenance is essential.

  We have not consulted the insurance industry. It is for vehicle operators to ensure that their insurance policies are not invalidated by any modifications they make to their vehicles.

  Representations have been received on the issue of air brake silencers from the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. We have also received a number of individual representations. The Freight Transport Association has challenged in the courts the requirements by the London boroughs transport scheme to fit brake silencer kits. The matter is currently the subject of a judicial review.

  Birmingham cross-city Railway
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has seen and commented upon a draft proposal from British Rail to electrify the Birmingham cross-city railway line; on how many occasions the matter has been discussed between his Department and British
  113
  Rail; which points of clarification have been sought by his Department; and when he expects British Rail to submit a formal investment proposal.

  Mr. Portillo
  Department of Transport officials have seen and commented upon a draft proposal from British Rail to electrify the Birmingham cross-city railway line and have had two meetings with British Rail to discuss it. The Department is currently awaiting clarification of various issues concerning the forecast net benefit of electrification costs. I expect British Rail to submit a formal investment proposal shortly.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date discussions took place between his Department and British Rail about the proposed electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line; whether such discussions are likely to lead to a formal investment proposal; whether any further work which British Rail has to do on the proposals arose as a result of informal discussion between the two parties; and what information he has on the extent of local interest in the possibility of converting the cross-city line into a Metro line.

  Mr. Portillo
  Informal discussions between Department of Transport officials and British Rail about the proposed electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line took place on 5 January 1989 and 21 April 1989. British Rail has further work to do on the proposal as a result of these discussions and is planning to make a formal investment proposal. Although the possibility of converting the cross-city line into a Metro line was raised in connection with the Birmingham integrated transportation study, I understand that it is not now being pursued as part of that study.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he expects British Rail to set out when submitting an investment proposal to him regarding the electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line.

  Mr. Portillo
  We expect British Rail to demonstrate that the proposed electrification would represent better value for money than other options, in particular providing a modern diesel service.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to take the decision on approval of the electrification of the cross-city line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  We can decide only when we have received a formal investment proposal from British Rail.

  Vehicles (M6)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the effectiveness of the exercise

  Average weekday peak hour and 8 pm and 8 am flows on specified links and for specified dates on the M6

  Average weekday:

  Junction

  Date

  Peak hour

  Peak flow

  8 pm-8 am

  4A-5 North

  February 1989

  8 am-9 am

  5,700

  14,200

  4A-5 South

  February 1989

  5 pm-6 pm

  6,000

  14,000

  5–6 South

  February 1989

  5 pm-6 pm

  5,300

  12,500

  6–7 North

  September 1988

  3 pm-4 pm

  3,700

  15,800

  8W-9 South

  March 1989

  4 pm-5 pm

  6,700

  17,000

  9–10 North

  March 1989

  5 pm-6 pm

  5,900

  17,700

  9–10 South

  March 1989

  4 pm-5 pm

  5,800

  18,000

  Note: Separate data for goods vehicles are not available.
  114
  by Staffordshire county constabulary in surveying vehicles on the M6 to discover how many were unfit for use; and if he will take steps to encourage chief constables to undertake similar exercises.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The types of vehicle check carried out by Staffordshire police are effective both in enforcing the law and increasing inter-agency co-operation. The Department's enforcement staff will continue to assist the police in similar exercises on the M6 and elsewhere.

  M4 Motorway
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give for the M6 motorway between junctions 4 and 10A(a) the designed hourly capacity, (b) the daily traffic flow, (c) the peak time hourly traffic flow, (d) the hourly peak time through traffic, (e) the total traffic flow between the hours of 8 pm and 8 am and (f) the number of heavy goods vehicles per day, in each case: (i) at present and (ii) estimated for 1995 and 2005.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer Thursday 25 May 1989]: The Department uses design reference flows rather than traffic flow standards when designing motorways. These indicate only the starting point for detailed operational and economic assessment of options. The Department's design reference flows for a dual three-lane motorway—which describes the M6 between junctions 4 and 10A—range from 50,000 to 79,000 vehicles per annual average day in the design year (15 years after the year in which the road opens). However, the maximum capacity of any road in terms of throughput is considerably more than its "design flow" and will vary with the vehicle mix, road layout, time of day, time of year, and driving conditions.

  The latest estimates of the annual average daily flow (AADF) for the M6 between junctions 4 and 10A relate to 1987. The figures are given in the following table.

  Estimated annual average daily flow1 of all vehicles and of heavy goods vehicles on specified links of the M6: 1987

  Junction

  All motor vehicles

  HGVs

  4–5

  71,000

  14,200

  5–6

  77,200

  13,810

  6–7

  98,300

  18,580

  7–8

  115,000

  24,850

  8–9

  111,500

  21,930

  9–10

  110,300

  21,540

  10–10A

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1 Both directions of travel.

  n.a. = not available.

  Counts for peak flows and for flows between 8 pm and 8 am are available for only some of these links. The information is in the following table:
  115
  Estimates of through traffic were made for two links of this section of the M6 in 1984 and are given in the table.

  Proportion of 12 hour daytime flow estimated as through traffic by type of vehicle and for specified junctions on the M6: 1984

  Junction

  All vehicles Per cent.

  Heavy vehicles Per cent.

  4A-5

  35

  45

  10–10A

  50

  57

  The Department prepares forecasts of national traffic. Where specific trunk road improvements are being assessed local traffic forecasts are prepared. Projections are not otherwise made for specific roads.

  Dursban
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions are placed on the transport of the chemical Dursban; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the appropriate regulations are being observed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer Friday 26 May 1989]: Dursban is not listed as a dangerous substance in transport legislation. It is an organo-phosphate insecticide, approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. These regulations make general provisions requiring any person selling, supplying or storing pesticides to take all reasonable precautions, particularly with regard to storage and transport, to protect human health, fauna and flora and the environment.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments for 1989.

  Mr. Major
  The "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for 1989–90 shows a forecast deficit for the current account of the balance of payments in 1989 of £14½billion.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989.

  Mr. Major
  The "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for 1989–90 shows a forecast deficit for visible trade in 1989 of £21½billion.

  Prices and Taxes Indexes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he proposes to make to the release dates for the retail index and the tax and price index, on his assumption of responsibility for their publication.
  116
  Mr. Lilley
  None.

  Inflation
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current inflation rate in the United Kingdom; and what it was one year ago.

  Mr. Lilley
  The all-items RPI annual inflation rate in April 1989 was 8 per cent., and was 3·9 per cent. in April 1988. The underlying rate of inflation, as measured by the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments, was 5·9 per cent. in April 1988.

  Married Man's Tax Allowance
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent consideration he has given to the married man's tax allowance.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  When independent taxation begins in April 1990 the present structure of income tax allowances will be replaced by the personal allowance and the married couple's allowance. A husband and wife will each have their own personal allowance and the new system will continue to recognise marriage through the married couple's allowance. This will be given in the first instance to the husband. The personal allowance and the married couple's allowance will together be equivalent to the present married man's allowance.

  Public Sector Debt
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the repayment of the public sector debt held by foreign-owned institutions.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is not possible to provide the information requested. However, table 8 of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin and table 2·6 of Financial Statistics show transactions in marketable Government debt by the overseas sector.

  Exports
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made for the growth of exports for 1989 as against 1988.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) on 4 May at columns 203–4.

  Tax Reform
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out Government policy on tax reform.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Government's programme of tax reform has sought to create a climate in which businesses can thrive and individual initiative and risk taking are rewarded. A major objective has been to leave people more of their own money, so that they can choose for themselves what to do with it. In particular the Government have reduced marginal tax rates so that an extra pound of earnings or profits is really worth having. We have reduced the basic rate of income tax from 33 to 25 per cent. and set a target of 20 per cent. Business
  117
  taxation has been radically restructured, leaving the main United Kingdom corporation tax rate at 35 per cent. one of the lowest in the industrialised world. Five major taxes have been abolished completely.

  We have also tried to ensure that, as a general rule, people's choices are distorted by the tax system as little as reasonably possible. In general the objective is to charge lower rates on a broader base; thereby improving incentives and reducing distortions. However the Government have also been prepared, when it it sensible, to promote well-targeted tax reliefs which will help to make the economy work better. Other important objectives have been to provide a fair deal for married women and to simplify the tax system.

  Taxation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the percentage of average wages paid in tax in all kinds, (b) the percentage paid in income tax and (c) the percentage paid in indirect taxes for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to the estimates placed in the Library of the House in reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 13 April at column 624.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of manufacturing investment in the United Kingdom in 1979 and 1988.

  Mr. Major
  The level of manufacturing investment in the United Kingdom in 1985 prices was £11,157 million in 1979 and £11,586 million in 1988.

  Sterling M3
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the cumulative growth in sterling M3 from 1979 to the present;

  (2) what was the cumulative growth in sterling M3 from May 1979 to 1984 and from 1984 to the present;

  (3) what was the average growth of sterling M3 in the years 1970 to 1974, 1974 to 1979, 1979 to 1983 onwards;

  (4) what was the percentage growth of sterling M3 in each year since 1970.

  Mr. Lilley
  Sterling M3 was retitled M3 in 1987. Figures from M3 from 1963 to 1988 were published in the January 1989 volume of Financial Statistics; more recent data are available in subsequent numbers of Financial Statistics or in Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin. Annex 7 of "Breaks in Monetary Series" (Bank of England discussion paper No. 23) discusses the calculation of growth rates of monetary series.

  Petrol
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the withdrawal of two-star leaded petrol by the major oil companies; and what assessment his Department has made of the difficulties created for drivers of older vehicles by the suggested use instead of four-star leaded petrol.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the withdrawal of two-star leaded 118
  petrol by some major oil companies. Many engines which formerly ran on two-star petrol can use unleaded fuel. Those which cannot are able to use four-star leaded petrol without difficulty.

  Taxation (EEC)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in a similar manner to his written answer of 24 March 1988,Official Report, columns 195–6, the likely effects on tax rates and yields in the United Kingdom of the latest proposals from the Commission of the European Communities for harmonising value added Lax, showing net and gross yields, respectively.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Commission's latest proposals are not specific either on the level of the suggested minimum standard rate of VAT or on the scope of future zero rates. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to update the previous tables.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the Official Report in a manner similar to that of his written answer of 23 March 1988, Official Report columns 124–26, the effect on excise duties of adoption of the latest proposals of the Commission of the European Economic Community for harmonising national taxes on alcohol, tobacco and hydrocarbon oils and fuels.

  Mr. Lilley
  The latest Commission proposals contain no suggested rates for excise duties. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible at this stage to provide the information requested.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why were a quantity of African elephant tusks detained by Customs and Excise in the Flying Tigers customs shed at Heathrow airport on 20 April 1989; for whom and where the tusks were to be delivered; and what was the total weight of ivory involved.

  Mr. Lilley
  Five consignments of raw ivory are currently held at the airport at Heathrow. Two have been seized and three were detained on 12 April. The validity of the export permits produced for this ivory is being checked by the international ivory trade monitoring unit. No further details can be given at this stage.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide full details of all shipments of ivory by nature, value, country of origin and documentation discrepancy currently being detained at British ports of entry.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: Details of individual consignments where Customs action is not yet completed cannot be disclosed.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cargoes of ivory are currently at British ports of entry in transit to other destinations; and what are those destinations.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: Information on such cargoes is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Scottish Bank Notes
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury has had any recent communications with Scottish banks about the issue of Scottish bank notes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  No.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the people appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations whose services were secured by executive search and selection agencies.

  Mr. Luce
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of running the Government's quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Luce
  I have been asked to reply.

  The figures for the years 1979 to 1988, at current prices, are as follows:

  £ million

  Amount of gross expenditure provided by Government

  Other associated expenditure by sponsoring Departments

  1979

  2,970

  70

  1980

  3,080

  72

  1981

  3,860

  94

  1982

  3,910

  87

  1983

  5,120

  94

  1984

  5,160

  115

  1985

  5,100

  1 1

  1986

  5,330

  116

  1987

  5,690

  112

  1988

  5,930

  118

  Figures for 1989 will be published in "Public Bodies" later this year.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to use the services of executive search and selection agencies to recruit people for quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations.

  Mr. Luce
  I have been asked to reply.

  The procedures adopted for identifying and selecting candidates for public appointments are the responsibility of the Minister making the appointment. The use by Government of executive search and selection agencies is limited.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which executive search and selection agencies have been used to recruit people for quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations.

  Mr. Luce
  I have been asked to eply.

  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue yield from capital gains tax for the fiscal year ended April 1989; and what it was in the year ended April 1988.
  120
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 22 May 1989]: Receipts from capital gains tax in the financial years 1987–88 and 1988–89 were respectively £1,379 million and £2,323 million. These figures exclude receipts from capital gains of companies and taxed within corporation tax.

  YTS
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the regulations covering tax liability on YTS earnings with regard to partial refunds of travel or lodging costs necessarily incurred in taking part in YTS.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 May 1989]: Payments in respect of costs incurred on travelling and accommodation are only made to YTS trainees who are not employees. These payments are not liable to income tax.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines have been issued to employers, sponsors and managing agents on the position of young people on YTS in relation to PAYE and NIC.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 May 1989]: No special guidance on the position of young people on YTS who are taken on as employees is needed. Employers apply the same PAYE and NIC rules as for all other employees. However, the YTS allowances are below the tax and NIC thresholds, so that no tax or NIC will be payable if the employee's only income is the basic allowance.

  As regards trainees who are not employees, the basic allowance is not taxable. Nor are these trainees taxed on payments to which they are also entitled in respect of travel and accommodation costs. The Training Agency's "Managing Agent's Handbook" advises YTS providers to seek advice from the local tax or DSS office if they propose to make payments over and above the basic allowance.

  Charitable Gifts (Tax Relief)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend the give-as-you-earn scheme to enable the tax relief to accrue to the benefit of the donor's designated charity.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: No. Charities already benefit from the tax relief given to employees on their donations under the payroll giving scheme. Every £1 a basic rate taxpayer gives costs him only 75p.

  Tax Fraud
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the number of prosecutions for tax fraud, the total number of people involved and the amount of money involved in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: The Inland Revenue keeps aggregate figures for prosecutions in England and Wales. Separate figures for Wales could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Tax Statistics
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross income paid in
  121
  income tax, national insurance contributions and value added tax by (a) a married man with a non-earning wife and two children and (b) a married man with an earning wife and two children at one half, one and a half, two, three, five and 10 times national average earnings in 1989–90; and what were the comparable figures in 1978–79.

  Married man with non-earning wife and two children

  Multiples of average male earnings

  Proportion of gross earnings

  ½

  1

  1½

  2

  3

  5

  10

  1978–79

  Income tax

  -4·1

  14·4

  20·6

  23·6

  32·0

  47·1

  64·7

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  5·6

  4·2

  2·8

  1-7

  0·8

  VAT

  —

  2·7

  2·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  Income tax

  -1·0

  12·0

  16·4

  20-2

  26·8

  32·1

  36·1

  NICs

  7·9

  8·4

  6·8

  5·1

  3·4

  2·0

  1·0

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married man with non-earning wife and two children

  Multiples of average male earnings

  Proportion of gross earnings

  ½

  1

  1½

  2

  3

  5

  10

  1978–79

  Income tax

  -11·1

  6·4

  15·2

  19·7

  25·9

  329

  50·6

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  6·5

  6·5

  5·4

  3·4

  1·7

  VAT

  —

  3·4

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  Income tax

  -10·6

  71

  13·1

  16·3

  20·7

  27·0

  33·6

  NICs

  5·4

  7·5

  8·3

  8·4

  6·8

  4·1

  2·0

  VAT

  —

  5·9

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. Average male earnings in 1989–90 are assumed to be £273·10 per week, 7½ per cent. higher than in 1988–89. This represents a real increase of over 30 per cent. since 1978–79.

  2. Child benefit is treated as a negative income tax.

  3. Earners, including working wives, are assumed to pay class 1 National Insurance contributions at the contracted in rate. The figures for National Insurance contributions are financial year averages.

  4. The two earner couple is assumed to have joint earnings equal to the various multiples of average earnings, split between husband and wife in the ratio 60:40.

  5. The estimates of VAT are derived from the 1985 family expenditure survey and are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. Estimates cannot reliably be made outside the range of 75 per cent. to 150 per cent. of average male earnings.

DEFENCE

  Radiation
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce new compensation arrangements for British ex-servicemen who have suffered radiation ailments arising from their duties.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no plans to change the present arrangements.

  Trident
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on present progress in the development of the new Trident nuclear warhead at the atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The development of the Trident warhead is progressing satisfactorily towards the Trident submarine in-service date of the mid-1990s.

  Helicopters (Forced Landing)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why five British military helicopters were forced to land by the actions of other military aircraft in West Germany on Friday 19 May; and if he will make a statement.
  122
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1989, c. 560]: I regret that the original tables contained an error. The amended tables are as follows:

  Mr. Neubert
  The aircraft were taking part in a pre-planned training manoeuvre.

  Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the redevelopment of that part of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich which has been declared surplus to his Department's requirements.

  Mr. Neubert
  Following the announcement by my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) on 9 March 1989 of our intention to relocate the director general of defence quality assurance to Teesside, discussions with the London borough of Greenwich have now been held to consider arrangements for the release of the entire Woolwich Arsenal west site. The Crown estate commissioners, part owners of the site, were also present and a useful exchange of views took place.

  Further meetings are planned to continue this dialogue from which we would expect detailed proposals for the redevelopment of the site to emerge.

  F111 Aircraft (Upper Heyford)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has concerning the number of(a)

  123
  engine failures, (b) engine shutdowns and (c) pieces of aircraft falling from planes on F111 aircraft from RAF Upper Heyford in the last five years.

  Mr. Neubert
  I understand that it is not the practice of the United States Air Force to release this information.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South of 23 May, what were the differences in the United States of America and British nuclear test objectives, and in the doses of radiation received by American and British service men, and in the protective measures taken.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the right hon. Member on 23 May at column 464.

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether electronic surveillance listening devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are many weapons systems and other items of defence equipment in service which use electronic surveillance techniques.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to reduce the strength of the Ministry of Defence police force over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned member on 27 February at column 43.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the establishment and (b) the strength of the Ministry of Defence police force in each of the last five years for which information is available.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested is as follows:

  Complement

  Strength

  September 1984

  4,229

  4,003

  September 1985

  4,563

  4,255

  September 1986

  4,990

  4,681

  December 1987

  5,001

  4,841

  December 1988

  4,962

  4,706

  The details are taken from the chief constable's annual reports, which from 1987 relate to calendar years.

  CSCE Talks
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has commissioned any studies on the minimum strength of forces necessary to defend Western Europe in the event that the CSCE talks in Vienna achieve parity between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Warsaw pact forces.

  Mr. Neubert
  The NATO proposals tabled in Vienna were undepinned by studies which showed that they 124
  provided sufficient forces to maintain the forward defence of western Europe. The studies indicated that further significant reductions in tanks, artillery, etc., could have serious implications for NATO's ability to maintain forward defence, as it is currently understood.

  Procurement Executive
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken to eradicate shortages of staff in the procurement executive of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Management action is already in hand to alleviate the problems identified in the recently published House of Commons Defence Committee report. These measures include the application of new and more flexible long term Civil Service pay agreements, the proposed relocation of a substantial part of the procurement executive to parts of the country where it is easier to recruit and retain staff, and the next steps initiative. The shortages tend to be concentrated in disciplines such as electronics and information technology, and in certain geographical areas especially London and the south-east. To a large extent they are a reflection of shortages from which other major employers suffer in these areas.

  Type 23 Frigate
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the proposals by Ferranti Computer Systems for a command and control system for the type 23 frigate; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consideration he has given to the use of penalty clauses in the contracts for the command and control system for the type 23 frigate;

  (3) what measures he is taking to ensure that production difficulties are minimised in the development and manufacture of the command control system for the type 23 frigate.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the statement that I made to the House during this year's Navy debate on 28 February at columns 166–67.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to invite tenders for additional type 23 frigates; and to which companies he will extend that invitation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer that I gave on 28 April at column 686.

  War Service Pensions
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to service during the Korean war counting towards war service pensions; and whether he has any plans to review it.

  Mr. Neubert
  Pensions awarded under the scheme for the armed forces do not distinguish between war service and other periods of service. For those personnel of the armed forces who qualify for an award of pension based on length of service given, any service during the Korean war would count on an equal footing with other periods.
  125
  There are no plans for a review. Those suffering disability as a result of injury received during the Korean war may, however, be eligible for the award of pension under the war pensions scheme administered by the Department of Social Security, without regard to the length of service given.

  Royal Naval Personnel (School Boarding Allowances)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it would cost to allow seagoing Royal Naval personnel, on shore postings, to claim boarding school allowances, irrespective of the locations of their families.

  Mr. Neubert
  The total cost of boarding school allowance for Royal Navy personnel is estimated at £24 million for the financial year 1989–90, based on the number of personnel who have drawn the allowance in the past. No reduction has been assumed for the future since it is expected that the great majority of claimants, including those on shore postings, will comply with the new family mobility conditions.

  Royal Naval Officers (Travel)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it would cost to restore first class travel warrants to Royal Naval officers on the scale prevailing before the 1988 review of allowances.

  Mr. Neubert
  Since facilities for first class duty travel remain unaltered, it is assumed that my hon. Friend is concerned with first class leave travel. The restoration of this facility to eligible officers of the armed forces as a whole would cost an estimated £820,000 of which the Royal Navy's share is approximately £165,000.

  "Who Framed Colin Wallace"
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish an inquiry into the evidence presented in the book entitled "Who Framed Colin Wallace", by Mr. Paul Foot, that members of the Army information services(a) planted hoax bombs, (b) masqueraded as members of paramilitary groups and (c) carried and possessed captured terrorist weapons and explosives.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has anything to add to his answer to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Waller),Official Report, column 707, 20 July 1988, in the light of information in the book, -Who Framed Colin Wallace", regarding the address to which the alleged information policy document was delivered.

  Mr. Neubert
  The answer referred to by the hon. Member stated that a classified document was delivered by Mr. Wallace to the London home of a journalist on The Times. The document was in fact left by Mr. Wallace at the Northern Ireland address of the journalist.

  Exercise Wintex-Cimex
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons have been learned from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation exercise, Wintex-Cimex; how many British service personnel took part and of what ranks; and if he will make a statement.
  126
  Mr. Neubert
  Exercise Wintex-Cimex was the tenth in a series of NATO-wide command post exercises conducted by Alliance members. The exercise took place from 24 February to 9 March 1989. Its objective was to test command, control and consultation plans and procedures and to exercise the appropriate crisis management machinery which would be used in the defence of NATO countries in times of international tension or war. This was successfully achieved. Detailed assessment and evaluation of all aspects of the exercise are currently being carried out.

  Though it is not our practice to comment in detail on such matters, all the indications are that useful lessons will have been learnt and that considerable value and experience was gained by those taking part. There was widespread military participation from the chiefs of staff downwards, but information on the numbers of British service participants in total or by rank is not available and could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Clayton (Overflying)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why, on 23 May, there was a continuous day-long succession of military jet aircraft overflying the village of Clayton in the constituency of Don Valley; and if lie will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The amount of flying activity in particular areas is influenced by several factors, some of which are unpredictable. These include the weather, the location of major exercises and the availability of range and other facilities. On this occasion however, there is no indication that there was an unusual level of activity in the relevant area. As far as low flying is concerned, the aim remains to spread the training as widely and evenly as possible throughout the entire country to ensure that, as far as practicable, no area receives an undue share.

  Army Quarters, Hampshire
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings in Hampshire owned by his Department for use as army quarters have been offered for sale; and, of these, how many have been sold.

  Mr Neubert
  A total of 105 Army married quarters in Hampshire were offered for sale in the financial year 1987–88 and two in 1988–89. All have now been sold. Since 1 April 1989 one further Army married quarter has been offered for sale.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Department for use as army quarters are currently unoccupied and surplus to requirements(a) in Hampshire and (b) in the Romsey and Waterside constituency.

  Mr. Neubert
  (a) In Hampshire, as at 31 March 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, out of a total stock of 4,622 Army married quarters 620 were unoccupied, of which 154 have been identified as surplus to requirements. These figures exclude the Tidworth estates, where the county boundary runs through the camp and a split by county is not readily available.

  (b) In the Romsey and Waterside constituency, as at 31 March 1989, out of a total stock of 349 Army married quarters 77 were unoccupied, of which 10 had been identified as surplus to requirements.

  Plessey plc
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he proposes to ensure continued effective competition among defence suppliers in the event that, following the proposed acquisition of the Plessey company by GEC/Siemens, these Plessey business areas become wholly-owned subsidiaries of the German company, Siemens.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The MOD's procurement policy will continue to be based on the maximum possible use of competition, involving not only the companies that would result from a merger if it took place, but other defence suppliers. Where the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report has identified specific adverse effects resulting from the proposed merger, it has recommended undertakings to secure a remedy. These are currently under negotiation.

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being sought to satisfy United Kingdom national security requirements in the event that, following the acquisition of Plessey by GEC and Siemens, Plessey radar and Plessey defence systems become wholly-owned subsidiaries of the German company, Siemens.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence gave evidence to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry on the security issues raised by the proposed merger. The MMC recognised the MOD's concerns in their recommendation that national security undertakings as to the ownership and management of certain activities had to be secured to remedy the adverse effect of the merger. My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry placed responsibility on the MOD to secure these undertakings. Negotiations are proceeding, and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking, in view of the highly integrated nature of Plessey's research facilities, to ensure that GEC does not exercise influence over Plessey's radar and defence systems businesses in the event that they succeed in acquiring the Plessey company.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report recommended, inter alia, that GEC should undertake not to acquire any interest in or influence or control over the management of the Plessey radar and defence systems businesses. The Office of Fair Trading is currently negotiating to this end, consulting the Ministry of Defence as necessary.

  Belize
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what benefit in training British forces obtain from being stationed in Belize; and what is his assessment of their value.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The commitment to Belize provides an opportunity for units and equipment to be tested in a demanding environment. Advantage is taken of the possibilities for jungle and adventure training, and field firing practice, whenever possible. Training is conducted 128
  jointly by ground, air and naval forces, and with the Belize defence force. These facilities are a valuable by-product of the Belize commitment.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to make changes in the commitment of British forces to Belize.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British forces are in Belize at the request of the Belize Government, and will remain for an appropriate period to assist with that country's external defence and the training of the Belize defence force. This remains the basis of the Belize commitment.

  Headquarter Contracts
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the reasons for the sevenfold increase in the level of payments for headquarter contracts awarded by his Department to British Telecommunications plc in the two years to 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 May 1989]: There has not been the significant increase in the actual level of payments to British Telecommunications plc which the answers to the hon. Member's previous questions might imply.

  During the period covered by the replies, changes were introduced into Departmental accounting arrangements which brought more payments to British Telecommunications plc into the ambit of the headquarters payment process. On a comparable basis payments in 1985–86 would have been some £50 million.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, regarding storage of radioactive waste for which there is presently no disposal site available, whether the nuclear installations inspectorate is required to licence storage sites operated by the Ministry of Defence or by sub-contractors to the Ministry of Defence.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 May 1989]: I have been asked to reply.

  A site owned and operated by the Ministry of Defence requires no licensing (although, as in all these matters, Ministers are able to give assurances that such a site would be constructed and operated under conditions no less stringent than those imposed on licensed sites). If a site is operated by contractors to MoD, whether or not it is owned by MoD, licensing is required.

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government expect to achieve the United Nations target of 0·7 per cent. gross national product for overseas aid.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government accept this target in principle but like previous Administrations and many other donors are not able to set a date for achieving it. Progress towards it must depend upon developments in the economy and other claims on our resources. The aid programme is now growing in real terms and its quality is high.

  Single European Act
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will present proposals to the Madrid European Council about the volume and nature of the directives stemming from the Single European Act.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so, but I do expect the European Council in Madrid to review progress on completion of the single market.

  Nicaraguan President
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with President Ortega of Nicaragua, she discussed the role to be played by the non-aligned movement in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation treaty at its fourth review conference in 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Nigerian President
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during the recent visit of the President of Nigeria, she discussed the ways in which the nuclear non-proliferation treaty can be strengthened at its fourth review conference in 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Israeli Prime Minister
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during the visit of the Prime Minister of Israel to the United Kingdom on 21–22 May, she raised the questions of(a) the possibility of Israel signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and (b) the danger of nuclear weapons proliferation in the middle east.

  The Prime Minister
  No, but we have raised this issue regularly with the Government of Israel.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on her meeting with the Prime Minister of the state of Israel on 22 May.

  The Prime Minister
  My meeting with Mr. Shamir was held in a friendly spirit reflecting the good relations between Britain and Israel. We discussed Arab-Israel matters, other regional issues and bilateral questions. I welcomed his proposals for elections in the occupied territories as a useful step forward but emphasised the need for an understanding on a solution based on territory for peace.

  London Traffic
  Mr. Tebbit
  To ask the Prime Minister who has overall responsibility for the expedition of London's traffic.

  The Prime Minister
  Responsibility rests with the Secretary of State for Transport, the London local authorities and the police.

  The Secretary of State is the highway authority for trunk roads in London. At the request of the London local authorities he is also responsible for London's urban traffic control systems and all London's traffic lights. The local authorities are the highway and traffic authorities for local roads in their areas. The Metropolitan and City of London police are responsible for the enforcement of traffic and parking laws, and deal with incidents arising from traffic control.

  War Widows (Housing Benefit)
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the arrangements for disregarding war widows' pensions for housing benefit purposes are the same in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The housing benefit scheme for England, Scotland and Wales has a statutory disregard, currently set at £5 a week, of any war disablement or war widow's pension, and local authorities have discretion to enhance this disregard. The separate housing benefit scheme in Northern Ireland has a statutory disregard of all such pensions.

  Political Clubs
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the use by Government agencies of premises located in political clubs; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Government Departments should not use premises located in political clubs for official purposes unless no suitable alternative is available. Non-departmental public bodies and Government contractors are responsible for their own operational arrangements.

  Disabled Persons (Employment)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the number of disabled persons employed by(a) the Cabinet Office, and (b) at 10 Downing street; what these figure are as a percentage of the total work force; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  There are 16 registered disabled persons employed by the Cabinet Office, which represents approximately 1 per cent. of the total work force, and none at 10 Downing street. The Cabinet Office is an equal opportunities employer, and continually seeks to encourage the employment of disabled people.

  Green Issues
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the need to set up a new department concerned with green issues; what discussions she has had on this matter; and when they were held.

  The Prime Minister
  The Department of Environment has lead responsibility for environmental issues. I have no present plans to set up a new department to deal with such issues.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 June.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 June.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 June.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 June.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 June.
  131
  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Petitions
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of public petitions presented in each session since 1970.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Session

  Number of petitions

  1970–71

  8

  1971–72

  21

  1972–73

  25

  1973–74

  6

  1974

  27

  1974–75

  12

  1975–76

  46

  1976–77

  61

  1977–78

  24

  1978–79

  6

  1979–80

  7

  1980–81

  29

  1981–82

  27

  1982–83

  29

  1983–84

  732

  1984–85

  1,059

  1985–86

  516

  1986–87

  108

  1987–88

  356

  11988–89

  94

  1 To 26 May 1989.

  Private Members' Bills
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the Official Report a list of private Members' Bills where a Division took place on Second Reading, and where the Bill subsequently did not receive Royal Assent in each Session since 1970.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is as follows:

  1971–72

  Care of the Elderly Bill1

  1972–73

  Penalties for Murder Bill2

  Council House (Tenant's Representation) Bill

  132
  1974

  Companies Bill1

  1974–75

  Abortion (Amendment) Bill

  1976–77

  Abortion (Amendment) Bill

  Council Tenants' Charter Bill2

  Pre-Release Hostels for Prisoners Bill2

  1977–78

  Employment Protection Bill

  Employment Protection (Amendment) Bill

  Post Office Workers (Industrial Action) Bill

  1978–79

  Employment Opportunities (Small Businesses) Bill

  1979–80

  Abortion (Amendment) Bill

  Road Traffic (Seat Belts) Bill

  1982–83

  Shops Bill2

  1983–84

  Sex Equality Bill2

  House Buyers Bill

  1984–85

  Unborn Children (Protection) Bill

  1985–86

  Obscene Publications (Protection of Children Etc.) (Amendment) Bill

  1986–87

  Free Television Licences for Pensioners Bill2

  Obscene Publications Bill

  1988–89

  Protection of Official Information Bill2

  Abortion (Amendment) Bill

  1 fewer than 40 Members voting

  2 negatived on a Division.

  Hand-delivered Items
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will end the practice whereby hand-delivered items to the Palace of Westminster have to bear postage stamps.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Under the existing regulations one unstamped letter may be accepted from a Stranger, on a sitting day, for delivery to a right hon. or hon. Member. I have no plans to change these arrangements at present. However, if my hon. Friend has any proposals in mind, may I suggest that, in the first instance, he contacts the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the number of schools which have opted for grant-maintained status.
  134
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications have been received by his Department from schools wishing to become grant-maintained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey).

  PRISON OFFICERS: ASSAULTS—STATISTICS
  PRISON OFFICERS: ASSAULTS—STATISTICS
  CONFISCATED ASSETS
  CONFISCATED ASSETS
  BAIL INFORMATION SCHEMES
  BAIL INFORMATION SCHEMES
  SIB REPORT
  SIB REPORT