Written Answers of 15 March 1989

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the first meeting of the conference on the human dimension in Paris the treatment of political prisoners in Ankara central prison by the Turkish Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is open to participants at the Paris human dimension conference to take up any matter of concern to them. It is too early to say precisely which issues Britain will raise.

  Decade of Disabled Persons
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department is giving to the United Nations global project to promote the decade of disabled persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department of Health is the lead Department on domestic issues relating to this project. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has, through the Overseas Development Administration, funded a three-month consultancy at the United Nations office in Vienna to identify projects and funds for the world programme of action for disabled persons.

  Civil Servants (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There is a total of 56 staff in the diplomatic and aid wings whose work is related wholly or mainly to the EC, including clerical and secretarial staff. The annual cost of official travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg on EC work is approximately £34,000.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the official visit to London of the Secretary General of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I, as well as senior officials in the FCO, including the ODA, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, had very useful discussions with Mr. Flecha de Lima during his visit last 216
  week. We covered a wide range of international issues including environmental problems, notably the future of the Amazon rainforests. We drew Mr. Flecha de Lima's attention to the strong concern felt in Britain on this issue, but stressed that our overall approach was to work with the Brazilian Government.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Civil Servants (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the number of civil servants(a) in his office and (b) in the Lord Chancellor's Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of civil servants whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community is as follows:

  Law Officers' Department, nine; Lord Chancellor's Department three.

  The estimated gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg for the current financial year is:

  £

  Law Officers' Department

  6,004

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  8,423

  "Codebreaker Extraordinary"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he proposes to take any steps in the Australian courts to seek to prevent the publication of the book known as "Codebreaker Extraordinary" by retired captain Eric Nave.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

TRANSPORT

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set a date by which no new car may be sold in the United Kingdom if it is incapable of using unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Regulations made in September last year require all new model types from 1 October 1989, and virtually all existing model types from 1 October 1990, to be capable of running on unleaded petrol. Special arrangements for the less than 2 per cent. of new cars which would need major engineering changes will expire on 1 October 1993.

  M4 Elevated Section
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to the longer-term case for repairing, improving or expanding the capacity of the M4 elevated section on the approach to central London; what forecasts have been prepared of increased traffic volume resulting from the continued expansion of traffic to and from Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement.
  217
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Consultants were appointed last year to develop a strategy for management of the motorway and trunk road network within the M4/A4 corridor from London to Heathrow. The aim is to improve the reliability of journey times by making the best use of the existing system. A report on this study is expected during the summer of next year. It will incorporate all relevant traffic forecasts, including those relating to Heathrow.

  Vehicle Licensing (Computerisation)
  Miss. Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present position concerning the computerisation of the vehicle licensing system.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Vehicles licensed for use on the public road in Great Britain have to be registered on the computer at the driver and vehicle licensing centre. Computerisation there began in 1974 with new vehicles and was gradually extended to older vehicles as they were relicensed or re-registered. Since November 1983 registration marks of older vehicles not on the computer record have only been added in exceptional circumstances. These vehicles are usually given alternative numbers whose history cannot be disputed.

  Computer Safety
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the security of on-line computer files in his Department is regularly checked for breaches by unauthorised outside access.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. Procedures too are reviewed regularly.

  Sealink Harbours Ltd. (Special Constables)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Essex as to (i) the powers of and (ii) the nature of the warrant card required to be carried by special constables employed by Sealink Harbours Ltd. at Parkeston quay and as to which police authority such constables are accountable.

  Mr. Portillo
  These special constables are employed by Protective Security Systems Ltd. under exclusive contract to Sealink and do not come under the county police authority. The local harbour legislation incorporates a common provision under which persons nominated by the harbour undertaking may be sworn in as special constables for its premises and one mile beyond them. Sealink has stated that these staff will not be used outside port limits, save in emergency and in support of Essex police. They have photocards, issued by Sealink, identifying them as special constables.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which police authority special constables employed by Sealink Harbours Ltd. are accountable in cases where members of the public have recourse to the Police Complaints Commission in connection with the actions of any such constable.

  Mr. Portillo
  Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 authorities other than police authorities which maintain a body of constables may, with the Home 218
  Secretary's approval, make agreements with the Police Complaints Authority, establishing police complaints and discipline procedures similar to those laid down in that Act. There is no such agreement at present between the authority and Sealink, which introduced its new security arrangements on 1 February 1989.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Essex as to whether the special constables employed by Sealink Harbours Ltd. have been trained at district training centres in order that they are able to comply with the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and other legislation to which constables employed in the regular police forces are subject.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that before these staff were sworn in as special constables they took a three-week training course, to which the Essex police contributed, and had to pass a written examination. The security manager and two of his staff formerly belonged to Essex police.

  Traffic Lights
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider introducing different shaped traffic lights so as to be discernible to colour-blind motorists and pedestrians.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. The present designs provide for colour blind people by standardising the positions and sequence of the red, amber and green lamps on traffic light signals and on the positions of the red and green people symbols on traffic light signals controlling pedestrians.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Walters
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to encourage greater use of the railways for the haulage of heavy goods to alleviate the environmental damage caused by heavy commercial lorries.

  Mr. Portillo
  Grants are available under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 to assist the transport of goods by rail if the environmental benefits of keeping lorries off sensitive roads can be secured at reasonable costs and if the correct commercial decision, in the absence of grant, would be to use road. Since 1974 the Government have awarded 189 such grants totalling £64 million and we estimate that, as a result, about 3 million lorry journeys are removed from unsuitable roads every year.

  M1 (Traffic Lights)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why temporary traffic lights were in operation on Saturday 4 March and Monday 6 March on the island at junction 25 of the M1 motorway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The temporary traffic signals were installed to cater for increased traffic flow resulting from the temporary closure of the southbound exit slip road at M1 junction 28 for reconstruction works from 4 to 10 March. The signals were installed to prevent queues forming back on to the M1 carriageway. At junction 25 the lights were in continuous operation from 4 to 6 March and then at peak periods only as agreed with the police.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  "Standards in Education 1987–88"
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what arrangements he has made for the distribution of the annual report of Her Majesty's senior chief inspector of schools "Standards in Education 1987–88", to those within the education service; and whether copies are to be sent to every school;

  (2) what was the cost of printing the annual report of Her Majesty's senior chief inspector of schools "Standards in Education 1987–88"; and how many copies were printed.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Ten thousand copies of the senior chief inspector's annual report were printed at a total cost of £2,340. The report has been sent to all chief education officers, to major national bodies within the education service, and to a number of other interested parties. The report has never been sent automatically to every school, but any institution or individual asking for a copy of the report will be sent one.

  Deaf-blind People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he proposes to take to increase the number of qualified teachers of deaf-blind people;

  (2) what steps he has taken to improve the education of deaf-blind people; and how many qualified teachers for deaf-blind people there are in Britain;

  (3) what discussions he has had with SENSE, the organisation for deaf-blind people; and if he will meet its officials to discuss funding;

  (4) if he will conduct a special survey of the educational requirements of deaf-blind adults and children to evaluate their needs and to enable him to make adequate provisions.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) at column 604. Officials of the Department have met representatives of SENSE on a number of occasions. They were particularly helpful in assisting the Department prepare its statement on the educational needs of deaf-blind children, a copy of which I have sent to the hon. Member. This is relevant to the points he raises.

  The funding of provision of services for the deaf-blind is the responsibility of local authorities. The statement does not envisage that the development of services for the deaf-blind should involve significant additional expenditure. However, the Department intends to follow up progress on local education authorities' consideration of the Department's statement.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the cost at 1988–89 prices of ending parental contributions in respect of student grants.

  Mr. Jackson
  Approximately £340 million.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost at 1988–89 prices of restoring students to their 1979 grant level.
  220
  Mr. Jackson
  The cost of restoring the student maintenance grant in the current academic year to its 1978–79 level would be approximately £125 million.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost at 1988–89 prices of restoring the level of student transport costs to their 1979 level.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 28 November 1988 at column 78.

  Educational Maintenance Awards
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost at 1988–89 prices, of introducing educational maintenance awards for 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education in schools and colleges at(a) the same rates as income support for young people and (b) the same rates as training allowances paid to 16 and 17-year-olds on YTS.

  Mr. Jackson
  After deducting child benefit and existing maintenance payments from LEAs, the annual cost of paying maintenance allowances to all 16 and 17-year-olds currently in full-time education in schools and colleges, is estimated to be as follows:

  £ million

  (a) If the allowances are paid at the same rate as income support

  320

  (b) If the allowances are paid at the same rate as YTS allowances

  675

  Notes:

  1. These figures are based on the number of 16 and I 7-year-olds in full time education in 1986–87, the latest year for which figures are available.

  2. The figure at (a) is based on the 1988–89 income support level of £19·40 for 16 and l7-year-olds, less child benefit at the 1988–89 rate of £7·25.

  3. The figure at (b) is based on the 1988–89 YTS allowance; of £29·50 per week for 16-year-olds and £35 for 17-year-olds, less child benefit at the rate of £7·25 per week.

  4. Both figures assume no change in the 1986–87 level of local authority spending on maintenance payments for 16 and 17-year-olds, which has been converted for the present purpose to 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Student Fees
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the extra cost in 1988–89 prices of full fee remission for all home students, in respect of part-time degree courses in(a) universities, (b) polytechnics and other colleges and (c) the open university.

  Mr. Jackson
  Estimates of the extra costs are about £1 million for the universities in Great Britain, £4 million for the polytechnics and colleges in England and £15 million for the open university.

  Polytechnics and Colleges (Grant)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total Government grant both to the polytechnics and other colleges in each of the last 10 years; and if he will express each annual change and the total change since 1979, in real terms with 1979–80 = 100.
  221
  Mr. Jackson
  Block grant to local authorities is not hypothecated to particular services or institutions.

  The total allocations from the advanced further education pool plus capital expenditure by local authorities on polytechnics and colleges in England each year since 1979–80, (a) in cash terms, and (b) indexed in real terms as measured by the gross domestic product deflator, are:

  Financial years

  (a) Cash £ million

  (b) Index

  1979–80

  465

  100

  1980–81

  493

  89

  1981–82

  519

  86

  1982–83

  614

  95

  1983–84

  634

  94

  1984–85

  657

  92

  1985–86

  703

  94

  1986–87

  748

  97

  1987–88

  810

  99

  1988–89

  887

  102

  Expenditure1 per full-time equivalent student2 at 1986–87 prices indexed to 1979–80

  Financial Year

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Universities (Great Britain)

  real terms

  5,126

  5,533

  5,355

  5,502

  5,542

  5,484

  5,349

  5,276

  indexed (1979–80 = 100)

  100

  108

  104

  107

  108

  107

  104

  103

  Polytechnics3 (England)

  real terms

  4,179

  4,207

  4,001

  3,777

  3,421

  3,300

  3,255

  3,325

  indexed (1979–80 = 100)

  100

  101

  96

  90

  82

  79

  78

  80

  OMEs (HE) (England)

  real terms

  3,451

  3,588

  3,493

  3,376

  3,444

  3,398

  3,121

  3,170

  indexed (1979–80 = 100)

  100

  104

  101

  98

  100

  98

  90

  92

  1 The figures for universities are for Great Britain and are based on recurrent expenditure financed by UGC grants and tuition fee income for home and overseas students. The figures for polytechnics and OMEs are for England and are net recurrent institutional expenditure per full-time equivalent student. This includes direct and indirect costs of providing tuition but excludes financing cost of capital expenditure, student support and central administration costs. As the relevant expenditures are differently defined it is not possible to give an overall cost per student.

  2 The numbers of full-time and part-time students have been expressed as full-time equivalents. It is not possible to separate out the costs of full-time students.

  3 The figures for polytechnics include a small proportion of FE work.

  UGC (Grant)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total Government grant to the University Grants Committee in each of the last 10 years; and if he will express each annual change and the total change since 1979, in real terms with 1979–80 =100.

  Mr. Jackson
  Total recurrent and capital grants made to the universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee were set out in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 10 February at column 844. The corresponding real terms figures, as measured by the gross domestic product deflator, are:

  Financial years

  Index

  1979–80

  100

  1980–81

  108

  1981–82

  101

  1982–83

  113

  1983–84

  111

  1984–85

  109

  1985–86

  106

  1986–87

  107

  1987–88

  111

  1988–89

  113

  Students (Expenditure)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total Government expenditure(a) per student for all students in full-time higher education, (b) per university student and (c) per student in polytechnics and other colleges in each of the last 10 years; and if he will express each annual change in real terms with 1979–80 = 100.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available data are as listed. The figures show the expenditure at 1986–87 prices per full-time equivalent student in universities, in polytechnics, and in higher education at other maintained establishments. The 1986–87 real terms figures have been indexed using 1979–80 as the base year.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was(a) the capital expenditure funded by the University Grants Committee and (b) the same figures for capital expenditure on polytechnics and other colleges, for each of the last 10 years, expressing each annual change in real terms with 1979–80 =10.

  Mr. Jackson
  The table shows capital grants made to the universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee and gross capital expenditure on further and higher education by local authorities, together with capital grants to voluntary and direct grant colleges, expressed as indicated in real terms as measured by the gross domestic product deflator.

  Financial years

  Universities (Great Britain)

  Polytechnics and other colleges (England)

  Index

  Index

  1979–80

  100

  100

  1980–81

  94

  109

  1981–82

  90

  98

  1982–83

  87

  115

  1983–84

  81

  110

  1984–85

  79

  115

  223

  Financial years

  Universities (Great Britain)

  Polytechnics and other colleges (England)

  Index

  Index

  1985–86

  83

  116

  1986–87

  89

  123

  1987–88

  84

  86

  1988–89

  86

  n/a

  Teachers (Incentive Allowances)
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information is available to his Department concerning the numbers of incentive allowances paid to teachers in primary, secondary and special schools in or shortly after October 1988, including in particular the numbers of allowances paid on discretionary grounds; whether the numbers of each type of allowance paid in 1987–88 closely matched the numbers advised by his Department as being available to be paid; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing, for each type of incentive allowance payable to teachers in primary, secondary and special schools in September 1988, the total number of allowances available to be paid by employers as advised by his Department and the proportion of these which were available to be paid on discretionary grounds; if he will distinguish between allowances already allocated to individuals and those newly available to be paid on discretionary grounds; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will publish a table showing the required minimum payments of incentive allowances to teachers in primary, secondary and special schools in October 1987 according to type, value and number of the allowances payable (a) by reason of a teacher's transfer to the new main salary scale, (b) by reason of the minimum requirements for rate A and B allowances in larger schools and special schools, and (c) by reason of other requirements; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will publish a table showing, for each type of incentive allowance payable to teachers in primary, secondary and special schools in October 1987, the total number of allowances available to be paid by employers as advised by his Department and the proportion of these which were available to be paid on discretionary grounds; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) what information is available to his Department concerning the numbers of incentive allowances paid to teachers in primary, secondary and special schools in or shortly after September 1988, including the numbers of allowances paid on discretionary grounds; whether the numbers of each type of allowance paid in 1988–89 closely matched the numbers advised by his Department as being available to be paid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Circulars 8/87 and 3/88 set out the approximate number of incentive allowances the Government wished to see awarded in October 1987 and September 1990 respectively. These were as follows:

  October 19871

  Primary

  Secondary

  A

  14,000

  11,000

  B

  216,000

  253,000

  C

  —

  —

  D

  —

  28,5002

  224

  Primary

  Secondary

  E

  —

  6,5002

  Total

  30,000

  99,000

  September 1988

  A

  24,000

  19,000

  B

  16,300

  43,300

  C

  1,300

  8,000

  D

  —

  27,000

  E

  —

  8,000

  Total

  41,600

  105,300

  1 All main-scale teachers in special schools received at least a B allowance from October 1987.

  2 These allowances were awarded automatically to teachers on scale 3, scale 4 or the senior teacher scale at 30 September 1987.

  The overall limits on the number of incentive allowances to be awarded in schools of a particular size in October 1987 were set out in annex A to the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1987, a copy of which is in the Library. A minimum of 2 per cent. of teachers were to receive A allowances in schools of group size 6 or above, and a minimum of 12 per cent. were normally to receive B allowances in schools of group size 7 or above.

  Circular 8/87 envisaged that by September 1990 there would be 55,000 allowance holders in primary schools and 110,000 in secondary schools. Following the recommendations of the first report of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions the planned introduction of A allowances was accelerated. Circular 3/88 envisaged that there would be an extra 6,000 A allowances above previous plans in September 1988.

  LEAs have the discretion to pay incentive allowances, within certain limits, to any teacher being paid on the main scale who satisfies one or more the criteria laid down in the school teachers' pay and conditions document. They do so in the light of local needs and priorities. It is unlikely that the numbers of teachers holding incentive allowances at any one time will coincide precisely with the Government's plans.

  The only information presently available is contained in a survey undertaken by the local authority conditions of service advisory board in September 1988. This showed that 61 LEAs had together awarded about 77,000 allowances to full-time and part-time regular teachers. 'The distribution among the 61 LEAs was as follows:

  Primary

  Secondary

  Special

  September 1988

  A

  6,878

  6,343

  —

  B

  9,922

  30,305

  7,504

  C

  318

  2,772

  960

  D

  148

  16,152

  149

  E

  19

  3,939

  55

  Total

  17,285

  59,511

  8,668

  Retired Teachers
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make it his policy to review the abatement provisions concerning school teachers' pensions in order to remove any financial disincentive for part-time work in the maintained sector after retirement; and if he will make a statement;
  225
  (2) what numbers of retired or prematurely retired school teachers are known to his Department to be working either part-time or full-time in maintained schools; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will describe the abatement provisions concerning teachers' pensions in the case that a retired or prematurely retired school teacher takes up part-time employment in a maintained school; when these provisions were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The general principle which applies across all the public service superannuation schemes is that a re-employed pensioner should not be better off as a result of being in receipt of a pension in addition to remuneration from further service than if he or she had not retired. Where the combined pay and pension are greater than the earnings on which the pension was based, the pension is reduced by the excess.

  Detailed information on re-employed teachers is not available. I understand, however, that in the year ending 31 March 1988, 302 teachers re-employed full-time and 660 teachers re-employed in a part-time capacity were considered by the Paymaster General's office under the abatement provisions.

  The policy of abatement in all public service schemes is currently being reviewed. I shall write to the hon. Member to let him know the outcome in due course.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to encourage the possible part-time or full-time employment of retired teachers in the maintained sector; what contribution such part-time or full-time employment can make towards filling the shortages of teachers identified by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The employment and deployment of teachers is a matter for local education authorities and schools. As part of our action programme to remedy teacher shortages we advise authorities to assess their recruitment needs and to develop a strategy for staffing their schools. The re-employment of retired teachers may in some circumstances form part of such a strategy.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to assist training in London docklands with a view to ensuring that jobs go to local people.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government's training programmes are designed to ensure that local people are equipped with the skills to meet the growing needs of employers.

  Under employment training specific steps taken to improve the targeting of training and job opportunities in Docklands include:
  compacts with employers and training providers which give priority consideration to local people;
  a customised training and priority hiring programme with construction companies to help local long-term unemployed people into jobs;
  a partnership project with Jarvis plc to integrate English as a second language and construction training to improve job opportunities for the local Vietnamese community.
  226
  Funding has also been provided for the development of compacts between employers and schools covering the docklands area. If successful they will help to provide new job and training opportunities for local school leavers.

  In addition local collaborative action is assisting local small businesses to identify skill needs and develop enterprise opportunities.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Civil Servants (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of social security staff dealing wholly or mainly with matters relating to the European Community is 88. This figure includes 79 staff at Newcastle central office dealing with payment of benefits/pensions to beneficiaries resident in other EC countries.

  In addition, there are four members of staff in the legal branch shared with the Department of Health who deal exclusively with EC matters.

  A small number of these staff attend EC meetings abroad when necessary but I regret that records of costs incurred for travel and subsistence are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Other staff may also be involved in EC work from time to time.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the level of expenditure on child benefit in cash and constant 1988–89 prices in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is as follows:

  Child benefit expenditure (£ million)

  Financial year

  Cash

  1988–89 prices

  11978–79

  1,776

  3,872

  1979–80

  2,787

  5,199

  1980–81

  2,944

  4,637

  1981–82

  3,372

  4,835

  1982–83

  3,660

  4,898

  1983–84

  3,988

  5,104

  1984–85

  4,276

  5,209

  1985–86

  4,468

  5,164

  1986–87

  4,513

  5,048

  1987–88

  4,598

  4,885

  21988–89

  4,522

  4,522

  1 Child benefit not fully phased in until April 1979.

  2 Estimated outturn.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service College
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if he will ask the Civil Service college to plan a programme of seminars to be available to those hon. Members elected for the first time at the next general election;

  (2) if he will take steps to discover on what topics sufficient demand exists among hon. Members to arrange briefing seminars at the Civil Service college;

  (3) what proposals he has to encourage hon. Members to attend Civil Service college courses.

  Mr. Luce
  The Civil Service college held briefing seminars on the work of the Civil Service on 2 and 23 March 1988 for hon. Members who first entered the House at the beginning of this Parliament. I hope that these will be repeated after the next general election. I attach great importance to the contribution that the college can make for the benefit of hon. Members, and I am actively considering with officials how this can best be developed further.

  Civil Service (Political Activity)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many staff within the Civil Service in the category politically restricted, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions code, have permission to engage in local political activity.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: A survey of the major employing departments in 1987 showed that, between 28 September 1984 and 1 October 1987, 52 staff in the restricted group requested and were granted permission to engage in local political activity.

THE ARTS

  Sponsorship (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the level of sponsorship for the arts in Nottingham, North.

  Mr. Luce
  Figures for Nottingham, North are not available. However, latest figures for the business sponsorship incentive scheme in the east midlands as a whole show that 31 businesses have supported the arts, generating £237,000.

  Arts Funding
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the level of Government and private sector funding for the arts in 1979; and what he estimates this will be in 1989, at current values.

  Mr. Luce
  Central Government funding for the arts in 1979–80 was £154 million. The provision made for 1989–90 is £439 million. There are no comprehensive figures for private funding of arts activities, which comprises their revenue and trading income together with contributions and support from individuals and organisations of all kinds.

  The Government's policy is to create the conditions in which the arts can develop by attracting additional funds
  228
  from private sources, and I welcome the evidence of its success. Thus, since its introduction in 1984, the business sponsorship incentive scheme has brought £22·75 million new money into the arts and attracted 931 new sponsors. Similarly, the receipts of the national museums and galleries from trading and other activities have risen from some £3 million in 1979–80 to an estimated £27 million in 1989–90.

  Ballet
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his Department's policy regarding the promotion of ballet in the regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer the hon. Member to the Adjournment debate on Wednesday 8 March 1989,Official Report, columns 1007–14.

  Industrial Museums
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his Department's policy with regard to the support of working industrial museums.

  Mr. Luce
  My Department supports non-national museums through the Museums and Galleries Commission and area museum councils.

  Queen Street Mill, Burnley
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make an official visit to Queen street mill, Burnley, to discuss the case for urgent funding.

  Mr. Luce
  I have at present no plans to visit Burnley. I understand that the north-west museum and art gallery service, which is funded by the Museums and Galleries Commission and which provides advice and selective financial assistance to museums, is in contact with Burnley borough council about the mill.

  Management Consultants (Fees)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what were the total fees paid out by the Office of Arts and Libraries to management consultants in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for the current year.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer, 13 March 1989]: The Office of Arts and Libraries was established in July 1983. No management consultants have been employed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Cordless Telephones
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to have enforced in Northern Ireland similar action as is taken in Great Britain by the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of illegal cordless telephones on sale to the public.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Wireless Telegraphy (Cordless Telephone Apparatus (Restriction) Order (SI No. 774)) makes it unlawful to import, sell, manufacture or have in one's custody cordless telephone apparatus not meeting the Department's specification. The order applies and is enforced in Northern Ireland as in Great Britain.

SCOTLAND

  Information Campaigns
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give his Department's expected expenditure in cash terms on information campaigns in 1989–90 which is covered by class XVI Scotland Supply Estimates in 1988–89 and the comparable figure he expects to spend in 1989–90.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Proposed provision for expenditure by the Scottish Office on information campaigns in 1989–90 is £2·9 million. The estimated expenditure for 1988–89 is £2·1 million.

  Low Frequency Transmissions
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the effects of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic radiation on plant, animal and human life.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The National Radiological Protection Board is currently reviewing the results of extensive work on possible effects on human and animal health of electromagnetic radiation. The Government will consider the board's advice when it becomes available.

  Housing Associations
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what capital allocations were made to housing associations in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole for (i) new building and (ii) renovation in each year since 1979;

  (2) what capital allocations to housing associations in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole will be made for (i) new building and (ii) renovation in 1989; and what capital allocations are planned for 1990 and 1991.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Such information is not held by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State, in making his annual allocation to the Housing Corporation in Scotland for housing association purposes, requires the corporation to operate within a development programme approved by him each year. This programme is on the basis of specified categories of need. Subsequent allocations to particular associations and particular areas, and decisions on the means of provision are then the responsibility of the Housing Corporation.

  Similar procedures will operate for future years when Scottish Homes will take over from the Housing Corporation, responsibility for the funding of housing associations in Scotland.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest unadjusted figures for unemployment in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

  Mr. Lang
  The numbers of unemployed claimants for these areas on 12 January 1989 (the latest date for which information is available) are provided in the table,230
  together with corresponding figures for January 1979. (Unemployment statistics for Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency prior to June 1983 are not available and due to changes in the coverage and compilation of the count the latest unemployment figures and those available for 1979 are not directly comparable.)

  January 1989

  January 1979

  Greenock and Port Glasgow Parliamentary Constituency

  6,619

  n/a

  Strathclyde Region

  146,556

  106,910

  Scotland

  269,043

  190,300

  n/a = not available.

  This information is available in the Library.

  Skiing
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to provide a national ski-ing development policy for Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government published national planning guidelines for skiing development in 1984. These guidelines set the framework within which we would expect to see development take place and continue to form the basis of Government policy for the development of skiing and for considering individual development proposals.

  Legal Profession
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Green Paper on the Legal profession in Scotland to be published.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend's consultation paper "The Legal Profession in Scotland" was published on 13 March. Copies have been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Rape in Marriage
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will bring forward legislation to outlaw rape in marriage.

  Mr. John Patten
  In its 1984 report on sexual offences, the criminal law revision committee set out the arguments for and against extending the offence of rape to all married couples. By a narrow majority the committee decided not to recommend such an extension, although it did unanimously favour extending the offence to couples who were no longer cohabiting if a satisfactory definition could be found. The principal arguments which swayed the committee against recommending extending the offence to married couples generally were that within marriage the act would be of different character, there would be grave difficulties in investigation and prosecution, and a husband who had intercourse with his wife without her consent could be charged with other offences.

  The Government recognises the difficulties in this matter and have no present plans for legislation.

  Computer Safety
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what precautions his Department has taken to safeguard sensitive material transmitted by computer from being accessed or obtained by third parties;

  (2) whether the security of computer files on Home Department issues is regularly checked for breaches by internal or external unauthorised access;

  (3) what is his Department's policy on the implication for security of continued departmental computerisation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A large number of computer systems operate within the Department. The security counter-measures appropriate to each system are considered at the design stage in the light of the assessed risk, and are kept under continuing review. It would not be in the interests of security to disclose the nature and extent of those measures.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has on whether computerised border control and passport control records are susceptible to electronic invasion;

  (2) what measures he has taken to prevent breaches of computerised border and passport control records by electronic invasion.

  Mr. Renton
  The security of the immigration and nationality department's computerised information systems is considered at an early stage in the design of new systems, and the security measures taken are reviewed in the light of changing threats to existing systems. It would not be in the interests of security to disclose the nature and extent of those measures.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department following illegal extraction of files from the police computer, what steps he has taken to increase protection to ensure that no future penetration occurs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am satisfied that the monitoring and auditing systems for users of the police national computer are adequate. Additional measures are, however, being considered in planning the replacement police national computer system due to be introduced next year.

  Crime (Dorset)
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the percentage detection rate for crimes in Dorset for each of the last two years;

  (2) what was the total number of reported crimes in Dorset for each of the last two years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is published annually, and most recently in tables 2.4 and 2.18 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1987", Cmd. 498. It is planned to publish recorded crime figures for 1988 later this month in a statistical bulletin, and clear-up rates for 1988 will be included in the annual Command Paper in the autumn.

  Rugby Matches (Policing)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the chief 232
  constables of Yorkshire. Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria, a list of the charges made for the policing of first and second division rugby league matches.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that the charges (exclusive of VAT) to individual rugby league clubs in the areas mentioned from the beginning of the current season to Saturday, 25 February 1989 have been as follows:

  Police Force and Club

  Cost £ (excluding VAT)

  North Yorkshire

  York

  908·00

  South Yorkshire

  Doncaster

  —

  Sheffield Eagles

  149·04

  West Yorkshire

  Batley

  —

  Bradford Northern

  5,671·58

  Bramley

  —

  Castleford

  5,593·03

  Dewsbury

  —

  Featherstone Rovers

  4,500·01

  Halifax

  5,767·74

  Hunslet

  1,851·26

  Keighley

  967·60

  Leeds

  17,274·27

  Wakefield

  7,108·02

  Cheshire

  Warrington

  5,993·48

  Widnes

  5,993·48

  Cumbria

  Barrow

  1,966·50

  Carlisle

  2,070·00

  Whitehaven

  1,499·60

  Workington

  749·80

  Notes:

  1. No police presence is required at some grounds.

  2. There are no first or second division rugby league clubs in Lancashire.

  Police (Sex Discrimination)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has for each of the last four years for each police force of the number of women police officers who have submitted formal grievances because they consider they have suffered from sexist behaviour or language.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mentally Disturbed Prisoners
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report columns 540–41, how many of those who committed suicide in the prison department establishments referred to therein were known to have had a history of mental disturbance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not available, but it is known that 30 per cent. of inmates who committed suicide in prison department establishments in 1987 had undergone psychiatric assessment or treatment before coming into custody.

  Immigration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the criteria that the immigration service is instructed to use in order to determine whether a Member of Parliament is putting forward compelling reasons when requesting a deferral of removal in order to make representations;

  (2) what checks are made of the consistency with which the immigration service is applying the criteria to determine whether or not a Member of Parliament shall be allowed to intervene in a port refusal case;

  (3) how many individuals have been refused entry to Britain since the new guidelines on Members' representations became effective; and in how many of these refusals an hon. Member, lawyer or advice agency, sought to intervene;

  (4) how many times hon. Members have sought to intervene in port refusals since the introduction of new guidelines for hon. Members' representations; and in how many cases removal directions have been delayed in order that representations could be made.

  Mr. Renton
  The criteria are exemplified in paragraph 10 of the guidelines introduced on 3 January and sent to right hon. and hon. Members under cover of my letter of 14 December. Instructions to immigration officers emphasise that the examples of circumstances given in the guidelines are not exclusive but are illustrative of the sort of circumstances which would justify deferment of removal. Under the guidelines a right hon. or hon. Member may contact my Private Office (or, out of working hours, the Home Office duty officer) after speaking to the relevant port, in any case where he believes that the immigration service has wrongly refused to defer removal on the basis of exceptional and compelling circumstances. In the first two months of 1989 some 2,700 persons were initially refused entry at the major ports and airports. Comprehensive figures for interventions are not centrally available, but during the first eight weeks of operation of the new guidelines, I understand that at the major ports and airports some 160 calls were received asking for deferments, and removal was deferred in about 14 cases.

  Tamils
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tamils(a) have applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom, (b) are on temporary admission, (c) have been granted exceptional leave to remain and (d) have been returned to Sri Lanka in the last 15 months.

  Mr. Renton
  No distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans. During the 15 months up to 30 September 1988, which is the most recent date for which these statistics are available, 341 Sri Lankans. applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. During the same period 257 Sri Lankans were granted exceptional leave to remain. There are no central records of numbers temporarily admitted, but at any one time only a small minority of those with outstanding asylum applications are detained. Removals and deportations of failed asylum seekers are not normally recorded separately. However, it is known that 45 Sri Lankans who sought asylum at ports have been removed since 1 January 1988. Additionally in the same period 26 Sri Lankans have 234
  been removed as illegal entrants and seven have been deported: most of these applied for asylum and were refused, after consideration of their applications.

  Annual information, by nationality, on applications for asylum and decisions taken is published in a statistical bulletin. The 1988 bulletin will be published during the summer of 1989. Information on passengers refused entry and removed, on illegal entry and on deportation is published annually in "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom". The 1988 volume will also be published in the summer.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there has been any monitoring by Her Majesty's Government of the safety of Tamils forcibly returned to Sri Lanka since the beginning of 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. Asylum applicants are returned to their own country only after it has been decided that they are not refugees under the 1951 convention and that it would not be right to grant them exceptional leave. In such circumstances, as with any person in breach of immigration control whose departure we enforce, their safety becomes a matter for their own Government.

  Prison Discipline
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement changes in the prison disciplinary system.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has laid before the House revised prison rules and revised young offender institution rules which will implement from 1 April important reforms in the disciplinary systems governing the conduct of prisoners.

  The rules introduce a new code of offences which will be simpler and clearer than the present code. New offences have been created to deal specifically with serious offences such as hostage-taking, barricading and arson. At the same time, the offences of making a false and malicious allegation against an officer and repeatedly making groundless complaints have been abolished. The maximum punishment on a single charge which is available to boards of visitors has been reduced from 180 days' loss of remission to 120 days in adult establishments, and will be 90 days for young offenders. The maximum loss of remission on consecutive punishments arising from a single incident will be 180 days and 135 days respectively. The procedures for referring more serious charges to the board of visitors have been simplified. An extensive programme of training in the new rules is being carried through, and the recent issue of a completely revised guidance manual on the conduct of adjudications will also assist boards of visitors and governors in carrying out this vital function. The manual will be available in a published edition shortly and is in any event made accessible to all prisoners. In addition, the prison Standing Order governing adjudications is being revised and will also be published.

  I believe that these changes represent a substantial improvement to the prison disciplinary system.

HEALTH

  Tobacco Industry (Meetings)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings he, his Ministers and his Department's officials have had with representatives of the tobacco industry since 1 January 1988; and if he will list the dates, venues and purpose of each meeting.

  Mr. Mellor
  The table lists the meetings which Ministers have had with representatives of the tobacco industry or individual tobacco companies. Officials have had several meetings with representatives of individual tobacco companies and expert medical and scientific advisers which are covered by commercial confidentiality. I am not therefore at liberty to disclose details of these meetings. Officials have contact from time to time with representatives of the tobacco industry, notably as a consequence of the work of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

  Date

  Venue

  Purpose

  12 February 1988

  Department of Health

  Meeting with the Tobacco Advisory Council on general matters relating to smoking

  25 April 1988

  Department of Health

  Meeting with Svenska Tobaks to discuss the proposed ban on certain oral tobacco products

  6 July 1988

  Department of Health

  Meeting with United States Tobacco International to discuss proposed ban on certain oral tobacco products.

  27 September 1988

  Department of Health

  Meeting with United States Tobacco International to discuss proposed ban on certain oral tobacco products.

  15 December 1988

  Department of Health

  Meeting with representatives of the tobacco industry to discuss draft EC tobacco directives.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been directed towards research into the sudden infant death syndrome or related projects in each year since 1979, expressed(a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms on the 1979 amount and (c) as a percentage increase or decrease on the previous year.

  Mr. Freeman
  The following readily available information about research into sudden infant death syndrome and related projects refers to projects funded by the Medical Research Council, the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research.

  Actual expenditure

  Expenditure in 1979–80 prices

  Percentage change1

  £

  £

  1979–80

  79,130

  79,130

  —

  1980–81

  133,608

  112,806

  +42·56

  1981–82

  207,610

  159,569

  +41·45

  1982–83

  206,600

  148,211

  -7·12

  1983–84

  243,861

  167,328

  +12·90

  1984–85

  241,912

  157,996

  -5·58

  1985–86

  282,948

  175,329

  +10·97

  1986–87

  476,059

  285,457

  +62·81

  1987–88

  405,182

  230,772

  -19·16

  1 Percentage change of expenditure in 1979–80 prices over previous year.

  Stomach Cancer
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the incidence of stomach cancer in(a) each of the districts of the Mersey region and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is shown in the table. The latest available data are for 1984.

  Number of newly registered cases of malignant neoplasm of the stomach1, Mersey Regional Health Authority, its component Districts and United Kingdom, 1984.

  Area

  Number

  Rate per 10,000 population

  United Kingdom

  12,749

  2·26

  Mersey RHA

  589

  2·43

  Chester DHA

  43

  2·43

  Crewe DHA

  53

  2·17

  Halton DHA

  28

  1·97

  Macclesfield DHA

  30

  1·70

  Warrington DHA

  50

  2·82

  Liverpool DHA

  144

  2·90

  St. Helens and Knowsley DHA

  83

  2·32

  Southport and Formby DHA

  29

  2·49

  South Sefton DHA

  47

  2·58

  Wirral DHA

  82

  2·29

  1 International Classification of Diseases code 151.

  Air Conditioning and Hot Water Systems
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance or directions he gives to health authorities and hospital managers about the taking of regular bacteriological tests on air conditioning and hot water systems.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1987, guidance based on expert advice recommended against routine sampling to detect the presence of Legionella pneumophila in both wet-spray cooling systems and hot and cold water services, unless it was suspected that they were the source of hospital-acquired infection. The application of this guidance to wet-spray cooling systems is currently under review.

  Hospital Building
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the capital works programme for hospital building within the National Health Service.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am content to leave the review of the programme to the health authorities responsible for its management in the knowledge that our increased capital allocations will permit investment in the modernisation of the National Health Service to be sustained at record levels. Capital expenditure on the hospital and community health services in 1989–90 is planned to reach £1·2 billion, an increase in real terms of 41 per cent. over the 1978–79 level.

  Hospitals (Charity Appeals)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of equipment is raised for National Health Service hospitals by charity appeals.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that information on the percentage of National Health Service hospitals equipment expenditure met from funds raised by charity appeals is not available.

  Genito-urinary Clinics
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent action he has taken to encourage Waltham Forest district health authority to provide a genito-urinary clinic.

  Mr. Freeman
  Planning of health services within a particular area is a matter for the health authority concerned, which is best able to judge the priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  Deaf-blind People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (i) deaf-blind adults and (ii) deaf-blind children there are in Britain; and how long it is since the last survey was made.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of adults and children in England who were registered with local authorities as blind with an additional handicap of deafness are recorded in "Registered Blind and Partially Sighted Persons at 31 March 1986—England". A copy of this publication is in the Library. The most recent collection of these statistics related to 31 March 1988 and will be published in due course.

  Registration of disability is a voluntary process. The numbers of deaf-blind adults and children in the population are believed to be considerably greater than the numbers who register but no reliable estimate is available.

  Young Persons (Remands)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will arrange urgently for appropriate accommodation to be provided for the 15-year-old who has twice been remanded to an adult prison from Crewe juvenile court; and what secure accommodation is available for young people in the north-west.

  Mr. Mellor
  The provision of appropriate accommodation for children in care is the statutory responsibility of local authorities. I understand that Cheshire county council has been unable to find a secure vacancy in a community home for the boy referred to, although it continues to make urgent inquiries.

  There are currently 294 approved secure places provided by local authorities in England, to which all local authorities have access. Local authorities in the north-west provide 65 of these places.

ENVIRONMENT

  Elephant Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban all imports of elephant ivory.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Imports of ivory are controlled under EC Regulation 3626/82 which implements CITES in the Community. The European Commission has suggested measures to encourage African states to comply with the existing strict controls and to develop management programmes. These proposals were welcomed by the Council of Ministers on 2 March.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (i) all the bodies concerned with research on pollution in water and (ii) the research projects funded or sponsored by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Howard
  A list of the bodies known to the Department to be concerned with research on pollution in water has been placed in the Library of each House together with a list of research projects that the Department is funding or sponsoring, excluding research on radioactive waste disposal and drinking water quality. I do not have the information on research projects for other Government Departments.

  Tobacco Companies (Sports Sponsorship)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the current annual total of sponsorship of sports by tobacco companies; if he will list these individually and in relation to other commercial sponsorship; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The total expenditure on sports sponsorship by tobacco companies in 1987–88, the latest year for which figures are available, was £5,911,000. No information is held centrally on expenditure by individual companies. The Sports Council estimates that in 1987 sports sponsorship by non-tobacco companies was some £158 million.

  Water Authorities (Privatisation)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy to write off the loan debt of the present water authorities in England prior to implementation of the Water Bill.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend has no powers at present to write off any of the debts of the water authorities.

  Water Quality
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the present levels of cleanliness of Southampton Water and the Solent, respectively; and how those levels match up to European Economic Community standards.

  Mr. Howard
  The relevant standards are those set in Directive 79/923/EEC, on the quality of water for shellfish, and in Directive 76/160/EEC on the quality of bathing water. There are five designated shellfish waters in Southampton Water and the Solent. All meet the directive's standards.

  I announced on 21 February 1989 at column 572 the results of the 1988 survey of bathing water in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The results for identified bathing waters in the Southampton Water and Solent area are:

  Result

  Bracklesham Bay

  Pass

  West Wittering

  Pass

  West of Eastoke

  Pass

  West Hayling

  Pass

  239

  Result

  Eastney

  Fail

  Southsea

  Fail

  Stokes Bay

  Pass

  Lee-on-Solent

  Pass

  Calshot

  Fail

  Lepe

  Pass

  Highcliffe

  Pass

  Compton Bay

  Pass

  Totland Bay

  Pass

  Colwell Bay

  Fail

  Gurnard

  Fail

  Cowes

  Fail

  Ryde

  Fail

  Seagrove

  Fail

  St. Helens

  Fail

  Bembridge

  Fail

  The Southern water authority plans to spend about £30 million over the next few years on major schemes to improve bathing waters in this area.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present level of cleanliness of the principal rivers in Hampshire; and to what extent they meet European Economic Community standards.

  Mr. Howard
  The principal rivers in Hampshire are classified as good quality (class 1A or 1B) for virtually all their length. These are the highest quality classifications, indicating waters which are suitable for potable supply, generally support game fisheries and have high amenity value.

  Significant stretches of these rivers and their main tributaries, are designated under EEC Directive 78/659/EEC on the quality of freshwater needed to support fish life. All are reported to be meeting the directive's standards.

  Land Disposal Policy
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the disposal of operational land surplus to requirements other than by public tender by the regional water authorities, the Central Electricity Generating Board, and the British Railways Board, respectively; and in what circumstances each of these categories of body may dispose of such land without the publication of either the purchase price or name of the purchaser;

  (2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the publication of the names or organisations or individuals who are successful in public tenders for land, goods, or premises being sold by central Government, local Government, and statutory bodies, respectively.

  Mr. Chope
  All public bodies are expected to offer surplus land and property for sale as soon as practicable. The method of sale may differ between Departments, local authorities and other bodies, depending on the nature of the asset to be sold, any relevant legal requirements, the application of the Crichel Down rules, the need to obtain the best price reasonably obtainable and other market and commercial factors.

  It is for individual public bodies to decide what information to make available about individual land
  240
  transactions, having regard to any legal requirements, and to any constraints which may apply by reason of commercial confidentiality or security.

  Land Disposal Policy

    Water Supply Tariffs
    Dr. Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those tariff increases for water supply from 1 April so far announced by the statutory water companies; and if he will make a statement about any action proposed by him in respect of these increases.

    Mr. Ridley
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning on 14 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South-West (Mr. Madel).

    Energy Efficiency
    Mr. Cran
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what part the Property Services Agency has played in promoting energy efficiency on the Government estate.

    Mr. Chope
    Energy efficiency is given a high priority by the PSA on sound environmental grounds and because it saves public expenditure. PSA, working in close co-operation with other Government Departments, promotes energy-saving measures for most Government buildings. Through its network of energy conservation officers the agency is able to provide Departments with a complete energy management service.

    Since 1972 average savings of over 25 per cent.—over £900 million at current prices—have been achieved. Current savings are over 5 per cent. per annum in real terms on the Government's total energy bill (1987–88) of over £250 million.

    Tenants' Choice
    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to implement the tenants' choice provisions in part IV of the Housing Act 1988.

    Mr. Trippier
    Regulations have today been laid before Parliament to implement the tenants' choice scheme on 5 April. Tenants who wish to know more about choosing a new landlord are being invited, by means of advertisements in several national newspapers, to contact the Housing Corporation for an explanatory booklet about the scheme, and for any further advice, information or assistance they may need.

    Water Privatisation
    Mr. Ashby
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there will be special share offer arrangements for the employees of the privatised water authorities.

    Mr. Howard
    The Government welcome the opportunity which privatisation of the water industry will bring for employees of the new water plcs to take a stake in the future of their companies. There will therefore be special share offer arrangements, which will include: free shares, further free shares to match those bought by employees, and possibly shares at a discount. Plc employees will also be given priority in the allocation of shares in the offer.

    The exact details of the benefits to be made available in this way will be decided nearer the time. There will be

    241
    special arrangements for employees of the water authorities who move to the new plcs and will not therefore apply to employees of the water authorities who move to the National Rivers Authority, the body which will be set up to exercise regulatory functions in relation to the water industry.

    National Rivers Authority
    Mr. Leigh
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the National Rivers Authority powers to borrow in order to finance its flood defence work.

    Mr. Ridley
    I am happy today to announce our decision that the National Rivers Authority should have borrowing powers in relation to its flood defence functions. This decision recognises the importance which is widely attached to the availability of borrowing powers to cope with the need for unexpected expenditure. It meets this concern and demonstrates the Government's firm commitment to ensure that the NRA has all the powers it needs to operate effectively.

    Accordingly, we have today tabled an amendment to the Water Bill that will enable the NRA to undertake not only temporary borrowing, for which the Bill already provides, but long-term borrowing for its flood defence functions. We do not expect that these powers will need to be used very often, and their use will be restricted to situations where the NRA is faced with expenditure for which it had been impossible to plan.

    With the addition of these powers the National Rivers Authority's Flood defence committees will have all the powers it needs to continue its vital work as effectively as it has in the past.

    Power Boats
    Sir Anthony Meyer
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will hold consultations with local authorities on measures which might be taken to reduce the danger to swimmers from power boats travelling close inshore off bathing beaches;

    (2) if he will introduce regulations to provide for the marking of areas off bathing beaches where power boats are prohibited.

    Mr. Portillo
    I have been asked to reply.

    Local authorities already have powers to make byelaws to make provision for the safety of the public in these circumstances; and I consider that they are best placed to determine what measures should be taken.

    Water (Nitrate Levels)
    Mr. Harry Barnes
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which water abstraction plants for domestic use in the Yorkshire and Severn Trent regions are complying with EEC limits on the nitrate levels in water supply; which are not; and on what dates each of the plants which are not complying will comply with the limits.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The EC drinking water directive nitrate standard applies to water as supplied to the consumer, not to water as it leaves the abstraction plant as this takes no account of subsequent blending with other water. The standard is therefore, measured in relation to water supply areas rather than abstraction plants.
    242
    All water supply areas in Yorkshire water authority comply with the EC directive nitrate standard. In the Severn-Trent water authority area the following supplies do not comply but should do so by the date shown.

    Date

    Parts of Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick and Stratford district councils

    1989

    Parts of Stourbridge (supply used only at times of peak demand)

    end 1989

    Malvern Hills/Wyre Forest district council area

    1989

    Parts of Wrekin DC area

    1989

    Parts of Lichfield DC area, Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham Metropolitan) area, North Warwickshire and Walsall metropolitan area1

    1993–94

    Parts of Worksop and Mansfield Woodhouse (Bassetlaw and Mansfield DC areas)

    1991

    Parts of South Shropshire DC area

    1990

    Parts of Newark district council area

    1989

    1 These supplies are made by the South Staffordshire waterworks company.

    Sewage Treatment Works
    Mr. Ron Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each water authority area in England the number of sewage treatment works which discharge effluent below the required standard.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 13 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 20 December 1988 at column 194.

    The figures for 1988 are not yet available, but indications are that they will show a further improvement.

    Civil Servants (EC)
    Mr. Cryer
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

    Mr. Ridley
    At present, some 60 officials in my Department spend more than half of their time on work related to the European Community. Information about travel and accommodation costs relating to official visits to Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg is not kept centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  DEFENCE

    Low-level flying
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what classes of buildings are excluded as permissible simulated targets in the instructions to pilots concerning the types of ground features which can be selected during low-level training flights.

    Mr. Neubert
    I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 30 January 1989, at columns 33 and 34.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any evidence that environmental restraints in low-flying training have been a contributory factor in recent low-flying accidents.
    243
    Mr. Neubert
    No.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the inquiry into a low-flying incident over Llanilar, Dyfed, on 25 August 1988.

    Mr. Neubert
    As far as my Department is aware, there has been no report of an incident over Llanilar, Dyfed on 25 August 1988.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 1 July 1988,Official Report, column 400, if he will now declasify the instructions to Royal Air Force station commanders covering the investigation of complaints about low flying from members of the public.

    Mr. Neubert
    No.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what maximum permitted distance between initial point and simulated target is laid down in the regulations governing the conduct of low-level attack training sorties.

    Mr. Neubert
    None.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures pilots are instructed to take to alleviate noise disturbance when low flying at up to 550 knots in the run-up to simulated targets.

    Mr. Neubert
    Pilots engaged in low-flying training are instructed to keep any period of flight above the normal maximum cruising speeds to the minimum consistent with essential training requirements.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations and dates of periods of Royal Air Force police covert monitoring of low flying since 25 September 1987.

    Mr. Neubert
    Covert monitoring of low-flying activity since 25 September 1987 has been conducted at the following locations over the periods stated:

    1988

    14–18 March, Amble

    25–28 April, Quedgeley and Hardwicke

    26–27 April, Braunston

    7 June, Farndon

    14–16 June, Crediton

    21–23 June, Kidwelly

    22 June, Tumble

    27–29 June, Stonehouse

    28–30 June, Keswick

    12 July, Hexham

    12 July, Holme on Spalding Moor

    18–21 July, Builth Wells

    26–27 July, Machynlleth

    23–25 August, Morpeth

    6–8 September, Halesworth

    11–13 October, Melrose

    18–20 October, Milford Haven

    Late October/early November, Redburn

    15–17 November, Newark/Farndon

    1989

    6–9 February, Upper Chute

    21–22 February, Market Bosworth

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1979 when Royal Air Force police covert monitoring of low flying has detected breaches of low-flying regulations.
    244
    Mr. Neubert
    The detailed information requested is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort. Surveys do however indicate that pilots have a healthy respect for the low-flying regulations.

    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the aircraft handling reasons for United States Air Force F111 aircraft being permitted to fly at 480 knots in the low-flying system, as stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 16 November 1987,Official Report, column 451.

    Mr. Neubert
    Because of the aerodynamic characteristics of the F111 aircraft, its handling properties are enhanced at a speed of 480 knots compared with a speed of 450 knots.

    Tornado Aircraft
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those accidents to Tornado aircraft in which failure or malfunction of the fly-by-wire system was a contributory factor.

    Mr. Neubert
    There is no evidence that any such RAF Tornado accidents have occurred.

    Helicopters (Flying Practice)
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom which are cleared for use by military helicopters practising flying underneath high voltage power lines.

    Mr. Neubert
    All aspects of this training activity, including the areas used, are currently under review.

    Consumers (Consultation)
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements there are for consulting consumers in the work and decisions of his Department.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    I will write to the hon. Member.

    Computer Safety
    Miss Emma Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the security of his Department's computer files is regularly checked for breaches by computer hackers.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Where such access would constitute a security breach, yes.

    Miss Emma Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action is taken in his Department to guard against intrusive information technology practices by unauthorised internal or external electronic intruders;

    (2) what steps he has taken to ensure that information transferred within and without his Department via computer is safe from internal or external interference;

    (3) what steps his Department has undertaken to guard against the unauthorised access of sensitive defence information files stored on computer.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    In the interest of national security, the nature and extent of the security counter-measures used to protect Ministry of Defence computer systems from authorised access cannot be revealed.
    245
    Miss Emma Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effects of unauthorised access via computer of information held by his Department on the nation's security.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The potential effect of unauthorised access to the Ministry of Defence's information is indicated by the security classifications given to such material, viz:

    TOP SECRET

    Information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which would cause EXCEPTIONALLY GRAVE DAMAGE to the nation.

    SECRET

    Information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which would cause SERIOUS INJURY to the interests of the nation.

    CONFIDENTIAL

    Information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which would be PREJUDICIAL to the interests of the nation.

    RESTRICTED

    Information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which would be UNDESIRABLE in the interests of the nation.

    Miss Emma Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to prevent the extraction of sensitive international defence material by computer, in the light of the recent problems uncovered in West Germany.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    It will not be clear whether any change in Ministry of Defence security policy is necessary following recent events in West Germany until our investigations are complete.

    Confidential Information
    Miss Emma Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the steps taken by the United Kingdom's allies to protect confidential defence information.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The Ministry of Defence security authorities have all the information necessary to determine that the security policies of the United Kingdom's allies are comparable and compatible with Ministry of Defence security policy where the handling of Ministry of Defence material is involved.

    Equal Pay
    Mr. Menzies Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of his Department with regard to equal pay for equivalent work in the three armed services; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Neubert
    The pay levels of service personnel are recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body based on a system of job evaluation and comparability with civilian jobs of a similar weight. Job evaluation makes no distinction between service men and service women. However, service men's pay contains a 10 per cent. enhancement (the X factor) to compensate for the overall balance of advantage and disadvantage of service life, while service women receive an X factor of 9 per cent. because they are not liable for direct combat duties.

    Chemical Weapons
    Mr. Cryer
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the stockpile of chemical warfare agents held by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
    246
    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The Soviet Union has the largest and most sophisticated chemical warfare capability in the world. Our estimate is that the Soviet stockpile of chemical warfare agents is several times larger than the 50,000 tonnes which it claims.

    Civil Servants (EC)
    Mr. Cryer
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    None. Costs of travel and accommodation are not kept in a form that separately identifies EC-related work.

  PRIME MINISTER

    Press Freedom
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Prime Minister what reply she has sent to the recent letter sent to her by PEN American centre in respect of press freedom and individual rights in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister
    I have no record of receiving such a letter.

    Ministerial Advisers
    Mr. Robin Cook
    To ask the Prime Minister what is the annual total level of expenditure on special advisers attached to Ministers.

    The Prime Minister
    The current annual salary cost is approximately £935,000.

  NATIONAL FINANCE

    Manufactured Trade Deficit
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his projections for the deficit in manufactured trade for 1989.

    Mr. Major
    The Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1989–90 shows a forecast deficit in manufactured trade in 1989 of £15½ billion.

    Trade Deficit
    Mr. Roy Hughes
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he now expects the trade deficit in 1989 to be.

    Mr. Major
    The Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1989–90 shows a forecast deficit for visible trade in 1989 of £21½ billion.

    Trade Balance
    Mr. Wilson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects Britain's trade balance to be in surplus.
    247
    Mr. Major
    The Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1989–90 published on 14 March 1989 provides forecasts of the visible trade balance for 1989 and the current acount balance for 1989 and the first half of 1990. Forecasts for later years are not published.

    EC Economic and Finance Council
    Mr. Rowe
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Communities Economic and Finance Council.

    Mr. Brooke
    The ECOFIN Council met in Brussels on 13 March. I represented the United Kingdom. The Council discussed the Commission's first quarterly examination of the economic situation in the Community.

    The Council heard a presentation from the Commission on the 10th anniversary of the European monetary system. Ministers discussed preparations for the spring meetings of the IMF and IBRD to be held in April in Washington. Ministers took note of the latest United States suggestions for strengthening the debt strategy and reaffirmed that the key to the resolution of debt problems is the implementation of economic policy reform in the debtor countries.

    The Council discussed the European Court of Auditors report for 1987; I emphasised the importance of the court's work in helping to get better value for money and in combating fraud. The Council approved the recommendation to the European Parliament on discharge of the 1987 accounts.

    The Council endorsed a declaration on fraud which foreshadowed new or revised proposals in a number of areas, notably export refunds and intervention storage; and which promised an annual report by the Commission on fraud and an early discussion of key issues chaired by the head of the Commission's anti-fraud unit. The Council will return to the subject of fraud in the near future.

    Share Ownership
    Mr. Watts
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of share ownership in Great Britain.

    Mr. Norman Lamont
    A joint Treasury/stock exchange survey carried out in January and February of this year shows that:9 million people, or 20 per cent. of the adult population, now own shares, the same as one year ago, and compared to seven per cent. in 1979;
    13 per cent. hold shares in privatised companies, and five per cent. own only privatised shares;
    3 per cent. hold shares in the company for which they work;
    Share ownership is widely spread; two-thirds of British shareholders come from outside the ranks of managers and the professionals; similarly, almost two-thirds come from outside the south-east.

    I am placing copies of the results of the survey in the Libraries of both Houses.

    Press and PR
    Mr. Dobson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of the Treasury; and what is the proposed complement for 1989–90.
    248
    Mr. Brooke
    [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The number of press and public relations staff employed in the Treasury on I March 1989 was 10 and the budgeted provision was 10; the budgeted provision for 1989–90 is 10.

    Advertising
    Mr. Dobson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1988–89 by the Treasury on(a) TV advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what is the 1989–90 budget for each of these categories of spending.

    Mr. Brooke
    [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The estimated expenditure for 1988–89 is £51,500, none of which is likely to be on television or radio advertising; the 1989–90 budget is £50,000, none of which is likely to be on television or radio advertising.

    Staff Statistics
    Mr. Dobson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Treasury; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade. and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1989–90.

    Mr. Brooke
    [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The information is as follows:

    Staff in statistical divisions1

    Staff in Post 1 March 1989

    Budgeted Complement 1988–89

    Budgeted Complement 1989–90

    Unified Grade 52

    2

    2

    2

    Unified Grade 72

    8

    8

    8

    SEO

    4

    4

    4

    HEO

    5

    5

    5

    Senior Assistant Statistician/ Assistant Statistician

    4

    4

    4

    EO

    10

    11

    11

    AO/AA

    13

    13

    13

    Total

    46

    47

    47

    1 Defined as divisions headed by grade 5 chief statistician and employed mainly on statistical work. There are other statistician posts in HM Treasury which are not included in the above figures.

    2 At the senior levels of the service, where management forms a major component of most jobs, there are service-wide common pay and grading arrangements. These unified grades 1 to 7 are known as the open structure and cover grades from permanent secretary level to grade 7 level. Within the unified grades there are no formal barriers to movement between the former occupational groups, e.g. scientists, administrators, statisticians; each post should be filled by the person best equipped in terms of skills, ability and experience.

    National Debt
    Mr. Tim Smith
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the reasons for the rise in the national debt from £186 billion at 31 March 1987 to £197 billion at 31 March 1988, in the light of the repayment of public sector debt in the same period of £3·6 billion.

    Mr. Lilley
    [holding answer 13 March 1989]:The national debt is conventionally defined as the nominal

    249
    liabilities of the national loans fund. Unlike the public sector net debt, it does not include borrowing by local authorities, nor does it net off assets such as the foreign exchange reserves.

    The main reason why the liabilities of the national loans fund increased in 1987–88, despite the public sector debt repayment, was because sterling was drawn from the national loans fund to finance a substantial rise in the gold and foreign exchange reserves. There are, however, a great many differences between the two concepts, and a full explanation is given on pages 530–537 of the November 1988 Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin.

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Chlorine Bleaching
    Ms. Walley
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he intends to publish his report on the investigations he has carried out within his areas of responsibility into chlorine bleached packaging, dioxins and food.

    Mr. Ryder
    My Ministry's food science laboratory has just completed its preliminary research into the migration of dioxins from food packaging material and the results are now being evaluated.

    Pests
    Mr. Ron Davies
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service research and development report, "Mammal and Bird Pests, 1985."

    Mr. Ryder
    The 1985 ADAS research and development report on mammal and bird pests is on pages 67–76 of the 1985 research and development report of ADAS. I am arranging for copies to be deposited in the Library as soon as possible.

    Hens' Eggs (Imports)
    Mr. Ron Davies
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of import of hens' eggs; and if he will identify the main source of such imports by country and volume.

    Mr. Donald Thompson
    The latest monthly data from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise show that 39,910 boxes of hens' eggs (containing 360 eggs per box) were imported into the United Kingdom in January 1989. Of these 23,733 boxes came from the Netherlands, 7,478 boxes from the Federal Republic of Germany, 4,542 boxes from Denmark and 2,700 boxes from France.

    Food Irradiation
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans Her Majesty's Government have (i) to allow to be sold and (ii) to require labelling for consumers, foods and food ingredients which have been treated with ionising radiation: and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Ryder
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 21 February at column 600.

    Civil Servants (EC)
    Mr. Cryer
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of civil servants in his Ministry whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

    Mr. Donald Thompson
    The work undertaken by my Department as a consequence of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Community cannot easily be distinguished from other work. It is not possible, therefore, to give precise information on the number of staff whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the EC. However, we estimate that between one quarter and one third of the Department's manpower, including common service and support staff, are concerned directly or indirectly with duties arising out of EC membership. At 31 January 1989 this amounted approximately to between 2,500 amd 3,400 staff.

    The gross cost of travel and subsistence by Ministers and officials attending meetings of institutions of the European Community in 1987–88, the latest financial year for which figures are available, was:

    £

    Travel and allied charges

    480,058

    Subsistence

    291,313

    771,371

    The bulk of travel costs is recoverable from Community funds. it is not possible to identify costs relating specifically to meetings held in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, or those on EC matters not held under the auspices of the Community.

    The 950 staff of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce are entirely engaged on work related to the European Community. The gross cost in 1987–88 of foreign travel and subsistence, almost all of which relates to meetings of institutions of the European Community, was £42,612.

    Tuberculosis (Deer)
    Sir John Farr
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he will introduce a scheme to make tuberculosis a notifiable disease so far as farmed deer are concerned;

    (2) when he expects to be able to announce details of a scheme providing for the notification, compulsory slaughter, and full cash compensation for farmed deer infected with tuberculosis.

    Mr. Donald Thompson
    I intend to introduce measures shortly to make TB in deer a notifiable disease. The question of a compulsory slaughter with compensation scheme is being considered in the light of the response to the recent consultation letter seeking views on the possibility of an industry-funded arrangement.

    Internal Drainage Boards
    Dr. Cunningham
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names of those internal drainage boards which are not covered by the
    251
    constitutional and electoral arrangements contained in schedule 2 to the Land Drainage Act 1976, by virtue of the fact that they were constituted before 1930; and what steps have been taken to apply schedule 2 electoral arrangements to these boards.

    Mr. Ryder
    The following internal drainage boards are not considered to be covered by the constitutional and electoral arrangements in schedule 2 to the Land Drainage Act 1976:

    Othery, Middlezoy and Westonzoyland

    Lower Axe

    Lower Brue

    Stockland

    Upper Axe

    Upper Brue

    West Sedgemoor

    Bridgwater and Pawlett

    Cannington and Wembdon

    King Sedgemoor and Carey Valley

    Langport

    Information was last provided in 1985. Since then, one internal drainage board has been abolished and another, Wilberfoss and Thornton Level, is currently being reconstituted.

    Dairy Quotas
    Mr. Barry Field
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to amend the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1986.

    Mr. Donald Thompson
    My right hon. Friend, the Minister, laid before Parliament on 10 March the Dairy Produce Regulations 1989, which replace similar regulations made in 1986 and amended in 1988 and earlier this year.

    The new regulations introduce changes to the quota transfer rules, including new procedures for the appointment of arbitrators in cases of dispute. They take into account changes in European Community legislation which affect the calculation of liability to supplementary levy. A number of redundant provisions, most of them relating to the allocations of new quota rights, have not been re-enacted. Other changes have been made to clarify the meaning of certain provisions in the light of experience.

    Cook-chill Food
    Mr. Thurnham
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on the marketing of cooked-chilled food; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Kenneth Clarke
    I have been asked to reply.

    My Department has received various representations on the marketing of cook-chill foods and, as I told the House on 21 February at columns 873–74, we are considering the making of regulations.

  EMPLOYMENT

    Skills Shortage
    Mr Andrew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what long-term plans he has to counteract the skills shortage in the south east of England.
    252
    Mr. Nicholls
    The steps taken by the Government to tackle skills shortage in all regions are set out in the training section of the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" published in December.

    Training Places (Ardrossan-Saltcoats)
    Mr. Wilson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment training places were allocated to the Ardrossan-Saltcoats area; how many have been filled; and if any change in the number of allocated places is proposed.

    Mr. Nicholls
    The information requested is not available in the form requested. In the Training Agency's Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway area office, of which the Ardrossan-Saltcoats area forms a part, there are currently 4,088 places available. Of these 2,526 were filled at 3 March. After just six months this is a very satisfactory take-up of employment training by unemployed people who are clearly attracted to a high quality programme. There are no plans to reduce the number of places in the Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway area.

    National Dock Labour Scheme
    Mr. Squire
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will bring forward proposals to repeal those provisions of the national dock labour scheme which provide for registered port employers to be fined or imprisoned unless they use registered dock labour on cargo-handling work.

    Mr. Nicholls
    The Government's position on the scheme remains unchanged, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister confirmed in the House on 19 January 1989,Official Report, columns 481–82.

    Over-50s (Employment)
    Mr. Barry Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the employment of workers, aged over 50 years by British industry; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls
    My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so, but I am arranging to meet the appropriate CBI employer panel in the near future to discuss the issue of employment of older workers. It is both irresponsible and unfair to discriminate without justification on grounds of age. I am encouraged that the Confederation of British Industry is seeking to draw to all employers' attention the implications of current demographic trends, and in particular the decline in numbers of young people.

    Job Clubs, Bristol
    Mr. Stern
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to encourage the introduction of more job clubs in the Bristol travel-to-work area.

    Mr. Lee
    As announced in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 27 January 1989,Official Report, column 810, the job club network is being streamlined to take account of the present unemployment picture. The employment service is currently assessing the

    253
    number of job clubs needed in the Bristol travel-to-work area and a decision is expected soon. More effective use of existing facilities, rather than additional job clubs, will be a key feature of the assessment. However, it is planned to substantially increase the number of participants in job clubs in the Avon area from around 1,300 members in 1988–89 to around 2,500 in 1989–90.

    Child Care Facilities
    Ms. Richardson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of his projection in the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", that home working is likely to increase, what child care provision he is anticipating to cater for the needs of homeworkers with children in the under-fives age group.

    Mr. Nicholls
    Questions relating to day care provision for the under-fives are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

    Tourism
    Mr. Gregory
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to publish the report commissioned from P A Management Consultants on tourism in England and the role of the British Tourist Authority; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee
    There are no plans to publish the report, which is still under consideration. An announcement will be made in due course.

    Public Service Broadcasts
    Mr. Andrew Bowden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make make a statement on the likely implications on public service broadcasts emanating from his Department of the White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition Choice and Quality."

    Mr. Cope
    There is no reason to suppose that the proposals in the White Paper will alter the present arrangements whereby public service messages are broadcast by the BBC. It will be for the new channel 3 and 5 licensees to consider whether they will broadcast such messages. The arrangements for paid Government advertising on television and commercial radio will not be affected by the proposals.

    Deaf-blind People
    Mr. Ashley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to find suitable jobs which can be carried out by deaf-blind people.

    Mr. Lee
    Deaf-blind people have access to the full range of employment and training services provided by or through my Department, including the specialist services for people with disabilities. These include specialist assessment rehabilitation and placing provision for people with visual handicaps, training within employment training tailored to individual need, the special aids to employment scheme (which makes available the wide range of technical aids relevant to the needs of people with visual or hearing impairments), and the sheltered employment programme, which subsidises the employment of people with severe disabilities in sheltered workshops or in sheltered placements with employers.

  Civil Servants (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

  Mr. Cope
  The number of civil servants in my Department whose main task is work wholly or mainly related to the European Economic Community is 33, including clerical and secretarial staff. Of these, 24 staff are concerned with the administration of United Kingdom applications for grants from the European social fund. The gross annual cost in the year to 10 March 1989 of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work is £14,233.

  Textile Industry (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people employed in the West Yorkshire wool textile industry for each year from 1975 to 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information from censuses of employment is given in the table. Because of changes in the standard industrial classification and in the compilation of county data, the most recent September 1989 and 1984 estimates are not strictly comparable with those for earlier years. More up-to-date estimates from the September 1987 census of employment will become available later this year.

  Employees in employment in the woollen and worsted industry in west Yorkshire

  Thousand

  June1

  1975

  59·4

  1976

  54·8

  1977

  54·7

  1978

  52·2

  September2

  32·8

  1984

  25·6

  1 Jobcentre based information: 1968 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), Minimum List Heading 414.

  2 Ward based information (ward boundaries as at September 1981): 1980 SIC, Activity Heading 4310.

  Note: Jobcentre and ward based aggregates are not strictly comparable. The former are based on an amalgamation of jobcentre areas, which may not be coterminous with the county boundary. There are also differences in the industry classification, 1968 SIC differs from the 1980 SIC, for instance, in including the manufacturing of pressed and woven felt and baize.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total fees paid out by his Department to management consultants in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for the current year.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: Expenditure in the Department of Employment group, including the Training Agency and the employment service, in each year from 1984–85 to 1987–88 on management consultancy was as follows:

  255

  £ thousands

  1984–85

  365

  1985–86

  365

  1986–87

  1,032

  1987–88

  653

  The estimate outturn for the current year (1988–89) is around £950,000.

  Information for the period from 1979–80 to 1983–84 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Earnings
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what percentage, of full-time female workers in Derbyshire earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the figures for the latest available year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Ruthergen (Mr. McAvoy) on 8 March 1989 at columns 569–70.

  Statistical Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Manpower Services Commission; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1989–90;

  (2) if he will give the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1989–90.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: Staff of what was the Manpower Services Commission are now in the Training Agency and employment service of my Department. The information requested on staff presently employed is given in the table. The staffing levels for 1989–90 are not expected to be significantly different from current levels.

  Department of Employment—Staff in Statistical Divisions

  Grade

  Staff complement

  Staff-in-post January 1989

  Statistical Grades

  Head of Statistics

  1·0

  1·0

  Chief Statistician

  5·0

  5·0

  Statistician

  27·8

  27·6

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  11·0

  11·0

  Assistant Statistician

  11·0

  11·0

  Total Statistical Grades

  55·8

  55·6

  Administrative Grades

  Grade 6

  1·0

  1·0

  Grade 7

  2·0

  2·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  10·0

  10·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  27·9

  27·5

  Executive Officer

  65·5

  63·0

  256

  Grade

  Staff complement

  Staff-in-post January 1989

  Administrative Officer

  122·8

  110·6

  Administrative Assistant

  45·8

  26·7

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1·0

  1·0

  Personal Secretary

  6·0

  6·0

  Total Administrative Grades

  282·0

  247·8

  Other Staff

  Economist

  2·0

  2·0

  Senior Economic Assistant

  3·0

  3·0

  Economic Assistant

  1·0

  —

  Senior Research Officer

  3·0

  2·0

  Assistant Librarian

  1·0

  1·0

  Total Other Grades

  10·0

  8·0

  Total All Posts

  337·8

  303·4

  Employment Training
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) dated 17 January,Official Report, column 172, information on the numbers in employment training schemes in inner city areas has yet been made available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of people on employment training at 3 March was 164,000; of these, 42 per cent. or about 70,000 were in training in inner city areas.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what his Department treats as a reasonable amount for trainees on an ET scheme to spend on weekly travel from their home to their place of training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 10 March 1989]: ET trainees are expected to meet the first £5 of their weekly travel costs. Costs in excess of £5 a week are reimbursed in full.

ENERGY

  Ministerial Statements
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to be answerable in Parliament for statements made outside Parliament by Ministers in his Department on matters for which his Department has responsibility.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Ministers in charge of Departments are answerable to Parliament for statements made by Ministers in their Departments on matters for which they have responsibility.

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the likely implications on public service broadcasts emanating from his Department of the White Paper "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition Choice arid Quality".

  Mr. Parkinson
  There is no reason to suppose that the proposals in the White Paper will alter the present arrangements whereby public service messages are broadcast by the BBC. It will be for the new Channel 3 and
  257
  5 licensees to consider whether they will broadcast such messages. The arrangements for paid Government advertising on television will not be affected by the proposals.

  Civil Servants (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

  Mr. Parkinson
  There are 12 civil servants engaged wholly or mainly on EEC work and the cost of travel and subsistence for 1988 was about £6,000, most of which is reimbursed by the Commission.

  Dungeness B
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of constructing Dungeness B power station; what is its percentage of availability for each year since completion; what is the total amount spent on maintenance and repairs since completion; and what is the current availability of the station.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is an operational matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Reactor Welds (Bradwell)
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will call for a report from Her Majesty's chief inspector of nuclear installations on his decision with respect to the use of ultrasonic methods to inspect reactor welds at Bradwell nuclear power station.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Inspections of the pressure circuit are part of the normal examinations carried out at each regular biennial inspection as required under the site licence. The Health and Safety Executive has accepted the Central Electricity Generating Board's proposal for a combination of ultrasonic and visual inspections as part of the programme of work during the shutdown of Bradwell for its biennial inspection.

  The nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive will review the results of the inspections as they proceed. The nuclear installations inspectorate's consent will be required before the reactor can be restarted.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last had discussions with Sir Bryan Nicholson of the Post Office; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Forth
  I meet the Post Office chairman regularly, and last did so on 1 March. We discussed a range of matters of current interest.

  Mobile Telecommunications
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the potential for expansion in the market for mobile telecommunications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  We see considerable potential. My announcement to the House on 26 January about personal telecommunications set out the steps we are taking to enable that potential to be realised.

  Car Batteries
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on import penetration of car batteries.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information on car batteries alone is not available. For automotive batteries in total, it is estimated that in the first three quarters of 1988, import penetration was approximately 30 per cent.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many businesses have participated in the Government's enterprise initiative scheme.

  Mr. Forth
  I am pleased to say that over 85,000 firms have "taken the initiative" by seeking detailed information about the self-help package of assistance available under the enterprise initiative.

  Inner City Task Forces
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the leaders of the inner city task forces; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Newton
  I last met task force leaders as a group at their half-yearly meeting in Liverpool on Friday 9 December. Our discussions ranged over a variety of matters, including the importance of developing the capacity of local groups and community organisations to build on task forces' work after the departure of the task forces themselves. I have subsequently met on other occasions the task force leaders in Preston, Rochdale, Doncaster, Hartlepool, Leeds and Middlesbrough.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest round of the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Waller) on 12 December at column 400.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if it remains the negotiating position of the European Economic Community, after the breakdown of the mid-term review of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, Uruguay round, that the principal of selectivity should be introduced into article XIX of the general agreement on tariffs and trade.
  259
  Mr. Forth
  The European Community is committed to seeking an improved safeguards clause under article XIX of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, which would permit effective action to be taken subject to agreed tests and disciplines. We consider this will help strengthen the general agreement on tariffs and trade and may facilitate the process of trade liberalisation by providing a more reliable "safety-valve". One of the key issues in the negotiations will be whether safeguard action can be taken selectively. It is the Community's view that this possibility exists. However the Community has not expressed a firm position on this issue in the current multi-lateral trade negotiations, believing it to be important that all options should remain open for discussion at this stage of the negotiations if a comprehensive solution is to be found.

  Electrical Goods
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current balance of trade position in electronics and electrical goods.

  Mr. Forth
  In 1988, exports of electronic and electrical goods amounted to £11·4 billion while imports were £15·3 billion, leaving a crude trade deficit of £3·9 billion.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what study his Department has conducted into the number of people buying hearing aids privately.

  Mr. Forth
  None. Such surveys are not carried out by this Department but I understand that the number of hearing aids privately dispensed each year is approximately 80,000.

  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations he has received concerning the conduct of private hearing aid dispensers.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department has received three representations concerning the conduct of private hearing aid dispensers in the last year.

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will initiate an inquiry into the causes of the size of the United Kingdom's trade deficit with the European Economic Community in relation to that of the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which European Economic Community members Britain's trade is in deficit.

  Mr. Newton
  In the 12 months to January the United Kingdom was in deficit on visible trade with Belgium/Luxembourg, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.

  Single Market
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received about preparations for the single market in 1992; and if he will make a statement.
  260
  Mr. Forth
  We constantly receive an encouragingly high number of representations from all sectors of British business. All have warmly welcomed the continuing high priority which the Government are giving to completing the single market and the steps that we are taking to encourage British business to take action to prepare for the challenge ahead.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent estimate his Department has made of the effects of 1992 on the manufacturing sector.

  Mr. Atkins
  The single European market will present opportunities and challenges for a wide range of United Kingdom business sectors. Realising the potential gains to any one sector of the economy will depend on the flexibility of United Kingdom firms in that sector in responding to the removal of the barriers.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent estimates his Department have made on the effects of 1992 on Britain's regions.

  Mr. Atkins
  The completion of the single market means greater freedom of trade, and many studies have demonstrated the benefits of that. The single market will bring opportunities for business in all parts of the country. We are seeking to ensure that business in every region takes the necessary action to respond effectively to the opportunities and challenges ahead.

  Overseas Assets
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current net value of British companies' overseas assets.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest available estimate relates to the end of 1987. The book value of direct investment abroad by United Kingdom companies at the end of 1987 was estimated to be £91 billion. The book value of foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom was estimated to be £53 billion and the net book value of overseas direct investment at the end of 1987 was estimated to be £38 billion.

  Copyright
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the Government's plans to ensure that the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 are riot vitiated by the European Economic Community in legislation arising out of the European Economic Community Commission's Green Paper "Copyright and the Challenge of New Technology."

  Mr. Forth
  The provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 were adopted after careful consideration with all affected parties. Consultations are continuing on matters arising from the Commission's Green Paper. We shall therefore be well placed to represent the interests of the United Kingdom in negotiations on any proposals for Community legislation in this area.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made towards
  261
  obtaining reimbursement for those affected by the British-based and Gibraltar-based elements of the Barlow Clowes organisation; what initiatives have been taken by his Department in the last six months; what initiatives he will now take to seek a speedier resolution of outstanding problems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  On the matter of reimbursement for investors in Barlow Clowes, I understand that an interim payment of 75p in the pound was made to a minority of investors in the United Kingdom fund (Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers) before Christmas. The remaining investors in the United Kingdom fund received an interim payment of 25p in the pound in January. The position for investors in the Gibraltar fund (Barlow Clowes International) is not as promising but I understand that the liquidators hope to make a small interim payment to those investors as soon as possible this year.

  Developments have also been taking place on the roles played by some of the other parties involved in this case. My right hon. and noble Friend has invited a number of regulatory bodies to examine Sir Godfray Le Quesne's report and see whether there were matters for them to consider. The Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers' Regulatory Association has undertaken its own investigations and recommended that disciplinary action be taken against 19 of its members involved with the case, of which three have been suspended. Those suspended are the Investments and Pensions Advisory Service Ltd. and D. C. Wilson and Gordon Pettie Advisory Services. The Investments and Pensions Advisory Service is in liquidation following a winding up petition by the Securities and Investments board and D. C. Wilson has gone into voluntary liquidation.

  On 4 January the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales announced that a committee of inquiry was being set up under the joint disciplinary scheme to look into the role of the auditors involved in this case.

  The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration is looking into complaints that he has received about the handling of the Barlow Clowes case by my Department. The timing of the Commissioner's work is a matter for him, but my Department is co-operating with him and we shall consider carefully any report that he may make.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest figure for the level of manufacturing investment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1988 manufacturing investment, including leased asset and at 1985 prices on the provisional estimate, amounted to £11 billion, nearly 10 per cent. higher than in 1987. In his Financial Statement and Budget Report, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer forecast further strong growth in business investment. This is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry's latest investment intentions survey and that conducted by the CBI.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects manufacturing investment to return to its 1979 level.

  Mr. Atkins
  Manufacturing investment in real terms in 1988 on the provisional estimate was close to its 1979 level 262
  and 10 per cent. higher than in 1987. In his Financial Statement and Budget Report, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer forecast further strong growth in business investment. This is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry's latest investment intentions survey and that conducted by the CBI.

  Trade Figures
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has held recent discussions with his European Economic Community counterparts in the Council of Ministers on problems associated with different trade figures in the United Kingdom and other member states and on comparative statistics and measurements in these various figures.

  Mr. Newton
  No. There will be discussions in the Council of Ministers later this year on a proposal for an EC Council regulation on the statistics of trading between member states after 1992. If my hon. Friend has a particular problem in mind perhaps he would write to me.

  1992 Campaign
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the achievements of his 1992 campaign.

  Mr. Forth
  Since the campaign was launched the DTI has handled around 200,000 requests for further information. Now over 90 per cent. of firms throughout the country recognise the significance of the single market challenge and around 50 per cent. of British business is taking action or considering steps to prepare for the single market.

  Cellular Radio
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department has taken to relieve congestion in the cellular radio network.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has already announced the extension of the availability of 400 radio channels, until now reserved for Ministry of Defence use save in central London, out to the area embraced by the M25 and five miles beyond.

  Hearing Aid Council
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last reviewed the Hearing Aid Council's code of practice.

  Mr. Forth
  The Hearing Aid Council Act does not require or permit the Secretary of State to review the council's code of practice. The Act requires the Secretary of State to approve the code proposed by the council and any amendments that it proposes to it. The Secretary of State can make his approval conditional upon certain modifications.

  Action for Cities
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many offers of assistance have resulted from the action for cities presentations.
  263
  Mr. Newton
  More than 400 of the firms represented at the seven action for cities working breakfasts held during 1988 expressed an interest in supporting the Government's inner city initiatives.

  CBI
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the Confederation of British Industry; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster last met the CBI on 24 November 1988 when he spoke at its conference on "Business Opportunities in Urban Regeneration".

  Imports
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Government have any proposals to reduce imports by stimulating greater United Kingdom production in specific sectors.

  Mr. Atkins
  Is it not for government to tell industry what to produce or how much. The greatest encouragement to buy British is the availability of competitive British goods and services. My Department's policies are geared to helping businesses achieve this.

  1992 Hotline
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many calls have been received to date by his Department's 1992 hotline.

  Mr. Forth
  Our 1992 hotline has received over 117,000 calls since it opened on 18 March 1988.

  Alnwick and Amble
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received about assistance from the United Kingdom or European funds for the Alnwick and Amble area.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received representations in favour of the Alnwick and Amble travel-to-work-area's claims to assistance from the Community's reformed structural funds. I had already put a case on behalf of the area to the European Commission. The Commission announced on 8 March its intention of designating Alnwick and Amble travel-to-work-area for assistance under the funds' new objective 2.

  EC Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the value of grants allocated to England from the European regional development fund since its inception.

  Mr. Atkins
  A total of £1,602 million.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of the cost to manufacturing industry of the rise in base rates since April 1988; and if he will make a statement.
  264
  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not available for manufacturing industry separately. The hon. Member should bear in mind, however, that a one percentage point increase in interest rates, even if sustained for a full year, costs companies far less than a one percentage point increase in pay settlements.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his latest estimate of the annual cost to industry of recent rises in interest rates.

  Mr. Atkins
  The cost to industrial and commercial companies in the year to date of the changes in bank base rates, compared with the cost if they had remained the same as a year ago, is estimated to be about £0·8 billion. The hon. Member should bear in mind, however, that a one percentage point increase in interest rates, even if sustained for a full year, costs companies far less than a one percentage point increase in pay settlements.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the effects of current interest rates on industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received a number of representations from business about the effects of interest rates on cash flow and investment. Investment intentions remain strong, however, and the representations show overwhelming support for firm action to curb inflation.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of how many jobs have been created by inward investment since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  According to the figures known to the Invest in Britain Bureau, since 1983 the following number of jobs have been created:

  Year

  Number

  1983

  15,546

  1984

  27,102

  1985

  26,331

  1986

  17,749

  1987

  21,301

  11988

  18,307

  1 For the first three quarters only.

  Industrial Research
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the current level of long-term industrial research being undertaken in the United Kingdom for which his Department has responsibility.

  Mr. Forth
  Statistics on expenditure on long term industrial research undertaken by United Kingdom industry are not available. However expenditure on basic research and applied research performed by United Kingdom industry was some £154 million and £1,100 million, respectively, in 1985. DTI expenditure on Frascati R and D for 1988–89, including support for industrial R and D, is estimated to be £274 million (excluding civil aviation launch aid). In line with the policy of moving away from support for near market industrial R and D, most of this expenditure will be on longer-term R and D.

  Overseas Companies
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many overseas companies set up operations in Britain in 1988.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) on 15 February at columns 245–46.

  Liquidations
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many companies went into liquidation during 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  There were 9,823 company insolvencies in Great Britain in 1988. This was about 17 per cent. lower than the corresponding figure of 11,895 in 1987.

  Trade Surpluses
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in which sectors of manufacturing Britain had a trade surplus in 1979; and in which Britain had a surplus in 1988.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1979 the United Kingdom had a crude trade surplus in manufacturing trade in the following classes of the standard industrial classification:

  Class 24

  Non-metallic mineral products

  Class 25

  Chemicals

  Class 26

  Man-made fibres

  Class 31

  Metal goods

  Class 32

  Mechanical engineering

  Class 34

  Electrical and electronic engineering

  Class 36

  Other transport equipment

  Class 48

  Processing of rubber and plastics

  In 1987, the last year for which data is available, industries with a trade surplus were:

  Class 24

  Non-metallic mineral products

  Class 25

  Chemicals

  Class 32

  Mechanical engineering

  Class 36

  Other transport equipment

  Company Liquidity
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his latest estimate of company liquidity; and when it was last lower.

  Mr. Forth
  The liquidity ratio for all large industrial and commercial companies is estimated by the Department's survey to be 76 per cent. at the end of the fourth quarter of 1988 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This is the lowest figure since the end of the third quarter of 1982.

  Consumers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to increase the rights of consumers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department plans any new initiatives in consumer protection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has plans to bring forward legislation affecting consumer rights.
  266
  Mr. Forth
  We plan to introduce regulations under part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (which came into force on 1 March) governing price indications at bureaux de change and the resale of electricity and gas by landlords. Proposals will shortly be made to implement two EC directives which require the selling and, where appropriate, the unit prices of foodstuffs and non-food products to be displayed.

  We intend to amend the law on the sale and supply of goods following the Law Commissions' report and plan to amend the Consumer Credit Act and related legislation as set out in the recent White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (CM512). We shall also introduce revised regulations on pyramid selling.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the principal consumer bodies; and what was the content of the discussions.

  Mr. Forth
  I visited the Welsh Consumer Council on 27 October 1988, the Consumers Association on 6 February 1989 and the National Consumer Council on 7 March 1989. On each occasion a number of current issues relevant to consumers were discussed. I also intend to visit the Scottish Consumer Council on 19 May.

  Over the past six months I have also met the chairman of the National Industry Consumer/Consultative Councils to discuss matters within their areas of interest.

  Regional Preferential Assistance
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the percentage change in real terms in regional preferential assistance since 1978–79.

  Mr. Atkins
  Expenditure in real terms on regional preferential assistance in Great Britain in 1987–88 was 56 per cent. lower than in 1978–79. Much of the reduction has arisen from steps taken to improve cost effectiveness in terms of creating jobs at a lower public expenditure cost.

  Civil Research and Development
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries the proportion of gross domestic product spent by Government on civil research and development has fallen since 1983.

  Mr. Forth
  Of the twenty OECD member countries showing figures for 1983 and 1986, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom recorded a fall in Government funding of civil research and development as a percentage of gross domestic product.

  Consumer Affairs
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next proposes to meet the European Commissioner with responsibility for consumer affairs; and what matters he will raise.

  Mr. Forth
  I hope to meet Commissioner Van Miert again at the Council of Consumer Ministers which is provisionally planned for 1 June. The Spanish Presidency have yet to finalise the agenda for the Council.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met his European Economic Community counterparts to discuss consumer protection; and what was the content of the discussions.

  Mr. Forth
  Neither my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster nor I, has yet had occasion to meet EC Community counterparts to discuss consumer protection. However, I have had general discussions on consumer issues with Commissioner Van Miert, and I hope to meet my Community colleagues at the Council of Consumer Ministers which the Spanish Presidency have provisionally planned for 1 June. I also hope to meet my French counterpart, Madame Neiertz, later this year for bilateral discussions.

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries are running a smaller trade deficit as a percentage of gross domestic product than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  OECD estimates for 1988 suggest that 12 countries ran deficits on their visible trade. In relation to their GDP, the following countries' deficits were smaller than that of the United Kingdom.

  Italy, France, Norway, Switzerland, the United States, Austria and Iceland.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if any changes are planned in the collection of trade statistics in preparation for 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21 February at column 546.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in which position Britain lies in an Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development league table for manufacturing productivity.

  Mr. Atkins
  No reliable comparison exists for absolute levels of productivity between different countries. But available figures do show that in the 1980s the United Kingdom has had the fastest rate of growth of manufacturing productivity of all the major industrialised countries.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects Britain to have a trade surplus in information technology.

  Mr. Forth
  I do not know what the pattern of trade in information technology will be in the years ahead. That is something which will be determined primarily by industry and commerce.

  Regional Policy
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he plans to announce any new initiatives to benefit Britain's regions.
  268
  Mr. Atkins
  An effective range of measures designed to encourage enterprise and economic growth in all parts of the country is available from DTI under the enterprise initiative, with higher levels of assistance available to firms in the assisted areas and urban programme areas. Finns in assisted areas also benefit from assistance under the regional initiative.

  Macdonald Report
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the Macdonald report on communications infrastructure.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has received a number of formal and informal comments on the communications steering group report "The Infrastructure for Tomorrow", sometimes referred to as the Macdonald report. The report was published in December as a contribution to the discussions on the United Kingdom's communications infrastructure needs.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received from industry on matters affecting competitiveness.

  Mr. Atkins
  Most contacts which my Department has with industry and commerce involve matters having a bearing on United Kingdom competitiveness.

  Hardwood Imports
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he proposes to take to prohibit imports of hardwoods obtained from rain forests.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The subject is one of considerable and growing concern and I have had valuable and constructive discussions with Dr. Freezdilah, executive director of the International Tropical Timber Organisation, and emphasised to him that further measures, on a Community-wide basis, can not be excluded indefinitely if no progress is evident in the general field of conservation.

  Butane Gas Sales
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many retailers have been sent(a) his Department's guidance pack on the law in respect of the sale of butane gas canisters to minors and (b) his Department's warning notices on bulk packs of gas refills; what proportion of retailers selling these items this represents; and what response he has had on this matter.

  Mr. Forth
  The guidance packs for retailers, which give advice on how to recognise sniffers and refuse to sell solvent-based products to them, are funded by the Government and distributed by Re-Solv, the anti-solvent abuse charity, through trading standards departments of local authorities, and through the police. The intention is that all retailers should have a copy. There are some 290,000 retail establishments in the United Kingdom, and 300,000 guidance packs have been produced. Re-Solv has also devised a warning notice to retailers, for suppliers to put in bulk packs of butane lighter refills, and my Department has written to all known suppliers asking them to use them. The cost to suppliers is £9 per 1,000 notices.

  M.F.B. Russell and Co. Ltd.
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what documents relating to M. F. B. Russell and Co. Ltd. are currently in his safe-keeping.

  Mr. Atkins
  Following the making of a winding-up order against M. B. P. Russell and Co. Ltd. by the court the official receiver, who is an officer of my Department and of the court, recovered certain of the company's books and papers. Persons required under section 131 of the Insolvency Act 1986 to make out and submit a statement of the company's affairs may have access to these by arrangement and they may be inspected by creditors and contributories pursuant to a court order under section 155 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Bananas
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the quantity of bananas imported in the most recent year for which figures are available into Britain from the Windward Isles; and what information he has on the percentage this is of the total banana exports of the Windward Isles.

  Mr. Forth
  The United Kingdom imported 128·7 thousand tonnes of fresh bananas originating from the Windward Isles in 1987. Information is not available on the percentage of total banana exports from the Windward Isles which this represents.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from which countries bananas are imported into Britain; and if he will make a statement about banana imports after 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  In 1987, imports of fresh bananas originating from Jamaica, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Belize and Surinam accounted for over 70 per cent. of United Kingdom total imports. A list showing all countries from which the United Kingdom imported bananas has been placed in the Library.

  Projections of trade levels are not available.

  Regional Development Organisation
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what level of financial support he is offering to the Regional Development Organisation in England for 1989–90.

  Mr. Newton
  I have offered the five English regional development organisations £3·005 million in grant aid for their inward investment promotion activities for 1989–90, over £214,700 more than in 1988–89. I have allocated the grant aid as follows:

  Up to £

  Northern Development Company (in the North East)

  981,750

  Yorkshire and Humberside Development Association

  660,000

  INWARD Ltd. (in the North West)

  541,000

  West Midlands Industrial Development Association

  400,000

  Devon and Cornwall Development Bureau

  422,000

  In addition the Northern Development Company has also been offered grant aid of up to £200,000 for its wider activities aimed at the regeneration of the region.

  Rolls-Royce
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when his Department expects to make an announcement about Rolls-Royce's launch aid applications.

  Mr. Atkins
  After extensive discussions with my Department Rolls-Royce has decided to withdraw its application for launch aid for the development of the RB211–524J and 524L engines. The company considers that it will be able to finance the development from its own financial resources and from contributions from risk and revenue sharing partners. I wish the company every success with the launch of these engines.

  Industry Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Industry Council held on 6 March.

  Mr. Newton
  The Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, agreed a common position on the financing of steel social measures and considered the use of the ECU in ECSC matters. The Commission made a statement on the restructuring of the Italian steel industry.

  The Council also agreed a new SPRINT programme for technology transfer, and discussed the further promotion of European standards for high definition television (HDTV). Informal discussion also took place on the Communities shipbuilding and textile industries, and on small and medium sized enterprises.

  Self-Employed Commercial Agents
  Dr. Blackburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement regarding the implementation of the European Community directive on self-employed commercial agents.

  Mr. Atkins
  Our present intention is that the directive should be implemented by regulations under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. The regulations do not need to come into force before 1 January 1994 and will not be made before 1992.

  Where the directive allows member states discretion our present conclusions in the light of consultations are as follows:

  (a) Agents will be entitled to commission where they have an exclusive right to a specific geographical area or group of customers.

  (b) On the termination of an agency contract, the agent will be entitled to compensation for damage in line with United Kingdom practice and not an "indemnity".

  (c) The regulations will exclude from their scope those for whom acting as a commercial agent is a secondary business activity or for whom it is the sole business activity but still a secondary pursuit.

  (d) There will be no requirement for agency contracts to be recorded in writing except where one party to the contract requests it.

  (e) The maximum period of notice will be three months for a contract that has run three years or more.

  (f) The principal will be required to notify the agent concerned within a reasonable period of his acceptance, refusal or non execution of a transaction, and also that goods have been delivered to the customer.

  Nearer the time of making the implementing regulations, there will be further consultation as appropriate on the details.

  British Film Fund Agency
  Dr. Blackburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what sum of money was passed to the Secretary of State on dissolution of British Film Fund Agency; and to what purpose the money will be used.

  Mr. Atkins
  The residual moneys amounted to £6,377·27. This sum is being passed to the National Film and Television school for investment in a loan scheme designed to support the development of commercial film projects by recent graduates of the school.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the value to the north-west of England's economy of the aerospace industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  The gross value added (at factor cost) by the aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing industry in the north west (standard region) as at 1986 was £693·3 million.

  Credit Brokers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to change the scope of the consumer credit licensing requirements contained in the Consumer Credit Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) on 26 October 1988 at column 299.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what has been the average annual cost of administering the licence system for credit brokers for each of the past five years for which figures are available; how many licences have been issued in each of those years; and what proportion of the cost has been borne by applicants for such licences;

  (2) how many licences for credit brokers have been (a) refused and (b) revoked during each of the past five years for which figures are available; and what is the current charge to an applicant for a licence to trade as a credit broker.

  Mr. Atkins
  The day-to-day operation of the consumer credit licensing system is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading and I shall ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Balance of Trade (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current balance of trade in textiles(a) as a whole and (b) with other European Economic Community countries.

  Mr. Atkins
  The crude balance of trade in textiles (defined by standard international trade classification, revision 3, division 65) for 1988, shows deficits of £1,700 million for total trade and of £1,340 million with the EEC.

  Gas
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,272
  Official Report, column 190, if he has estimated how long it will be before effective competition is introduced into the gas supply market in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: Implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's recommendations will encourage the development of competition in gas supply. In addition the MMC recommended that, towards the end of the five years initial period for the price schedule, the Director General should review its continued appropriateness taking into account the extent to which effective competition has by then emerged, or is likely to emerge, in the supply of gas in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 190, if he will make a statement about the effect that the action taken, following the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on gas prices, will have in the short and medium term upon the overall price of firm gas charged by British Gas to large industrial consumers.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: It will lead to similar customers being charged at the same rate In the short term, this may mean a reduction in price for some, an increase in price for others. In the medium term, there should be a reduction in the average price paid.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to which markets large industrial users of firm gas operate in(a) Europe and (b) the world, other than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: I do not have information on export markets categorised according to their suppliers' energy use.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he accepts the conclusion of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission that high United Kingdom gas prices are a cause for real concern, Cm. 500, paragraph 8.24; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: We have made clear that we accept the conclusion of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission that British Gas's pricing policy has operated against the public interest in various ways including higher charges for those customers less well-placed to use alternative fuels or to obtain alternative fuels on favourable terms. Therefore we have acted on the MMC's recommendation on British Gas's pricing and contract policies in the supply of gas to large users.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make a statement about the conclusion of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, Cm. 500, paragraph 8.23, that British Gas prices for firm gas are up to 80 per cent. higher than elsewhere in the European Community; and in what way the action taken will remove such a price differential in the short or medium term;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the conclusion of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission that since the latter part of 1985 prices for fine gas have fallen by 12 per cent. in the United Kingdom compared to between 30 per

  273
  cent. and 48 per cent. in other European Community countries, Cm. 500, paragraph 8.22; and in what way the action taken will prevent such price reduction differential reccurring in the short or medium term.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: The Secretary of State welcomed the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and initiated action to implement its specific recommendations on pricing and contract conditions. These will bring transparency to gas prices for large users in the United Kingdom and thus encourage the development of competition in gas supply. With regard to other European Community countries, the European Commission is proposing legal action to require greater transparency in energy pricing, particularly for large industrial users.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 190, what information he has as to whether British Gas supplies firm gas to large industrial consumers in the United Kingdom on terms which are more or less favourable than those available to similar consumers in the other main gas consuming countries of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement about the effect that the action taken will have in the short and medium term upon such terms.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: I refer my hon. Friend to tables 4 to 6 of the OFGAS study "The
  274
  EEC Industrial Gas Market". The immediate effect of the action taken will be to ensure the same price for large users with similar consumption in the United Kingdom as is the case in most of the main gas consuming countries of the European Community. In the medium term, there should be a reduction in the average price paid by large users in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, (1) pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 190, what information he has as to whether British Gas pricing policies in relation to firm gas have distorted competition since the latter part of 1985 between major industrial consumers in the United Kingdom on the one hand and those operating in the other main gas consuming countries of the European Economic Community on the other hand; and with what effect;

  (2) whether he has received any evidence that the difference in price for firm gas between the United Kingdom and the other main gas consuming countries of the European Economic Community has had an adverse effect on the competitiveness of United Kingdom companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: I refer my hon. Friend to the results of the survey of British Gas contract customers given in appendix 5.2 of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on Gas (CM 500).

  SHARE OWNERSHIP
  SHARE OWNERSHIP
  ECOFIN COUNCIL MEETING, 13th MARCH
  ECOFIN COUNCIL MEETING, 13th MARCH
  MERCHANT AND TRADING FLEET STATISTICS
  MERCHANT AND TRADING FLEET STATISTICS
  BRITISH FILM FUND AGENCY: RESIDUAL MONEYS
  BRITISH FILM FUND AGENCY: RESIDUAL MONEYS
  TENANTS' CHOICE SCHEME:IMPLEMENTATION
  TENANTS' CHOICE SCHEME:IMPLEMENTATION
  ROLLS-ROYCE: LAUNCH AID APPLICATION
  ROLLS-ROYCE: LAUNCH AID APPLICATION
  SALMONELLA IN QUAILS' EGGS
  SALMONELLA IN QUAILS' EGGS
  PRISON DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM
  PRISON DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM
  PIPER ALPHA RIG: INSURANCE CLAIM
  PIPER ALPHA RIG: INSURANCE CLAIM