Written Answers of 29 June 1989

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Tourism
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is now able to announce the result of the review of tourism policy in Northern Ireland which was commissioned in October.

  Mr. Viggers
  Following the recent review, a statement of the Government's proposals for tourism is being published today, and copies of the document "Tourism in Northern Ireland—A View to the Future" are available in the House of Commons Library.

  The review concludes that tourism in Northern Ireland has not prospered in line with its opportunities. One feature of difficulty in the promotion of tourism in Northern Ireland is its image, but that does not reflect the full picture, and should not prevent the implementation of change in the marketing of the product.

  The Government intend to create a body which will have responsibility for both marketing and product development, bringing together the present promotional role of the Northern Ireland tourist board, and the grant-aiding functions of the Department of Economic Development.

  Implementation of the proposed changes will require legislation in due course.

  Irish Language
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils passed(a) O-level and (b) A-level Irish language in the years 1985 to 1988.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:-

  Passes in Irish language

  O-level

  A-level

  1985

  1,221

  230

  1986

  1,208

  209

  1987

  1,072

  223

  1988

  1,046

  203

  Notes:

  O-level passes for 1985–87 comprise CSE Grade 1 and GCE Grades A-C. In 1988, GCSE replaced GCE and CSE: figure given is for GCSE Grades A-C.

  A-level passes comprise grades A-E.

  Post-graduate Awards
  Mr McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the principal differences in the granting of post-graduate awards between Northern Ireland and Great Britain; and how many such awards have been granted in Northern Ireland during the past five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The principal differences between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in the granting of 502
  post-graduate awards are (a) in Northern Ireland the Department of Education is responsible for making awards to Northern Ireland students for those areas of study which in Great Britain are the responsibility of the science and engineering, the natural environment, and the economic and social research councils, the British Academy, the Department of Education and Science and the Scottish Education Department;

  (b) the Department of Education offers up to 20 postgraduate distinction awards each year to enable graduates from anywhere in the United Kingdom who have gained first-class degrees to undertake research at the two Northern Ireland universities.

  New awards made in each of the last five years are as follows:-

  Studentships

  Bursaries

  1984–85

  311

  131

  1985–86

  307

  131

  1986–87

  311

  134

  1987–88

  311

  133

  1988–89

  1337

  133

  1 Includes 20 Distinction Awards.

  Police Complaints (Report)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for copies of the first annual report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland to be laid in the House.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have arranged to do so today. This is the first report of the commission which I set up in February last year and, therefore, relates to a settling-in period. However the report clearly demonstrates that the commission has established a very firm foundation for the thorough and impartial consideration of complaints against members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary As the new commission develops its role I have every confidence that it will make a material contribution to strengthening good relations between the RUC and the whole community in Northern Ireland.

  Human Rights
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the 14th report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  The report has been published today, and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period 1 November 1987 to 31 March 1989.

  The report covers a wide range of matters which the commission has considered during the period under review. These include fair employment, the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, electoral law, broadcasting restrictions, emergency legislation, the draft Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order and education.

  Copies of my response to the commission's report and of the report itself have been placed in the Library.

THE ARTS

  Museums (Repairs)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, what is the estimated cost of necessary repairs and fabric at the national gallery, the national portrait gallery, the Victoria and Albert museum, the Tate gallery and the natural history museum; and what is the estimated cost of modernising the plumbing at each of the above-named institutions.

  Mr. Luce
  The maintenance and repair of these historic buildings is a continuous process which will always require a rolling programme of expenditure. Major maintenance projects are in hand at all of these institutions, but I accept that further investment is necessary. I have allocated £72 million in the current three-year funding period for the building and maintenance programmes at these institutions and hope to announce further allocations later in the year.

  Horniman Museum and Library
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he will appoint a shadow board of trustees for the Horniman museum and library; and when he will announce what resources there are available for the institution.

  Mr. Luce
  I hope that some members of the 'shadow' board of trustees for the Horniman museum and library will be appointed this autumn. I will announce in due course the financial provision which will be made for the museum from the arts programme.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Child Car Restraints
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue from value added tax on child car seat restraints for the current year; and if he will make a statement.

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

ENVIRONMENT

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has taken legal advice to test whether the community charge registration form produced by Trafford council is ultra vires; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is not for the Department to test whether the registration forms issued by community charge registration officers (CCROs) are intra vires. We have issued detailed guidance on community charge registration and a model registration form. If CCROs use the model form and follow the guidance, I am confident that they will be acting intra vires.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effects of his policy on community charge exemptions on the future of care in the community.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have provided a number of exemptions from the community charge 504
  including those for certain residential care workers and those for severely mentally impaired people. These, combined with rebate arrangements and uprated income support, ensure that our policy on community care is unaffected.

  Sewage Treatment Works
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what ministerial permission has(a) been requested and (b) been granted, for relaxation of sewage treatment works discharge consents for Yorkshire water authority; and what period of time they cover.

  Mr. Howard
  Lists of sewage treatment works for which applications have been made by water authorities for time-limited relaxations to discharge consents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Details of the applications, including the period for which the temporary variation has been requested, may be obtained from the public register maintained by Yorkshire water authority. The duration of any time-limited relaxation granted will, within the constraints set out in my announcement of 7 December 1988,Official Report column 199 reflect the expected time scale of the capital improvements to be carried out. None of the applications from the authority has yet been granted.

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will respond to those parts of the report "Sport and Young People, Partnership and Action" produced by the school sport forum in July 1988 which relate to his departmental responsibilities.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Education and Science will issue their joint response to the report "Sport and Young People, Partnership and Action" shortly.

  Domestic Property (Compensation)
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire, 17 January Official Report, column 149, if he is now in a position to publish his proposals for dealing with the compensation code for domestic property which, under current legislation, is based either upon gross, net annual or rateable values for implementation on 1 April 1990, under the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  Mr. Chope
  Paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Department's consultation paper on land compensation and compulsory purchase legislation issued on 7 March, include proposals for amendments to the method of calculating home loss payments when domestic rateable values are abolished on 1 April 1990. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the consultation paper to which we have received many interesting responses which we are now considering.

  Valuation and Community Charge Tribunals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the selected valuation and community change tribunal offices where he proposes to use his Department's valuation office staff for user computer support; and if he will make a statement.
  505
  Mr. Gummer
  The valuation and community charge tribunal offices proposed as regional centres for computer user support are:

  Cleveland and Durham

  Essex North and South

  Greater London (South Eastern)

  Greater Manchester North

  Greater Manchester South

  Hereford and Worcester

  and Kent

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the valuation and community charge tribunal offices that received in January an interim pay award to its staff of(a) three increments and (b) one increment; and if he will make a statement as to why there was a differential pay award.

  Mr. Gummer
  Staff in 16 offices set out in list (a) received an interim pay award equivalent to three increments while the staff of the remaining 26 offices in list (b) received one increment. The award to offices in list (a) reflected local market factors affecting recruitment retention of staff. Since January 1989 a further seven offices indicated by an asterisk in list (b) have been added to list (a) in the light of evidence of similar market factors.

  List (a)

  Central London, Holborn

  London North East, Ilford

  London North West, Harrow

  London South East, Croydon

  London South West, Hounslow

  Avon and Gloucestershire, Cheltenham

  Befordshire and Hertfordshire, Hertford

  Berkshire, Wokingham

  Coventry, Solihull and Worcestershire, Leamington Spa

  Essex North and South, Chelmsford

  Hampshire South and Isle of Wight, Southampton

  Hampshire North and Wiltshire, Winchester

  Kent, Maidstone

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire, Nottingham

  Surrey, Woking

  West Sussex, Chichester

  List (b)

  Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury*

  Cambridgeshire, Peterborough

  Cheshire, Chester

  Cleveland and Durham, Darlington

  Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Plymouth*

  Cumbria, Whitchaven

  Derbyshire, Chesterfield

  Dorset and Somerset, Yeovil

  Hereford and Worcester, Worcester

  Humberside, Bridlington

  Lancashire, Preston

  Lincolnshire, Horncastle

  Merseyside, Liverpool

  Manchester, North, Bolton

  Manchester South, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester*

  West Midlands West, Dudley

  Birmingham, Birmingham

  Norfolk, Norwich*

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, North Shields

  Oxfordshire, Oxford

  Staffordshire and Shropshire, Stafford

  Suffolk, Ipswich*

  East Sussex, Eastbourne*

  North Yorkshire, Middlesbrough*

  South Yorkshire, Doncaster

  West Yorkshire, Leeds

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department proposes to use 506
  valuation office staff for user computer support and place them in selected valuation and community charge tribunal offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Computer systems in 42 valuation and community charge tribunal offices become operational in September this year. By then a fully effective support system must be in place to help the offices overcome any problems. We propose to achieve this by seconding experienced computer staff from the Inland Revenue to selected tribunal offices within easy reach of other offices.

  Water Stocks
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any further information in relation to impounded water stocks following his answer to the hon. Member for Kingswood, 8 June,Official Report, column 87.

  Mr. Howard
  There are some impounded stocks below normal in the Southern and South West water authorities areas.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by reference to site location, the occasions since 1 December 1981 when the European Commission has initiated inquiries with his Department concerning development proposals or other activities which may have an adverse impact on areas qualifying for special protection under article 4 of EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Such inquiries are confidential between the European Commission and Her Majesty's Government, and details are not normally made public.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 89, what additional legal protection to that given under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is given to areas which meet the criteria for designation under article 4 of EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds or wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the last paragraph of my reply to him on 6 June at column 89 in respect of SPAs. Ramsar sites are a further subset of SSSIs. The fact of designation in accordance with this international convention would influence decisions on development proposals affecting these areas; the factors to be taken into account when considering development proposals are set out in detail in DOE circular 27/87—"Nature Conservation".

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to announce the designation of an area either as a site under the Ramsar convention on the conservation of wetlands of international importance or as a special protection area under EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds, or both.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A number of proposals are currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. The next classification of a site will be announced as soon as the necessary consultations have been satisfactorily completed.

  Shopping Developments
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of any organisation or individuals to which his decision about some or all of the applications for out-of-town shopping developments have been communicated.

  Mr. Howard
  It is my right hon. Friend's invariable practice to notify applicants and others concerned of his decisions on planning appeals and called-in applications when they are finalised, and not before. Decisions on the group of appeals and called-in planning applications for major retail developments in Greater Manchester and north-east Cheshire have not yet been finalised.

  North West Water
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of advertising by North West Water in the current year and each of the previous four years.

  Mr. Howard
  This is a matter for the authority.

  Ivory Imports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals he has received during the last 12 months against the refusal to grant an import licence under CITES; how many of these appeals he granted; and whether any were in respect of ivory earrings or other ivory jewellery.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 June 1989 at column 540.

  National Park Planning Boards
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list how many members of each national park planning board live within the area of that park as a percentage of the total numbers on each board.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information for the seven English national parks is as follows:

  Park

  Members

  Number living within Park

  Percentage of total number Per cent.

  Dartmoor

  21

  7

  33

  Exmoor

  21

  4

  19

  Lake District1

  30

  10

  34

  Northumberland

  27

  2

  7

  North York Moors

  27

  4

  15

  Peak District

  34

  10

  29

  Yorkshire Dales

  24

  11

  46

  1 29 members are in place and there is currently one vacancy on the Lake District Board.

  Tenants' Choice Ballots
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make available the model contract which a tenants' choice applicant landlord must use when employing an independent teller to conduct the ballot of tenants' views.

  Mr. Trippier
  A model contract setting out detailed obligations on applicant landlords and independent tellers 508
  when consulting tenants in a tenants' choice ballot was issued by the Department and the Housing Corporation today. It has been drawn up in consultation with the Electoral Reform Society.

  The applicant landlord is required to use this contract as a condition of his approval to apply to acquire the property. The contract is a rigorous document designed to ensure as far as possible that every tenant eligible to do so is able to return a fully informed vote within the consultation period.

  Copies of the contract have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and are available from the Housing Corporation.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list all discharges into the River Wear which are controlled by the sewage treatment effluent consent standards by maximum admissible concentrations, the number of occasions when these standards have been breached and action taken to enforce compliance;

  (2) if he will list the number of occasions the Northumbria water authority has been found to be in breach of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 (a) river by river in the authority's area, (b) the substances involved in each incident, (c) the source of the contravention, and (d) on coastal outfalls and the substances involved;

  (3) if he will list the number of times that Northumbria water authority has been in breach of the sewage effluent consent standards on the River Wear since 1987; which sewage treatment works were involved in each incident; and what action was taken to enforce compliance.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 21 June 1989]: Details of the consents to discharge into the River Wear, including those for sewage effluent, and information about breaches of these consents are held on registers maintained by the Northumbrian water authority and are available for public inspection, free of charge, at all reasonable hours. This information is not held centrally.

  In considering what action to take to enforce compliance, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution pay particular attention to the following factors: whether the sewage treatment works is persistently or grossly non-compliant; whether the breach has had a detrimental effect on the receiving water quality; and whether there are plans for improvement either through capital investment, by better maintenance or by improved operational control.

  Street Lighting
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an allocation to each local authority to enable a survey to be carried out to assess the need for the repair and replacement of street lighting; and if he will make available to local authorities adequate funding to finance a rolling programme to improve street lighting.

  Mr Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. The repair and renewal of street lighting on local roads is a local highway authority responsibility. Local authorities finance them from within their general resources for roads expenditure. If individual authorities

  509
  have special needs they may wish to highlight them in their transport policies and programme submissions to the Department.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  West Bank (Schools)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Israel about the closure of schools in the West Bank.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have repeatedly made clear our view that the closure of schools is not justified by Israel's security concerns, and called on the Israeli authorities to allow the schools to reopen—most recently in the European Council declaration on the middle east of 27 June.

  Mohammed Nazak and Jurida Begum
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East can expect a substantive reply to his letter of 27 January to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, concerning the case of Mohammed Nazak and Jurida Begum and the appeal lodged in Abu Dhabi on 1 May 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 20 February 1989 in reply to his letter of 27 January. I will be sending the hon. Member another copy.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Attorney-General on what date the chief constable of the Sussex police consulted the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning correspondence between the hon. Member for Brent, East and the chief constable of the Sussex police regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Colin Wallace's conviction for manslaughter.

  The Attorney-General
  I take the hon. Member's question to refer to his letter to the chief constable of the Sussex police dated 24 February 1989. It was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions by letter dated 7 March 1989.

ENERGY

  Windscale
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what monitoring systems are installed at No. 2 pile at Windscale to safeguard against a release of Wigner energy; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether any attempt was made to anneal or remove the stored Wigner energy in the No. 2 pile at Windscale; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Controlled releases of Wigner energy were made at intervals while Windscale No. 2 pile was in operation, but none has been attempted since 1957 510
  when it was closed down and defuelled. This energy could be released in significant quantity only by substantial heating of the pile; there are no credible circumstances in which such heat could be generated inadvertently. Nevertheless, temperatures are monitored continuously using instruments positioned in the outlet ducts.

  Disconnections
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on the numbers of domestic credit customers disconnected in each region of British Gas during (i) 1979 and (ii) the most recent full year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is for the Gas Consumers Council to monitor disconnections figures and take up any issues arising from them. The GCC published a report on disconnections in February of last year when disconnections were still rising. Subsequently British Gas modified its procedures on debt and disconnections, in agreement with the Office of Gas Supply, and in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available the number of disconnections has fallen by 35 per cent.

  Sellafield (Radioactive Chimneys)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what measures have been taken to protect the Cumbrian population during the dismantling of the two radioactive chimneys associated with the 1957 fire at Windscale (Sellafield); and what plans are under way for the examination of children and pregnant women during this period.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  BNFL is currently decommissioning one of the two original Windscale pile chimneys. All necessary safety precautions will be taken during the decommissioning and this will ensure that no member of the public will be at risk from exposure to radioactive contamination.

  Oil and Gas Revenues
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the cumulative total of benefit to the Exchequer from North sea oil and gas since May 1979 to date in respect of(a) licence fees and other revenues, and (b) taxation.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The cumulative total of licence fees attributable to United Kingdom oil and gas production over the fiscal years 1979–80 to 1988–89 is £545 million. Receipts from the gas levy over the same period were £3·8 billion. Total royalty revenues over the period are estimated at £;13·6 billion, and total tax revenues at £51·6 billion. Further details are contained in the Report of the Secretary of State for Energy to Parliament of April 1989 (the "Brown Book").

  Petroleum Licensing
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is ready to announce the results of the 11th offshore petroleum licensing round.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I am pleased to be able to tell the House that I am today making conditional offers of 105 licence awards.
  511
  The round has been a great success. Virtually all the major companies involved on the United Kingdom continental shelf have made applications. Overall there were 414 applications for individual blocks, many more than in most previous rounds, and representing an average of 3·6 applications for each block applied for.

  The high quality of the work programmes on offer was a particular feature of this round, which was evident both by the willingness of many applicants to evaluate prospects at many different geological layers, and by the average of 2·38 firm or conditional wells per block offered by the successful applicants, which is a far higher average than in any previous round.

  This round was intended to give the industry the chance to make up lost ground after the difficulties occasioned by low oil prices at the time of the 10th round. These results show that our confidence in launching the round was entirely justified. The industry has responded magnificently, and its commitment will ensure that the UKCS continues to be a major international oil province well into the 21st century.

  Before offering particular blocks my Department undertook extensive consultations with fishing, environmental, shipping and defence interests, and where appropriate other particular interests in the area. Special conditions, tailored to the precise circumstances of the block in question, will be included in the licences to ensure that these concerns are taken into account when undertaking operations. I have also ensured that all operators for the newly licensed blocks will be capable of meeting the necessary safety standards.

  I am pleased to see that British independents have been well represented in this round. As a result of the awards some British independents will be taking on offshore operatorships for the first time. This demonstrates that our own independent sector is alive and well, and I hope that these opportunities will encourage the further growth of this sector.

  A copy of the list of awards has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  British Coal (Licensing)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the operators of private coal mines currently licensed by British Coal.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation and I have asked the chairman to write to my right hon. Friend.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what principles he expects to be reflected in British Coal's statement of its licensing policy and practice in relation to the private mining sector referred to in his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing on 3 November,Official Report, column 708;

  (2) when British Coal's statement on its licensing policy and practice in relation to the private mining sector referred to in his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing on 3 November, Official Report, column 708, will be finalised;

  (3) whether he will place in the Library a copy of British Coal's statement on its licensing policy and practice in relation to the private mining sector when it is finalised.
  512
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  British Coal's statement of licensing policy and practice has now been finalised, and I am today arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The statement represents the furthest that the corporation considers it can go towards greater flexibility and transparency towards the licensed sector within the constraints imposed by the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946. It describes the criteria the corporation will use for assessing licence applications, and sets the target of processing applications within three months and of indicating objections at an earlier stage if possible. In addition, although a system of external appeal against licence rejection would not be consistent with the 1946 statute, British Coal is instituting internal arrangements along the same lines.

  British Coal has reaffirmed its undertaking to set royalties at levels that will permit efficiently managed operations to develop their business profitably, and to reduce royalties for new licences in any case where accounting evidence is provided which demonstrates that profit expectations would otherwise be cut to unreasonably low levels. The corporation has also offered to discuss an increase in the licence period, which may facilitate licensees' mine planning and financial arrangements.

  The statement confirms that it is not British Coal's policy to refuse a licence solely on the ground that it is already adequately supplied. It recognises the importance to licensed mines of reasonably assured markets for their coal, and supports the endeavours of licensed operators supplying on a continuing basis to obtain terms which properly reflect this.

  British Coal has agreed to prepare annual reviews of developments in the licensed sector, together with brief summaries each six months. I will ensure that copies of these reviews will he placed in the Library of the House.

  UKAEA
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what financial targets and external finance limits have been set for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1989–90.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have set a financial target of 4 per cent. return on capital employed defined as current cost profits before long-term interest and extraordinary items on the current cost value of the authority's assets. The external finance limit is £1·2 million, as published in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 606).

WALES

  Low-Cost Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to encourage the provision of low-cost starter homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We have made record provision for housing associations in Wales, not least because they are in a good position to provide starter homes. The Housing for Wales programme for 1989–90 itself allows for significant investment in new low-cost home ownership schemes. I shall be in touch with local authorities and other interests very soon as regards planning considerations for houses in rural areas.
  513
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to provide low-cost rented accommodation in conjunction with (i) housing associations, (ii) local authorities and (iii) the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We welcome the hon. Gentleman's interest in mixed funding. We have encouraged housing associations and local authorities to work together to provide homes for rent as well as for shared ownership. Some £15 million of private investment in social housing is expected to be attracted to Wales in 1989–90 on top of the publicly funded programme of over £70 million.

  Health Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from general practitioners and others on the effects of the proposals outlined in the National Health Service White Paper, "Working For Patients", on practices in(a) the south Wales valleys and (b) rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Information is not available in the form requested and could he provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take measures to increase the number of social workers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  It is for individual local authorities to determine the appropriate number of social workers required to meet their statutory obligations and provide an adequate range and depth of services. Rate support grant provision to local authorities for 1989–90 was 14·5 per cent. higher than that for 1988–89. My right hon. Friend will be announcing the rate support grant for 1990–91 in the autumn.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of social workers employed by each of the county authorities of Wales; what is his estimate of the number of fully qualified social workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Grist
  The information requested is given in the table. Details of qualifications are available centrally only for full-time staff.

  Local Authority

  Number of full-time social workers at 30 September 1988

  Total1

  Qualified2

  Clwyd

  168

  144

  Dyfed

  148

  117

  Gwent

  208

  175

  Gwynedd

  111

  71

  Mid Glamorgan

  245

  204

  Powys

  41

  27

  South Glamorgan

  188

  170

  West Glamorgan

  167

  106

  Notes:

  1 Senior social workers, social workers and community workers.

  2 Holding the certificate of qualification in social work of the CCETSW or equivalent.

  Sewage Outfalls
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list indicating the position of all sewage outfalls, whether into rivers or the sea, and the daily average volume of effluent released by each outfall.

  Mr. Grist
  No. This information is already available on public registers maintained by water authorities.

  Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he intends to make for postgraduate medical and dental education in Wales following the abolition of the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Following extensive consultation by officials of my Department, I have concluded that a separate Welsh Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education would be appropriate and will be established with effect from 1 July 1989, with the following terms of reference:To advise the Secretary of State for Wales and make provision on his behalf for the delivery of postgraduate and continuing medical and dental education in Wales, taking into account both the standards promulgated by professional bodies and the potential difficulties of reconciling service and training needs; to identify particular problems and to develop realistic solutions to these in consultation with relevant interests; and to report regularly.

  The chairman of the council will be Mr. E. M. W. Griffith CBE, chairman of Clwyd health authority. Members have been selected so as to cover the widest range of educational, professional and service interests. The setting up of this new body, after extensive consultation with professional and educational interests in Wales, reflects the Government's commitment to maintaining and enhancing the standards of medical and dental education in Wales.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Licensed Premises
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, pursuant to this reply to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant) on 8 June,Official Report, column 229, he will make a statement on his proposals to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 in so far as it affects the security of tenure of tenants of licensed premises.

  Mr. Maude
  The Government will bring forward legislation to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 in relation to the security of tenure of licensed premises as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  Wolverhampton and Dudley Brewery
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in which petty sessional divisions Wolverhampton and Dudley Brewery has over 33 per cent. of the public house licences.

  Mr. Maude
  In 1986, which is the most recent year for which detailed figures are available, Wolverhampton and
  515
  Dudley Breweries owned 33 per cent. or more of the full on-licensed premises in the following petty sessional divisions: Dudley, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Bewdley Borough.

  Faulty Cars
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider introducing into United Kingdom law, laws similar to the United States Lemon laws giving a right to consumers to reject faulty cars.

  Mr. Forth
  The Sale of Goods Act 1979 provides for the consumer, if he acts within a reasonable time, to reject goods which are not of merchantable quality. Subject to minor clarifying amendments, the Government intend to implement the Law Commissions' recommendations (Cm. 137) for changes which would strengthen and clarify consumers' rights, in particular by replacing the old requirement of "merchantable" quality with a more up-to-date definition. However there are no plans to introduce legislation similar to United States Lemon laws.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what British trade missions have visited Iraq in the past year; and if he will ensure that any future missions are briefed by the Government on the Iraq Government's war against its Kurdish minority.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 26 June 1989]: In the 12 months ended 31 May 1989 the DTI sponsored four trade missions to Iraq led by:

  British Water Industries Group

  Engineering Industries Association

  Association of British Healthcare Industries

  British Electro-technical and Allied Manufacturers Association

  The addition my Department is aware of three missions led by:

  Nottingham Chamber of Commerce

  Coventry Chamber of Commerce

  Manchester Chamber of Commerce

  Officials from my Department normally brief officially sponsored missions and those unsponsored missions they are invited to address. Such briefing concentrates on commercial relations and aspects of doing business in the country. Officials in the United Kingdom and commercial staff abroad are always willing to brief trade delegations on political developments.

  Human Genome Analysis
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what advice has been given by the British Government to the European Communities regarding the Commission of the Communities proposal for a programme in human genome analysis.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 26 June 1989]: The European Commission's proposal for a new research programme in predictive medicine is concerned with human genome analysis. An explanatory memorandum on this programme was submitted to the Committees of the House concerned with European legislation by the Department of Health on 28 September 1988. Discussion on the programme is still taking place in a working group of the European Council in which the British Government participated.

SCOTLAND

  Nephrops
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to add the nephrops fisheries in areas IV and VI to the current United Kingdom pressure stock licensing scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In view of the fact that nephrops in area IV are not subject to a quota, and that catches of nephrops in areas Vb and VI have been on average only 70 to 80 per cent. of the United Kingdom's total allowable catch in recent years, I do not consider that the designation of these stocks as pressure stocks would be justified. However, fisheries departments continue to monitor these stocks closely and have the ability to restrict their uptake if necessary.

  Regional Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the total amount of expenditure in regional development grant between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities;

  (2) if he will give the total amount of expenditure on enterprise grants between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities;

  (3) if he will give the total amount of expenditure on regional selective assistance between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities.

  Mr. Lang
  Comprehensive figures in the form requested are not available for expenditure under the old regional development grant scheme. Expenditures on each of the revised regional development grant (RDG2) scheme, regional enterprise grants (REG) and regional selective assistance (RSA) in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 are given in the table.

  Region

  Regional development grants £ million

  Regional enterprise assistance £ million

  Regional selective assistance £ million

  Borders

  —

  —

  *

  Central

  *

  *

  2·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  *

  —

  0·8

  Fife

  *

  —

  3·7

  Grampian

  —

  —

  *

  Lothian

  —

  —

  *

  Highland

  4·9

  *

  6·8

  Strathclyde

  41·6

  0·2

  22·4

  Tayside

  4·0

  *

  1·8

  TOTAL

  50·8

  0·3

  38·0

  Notes:

  (i) Regional development grants and regional enterprise grants are available in development areas. Regional selective assistance is available in development and intermediate areas.

  (ii) Starred entries are suppressed to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual businesses.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the total number of applications(a) received and (b) approved for regional development grants between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities;
  517
  (2) if he will give the total number of applications (a) received and (b) approved for enterprise grants between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities;

  (3) if he will give the total number of applications (a) received and(b) approved for regional selective assistance between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities.

  Region

  RDG2

  REG

  RSA

  Approvals

  Applications

  Offers

  Applications

  Offers

  Central

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Dumfries and Galloway

  6

  —

  —

  *

  *

  Fife

  *

  *

  *

  29

  24

  Highland

  —

  —

  —

  *

  *

  Lothian

  176

  29

  *

  27

  26

  Strathclyde

  2,742

  394

  195

  152

  131

  Tayside

  218

  31

  15

  29

  24

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  *

  *

  Location undecided

  —

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  3,148

  481

  226

  255

  221

  Notes: (i) RDG2 and REG are available in development areas. RSA is available in development and intermediate areas.

  (ii) Starred figures are suppressed to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual businesses.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals for new bail hostels he has received from the Greater Manchester area; and what steps he is taking to encourage proposals.

  Mr. John Patten
  Following a meeting between officials and representatives of the Greater Manchester probation service on 1 December 1988 capital provision of £550,000 was allocated to provide about 50 new bail hostel places in Manchester by April 1990. On 9 March 1989 officials visited the Greater Manchester probation service to discuss their proposals which will involve two new bail hostels and additional places at two existing hostels.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken between an applicant to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board applying for an appeal hearing and the appeal taking place;

  (2) what is the average length of time taken between receipt of a claim and its single member adjudication by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is not available in the form requested, but the percentage of cases resolved by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board within certain periods of registration, either by single member adjudication or hearings determination, is shown at paragraphs 6 and 11 of the board's latest annual report (Cm. 536), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are awaiting single member adjudication; and, of those, how many have been awaiting adjudication for over one year, two years, three years, four years and five years, respectively;
  518
  Mr. Lang
  Comprehensive figures in the form requested are not available for the old regional development grant scheme. The revised regional development grant (RDG2) scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 1998. Figures for RDG2 approvals and for applications and offers of regional enterprise grants (REG) and regional selective assistance (RSA) in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 are given in the table:

  (2) what is the longest period that has been taken to reach single member adjudication in any claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board;

  (3) what plans there are to speed up the processing of claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The board does not keep detailed information about the length of time for which cases have awaited determination by a single member. On 1 June 1989, 69,480 applications were awaiting final determination by a single member. Interim assessments of compensation had been made in 2,828 of these cases.

  To speed up the processing of claims the board's complement has been increased from 220 in 1987 to 320 now and a new office has been opened in Glasgow where recruitment is expected to be easier and turnover lower than in London. The board's new chairman is reviewing administrative procedures with the aim of reducing the time taken to resolve claims.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board;

  (2) how many staff vacancies at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are presently being advertised;

  (3) what is the present level of staff shortages as a percentage of the recommended full staff complement at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 23 June 1989 the board had the equivalent of 317 whole-time staff, 0·9 per cent. below its complement of 320, including 36 temporary staff engaged as part of the phased relocation of about 180 posts from London to Glasgow. The vacancies are being filled by interdepartmental trawl.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time taken between the receipt of an appraisal by single member adjudication and receipt of a formal Criminal Injuries Compensation Board decision and the notification of the outcome to the applicant.
  519
  Mr. John Patten
  Notification of a decision by a single member of the board is usually dispatched within two weeks of the date of the decision. Applicants whose claims are decided following a hearing are usually advised of the decision at the conclusion of the proceedings.

  Seat Belt Offences
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of (a) males and (b) females (i) charged and (ii) convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in 1987 and 1988;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of (a) males and (b) females (i) 16 to

  Proceedings at magistrates' courts for seat belt offences

  England and Wales 1987

  Number of offences

  Age group

  Males

  Females

  Proceeded against

  Found guilty

  Proceeded against

  Found guilty

  Under 16

  16

  13

  —

  —

  16 to 18

  341

  285

  29

  26

  19 to 20

  655

  555

  49

  43

  21 and over

  7,497

  6,094

  563

  488

  Total

  8,509

  6,947

  641

  557

  Parties (Police Powers)
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he plans to seek further powers to enable the police to deal with large-scale party-style events held on private property;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Thames Valley on the events at White Waltham industrial estate on Saturday 24 June, and on the outcome of police inquiries into these events.

  (3) if he will take steps to ensure that police and local authorities are aware in advance of the planned location of the large-scale party-style events planned for July.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have just received from the Chief Constable of Thames Valley a report on the incident at White Waltham on 24 June and I will consider the need for any further action in the light of his assessment of events. The police have been aware of the growth of these parties and, insofar as there may be a breach of the law or a risk to public safety, have taken action to prevent them where possible. I understand that the Metropolitan Police have been able to prevent in advance or shut down some 75 such parties so far this year.

  In addition to continuing police action, those involved in these events should be aware that they may be in breach of existing public entertainment law. The controls exist to ensure that the local authority, police and fire services are given advance notice of events, that there are proper control and safety arrangements, and to minimise nuisance to the local community. It is already an offence to provide public entertainment involving music and dancing without a licence. The maximum penalty in Greater London is a fine of up to £2,000 plus imprisonment of up to three months. Outside Greater London, the fine is the same but imprisonment is not available.

  There are also controls over nuisance caused by noise, for which the maximum penalty is a fine of up to £2,000.

  We are satisfied that the existing law on the misuse of drugs is strong and adequate. At large gatherings of young
  520
  18, (ii) 19 to 21, (iii) 22 to 24, (iv) 25 to 30 and (v) 30 years and over who were (aa) charged and (bb) convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. John Patten
  The latest available information is shown in the table. Information on the age of persons proceeded against for summary offences is not generally collected for those aged 21 and over. Since 1 October 1986, the police have been able to issue fixed penalty notices for seat belt offences as an alternative to prosecution. Further information is given in Home Office statistical bulletin issue 32/88, table 13 of which suggests that in 1987 there was a large rise in the enforcement of this legislation. Figures for 1988 will be published in the autumn.

  people there is always the risk of drugs being used or supplied. The police attach high priority to drugs enforcement and action will be taken where necessary.

  Those who hire out large premises would be well advised to exercise caution to establish the true purpose of the activity and inform the police if they are suspicious. Regular use of premises for purposes for which planning permission had not been obtained may result in enforcement action.

  There is in being a comprehensive set of controls, backed up by offences, and penalties for those who commit them, to keep events within proper grounds.

  I am considering whether there are any gaps in the law, but it is clear that the main need is for citizens who have advance knowledge of any party at which the law may be broken to give timely information to the police so that the law can be enforced.

  Prisons
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there were in Leicester prison as at(a) 26, (b) 23, (c) 16, (d) 9 and (e) 2 June, and (f)(g) 19 and (h) 12 May 1989.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers

  26 June 1989

  362

  23 June 1989

  365

  16 June 1989

  369

  9 June 1989

  389

  2 June 1989

  374

  26 May 1989

  381

  19 May 1989

  388

  12 May 1989

  379

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision is to be taken on the application of Mr. G. M. Tinwala—reference: T204490—to settle in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  The British deputy high commission in Bombay was notified on 27 June that entry clearance may be issued to Mr. Tinwala.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East can expect to hear from his Department on the case of Mohammed Nazak and Miss Jurida Begum, reference N. 158192, whose papers were forwarded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to his Department on 6 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I have replied to the hon. Member's letter of 6 June today.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are given to chief constables in relation to the inspection of tachographs and their charts following road accidents involving vehicles which are required to carry them.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None. This is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has proposals to review the effectiveness of prison sentences in controlling crime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our views were set out in the Green Paper "Punishment, Custody and the Community" (Cm. 424), published in July last year.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many men from the ethnic groups(a) Afro-Caribbean or African, (b) Asian and (c) white have been appointed in the principal, director and chief executive grades of the Commission for Racial Equality;

  (2) how many women from the ethnic groups (a) Afro-Caribbean or African, (b) Asian and (c) white have been appointed in the principal, director and chief executive grades of the Commission for Racial Equality.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is as follows:

  Chief Executive

  Director

  Principal

  Men

  a. Afro-Caribbean and African

  —

  —

  1

  b. Asian

  —

  1

  5

  c. White

  1

  1

  7

  Women

  a. Afro-Caribbean and African

  —

  —

  —

  522

  Chief Executive

  Director

  Principal

  b. Asian

  —

  —

  —

  c. White

  —

  2

  2

  Prisoners (Rule 43)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were on rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 1 June.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 14 June 1989]: The latest readily available information is given in the table.

  Prisoners held in prison service establishments in England anti Wales under prison rule 43 and young offender institution rule 46: by type of segregation, age group and sex, 30 April 1989

  Own protection

  Good order or discipline

  Aged under 21

  Males

  185

  55

  Females

  17

  3

  Adults

  Males

  2,065

  178

  Females

  35

  9

TRANSPORT

  Greenhouse Effect
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has taken account of the implications for the greenhouse effect of his Department's forecast increase in vehicle miles of 83–142 per cent. by the year 2025 in his recent White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693);

  (2) what account has been taken of environmental degradation including atmospheric pollution in his recent White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693).

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Road congestion is bad for the environment. It increases atmospheric pollution whereas free-flowing traffic cuts down on emissions and saves fuel.

  The proposals in "Roads for Prosperity" will also have a major impact in improving the environment by taking traffic away from communities and off unsuitable roads. The emphasis in our programme on increasing the capacity of existing routes will help minimise its environmental impact. Protecting and enhancing the environment will continue to be a major feature of our road building plans.

  I have sent the hon. Member a copy of the press notice No. 291 (28 June) which illustrates how exhaust fumes at the 1979 levels would be possible if economic driving and efficient maintenance were widespread.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has put forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide and tropospheric ozone from road transport since the Prime Minister's seminar on the greenhouse effect on 26 April.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At the Council of Environment Ministers held in Luxembourg on 8 and 9 June my noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside supported tighter new limits on gaseous
  523
  emissions from small cars. These gases are the precursors of tropospheric ozone. He was also successful in pressing the Commission to report back to the Council on measures that can be taken to combat carbon dioxide emissions from cars.

  Orange Badges
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he sought advice from organisations representing disabled people before deciding that eligibility for orange badges should not automatically be extended to those with upper limb disabilities.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The decision that badges should continue to be restricted to people with severe mobility problems was made in the light of representations from the statutory disabled persons transport advisory committee (DPTAC).

  The committee's constituent organisations include: the joint committee on mobility for the disabled, the Disabled Drivers Association, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and the Disabled Drivers Motor Club. The majority of DPTAC's members are people with disabilities. We have accepted DPTAC's advice. We are taking medical advice on the mobility problems specific to Thalidomide victims. We are also in touch with the Thalidomide Trust and the Thalidomide Society.

  Any individual who has a severe mobility problem may qualify for a badge, regardless of the medical cause of the problem.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of(a) the effects of private sector involvement in the building of the Channel tunnel rail link and (b) whether the private sector has a role in appraisal of the design; and what financial advisers are employed by his Department to advise on private sector investment in building the Channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Portillo
  Our assessment will depend on the outcome of British Rail's current discussions with a number of private sector interests. The Department has not as yet appointed financial advisers on this matter.

  Aircraft (Near-Misses)
  Mr. Rhodes James
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will ask the Air Accident Investigation Branch for an urgent report on the near-miss over Heathrow airport at approximately 07.30 hours on Saturday 26 June involving an Air Canada flight from London to Nice and another aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority which has statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation within the United Kingdom, has no record of any near-miss incident occurring over Heathrow airport at the time specified on either Saturday 24 June or Monday 26 June.

  Severn Crossing
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make arrangements for an exhibition at Westminister similar to the one currently on 524
  display in venues in Gwent, together with a briefing by officials, in order for hon. Members on both sides of the Bristol channel to be fully informed of the proposals for the second Severn crossing.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The exhibition—which explains proposed changes to the route of the approach roads to the second Severn crossing—is already being held at venues on both sides of the Bristol channel—at Caldicot 26 to 28 June; at Rogiet 29 June to 1 July; at Pilning 3 to 5 July; and at Avonmouth 7 and 8 July. Officials will be on hand throughout to respond to queries.

  Hon. Members with a constituency interest were told in advance about the exhibition. Any hon. Member unable to attend should write to me; it may be possible to arrange a separate viewing for them of the display material at a later date.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on whether car engines deteriorate more quickly when only lead-free petrol is used in them.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Most of the information available to the Department comes from the United States, where there is more than a decade of experience with running on unleaded petrol. It has been found that components of the drivetrain, such as spark plugs and exhaust systems may last longer with unleaded petrol. There is no indication of damage from unleaded petrol when engines are designed for its use.

  Using unleaded petrol in a vehicle for which it is not designed could result in serious damage.

  British Rail (Safety)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list(a) the number of reports he has received from the railways inspectorate, (b) the number recommending prosecutions, and (b) the number of prosecutions taken up and the outcome for each of the past 10 years;

  (2) if he will list (a) the number of deaths on British Rail premises each year in the last 10 years and (b) the number of prosecutions for such deaths and the outcome of the prosecutions.

  Mr. Portillo
  The number of deaths on British Rail premises during the period 1979–88 is in table A. Table B shows the number of prosecutions arising from incidents involving fatalities and the outcome. The decision to go ahead with prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is a matter solely for the chief inspecting officer of railways. He does not consult my right hon. Friend before proceeding. Details of all prosecutions, and their outcome, during the period 1980–1988 were set out in my answer of 4 May 1989, at column 118 to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) There were no prosecutions in 1979.

  Table A

  Fatal Accidents on BR Premises 1979–1988

  Year

  Passengers

  Staff

  Other Persons

  Total

  1979

  52

  43

  12

  107

  1980

  26

  32

  11

  69

  1981

  39

  27

  10

  76

  525

  Year

  Passengers

  Staff

  Other Persons

  Total

  1982

  20

  27

  10

  57

  1983

  29

  28

  12

  69

  1984

  39

  25

  12

  76

  1985

  33

  25

  16

  74

  1986

  32

  16

  24

  72

  Table B

  Prosecutions involving fatalities 1979–1988

  Prosecution in respect of incident at

  Number of fatalities involved

  Date of first proceedings

  Outcome

  Denham Station

  3

  25 April 1983

  Not Guilty.

  Barking Station

  1

  3 December 1984

  Guilty, fined £1,000 plus £500 costs (BRB appealed successfully and costs awarded against HSE).

  Birmingham International

  1

  10 September 1984

  Absolute discharge.

  Coquet Viaduct

  2

  23 September 1985

  Guilty, fined £1,250 plus £1,100 costs.

  Glasgow Central Station

  1

  2 July 1985

  Company, which was in liquidation, received an admonition.

  Liverpool Street Station

  1

  13 January 1987

  Guilty, fined £5,000 plus £900 costs.

  Street Lighting
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent by each county council highways authority on street lighting in 1988–89 and 1989–90; and what percentage that money is of the total amount spent on roads, by each county.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Figures for local authority spending on street lighting are not yet available for the years in question.

  Capital Expenditure
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the capital expenditure invested in(a) Rail Network SouthEast and (b) London Underground in 1988–89.

  Mr. Portillo
  This information will be published in the 1989–90 annual report and accounts for British Rail and London Regional Transport. Both documents will be published shortly.

  M3
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the state of the surface of the M3 between junctions 4 and 2, London-bound; and when repairs are scheduled to take place.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This length of motorway is in need of surface maintenance. The necessary work is planned for early next year.

  Highways
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what allocation each county council highways authority has made in 1988–89 and 1989–90 for non-major schemes.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No figures are available yet for 1989–90. The counties' 1988–89 budgets for capital expenditure on schemes costing less than £1 million were as follows:
  526

  Year

  Passengers

  Staff

  Other Persons

  Total

  1987

  68

  16

  20

  104

  1988

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1 Figures for 1988 not yet available.

  1988–89 budgets for capital expenditure on schemes costing under £1 illion

  Authority

  (£'000)

  Avon

  2,399

  Bedfordshire

  1,549

  Berkshire

  3,887

  Buckinghamshire

  1,729

  Cambridgeshire

  1,660

  Cheshire

  4,720

  Cleveland

  1,990

  Cornwall

  1,381

  Cumbria

  1,995

  Derbyshire

  8,693

  Devon

  2,758

  Dorset

  2,848

  Durham

  1,884

  East Sussex

  4,335

  Essex

  3,339

  Gloucestershire

  2,173

  Hampshire

  6,490

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  2,098

  Hertfordshire

  2,445

  Humberside

  1,921

  Isle of Wight

  1,894

  Kent

  8,010

  Lancashire

  2,553

  Leicestershire

  2,740

  Lincolnshire

  4,210

  Norfolk

  3,586

  Northamptonshire

  2,546

  Northumberland

  1,219

  North Yorkshire

  3,098

  Nottinghamshire

  8,013

  Oxfordshire

  2,351

  Shropshire

  467

  Somerset

  3,524

  Staffordshire

  3,374

  Suffolk

  2,474

  Surrey

  2,946

  Warwickshire

  2,812

  West Sussex

  1,700

  Wiltshire

  1,782

  Docklands (Traffic Delays)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for how long the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Portillo) was delayed in traffic on his visit
  527
  to Luciano Pavarotti's concert in docklands; what representations he has received on traffic delays in the docklands area; and if he will increase planned expenditure on road links between central London and docklands;

  (2) if, given the considerable traffic delays encountered by those attending last Sunday's London Arena concert by Luciano Pavarotti, he will speed up work on (a) roads and (b) communications generally for the London docklands.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 26 June 1989]: It took me just over an hour from Westminster to the Arena, which is about the time I allow for journeys to major events at Earls Court, Wimbledon and so on. It was perhaps a pity that more people did not choose to travel by docklands light railway, which was operated especially for the Pavarotti concert.

  The Department and the London Docklands development corporation have very large road programmes which are being pursued with all possible urgency. On the A13 trunk road in Tower Hamlets and Newham, over £60 million of schemes will provide interim and permanent improvements to every major junction and bridge over the next seven years. These schemes form part of the Department's £600 million programme for trunk roads in east London of which the Sidcup bypass, South Woodford to Barking relief road, Rochester way relief road and Beckton flyover tidal flow are already complete, and others in hand include the A406 Chingford road to Hale End road improvement, the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 link road and the proposed east London river crossing, on the design of which we hope to make an announcement shortly. With refurbishment of the Blackwall tunnel south bore now nearing completion, we hope to tackle the north bore in offpeak periods over the two years from September. We have also invited tenders for a new traffic control and communications system for east London to be located at Blackwall.

  The London Docklands development corporation's £550 million programme of access roads includes schemes already complete in the Surrey docks and under way at the Royal docks. Work will start later this year on a new crossing over the lower Lea, and the compulsory purchase order has now been made for the proposed 1·5 km dual two-lane cut-and-cover tunnel from The Highway to Westferry road and Poplar, known as the Limehouse link.

  The Department is working closely on co-ordination of streetworks with the utilities, developers, the police and the LDDC which has commissioned a study into extending the controlled parking zone to docklands.

  On public transport, the reliability of the docklands light railway is being improved with an urgent programme of remedial measures. Capacity will be trebled on completion of the extension to Bank, and the Bill for a link to Beckton is now completing its parliamentary passage. I am about to receive the report of the east London rail study recommending extension of the Jubilee line through Surrey docks, Canary wharf and the Greenwich peninsula to Stratford, for which we shall be seeking contributions from developers. Subject to satisfactory contributions, LRT could deposit the necessary Bill in Parliament in November. British Rail is introducing longer trains in October on its north London link, where capacity will be increased by a tunnel refurbishment to be funded by LDDC. The new network of docklands minibus routes usefully complements London Regional Transport's
  528
  improved docklands bus services, and Thamesline riverbus services are being extended to Greenland and Greenwich piers.

  My chairmanship of a steering group comprising operators, boroughs, utilities, developers, the police and the LDDC enables me to help keep the momentum up and to intervene whenever necessary to facilitate action.

  I am satisfied that the docklands transport programmes are appropriate and are being progressed as fast as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding water privatisation.

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding water privatisation.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many representations about water privatisation, which provides the best framework and conditions for achieving even higher standards of water quality.

  United States of America
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding relations with the United States of America.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Berlin Wall
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding the Berlin wall.

  The Prime Minister
  There is widespread concern in Britain about the Berlin wall and the shootings which took place there earlier this year. Such barriers to freedom have no place in Europe today. We look forward to the day when the wall is torn down.

  Competition Policy
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations concerning competition policy.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many and varied representations about the Government's policies which seek to extend competition and opportunity.

  Peterstene Wentlooge
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she intends to pay an official visit to the Peterstene Wentlooge area of Newport, West.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding the performance of small businesses.

  The Prime Minister
  No specific representations have been received. The small firms sector is flourishing in the
  529
  beneficial climate the Government have created for businesses. Estimated, unadjusted figures for last year are already showing a record rate of new business formation, net of closures, of 1,300 new businesses a week.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding self-employment.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many letters from people who have become self-employed or who are thinking of setting up their own businesses. Many refer to the satisfaction they have found in setting up in business, having taken advantage of the improved climate for enterprise in this country. This improvement is reflected in the increase by 1 million in the number of self-employed people in the United Kingdom since this Government came into office.

  City of London
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding the performance of the City of London.

  The Prime Minister
  I regularly discuss the performance of the City which makes an important contribution to our economic prosperity.

  Environment Protection
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding the protection of the environment.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations regarding the environment. The Government have undertaken a great many measures to improve the quality of the environment. We intend to bring forward further legislative proposals shortly.

  National Heritage
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding the national heritage.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friends and I receive representations frequently. The national heritage is vital to the quality of lift.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the ozone layer.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received many representations regarding the ozone layer.

  Yorkshire and Humberside
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay a visit to Yorkshire and Humberside.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  British Rail (Land)
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy not to require British Rail to dispose of railway land from which railway services have been withdrawn.
  530
  The Prime Minister
  I understand that before British Rail declare unused railway land non-operational, they normally take account of possible future railway requirements.

  Family Problems
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will co-ordinate action to tackle current problems of the family.

  The Prime Minister
  The present arrangements for co-ordination between Government Departments ensure that full consideration is given to all matters affecting the family.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Commissioner Carla Ripa Di Meana had any consultations with Her Majesty's Government before arranging(a) to meet representatives of the Green party and (b) to make contact with non-governmental organisations concerned with the rain forest in Britain; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. I understand that the European Commission is prepared to listen to the views of all bodies with an interest in the environment, including Opposition parties and non-governmental organisations. They are not obliged to consult the Governments of member states of the European Community before doing so. Her Majesty's Government have had regular and detailed discussions with the Commissioner on a wide range of environmental issues since he took up his post in January of this year.

  Import Licences
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all those gifts received by her or her Ministers during the past five years which have required an import licence under the conventions on international trade in endangered species; and how many such applications were(a) initially granted, (b) granted on appeal and (c) refused.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not readily obtainable and could he provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to South Yorkshire and the Barnsley, East constituency to explain Government policy on the poll tax.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  The Government have no plans for any poll tax. The Government policy on and implications of the community charge have been fully set out in the excellent leaflets published by the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office.

  Malaysia
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 23 June,Official Report, column 276, whether any of the clarifications by which the Government made

  531
  clear to the Malaysian Government, on a number of occasions in 1988, that they were willing to consider Malaysian requests for aid were contained in correspondence which also related to the arms sales package, the memorandum of understanding of which was they were signed in 1988.

  The Prime Minister
  The contents of Government-to-Government correspondence are confidential. As the hon. Member will be aware from the reply of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to her earlier question on 19 June at column 18 we have been giving grant aid to Malaysia since well before negotiations on the defence sales package began.

  Engagements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 June.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 June.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 June.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 June.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 June.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 June.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

DEFENCE

  Port Calls
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the dates of port calls by Royal Naval vessels to foreign ports in 1987, 1988 and 1989; and what are the dates of planned port calls up to 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our normal practice to disclose planned port visits by Royal Navy vessels, but I will write to the hon. Member about the first part of his question.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what importance the Government attach to visits by Royal Naval vessels to foreign ports; and what is the Government's policy regarding port calls.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government attach great importance to visits to foreign ports by Her Majesty's ships. Port calls help to forge and maintain links with other countries and navies and, by providing opportunities for rest and recreation, play a prominent part in maintaining crew morale. Visits are also made for operational reasons, such as to take on supplies and fuel, and can offer opportunities to display British technology which can be of direct benefit to United Kingdom industry.

  It is our policy to encourage Royal Navy visits to foreign ports and, where appropriate, to reciprocate by welcoming foreign naval vessels to United Kingdom ports.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which public relations firms his Department has employed and at what cost, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Apart from the special circumstances of privatisation work, the consistent practice of successive Governments has been to avoid the use of public relations firms or other firms outside Government for public relations work.

  Low Flying
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the areas in the United Kingdom where low flying at 250 ft is permitted and where ultra low flying at 100 ft is permitted; and which of these areas is used by naval aircraft or aircraft assigned to naval operations.

  Mr. Neubert
  Since the introduction of the revised United Kingdom low flying system in 1979, the whole of Great Britain has, in principle, been open to low flying down to 250 feet except for major conurbations, danger zones and certain areas such as civil and military air traffic zones, airports and glider sites. Flying down to 100 feet is permitted only in three sparsely populated areas in northern Scotland, central Wales and the Borders. The United Kingdom low flying system as a whole is available for use by Royal Navy aircraft where their role makes such training necessary.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of low flying sorties over the United Kingdom were flown by naval aircraft or aircraft assigned to naval operations in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  Central records are not held in a form that would allow this information to be provided.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he first received information from the right hon. Member for Swansea, West about a low-flying Royal Air Force aircraft's simulated attack on Swansea airport; when he intends to let him know the outcome of the Department's inquiries into the allegation of low flying; and if he will give detailed reasons for the delay.

  Mr. Neubert
  As the right hon. Member will recall, I met him on the evening of Monday 30 January to discuss several alleged low flying incidents in the west Swansea area. I wrote to the right hon. Member on 1 February with full details of the incident involving a simulated attack on Swansea airport by a Royal Air Force aircraft. I also wrote to the right hon. Member on 19 May about a separate incident on 24 January. I hope to be able to write to the right hon. Member shortly about another incident in the Swansea area on 20 January, into which the RAF police investigation has not yet been concluded, but I am not aware that either of these incidents involved Swansea airport.

  Ministry Houses, Barton Stacey
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses the Ministry of Defence owns at Barton Stacey; and, of these, how many were empty on 31 March in each year from 1986 to 1989.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Army's stock of married quarters and vacancies at 31 March for each of the years 1986 to 1989 was as follows:
  533

  Stock

  Vacancies

  31 March 1986

  161

  29

  31 March 1987

  161

  86

  31 March 1988

  138

  35

  31 March 1989

  138

  27

  Of the 27 vacancies at 31 March this year, seven were already allocated to nominated incomers, one was awaiting repair and 10 were already being processed for disposal and will shortly be advertised under the discounted sale to service men scheme.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreement has been concluded with the United States Government relating to the development of a stand-off nuclear missile to replace the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are still studying a number of procurement options for possible replacement of the WE177 free fall nuclear bomb, but no decisions have yet been taken.

  Nuclear Submarines (Swansea)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what approvals are required for a nuclear submarine berth to be established at the port of Swansea; and which approvals have been obtained so far.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All berths for nuclear-powered submarines require the approval of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee, an independent committee whose members include national experts on nuclear safety matters. The nuclear-powered warships safety committee reports to the Secretary of State for Defence on all public safety aspects of the use of a berth by nuclear-powered warships. If a berth is approved by the nuclear-powered warships safety committee, a final decision on its use is taken by this Department, in consultation with local and port authorities.

  Since I replied to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 26 June at column 371, the nuclear-powered warships safety committee has given its approval for a berth at Swansea to be used by nuclear-powered submarines: further discussions between Ministry of Defence officials and local and port authorities will follow.

  Trucks Supply
  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the result of the competition to supply 4-tonne trucks to the services will be made known.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Detailed appraisal of the results of demanding and comprehensive user and evaluation trials of vehicles supplied by the three competing companies—AWD Ltd, Leyland DAF and Volvo (GB) Ltd.—has now been completed. This, together with a comparative assessment of the three companies' commercial proposals in terms of both capital purchase and whole life costs make it clear that the Leyland DAF vehicle is the one giving best value for money. I am pleased to anounce, therefore, that we shall shortly be placing an order with Leyland DAF for the supply of 4-tonne trucks to meet the services'534
  requirements over the period 1990–91 to 1994–95. I should add that the competition provided an excellent example of the effectiveness of our procurement policy. It was hard fought between three very good companies, any one of whose vehicles would have met the services' requirements.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Food Research
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of the institutes of food research in Reading, Norwich and Bristol.

  Mr. Jackson
  The AFRC has taken the decision, consistent with the policy outlined in its corporate plan, to consolidate the work of the Institute of Food Research at the Reading and Norwich sites and to secure the future of the laboratories. The restructured institute will allow for greater emphasis on key areas such as food safety. The laboratory at Langford, Bristol will cease to be part of the institute by the end of 1990.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many research workers will be made redundant by the closure of the food research centre at Bristol; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Although there will be redundancies arising from the withdrawal of AFRC funding from the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research, it is not possible at this stage to state precisely the number of research workers involved. The detailed implementation of staffing changes for the institute as a whole, following the restructuring plan announced by AFRC, is now being determined; every effort will be made to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum. With respect to the Bristol laboratory, there will be opportunities for the redeployment of some of its scientists, to new scientific posts and other vacancies within the remaining institute laboratories at Reading and Norwich, within the agricultural and food research service and elsewhere.

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will respond to those parts of the report "Sport and Young People, Partnership and Action" produced by the school sport forum in July 1988 which relate to his departmental responsibilities.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for the Environment will issue a joint response shortly.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an updated report on progress so far with the establishment of various city technology colleges.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave on 6 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs)Official Report, column 10.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table in the Official Report

  535
  in respect of city technology colleges, giving, in respect of each city technology college or proposed or planned city technology college, information as to (a) name, site, and local authority, (b) numbers of pupils, (c) total cost, (d) maximum amount of Exchequer contribution by way of (i) grant and (ii) loans, (e) amount of sponsors' contributions whether in cash or kind and names of principal sponsors, (f) the nature of any contracts for the supply of goods or

  Kingshursl

  Gateshead

  Bradford

  Dartford

  The British school for performing arts and technology

  Nottingham

  Teesside

  Name

  Kingshurst CTC

  Tyneside CTC

  Bradford CTC

  Dartford CTC

  The British School for Performing Arts and Technology

  Djanogly CTC

  Macmillan College

  Site

  Former Kingshurst School site

  St. John Fisher School site

  Part of Newby Square site

  Downs School site

  Share of site currently occupied by Selhurst Tertiary Centre

  Site of the former Players Warehouse, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham

  St. Michael RC School site, Dunstable Road, Middlesbro

  LEA

  Solihull

  Gateshead

  Bradford

  Kent

  Croydon

  Nottinghamshire

  Cleveland

  Planned number of pupils

  1,000

  900

  980

  1,250

  720

  990

  1,050

  Total cost1

  £9·65 million

  To be determined

  To be determined

  To be determined

  To be determined

  £9·05 million

  £7·5 million

  Exchequer contribution

  i) grant

  £7·55 million

  To be determined

  To be determined

  To be determined

  To be determined

  £7·655 million

  £5·625 million

  ii) loans

  Sponsors' contribution

  i) cash2

  £2·1 million

  £1·13 million3

  £1 million3

  £1·2 million

  To be determined

  £1·4 million

  £1·875 million

  ii) in hand

  Principal sponsors

  Hanson's plc, Lucas plc and over 70 supporting sponsors

  Group of local businessmen—Peter Vardy, Albert Dicken, John Laing plc and Argyle Group plc

  Dixons plc

  G. Leigh of Allied London Properties, Wellcome Foundation

  The British Record Industry Trust

  Mr. Harry Djanogly, Boots, W. H. Smith

  BAT Industries, Cameron Hall Developments, British Steel, Davy Corporation

  Contracts awarded to sponsors or close associates and names

  None

  Building contract—Laings Northern

  None

  None

  None

  None

  None

  Is closure of an existing school involved

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  Has a ballot of parents been held and with what result

  No

  No

  No

  No4

  No

  No

  No

  1 This covers only the initial capital costs of establishing the CTC. It does not include revenue costs.

  2 Sponsors' contribution to date. Funding raising continues in each project. This includes contributions in kind which are as yet uncosted.

  3 Confirmed sponsorship to date.

  4 Public consultations were held by Kent on its proposals to close the Downs school. One statutory objection containing 62 signatures was made to the section 12 proposal subsequently published.

  In addition sponsors have announced plans for the establishment of CTCs in the premises of the Sylvan school, Croydon, the Haberdashers' Aske's schools, Hatcham, and the Bacon's school, Bermondsey. These all involve the closure or discontinuance of the existing schools under the provisions of either section 12 of the 1980 Education Act or section 14 of the 1944 Education Act. I have made clear that any such proposals
  536
  services awarded to sponsors, or close associates of sponsors, and their names, (g) whether closure of an existing school is involved, (h) whether any ballot of parents has been held and (i) what level of teachers' salaries are paid.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information requested by the right hon. Member is as follows:
  537
  which come to me will be treated strictly on their merits and it would be inappropriate to comment further. CTCs arc independent schools and it will he for their governors to determine what level of salaries are paid to their staff. However, my recurrent grant to CTCs will be comparable to what LEAs spend on maintained schools in similar areas, including expenditure on staff salaries.

  Higher Education (Consultative Paper)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in relation to his consultative paper, "Shifting the Balance of Public Funding of Higher Education to Fees."

  Mr. Jackson
  We have received more than 150 almost wholly favourable responses.

  Crack
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the 15 inner-city areas targeted by education co-ordinators in a campaign to persuade teenagers to say no to crack; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Government believe that it would be counterproductive to identify particular localities. Local education authorities' drugs education co-ordinators are intensifying their efforts and collaborating with other agencies and the wider local communities in all areas where crack appears to them to be an actual or potential problem. The Government are ready to support local efforts of this sort, and are in touch with local agencies about appropriate means of doing so.

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

  Calendar year (1)

  Number of proposals decided (2)

  Number of places to be taken out of use by proposals in column 2 (3)

  Number of proposals in column 2 approved (4)

  Number of surplus places to be taken out of use as a result of approved proposals (5)

  1983

  366

  104,174

  330

  85,606

  1984

  292

  85,862

  270

  77,590

  1985

  205

  101,097

  185

  88,218

  1986

  172

  81,663

  147

  62,828

  1987

  159

  55,116

  134

  45,326

  1988

  145

  64,256

  116

  27,170

  The Government's national targets for the removal of surplus places cannot be directly compared with the figures in column 5 since the former also include places taken out of use as a result of the rationalisation of split sites, mothballed classrooms and the removal of temporary accommodation. In 1987–88 a total of 124,000 places were taken out of use against the national target of 139,000.

  Teachers' Resignations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers had submitted resignations by 31 May 1989.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  This information is not available. The latest data are for the year ending March 1987, when 28,960 teachers left full-time service in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector in England. Of
  538
  Mrs. Rumbold
  The total programme of the Department of Education and Science in 1979 and each subsequent financial year is given in the table below:

  Expenditure (outturn)

  Financial year

  £ million

  1979–80

  8,945

  1980–81

  10,899

  1981–82

  11,841

  1982–83

  12,741

  1983–84

  13,421

  1984–85

  13,940

  1985–86

  14,410

  1986–87

  15,659

  1987–88

  17,081

  1988–89

  118,412

  1989–90

  219,571

  1 Estimated outturn.

  2 Plans.

  School Closures
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many proposals for(a) closure and (b) reorganisation of schools he has received during the current academic year; how many school places these represent; how many such closures and reorganisations he has approved and how many school places these decisions represent; what was the target for the year; and if he will give comparable figures for each academic year since 1979.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information is not available in the form requested. The available data is summarised in the following table.

  these, 1,760 transferred to full-time service elsewhere in the maintained sector in England and Wales and 2,900 to part-time service in the maintained sector. A further 8,500 retired and 450 died.

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a progress report on his drive to improve the teaching of foreign languages announced on 16 June 1986.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Government attach great importance to improving the nation's skills in modern foreign languages. That is reflected in our policy on modern foreign languages in the school curriculum was set out in the January 1988 policy statement "Modern Languages in the School Curriculum", and in the inclusion
  539
  among the national curriculum foundation subjects of a modern foreign language to be studied by all pupils between the ages of 11 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. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I published on 19 May the Education (National Curriculum) (Modern Foreign Languages) Order 1989 under section 3(2)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988, specifying those languages eligible to be taught as the national curriculum foundation subject.

  Within this framework, and to implement the 1988 policy statement, I am encouraging schools to offer a greater diversity of languages and I am providing education support grants for pilot projects in some local education authorities in England to promote the preparation and implementation of plans for language diversification. Schools will be free to offer a second foreign language during the 11 to 16 phase or in the sixth form in addition to meeting the national curriculum

  First degree students in Great Britain

  Thousands

  Academic year beginning in

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Full-time

  University

  241·2

  247·8

  250·2

  246·9

  240·8

  237·8

  238·3

  241·1

  245·6

  Polytechnics and colleges

  127·5

  130·8

  147·2

  161·0

  171·3

  178·0

  181·0

  186·9

  195·3

  Full-time equivalent of part-time1

  Open University

  21·4

  21·0

  22·1

  23·2

  23·4

  23·6

  23·2

  23·8

  25·0

  Other universities

  0·9

  1·0

  1·1

  1·2

  1·3

  1·5

  1·6

  1·6

  1·8

  Polytechnics and colleges

  5·8

  5·9

  6·3

  6·6

  7·0

  7·3

  7·8

  8·3

  8·8

  1 For consistency between sectors all part-time students have been counted as 0·35 FTE.

  Teacher Shortages (Tower Hamlets)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for securing the education of children in Tower Hamlets who are presently unable to attend school as a consequence of teacher shortages.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The staffing of schools in Tower Hamlets is a matter for the Inner London education authority and, from 1 April 1990, the borough of Tower Hamlets. I welcome the fact that both authorities are now taking specific steps to ensure that schools are adequately staffed.

  I had a constructive meeting on 13 June with the Inner London education authority, accompanied by the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore); further discussions are being held at official level to explore ways of tackling the situation.

  Secondary Schools Staffing Survey
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when he will publish the full results of the secondary schools staffing survey;

  (2) when, and in what form, the secondary schools staffing survey was published; and whether (a) any press notice was issued to accompany it and (b) any briefing for the press by Ministers or officials was held.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Key results from the 1988 secondary school staffing survey were placed in the Library
  540
  requirements. I hope that greater numbers studying a language to the age of 16 will result in an increase in those continuing with language learning not only in the sixth form but in post-school education.

  Changes in examinations at 16 and 18 will improve standards of oral and written communication.

  I shall shortly be announcing the establishment of a national curriculum working group on modern foreign languages with a view to beginning to implement the first attainment targets and programmes of study in schools from autumn 1992.

  Students
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the number of(a) full-time students, (b) part-time students expressed as full-time equivalents, in first degree courses, for each year since 1979 to date in (a) universities, (b) polytechnics and (c) other institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The readily available information is shown in the following table:

  of the House on 2 May, and issued under a press notice on 3 May. The results included summary analyses of teachers by age and qualification by subject, their deployment on subject teaching, the percentages of secondary pupils studying different subjects in each year group of compulsory schooling and information on teacher absences. I drew attention to the main findings in a speech in the House on 2 May. No press conference was held about the results.

  A full set of analyses from the survey will be published shortly.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of working-class children go on to higher education in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Results from the youth cohort study show that in the academic year 1987—88 5 per cent. of 18-year-olds in socioeconomic groups 3 (manual), 4 and 5 in England and Wales entered higher education. Given that these young people amount to more than 60 per cent. of the age group, this is clearly not enough. The Government's policies for schools and higher education will help to increase their participation.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much the average living standards of lone parents have increased since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  From 1979 to 1985, the average living standards of lone parents improved by 10 per cent. This improvement is larger than for couples without children or single people. Both these groups had improvements in their living standards of 6 per cent.

  Claim Forms
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to simplify the forms used to claim benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Steps are taken in the production of forms to ensure that they are as simple and as easy to use as they can be. The Department is committed to research and testing as part of a continuing programme in the designing and writing of new and existing forms.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimates of the numbers of people who would be eligible to claim housing benefit rent allowances if rents were to he increased nationally by(a) 1 per cent., (b) 3 per cent., (c) 5 per cent. and (d) 8 per cent.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The estimated increases in the rent allowance caseload for 1989–90 if rents were to increase nationally are as follows:

  Rent increase (per cent.)

  Increase in caseload

  (a) 1

  1,000

  (b) 3

  2,000

  (c) 5

  5,000

  (d) 8

  10,000

  Notes:

  1. The estimates allow for differential take-up, taking account of increased incentives at higher levels of entitlement, and for a time lag in take-up.

  2. Rent figures used derive from the Department's projections based on the family expenditure survey data.

  Pensioners (Savings)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners have savings.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In 1986, 70 per cent. of all pensioners and 85 per cent. of recently retired pensioners had income from savings and investment.

  Disability
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of people in Wales receiving (i) attendance allowance, (ii) industrial disablement benefit, (iii) mobility allowance, (iv) invalid care allowance, (v) invalidity benefit and (vi) severe disablement benefit for the latest available date.
  542
  Mr. Scott
  I regret that some of the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information which is available is as follows:

  Recipients of invalidity benefit in Wales at 2 April 1988 —126,900 (statistical estimate).

  Recipients of severe disablement allowance in Wales at 31 May 1981—17,948.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe of 19 June,Official Report, column 21, about the representations that the Minister for the Disabled has had from the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People, he will publish his reply to the chairman in the Official Report.

  Mr. Scott
  I have placed a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the fifth report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on disability in Great Britain will be published.

  Mr. Scott
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) has today published the fifth report on the findings of the surveys of disability in Great Britain carried out between 1985 and 1988. The report covers the financial circumstances of families with disabled children living in private households.

  The report contains detailed information about the effect of a child's disability on a family's income and expenditure. It does not however take account of the financial value of services received by families with a disabled child. The final report in the series, which will be published next month, will provide information about the use of services, transport and education by disabled children.

  The report's findings relate to 1985 when the data was collected. Since then the social security reforms and this year's uprating have targeted increased help on families. More than 10,000 families with disabled children now receive specific help through the disabled child's premium as well as the family premium which is paid to all families receiving income support and housing benefit. This year's uprating targeted further help on families by adding an extra 50p to child allowances in income support, family credit and housing benefit.

  We welcome comments on this report, as we have on the four reports already published.

  Benefit Rules
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when changes in the housing benefit rules, enabling under-18s to be paid the same rate as over-18s, are to be introduced; what publicity is being issued to explain the changes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  From 10 July 1989, single people under 18 will be entitled to the same housing benefit personal allowances as those aged 18 to 24, as set out in the Housing Benefit (General Amendment No. 3) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1017)). An information note for claimant advisers is in preparation.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by each charging authority in the west midlands the income level at which(a) a single person aged under 25 years, (b) a single person aged over 25 years, (c) a single pensioner, (d) a pensioner couple, and (e) a couple with two children all with no savings would lose entitlement to a community charge rebate, assuming the most recent safety-netted community charge figures.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 19 May 1989 at columns 327–8.

  Transitional Payments
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims had been made for housing benefit transitional payments by 8 June; and how many claims had been successful;

  (2) if he will extend the deadline for housing benefit transitional payments beyond 30 June;

  (3) if he will state the total number of successful claims as a proportion of the number of households estimated to be entitled to housing benefit transitional payments;

  (4) what further steps he is taking to publicise the availability of housing benefit transitional payments.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer on 16 June 1989]: Housing benefit transitional payments are intended to provide help to vulnerable groups of people who experienced reductions in their housing benefit as a result of changes introduced by the Government in April 1988. Two national press publicity campaigns were undertaken, more than 8 million leaflets RR4 "Housing Benefit New Rules" were made available and posters were displayed in post offices. Further publicity is not considered necessary.

  The closing date for the receipt of applications was originally 31 March 1989 but this was extended by a full three months to 30 June to ensure optimum take-up. As the scheme was intended to assist people only during the transition to the new scheme in April 1988 it would be inappropriate to extend the deadline any further.

  It was originally estimated that up to 300,000 people might be eligible for payment. Up to 8 June 477,687 applications had been received and 198,916 awards made but some 26,000 applications have yet to be decided pending return of inquiry forms for housing benefit details from local authorities. Final figures will not, therefore, be available until all applications have been received and processed. Given the uncertainty which attaches to the original estimate it is not possible to calculate meaningful take-up estimates.

HEALTH

  Contraception
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will indicate what steps are being taken to prevent prescription, in Britain, of the Copper 7 IUD and other contraceptive devices by drug companies wishing to test such products before making them available on the United States market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  There is no question of pharmaceutical companies or manufacturers, whether based in the United 544
  Kingdom or overseas, themselves prescribing licensed products for patients. Medical treatments, including the use of devices such as IUDs, can be prescribed only by qualified medical practitioners on the basis of their clinical judgment of the patient's individual needs.

  All clinical trials of IUDs in the United Kingdom are now subject to the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968 in which a clinical trial certificate, or exemption from holding a clinical trial certificate, must be obtained by the manufacturer, unless a registered medical practitioner has initiated the trial, in which circumstances he takes full responsibility for its conduct.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing for 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989, the number of family practitioner comittee chairmen who were contractors, distinguishing between general practitioners, dentists, pharmacists and opticians.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information for 1985, 1987 and 1989 is contained in the table. Before 1 April 1985 family practitioner committee chairmen were not appointed by the Secretary of State and the information requested is not available centrally.

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1989

  General Medical Practitioners

  18

  12

  7

  General Dental Practitioners

  5

  2

  1

  Ophthalmic Opticians

  3

  1

  —

  Pharmacists

  1

  1

  —

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what powers he is allowing regional health authorities to implement the proposal contained in "Working for Patients" to replace family practitioner committee administrators with general managers or chief executives.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have not asked regional health authorities to implement our intention that general managers should be appointed in all family practitioner committees, although we have asked them to provide a complete service to FPCs, through the personnel directorates, for the process of recruitment and appointment. The responsibility of shortlisting and selection falls to a panel led by the FPC chairman, subject to approval by the National Health Service management executive.

  Self-Governing Hospitals
  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Doncaster royal infirmary made a decision as to whether to seek self-governing status; whether medical or other staff were consulted on this decision; how many employees at the infirmary supported seeking self-governing status; how many employees in the infirmary are also employed on private health treatment; and under whose signature the letter expressing an interest in self-governing status was sent.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Montagu hospital made a decision as to whether to
  545
  seek self-governing status; whether medical or other staff were consulted on this decision; how many employees at the hospital supported seeking self-governing status; how many employees in the hospital are also employed on private health treatment; and under whose signature the letter expressing an interest in self-governing status was sent.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have recieved an expression of interest in self-governing status for the Doncaster royal infirmary, Montagu Hospital, Mexborough and from Trent regional health authority. We were not privy to the internal discussions on the matter. Those with an interest will have an opportunity to express their views at a later stage if those expressing interest decide to proceed with an application.

  NHS Reform
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will pay the contract fee when a general practitioner budget holder refers a woman to a hospital for maternity services under his White Paper proposals.

  Mr. Mellor
  Inpatient maternity services fall outside the scope of the general practitioner practice budget scheme and therefore district health authorities will be responsible for securing such services through contracts.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who will pay the contract fee when an employee of the local education authority refers a child for psychiatric services under the proposals of his White Paper;

  (2) who will pay the contract fee when a social worker refers a child patient for care at a psychiatric hospital under the proposals of his White Paper.

  Mr. Mellor
  Under the proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients" contracts for hospital and community health services will be between NHS bodies. We do not propose that agencies outside the NHS such as social services departments or education authorities should enter into contracts or be charged for services.

  The responsibility for arranging the provision of psychiatric services, including those to which social workers or education authority employees refer children, remains that of district health authorities, which will in future secure this provision by placing appropriate contracts.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Greenwich health authority about the possibility of hospitals in the area being run as self-governing trusts.

  Mr. Mellor
  None, so far.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the units which expressed interest in self-governing status include or provide maternity services.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 28 June 1989]: We understand that about 90 of the units which have expressed an interest in self-governing status include or provide maternity services.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his answer of 21 April,Official Report, columns 343–44, what progress has been made in his
  546
  Department's discussion with the Medical Research Council on the funding of further work on the usefulness and effectiveness of temperature monitors and alarms to reduce the number of cot deaths.

  Mr. Freeman
  The position on research into sudden infant death was discussed at a meeting between the Department and the Medical Research Council (MRC) on 17 April. Subsequently the Department asked the MRC to commission a critical review of the literature, including that on the relationship between sudden infant deaths and infant temperature. The MRC has specifically been asked for advice on the type of device which would reliably monitor infant temperature changes and the value of an intervention study designed to test the effectiveness of such a device in monitoring changes and preventing "cot deaths".

  Pharmaceutical Prices
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average discount under the current pharmaceutical price regulation scheme; and how much it is estimated to have saved the National Health Service during 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  Discounts do not feature in the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. The amount deducted from payments to pharmacies in respect of discounts is on average some 8·3 per cent. of the basic price of medicines. As regards the resulting savings I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), on 20 June at column 97.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the National Health Service of brand name drugs dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors during the calendar year 1987.

  Mr. Mellor
  Based on a one in 200 sample of prescriptions, the net ingredient cost of named drugs dispensed by retail pharmacists during the calendar year 1987 is estimated to have been £1·3 billion, without taking account of other factors such as pharmacists' fees and container allowances.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received to date on the White Paper "Working for Patients" from Yorkshire., and how many have criticised the Government's proposals.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received many comments on the White Paper proposals, covering a wide range of issues from differing viewpoints. We are taking these carefully into account as the implementation process goes forward. It would not be possible, except at disproportionate cost, to identify separately those received from Yorkshire.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been achieved in Yorkshire as a result of competitive tendering in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Freeman
  In respect of domestic services, catering and laundry the costs of services within Yorkshire regional
  547
  health authority were reduced by an average of 19 per cent. as a result of the competitive tendering initiative, giving net savings of £8·75 million which could be ploughed back into improved patient care. Additional benefits have been the setting of clearer performance standards, introduction of more flexible and innovative services, and more systematic monitoring of service provision.

  Food Poisoning
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning of people living in Southwark have been notified in each of the last 10 years; and if he will specify what sort of poisoning.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table shows the number of notifications of food poisoning received for the London borough of Southwark from 1979 to 1988. Information about the suspected food involved in each case is not readily available.

  Year

  Number of Cases

  1979

  46

  1980

  44

  1981

  45

  1982

  75

  1983

  58

  1984

  83

  1985

  91

  1986

  83

  1987

  78

  1988

  156

  Waiting Times
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time for an orthopaedic operation(a) at the Leicester general hospital, (b) in Trent region and (c) nationally.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 28 June 1989]: We do not have information on average waiting times for those awaiting admission to hospital centrally. The numbers on the waiting list are analysed by time waited and a percentage distribution based on this information is provided in the published statistics. The figures for England, the Trent region and Leicestershire district are given in the booklet "Hospital In-Patient Waiting Lists —England at 30 September 1988", a copy of which is in the Library. We do not collect information by individual hospital.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all letters and circulars sent to regional health authorities about the streamlining of regional health authorities' operations and services and of the preliminary replies from regional health authorities due in by 5 May.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 26 June 1989]: The chief executive of the National Health Service wrote to regional general managers on 22 March about the delegation of regional health authority functions in line with the Government's proposals set out in chapter 2 of "Working for Patients". Copies of his letter (EL(89)MB/59) have been placed in the Library. The preliminary replies from
  548
  regional health authorities are statements of general intention which are subject to further discussion within authorities, with their staff-side interest, and within the Department. It would not be appropriate to publish these, or correspondence relating to them at this stage. However, authorities' final proposals, due on 30 September 1989, will be public documents.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial incentives are made available for farmers wishing to transfer to organic farming methods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No financial incentives are available specifically to assist with conversion to organic farming. However, farmers wishing to convert may be able to take advantage of the provisions for fallowing under the set-aside scheme. In addition, I am considering the possibility of organic options under the European Communities extensification scheme.

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has discussed fur farming in the European Community Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells), for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) and for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo).

  Battery Hens
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about battery caged poultry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Our legislation on battery hens is based on the EC directive which is due for review in 1993. My Department has asked the Farm Animal Welfare Council to consider what practical welfare improvements we could press for at that time.

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has carried out into the nutritional effects of irradiation on food.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Sir R. Body) on 22 June at column 85.

  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from consumer groups in favour of the principle of food irradiation.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A number of consumer groups have recognised that, with proper controls, this technology has benefits for consumers.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has met the British Medical Association to discuss food irradiation.
  549
  Mr. MacGregor
  My officials, together with officials from the Department of Health, have recently met representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss food irradiation.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he is having with consumer organisations about the introduction of food irradiation.

  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to ensure that consumer interests are considered and protected in any decision on food irradiation.

  Mr. MacGregor
  There is always full consultation with consumer organisations over food safety policies. Both Ministers and officials have been involved in recent discussions with organisations over food irradiation, and there will be plenty of opportunity for further consultations given that both the primary legislation and the legislation thereafter will have to be discussed and approved by Parliament.

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the proposals of the working group established to devise a control framework for food irradiation in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my, hon. Friend to the statement I made in the debate on food safety, research and health on 21 June 1989 at columns 347–59. A copy of the report of the working group of officials is in the Library of the House.

  Food Legislation
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he is having with interested organisations about changing the legislation on food.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Officials in my Department have undertaken extensive consultations with interested consumer, enforcement and trade organisations on possible changes to our food legislation. We shall introduce new legislation as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his plans to introduce legislation on food.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Work on the detailed preparation of new food legislation, which we announced in October 1987, is well advanced. The Government will introduce proposals for new legislation as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the progress of his consultations on changes to food law.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Officials of my Department and that of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health, have undertaken consultations with a very large number of interested consumer, enforcement and trade organisations. Work on the preparation of new 550
  primary food legislation is well advanced and we shall introduce new legislation as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

  Farm Woodland Scheme
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have expressed an interest in participating in the farm woodland scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In the first eight months of the farm woodland scheme, nearly 900 farmers have applied to participate in the scheme. I regard this as a very encouraging start to this new scheme.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate the uptake of the farm woodland scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In the first eight months of the farm woodland scheme nearly 900 farmers have applied to plant about 6,200 hectares of trees during the, next three years throughout the United Kingdom.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any proposals for bringing about an increase in organic farming methods.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new initiatives he will take to increase the percentage of organically grown food.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Government are encouraging in various ways the development of organic farming in response to consumer demand, for example through its strong support for the United Kingdom register of organic food standards.

  Country Landowners Association
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Country Landowners Association; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Country Landowners Association to discuss land value.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the president of the Country Landowners Association on 9 June when a wide range of issues was discussed.

  Whaling
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is in a position to outline his Ministry's reaction to the recommendations made at the 41st annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The major decisions of the International Whaling Commission concerned the adoption of resolutions co-sponsored by the United Kingdom calling upon Japan, Iceland and Norway to reconsider their plans to take whales for scientific reseach purposes,
  551
  and rejection of Japan's request for a catch quota of 320 minke whales for its small coastal whaling boats. I strongly welcome these decisions as upholding the spirit of the present moratorium on commercial whaling. These and the preparatory work for the comprehensive assessment needed for the review of the moratorium next year are essential to protect and enhance the status of the world's depleted whale stocks.

  Aujesky's Disease
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will endeavour to ensure that the European Economic Community gives Aujesky's disease category I protection in order to protect the British pig industry against future outbreaks of the disease.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 2 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) at column 81.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of eligible land has been entered into the environmentally sensitive areas scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The proportion of eligible land which has been entered into the ESA scheme in England is 93 per cent.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the total land area covered by environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The total land area covered by ESAs in England is 333,470 hectares split as follows:

  Total area of ESA (Ha)

  Broads

  29,870

  Pennine Dales

  15,960

  Somerset Levels

  26,970

  South Downs

  53,340

  West Penwith

  7,210

  Breckland

  94,030

  North Peak

  50,250

  Shropshire Borders

  21,000

  Suffolk River Valleys

  32,150

  Test Valley

  2,690

  Animal Health
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the European Community Commission over the proposals for harmonised animal health rules in respect of both intra-Community trade and imports from third countries.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I met Commissioner MacSharry on 20 June. I said that, in the context of the single market, the Government supported the Commission's objective of achieving a uniformly high animal health status throughout the Community and that we also agreed on the need for common high standards for imports from third countries. I said that our view 552
  remained that until serious diseases such as foot and mouth disease were eradicated, effective controls on movements of animals and animal products from affected parts of the Community to parts which are free would be required to prevent disease spread, including an appropriate level of checking by member states of destination and quarantine where necessary.

  Beef Cows
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest forecast of beef cow numbers in the United Kingdom for June 1990.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The future herd size depends upon a number of factors, not all of which can be foreseen, and it is not our practice to publish forecasts.

  Agricultural Research Centres
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural research centres are funded by his Ministry.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Agricultural research is commissioned within my Department at 11 experimental husbandry farms, eight experimental horticultural stations, the farm building development centre, the field drainage experimental unit and the feed evaluation unit plus the ADAS central science laboratories and the central veterinary laboratories. My Department also commissions agricultural research externally with the eight institutes of the Agricultural and Food Research Council plus short-term contracts with a large number of universities, colleages, polytechnics and other establishments.

  Fishing
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to improve the fishing opportunities currently available to south-west England fishermen; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I am very much aware of the difficulties faced by fishermen in the south-west of England. At the Fisheries Council on 21 June we secured an important amendment to restrictions on beam length that will greatly assist our inshore beam fleet, and we secured a commitment from the Commission to review urgently the 1989 total allowable catch for Channel cod and other precautionary TACs. I have already taken steps to deal with the problem of quota hopping.

  Straw Burning
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the control of the burning of straw and stubble.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department's policy is to reduce the level of straw and stubble burned in the field by encouraging farmers to adopt alternative disposal methods where practicable, while at the same time reminding those farmers who continue to employ burning to observe the NFU code and local byelaws. Our annual straw survey indicates that, between 1983 and 1988, the proportion of straw disposed of by burning fell from 37·7 per cent. to 23·8 per cent., and there has also been a substantial reduction in complaints and prosecutions.

  Farming (Employment)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the trend in regular full-time employment in the farming industry since 1978.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Between June 1978 and June 1988 the number of all those engaged in agriculture on a regular full-time basis in the United Kingdom declined by just under 21 per cent. or nearly 85,000. Within this total the number of full-time workers declined by nearly 31 per cent. (almost 61,000) of whom about 53,300 were hired workers and 7,400 family workers, while the number of full-time farmers, partners and directors fell by some 24,000 or just over 11 per cent.

  NFU
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss means of improving farmers' returns.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the president of the National Farmers Union on 21 June when we discussed various agricultural matters.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the future of the Potato Marketing Board;

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce a decision about the future of the Potato Marketing Board.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the outcome of the review of the Potato Marketing Board.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 14 June at column 411.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board on 8 March 1989, to discuss the board's response to the Government's consultation paper on future potato market policy.

  Apple Sprays
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to review the safety of apple sprays.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A programme for the review of approved active ingredients was announced on 16 March. Pesticides used on apples will he covered in the review of each relevant active ingredient.

  Small Farmers Association
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Small Farmers Association, and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend has not met the chairman recently. But he is kept regularly in touch with the Small Farmers Association's views.

  EC Sheep Regime
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about discussions on the European Economic Community's sheep regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  At the Agriculture Council on 19 and 20 June, discussions on the reform of the sheepmeat regime revealed that major differences of view continue to persist among member states. The Council will return to this subject at a subsequent meeting.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the renegotiation of the sheepmeat regime to be concluded.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Discussions on this subject at the last Agriculture Council revealed that major differences of views continue to persist among member states. Negotiations may, therefore, be protracted.

  Dairy Farming
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is next due to meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss the dairy sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular contacts with the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss various issues affecting the dairy industry.

  Research
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make it his policy to increase the resources devoted by his Department to scientific research into those aspects of(a) environmental concerns and (b) food production which come within the scope of his Department's responsibilities.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department has been increasing the resources devoted to environmental and food safety research, based on a number of considerations including the advice of the priorities board for research and development in agriculture and food.

  Cold Storage (Audits)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the Reading, Berkshire Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce cold storage audited figures are properly audited by independent accounting officers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  All the intervention board's expenditure is subject to independent audit by the National Audit Office.

  Torry Research Station
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last visited the Torry research station; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I last visited Torry research station on 31 August 1988 and discussed the work of the station.

  Forestry Commission
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Forestry Commission; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the chairman of the Forestry Commission on 14 June when a wide range of forestry matters was discussed.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest Fisheries Council meeting.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Marland) on 22 June at columns 248–49.

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and I had a meeting with the chairman and other representatives of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on 17 November last year. We discussed several topics of mutual interest.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council; and what matters were discussed.
  556
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council on 7 November last year when they discussed a wide range of subjects.

  National Institute for Agricultural Botany
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that voluntary premature retirement schemes are offered to staff at the National Institute for Agricultural Botany.

  Mr. MacGregor
  We are considering this question.

  Forestry
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Association of Professional Foresters to discuss forestry in England and Wales.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have not had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Association of Professional Foresters.

  Council for the Protection of Rural England
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Council for the Protection of Rural England; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary met representatives, including the chairman, of the Council for the Protection of Rural England on 22 March, when they discussed a number of issues of mutual concern.

  Poultry
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the poultry section of the agricultural industry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The market for poultry meat weakened in the early part of this year, but chick placings for table poultry have fallen in recent months; and due to this and to other factors, the market has now firmed again, with wholesale prices now at or above the levels of a year ago.

  Tenant Farmers
  Mr Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I last met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association on 31 May when we discussed various matters relating to the tenanted sector.

  Staging Posts
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's view of the increasing use of staging posts to enable livestocks to be transported long distances prior to slaughter.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  EC legislation requires that animals in international transport should be offered food and water at suitable intervals and should not be left for more than 24 hours without being fed and watered.

  Under our legislation exporters are required to provide details of arrangements made for feeding and watering animals on long international journeys. The staging points used for this purpose are authorised by the United Kingdom and the country in question.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of set-aside land for forestry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In the first year of the scheme, about 800 hectares of land have been set aside to woodland, either directly or through the farm woodland scheme. I recently invited applications for the second year of set-aside, and since farmers have now had more time to plan for tree planting, I expect enhanced interest in this option. I welcome increased planting of trees on arable land as a contribution to the reduction of surpluses, to the enhancement of the landscape and to helping to meet our timber requirements in the longer term.

  Women's Farmers Union
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Women's Farmers Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) at column 740.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received recently concerning nitrates in water supplies; what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran).

  Waste Dumping (British Coal)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the dumping by British Coal of solid sludge and liquid waste into the sea and on the development of alternatives to sea dumping; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Licences for the disposal at sea of colliery waste are granted only where practical land-based means of disposal are not available. In particular, the sea disposal of spoil by tipping on Durham beaches creates an environmental problem and I am anxious to see it stopped as soon as possible. As a condition of the sea disposal licence issued by the Ministry, British Coal has reassessed the availability and cost of disposal of this waste on land in the area, by analysing a range of options.

  I am now asking British Coal to study in more detail the land-based options already analysed which appear to merit further work, and to report to me. I intend this to provide the Ministry with a basis for a final decision on whether a practicable and environmentally preferable alternative to sea disposal exists.

  Liquid colliery waste which is discharged to sea across Durham beaches is subject to control by the Northumbrian water authority. I consider, with the support of the authority, that it would be in the interests of protection of the land and marine environments for British Coal's more detailed studies to incorporate an assessment of the scope for disposal of these tailings on land in an environmentally satisfactory way. I am pleased that British Coal is prepared to take on this further assessment.

  Horticultural Trades Association
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Horticultural Trades Association; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in another place met representatives of the horticultural industry including the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) on 31 May to discuss research and development.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific proposals his Department has put forward for consideration and enactment, in order to hold down and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries, since the seminar on the greenhouse effect held by the Prime Minister on 26 April.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Government proposed a global climate convention, applicable to all countries, at the United Nations in New York on 8 May. At the Helsinki review meeting of the Montreal protocol on 3 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment outlined the support we could offer
  559
  developing countries which are trying to avoid the use of CFCs. My Department has stepped up efforts to increase aid for forestry and is examining the scope for more support for energy efficiency.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations associated with overseas development which received financial support from his Department in 1988–89, and the sum received by each organisation in that year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Figures for 1988–89 are not yet available. I shall let my right hon. Friend know when they are.

EMPLOYMENT

  Remploy
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the amount of the subvention paid to Remploy in the years 1975, 1979, 1984 and 1989.

  Mr. Lee
  The subvention paid to Remploy Ltd. for current expenditure in the following financial years was:

  £

  1974–75

  10,114,000

  1978–79

  22,530,000

  1983–84

  44,572,000

  1988–89

  53,714,000

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about plans by the Remploy company to close a number of its factories.

  Mr. Lee
  Other than Rutherglen, I am not aware of plans to close specific Remploy factories.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the cost of employing disabled people employed by Remploy was provided by the Government and what proportion by the company in the years 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 to date.

  Mr. Lee
  The proportion of the cost of employing people with disabilities at Remploy provided by the Government in each of the following financial years was:

  Percentage

  1984–85

  100

  1985–86

  100

  1986–87

  94

  1987–88

  87

  1988–89

  90

  The remainder was provided by the company from its trading surplus.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what responsibility the Government have to provide employment for disabled people in local areas.

  Mr. Lee
  The Secretary of State approves facilities which local authorities set up to provide employment for 560
  people with severe disabilities ordinarily resident in their areas. He also has powers to direct local authorities in the extent of this provision. My Department is using local labour market information to allocate its resources for providing employment for people with severe disabilities with the aim of producing an equitable distribution of resource, although this will take some time to achieve. We are planning in the future to pay closer attention to geographical provision as well as to the needs of individuals.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the number of long-term unemployed people, male and female, indicating in each instance how many are under the age of 25 years in Yorkshire and in each of the parliamentary constituencies of Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is available from the Library. The following table shows for Yorkshire and for each parliamentary constituency of Yorkshire the total number of unemployed claimants in April 1989, who had been unemployed for over 12 months, analysed by sex and separately identifying those aged under 25 years. In the year to April 1989 long-term unemployment fell by an average of 28·1 per cent. in the parliamentary constituencies concerned.

  Long-term unemployment in Yorkshire parliamentary constituencies April 1989

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Male

  Female

  Parliamentary constituency

  Total

  Of which under 25 years

  Total

  Of which under 25 years

  Harrogate

  241

  21

  94

  13

  Richmond

  391

  39

  187

  22

  Ryedale

  333

  22

  149

  14

  Scarborough

  739

  88

  252

  40

  Selby

  380

  41

  191

  25

  Skipton and Ripon

  242

  21

  135

  15

  York

  1,045

  142

  309

  62

  Barnsley Central

  1,730

  215

  287

  62

  Barnsley East

  1,461

  198

  259

  70

  Barnsley West and Penistone

  1,378

  158

  304

  69

  Don Valley

  1,581

  181

  388

  84

  Doncaster Central

  1,836

  217

  501

  115

  Doncaster North

  1,875

  264

  458

  86

  Rother Valley

  1,322

  131

  338

  83

  Rotherham

  1,554

  241

  357

  100

  Sheffield Central

  2,628

  513

  665

  231

  Sheffield At tercliffe

  1,267

  205

  324

  88

  Sheffield Brightside

  1,969

  366

  466

  156

  Sheffield Hallam

  797

  181

  334

  104

  Sheffield Heeley

  1,582

  303

  476

  123

  Sheffield Hillsborough

  1,053

  177

  403

  97

  Wentworth

  1,485

  177

  311

  63

  Batley and Spen

  844

  121

  244

  48

  Bradford North

  1,614

  232

  383

  92

  Bradford South

  1,149

  184

  297

  51

  Bradford West

  1,753

  241

  409

  106

  Calder Valley

  502

  61

  213

  35

  Colne Valley

  483

  69

  206

  55

  Dewsbury

  748

  100

  229

  74

  Elmet

  502

  49

  179

  33

  Halifax

  913

  128

  268

  59

  Hemsworth

  1,289

  144

  218

  42

  Huddersfield

  752

  120

  284

  57

  Keighley

  561

  55

  243

  33

  561

  Long-term unemployment in Yorkshire parliamentary constituencies April 1989

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Male

  Female

  Parliamentary constituency

  Total

  Of which under 25 years

  Total

  Of which under 25 years

  Leeds Central

  1,792

  320

  434

  109

  Leeds East

  1,517

  275

  408

  112

  Leeds North East

  860

  157

  266

  68

  Leeds North West

  617

  90

  207

  47

  Leeds West

  1,020

  160

  347

  70

  Morley and Leeds South

  822

  111

  242

  37

  Normanton

  709

  67

  213

  29

  Pontefract and Castleford

  1,409

  159

  259

  56

  Pudsey

  364

  45

  157

  21

  Shipley

  429

  46

  148

  18

  Wakefield

  1,043

  104

  270

  54

  Long-term unemployment in Yorkshire, April 1989

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Male

  Female

  County

  Total

  Of which under 25 years

  Total

  Of which under 25 years

  North Yorkshire

  3,371

  374

  1,317

  191

  West Yorkshire

  21,692

  3,042

  6,142

  1,306

  South Yorkshire

  23,518

  3,527

  5,871

  1,531

  Yorkshire

  48,581

  6,943

  13,312

  3,028

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created over the past five years in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the rest of the European Economic Community and (c) the European Free Trade Area; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the differences in these figures.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest available information is given in the following table. The EFTA unemployment rates are not 562
  directly comparable with those for the United Kingdom and the EEC because of differences in the definitions, methods of compilation and timing of the statistics.

  The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom remains lower than that of the majority of our European partners.

  Unemployment rate Per Cent.

  United Kingdom (Apr)

  6·9

  EEC (Apr)

  9·3

  EFTA1

  2·8

  1 Excluding Iceland, Liechtenstein.

  Note: Rates for United Kingdom and the EEC are seasonally adjusted comparable rates produced by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

  The rate for the EFTA is based on unadjusted unemployment for the latest available month for each country.

  The Government have placed great stress on creating the right economic conditions in which enterprise can flourish and jobs can be created. Since 1980 the United Kingdom economy has been the fastest-growing major economy in Western Europe and we are now well into our eighth successive year of sustained growth. As a result of this, growth in employment over the past five years has been better than any other European country.

  Council for Social Aid
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date consideration was first given to withdrawing the contract for the Council for Social Aid, Manchester, as an ET manager; and when the final decision to cancel the contract was made.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 26 June 1989]: The full extent of CSA's financial position became clear on 3 May with a report released by its accountants. Between that date and 18 May CSA Ltd. made unsuccessful efforts to raise additional funds. The decision to terminate the contract was made on 19 May.

  PESTICIDES
  PESTICIDES
  THE BLIND: STATE BENEFITS—METHOD OF PAYMENT
  THE BLIND: STATE BENEFITS—METHOD OF PAYMENT
  DEFENCE RESEARCH AGENCY: ROLE
  DEFENCE RESEARCH AGENCY: ROLE
  SALMON: FISHERY PROTECTION
  SALMON: FISHERY PROTECTION
  SALMON: FISHERY RESEARCH
  SALMON: FISHERY RESEARCH
  SALMONELLA: ADDITIONAL VETERINARY POSTS
  SALMONELLA: ADDITIONAL VETERINARY POSTS
  VETERINARY SERVICE: MANPOWER
  VETERINARY SERVICE: MANPOWER
  EUROPE: STUDENT LOANS
  EUROPE: STUDENT LOANS