Written Answers of 22 March 1989

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Scotland (Taxation)
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his best estimate on the most recent information available as to the annual amount of direct and indirect taxation raised in Scotland; and what is the annual total of central Government and local government expenditure there for a similar period.

  Mr. Major
  For the latest information on identifiable Scottish public expenditure I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis) on 25 October 1988 at columns 120–29.The latest available information on income tax in Scotland for 1986–87 amounts to £3,250 million. In the same year national insurance contributions are estimated to have amounted to £2,121 million, and local authority rates (excluding water rates) paid in Scotland totalled £1,653 million. Figures for remaining major elements of direct taxation and for indirect taxation are not collected on a regional basis.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the real take-home pay of a married man with two children on half average male earnings from 1978–79 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Real take-home pay for a married man with two children on half average earnings is 23 per cent. higher in 1988–89 than in 1978–79.

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the personal allowance for a married man would be if it had been increased in line with earnings in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the personal allowance for a married man would be now if increased in line with earnings in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  If personal allowances had been increased in line with the growth in male average earnings since 1978–79, the married man's allowance would be £4,525 in 1989–90.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will visit the Nottingham, North constituency to explain the consequences of his Budget.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit the Nottingham, North constituency.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the community charge is to be liable to value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The community charge will not be subject to value added tax.

  Pensions
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those areas of public employment for which there is no funded pension scheme; if he will tabulate the liabilities of current funding by category, type, Ministry and any other appropriate description; and if he will list those industries that have been privatised whose employees now have a funded pension scheme.

  Mr. Brooke
  The majority of public service schemes —Civil Service, armed forces, judiciary, fire, police—are unfunded and financed on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, although two—the National Health Service and the teachers—are "notionally funded" (that is, in his periodic valuations the Government Actuary creates a notional fund, and calculates whether this is in balance, in surplus, or in deficit). Only the local government superannuation scheme and the parliamentary pension scheme are fully funded, although a number of small non-departmental public bodies (for example, Medical Research Council) also have funded schemes.

  The local government superannuation scheme in England and Wales comprises 88 separate funds which are valued by an actuary every five years (three years from 1 April this year). Copies of these valuation reports, which contain estimates of the liabilities, are sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment. The information is not collated centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. In the case of the parliamentary scheme, the liabilities are set out in the Government Actuary's report (House of Commons paper No.13) based on a valuation at 1 April 1984 and laid before the House in 1986.

  Private pension scheme arrangements are a matter for the individual company. However, the principal privatised industries—British Gas, British Telecom, British Airways —had funded schemes before privatisation as well as after.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  Interest rates are set at an appropriate level to maintain downward pressure on inflation.

  Invisible Trade Balance
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact payments to the EEC had on the invisible trade balance in(a) December 1988 and (b) 1988 as a whole.

  Mr. Moore
  Invisible trade figures are collected only on a quarterly basis. In the fourth quarter of 1988 the invisible trade balance showed a surplus of £821 million after unusually high net payments to the EEC of £840 million. For 1988 as a whole, net payments to the EEC were £1,442 million and invisible trade recorded a surplus of £5,892 million.

  Unitary Tax
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to implement section 812 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; and if he will make a statement on unitary tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Some two years ago Her Majesty's Government announced that they were prepared to defer initiating action under what is now section 812 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (previously section 54 of the Finance Act 1985) in recognition of the progress that had been made towards resolving the unitary tax issue. The Government further made it clear that if it became necessary to take action after 31 December 1988, it would not apply to dividends paid on or before that date.

  The Government believe that progress has been made in the last two years but that problems remain, in particular the election fee which companies have to pay in order not to be subject to worldwide unitary tax. It proposes to review the situation jointly with the United States Treasury later this year. If it became necessary to take action on or after 31 December 1989 this would not apply to dividends paid on or before that date.

  Crown Premises
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contributions will be made in lieu of community charges in respect of Crown premises or persons resident in them.

  Mr. Major
  There are two circumstances in which contributions will be made in lieu of community charges in respect of Crown premises or persons resident in them.

  First, persons who are resident in Crown property which is designated by the Secretary of State will be exempt from the personal community charge and, in Scotland, the personal community water charge. A contribution in lieu of those charges will be made to the local authority by the relevant Government Department or Crown body, which will recover those charges from the residents concerned.

  Second, any contribution in lieu of the standard community charge and, in Scotland, the standard community water charge which would otherwise be payable in respect of premises which are occupied by a Government Department or other Crown body will be made to the local authority by the Government Department or Crown body occupying those premises.

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Finance Bill will be published.

  Mr. Major
  The Finance Bill will be published on Thursday 13 April.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of the average private medical insurance policy with comprehensive cover for(a) a pensioner aged over 60 years, (b) a pensioner aged over 70 years and (c) a pensioner aged over 80 years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 March 1989]: Information broken down in this way is not available.
  588
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make available the estimates used in his calculation of £40 million tax relief for 1989–90 for the private medical insurance premium for the average pensioner;

  (2) what is his estimate of the average premium paid for private medical insurance by those aged over 60 years who currently hold private medical insurance policies;

  (3) what is his estimate of the proportion of the £40 million set aside for tax relief for private medical insurance that will go to top-rate taxpayers.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 March 1989]: Tax relief on private medical insurance for the over-60s will not be available until 1990–91, when about 330,000 tax units (single people and married couples) aged 60 or above are expected to qualify for tax relief on medical insurance. The average subscription per tax unit is estimated to be about £400. Around one half of the cost of relief is expected to be received by higher-rate taxpayers.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of private medical insurance tax relief if(a) 1 million (b) 1·2 million (c) 1·5 million and (d) 2 million qualify for tax relief.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 March 1989]: The cost of relief at the various levels of take-up specified would depend on the type of policies taken out and the marginal tax rate of the payers of the premiums. These would be likely to vary with the level of take-up.

  Schedule E
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the numbers of taxpayers who will be affected by his proposals to simplify the assessment of earnings under schedule E; and what proportion are on a marginal rate of 40 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 March 1989]: It is estimated that around half a million taxpayers—mainly directors—will be affected by these proposals and that about 40 per cent. will be higher-rate taxpayers.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the transitional arrangements will be applied to those making a new investment in personal equity plans before 5 April.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: The transitional arrangements for PEPs are contained in the personal equity plan regulations 1989 laid before Parliament on 14 March. Plan managers will be able, if they wish, to operate on the basis of the improved provisions announced in the Budget from 6 April 1989, but where plan managers are unable to adapt their systems to apply the improvements by that time, they have until 31 December 1989 to do so. The new requirement that investment and unit trusts must have 75 per cent. of their investments in United Kingdom equities does not apply until 6 April 1990.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year from 1984–85 the cost of Central Office of Information services recovered from each client Department.
  589
  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: Information on departmental publicity expenditure incurred through the Central Office of Information is a matter for departmental Ministers and can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Details of departmental expenditure on publicity for the financial years 1984–85 to 1988–89 were supplied by Ministers in response to questions from the hon. Member and published in the Official Report November-December 1986; July 1987; December 1987-January 1988; and March 1989.

  Taxi Buses
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the taxi buses providing scheduled services in consequence of the recent initiatives on transport policy are exempted from value added tax on the same basis as large public service buses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: The zero-rating of bus fares is limited to vehicles capable of carrying 12 or more passengers, that is, those which are used, in the main, to provide the bulk of mass public transport. The Government have no plans to extend zero-rating to smaller vehicles.

TRANSPORT

  Hazardous Substances (Road Transport)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute an immediate investigation into(a) the carriage of dangerous substances by road, (b) the numbers of heavy goods vehicles involved in accidents in 1988–89 and (c) the numbers of heavy goods vehicles carrying dangerous loads that were involved in accidents over the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The regulations governing the carriage of these goods by road are regularly reviewed and updated. The figure for accidents in 1988 involving HGVs is not yet available. In 1987 it was 15,107. This is some 18 per cent. lower than 10 years ago.

  There were 101 accidents involving vehicles carrying these goods reported to HSE in 1986–87. This was the first year separate records were kept. The comparable figure for 1987–88 was 68.

  Trunk Road Schemes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the local authorities that have been appointed to design trunk road schemes valued in excess of £1 million and (b) where competition has been invited for the design of such schemes the local authorities which have been invited to submit competitive bids.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Since fee competition between consultants was introduced in January 1985, the local authorities listed in the Table have been appointed to design trunk road construction and improvement schemes estimated to cost over £1 million.590

  Local authority

  Number of schemes

  1. Bedfordshire CC

  1

  2. Cambridgeshire CC

  3

  3. Cheshire CC

  1

  4. Cornwall CC

  3

  5. Cumbria CC

  3

  6. Devon CC

  1

  7. Dorset CC

  2

  8. Durham CC

  1

  9. Gloucestershire CC

  1

  10. Hampshire CC

  1

  11. Hertfordshire CC

  1

  12. Humberside CC

  1

  13. Kent CC

  1

  14. Norfolk CC

  1

  15. Northamptonshire CC

  2

  16. Northumberland CC

  1

  17. North Yorkshire CC

  1

  18. Shropshire CC

  1

  19. Staffordshire CC

  2

  20. Suffolk CC

  2

  21. Warwickshire CC

  1

  22. West Sussex CC

  1

  23. Wiltshire CC

  2

  As already explained, local highway authorities are also appointed to design major maintenance schemes costing over £1 million in the areas where the trunk road network is managed by them. They do not bid for either type of work.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on whether the design of trunk road schemes valued in excess of £1 million should be carried out in the public or private sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Our policy is to allocate the design work for trunk road construction and improvement schemes estimated to cost over £1 million to private sector consultants, through competitive tendering. Exceptionally, such work may be awarded without recourse to competition, to the highway authority in whose area the scheme lies. This is where the authority has already carried out some of the design and allocation to a consultant would involve delay or extra costs; where the project is interlinked with an adjacent local highway authority scheme; or where there is a large amount of traffic management and control which would involve the authority in any event.

  The design of major maintenance schemes costing over £1 million is handled by the authority or consultant who is responsible for managing the maintenance of the part of the trunk road network in question. Most of the network is managed by local highway authorities.

  British Rail (Disciplinary Procedure)
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the role of British Transport police in matters concerning British Rail's disciplinary procedure.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that the British Transport police have no role in British Rail's disciplinary procedures unless it appears that a criminal offence may be involved.

  Nuclear Materials Carriage Flasks
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he received any request for a transport licence for nuclear materials carriage flasks that arrived on the Pacific Sandpiper in Barrow on 16 February.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Transport of all nuclear materials must be made in accordance with national and international regulations. The certificates required to comply with these regulations were issued by my Department for the shipment aboard the Pacific Sandpiper that arrived on 16 February.

  Dangerous Freight
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations has he received regarding the transport by road of dangerous freight; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many road accidents have taken place in each of the past five years in which at least one of the vehicles involved was carrying dangerous freight, what casualties were caused; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have received several letters from members of the public, either direct or forwarded by hon. Members. On accident figures, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 20 March at column 397.

  There were no fatalities, and three casualties caused by the goods being carried in the two years 1986–1988. While not complacent, I regard these figures as representing a good safety record.

  Springburn-Bellgrove Railway Crash
  Mr. Michael Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to receive the results of the railway inspectorate's report on the Springburn to Bellgrove railway line crash; and if he will be making a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The inquiry into the Bellgrove accident is to be held on 19–21 April at the Merchants house of Glasgow, 7 West George street, Glasgow. The chief inspecting officer of railways will be presenting his report to me at the earliest opportunity. I cannot, at this time, give any indication when that will be.

  Coach Companies (Service)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to monitor the standards of service offered by National Express Bus Company and other national coach companies, and complaints thereon by customers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The services offered by National Express Bus Company and other coach operators are a matter for their commercial judgment. Any customer complaints can be dealt with by normal consumer protection legislation. Long-distance services were deregulated under the Transport Act 1980, but operators are still subject to the control of PSV operator licensing. PSV drivers are subject to driver licensing and driver hours legislation.

  Road Deaths
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, upon what information he based his recent statement that the three main causes of road deaths were drunken drivers, dangerous drivers and motor cyclists.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A comma appeared in the press reports after the word 'drivers'. The point I was making was that the main cause of road deaths are drunk drivers, dangerous drivers and dangerous motor cyclists. We know from coroners' reports that alcohol is a key factor in about a third of road deaths.

  Accident causation studies show that human error, resulting in dangerous driving is a prime factor in 70 per cent of accidents and a factor in 95 per cent.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of all road deaths in the latest year for which figures are available involved(a) motor cycles, (b) dangerous drivers and (c) drunken drivers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  (a) In 1987 about 17 per cent. of road deaths, 870 out of 5,125, occurred in accidents that involved motor cyclists.

  (b) As cause of accident is not collected it is not possible to determine from the available data how many accidents involved dangerous driving.

  (c) During 1986, the latest year for which complete drink-drive figures are available, it is estimated that 950 out of the 5,382 road deaths, that is, nearly 18 per cent., occurred in accidents where at least one driver was over the legal alcohol limit. Some of these accidents also involved motor cycles and therefore will be included in the previous figure.

  Nuclear Materials
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford, 7 February,Official Report, column 613, he will make it his policy to publish the final version of the review report on the international transport of nuclear materials to coincide with its consideration at the standing advisory group of the International Atomic Energy Agency in April.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The review report is an internal International Atomic Energy Agency document. Publication is therefore a matter for the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the national arrangements involving radioactivity scheme does not apply to emergency procedures involving the rail transport or road transport of spent nuclear fuel.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Emergency procedures to deal specifically with incidents involving nuclear fuel flasks have been provided and are administered by the Central Electricity Generating Board in England and Wales and the South of Scotland electricity board in Scotland.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all rail accidents involving trains carrying spent nuclear fuel, by date and place; and if any radioactivity has been released from any flask or container involved in a rail accident since such transport began.
  593
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No incident involving a nuclear fuel flask in transit has led to a release of radioactivity since this traffic was started 30 years ago. From time to time there have been minor incidents, usually involving empty flasks. These are of no radiological significance. The Department does not keep statistics on them.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy at the European Council of Transport Ministers in Brussels on 14 March to propose a study of the safety of road, rail and air transport of plutonium, enriched uranium, tritium and spent nuclear fuel within and from the European Community.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No such study is needed. The transport of radioactive materials is required to comply with international standards laid down by United Nations bodies. The regulations are kept under continuous review.

  Research Reactor (Greenwich)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what transport regulations will cover the safety of the moving of the Royal Navy's research reactor at Greenwich royal naval college to Plymouth in 1993.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The movement of the Royal Navy research reactor will be made in full compliance with national and international transport regulations for the safe transport of radioactive materials that apply at the time of the transfer.

  A list of the current regulations has been sent to the hon. Member.

  Rubbish Disposal at Sea
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, 16 March,Official Report, column 287, what reports he has now received from his marine surveyors concerning the adequacy of arrangements made on ships to ensure compliance with annex V of the Marpol convention prohibiting the disposal into the sea of plastic, synthetic rope and other rubbish.

  Mr. Portillo
  Garbage generated on board ship can be disposed of either into shore reception facilities or, in the case of non-plastics, can be retained on board for disposal at sea outside prescribed limits. Surveyors have not been asked to report on the arrangements on board ships. The essential point of their inspection is to remind those on board that an offence would be committed if garbage is illegally discharged into the sea; and any arrangements made should be designed to avoid such a discharge.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reports of alleged infringements of regulations S.I. 1988 No. 2292 and S.I. 2293 relating to garbage and merchant shipping have been investigated by his Department since they came into effect.

  Mr. Portillo
  No reports have been received of specific instances alleging infringements either under the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage Regulations (1988 No. 2292) or under the Reception Facilities for Garbage Regulations (1988 No. 2293).

  Pavement Parking
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State For Transport when he intends to announce proposals to tackle problems of pavement parking.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We hope to do so shortly.

  Lindane Container (Loss)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to recover the container of lindane insecticide lost in the Channel; and what is being done to monitor the situation.

  Mr. Portillo
  A container containing lindane has been lost in an area of the Channel in which, under a bilateral agreement, the French authorities are responsible for co-ordinating counter-pollution action.

  The Department's marine pollution control unit has maintained close contact with the relevant French authorities throughout the incident and has offered United Kingdom assistance to locate and recover the missing container. We have been assured that they have all the resources they need for the time being.

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the French authorities are taking samples of water, sediments and fish.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has given Mr. Newton on taking up his post as chairman of London Regional Transport.

  Mr. Paul Channon
  I have today sent the following letter to Mr. Newton setting his initial remit.You take up your position at a time when London Regional Transport faces a number of major challenges.
  First, and the highest priority, is to carry through the actions needed following Mr. Fennell's report on the King's Cross tragedy. A vigorous start has already been made on this vital task.
  Second, there is a need to provide for the projected continuing increase in traffic particularly on the Underground, and for the growing public transport needs of Docklands.
  Third, there is the need to improve the quality of services and the security afforded to the traveller.
  Fourth, it is necessary to complete the effective restructuring of London Buses in order to improve performance and prepare for deregulation in the early 1990s.
  The Board under your chairmanship will tackle these tasks in the light of LRT's general statutory and financial duties, which include the duty to have due regard to efficiency, economy and safety of operation.
  We need a clear long term strategy and a framework of medium term objectives that I would settle with you. For this, I should like you to review LRT's plans in all areas, and put to me by the end of June 1989 your proposals for a management, investment and financial strategy which aims to give London safe and reliable rail and bus services; provides good value for money; and, so far as possible, transfers costs from the taxpayer to the passenger and other beneficiaries. As part of establishing the objectives I would like to agree with you a set of quality of service targets for the Underground.
  You should know that the present provision for LRT in the Government's expenditure plans is for external finance of £287 million in 1989–90 and for the following levels of investment:

  £ million

  1989–90

  486

  1990–91

  540

  1991–92

  461

  595
  I understand that the London Regional Transport board has today appointed Mr. Newton as chairman of London Underground Limited and Mr. Telford Beasley as deputy chief executive of London Regional Transport. I welcome these appointments.

  Vehicle Movements (Monitoring)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the collection of data in a form that can trace or monitor the movements of a particular vehicle; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: Surveys of vehicle movements provide useful statistical data for transport planning and analysis. No such data on individual vehicle movements collected by the Department are divulged to third parties. Computerised data would be subject to the Data Protection Act and all statistical data are dealt with under the Government statistical service code of practice published as Command Paper 9270 in June 1984.

  The Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Bill would provide that the Secretary of State could not require information to be furnished to him in a way which enabled him to identify individual drivers of motor vehicles equipped to receive driver information.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what procedures are operational to provide ministerial permission at short notice to waive the collection of tolls at the Severn bridge when requested in the interests of road safety;

  (2) what procedures are available to waive the collection of tolls at the Severn bridge in order speedily to reduce tailbacks of traffic.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: Under section 6(4) of the Severn Bridge Act 1965 the Secretary of State may direct the suspension of toll collection by reason of any accident or other emergency if it appears to him necessary to do so and without making an order or giving notice. Under these powers a procedure has been established for the rapid waiving of tolls when necessary. The use of this procedure would not be justified solely by large volumes of traffic.

  Motorway Accidents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the totals and percentages of motorway fatal and other serious accidents, recorded in tailbacks that are(a) predicted and (b) unexpected in each of the last 10 years;

  (2) how many fatal and other serious accidents on motorways occurred in tailbacks of stationary or slow-moving traffic in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: The stats 19 road accident report form does not record whether there was a tailback at the scene of a road accident.

  Civil Servants (Air Travel)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what criteria airlines are selected for purchase of tickets 596
  for civil servants travelling on official duties (a) within the United Kingdom, (b) in Europe and (c) elsewhere; whether travel agents are used; and whether block bookings are made.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: The overall objective in organising travel for civil servants is to obtain best value for money and airlines are selected on this basis. If British airlines can match others in terms of cost and convenience they would, normally be used.

  Each Government Department makes its own booking arrangements.

  Roads
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give for 1989–90,1990–91, and 1991–92, the provision for value added tax liability on new construction within the budgets given for local authority capital spending on roads and transport in table 8–1 of "the Government's Expenditure Plans 1989–90 to 1991–92" chapter 8.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Local authorities have always been able to reclaim VAT paid on any expenditure not for a business activity. This rule now automatically extends to their road construction programme. VAT paid by their business activities, such as their airport companies, is covered by the normal reclaim procedure applicable to the private sector. Extra provision is not needed.

  Nuclear Materials
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make it his policy to re-evaluate the suitability of the HS 748 Andover aircraft for the air freighting of plutonium to European destinations;

  (2) what studies have been made by his Department of the suitability and safety of (a) Prestwick, (b) Carlisle, (c) Bournemouth Hum, (d) Dounreay and (e) Wick airports for the air freighting of commercial plutonium from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  All movements of radioactive materials by air must comply with national and international regulations which require safety to be built into the package design and do not depend for their effectiveness on the use of a particular type of aircraft or choice of airport.

  Nuclear Materials
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the agreement made on 20 December 1988 between the United Stales Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Japan Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation for the development of criteria for certification of a plutonium air transport cask; whether British Nuclear Fuels plc has been involved with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the JPNC in criteria development; and if he will request the United Kingdom advisory committee on the safe transport of radioactive materials, ACTRAM, to evaluate the developments arising from the agreement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Negotiations between the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Japan Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development
  597
  Corporation are a matter for the parties concerned. British Nuclear Fuels plc has not been involved in those negotiations.

  It would not be appropriate to refer these matters to the advisory committee on the safe transport of radioactive materials which has completed its programme of work.

  Commuter Services (North London)
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to authorise any application for additional investment to relieve overcrowding on British Rail's commuter services north of the Thames.

  Mr. Channon
  In response to a request from the Government early last year, British Rail submitted proposals for additional vehicles for these services. I approved a first tranche of 200 vehicles last October and have today approved a further 124 class 321 vehicles at a cost of £43·4 million to cater for expected future growth in demand. The total of 324 additional vehicles will enable rolling stock north of the Thames to be redeployed in a way which will bring significant relief from overcrowding on commuter services into Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, King's Cross and Euston.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drunkenness
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide figures of the number of arrests and subsequent convictions for drunkenness in England and Wales for each of the last three years.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the number of convictions for drunkenness was published in "Offences of drunkenness, England and Wales, 1987" (Home Office statistical bulletin 31/88), a copy of which is in the Library. No information is collected centrally on arrests for drunkenness.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration his Department is giving to the statutory registration of private security companies and private investigators; what mechanisms he has for ensuring that the views of private investigators are taken into account; what consultations his Department has had with the Institute of Professional Investigators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government have made it clear that they look to the private security industry to provide self-regulation. Following publication of the report on the industry by the Association of Chief Police Officers, my right hon. Friend asked officials to consider with the police and the industry ways in which self-regulation might be improved and a working group has been set up for this purpose. The Home Office has been in touch with the Institute of Professional Investigators and the institute's views which have been submitted to the Home Office will be brought to the attention of the working group.

  National Pet Week
  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to offer support to National Pet Week.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. This does not fall into the Home Secretary's responsibilities.

  "Broadcasting in the 90s"
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received during the consultation period in relation to the White Paper "Broadcasting in the 90s"; and if he will give the number for each ITV region.

  Mr. Renton
  We have received over 2,900 responses, and a few late submissions are still coming in. A breakdown by ITV region of those responses which could be attributed to a single region could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We have it in mind in due course to place in the Library a list of the main organisations which have submitted comments.

  Steel-cored Bullets
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the tests carried out by Thomas Alfred Warlow of his Department's forensic laboratory at Huntingdon into the special properties of steel-cored bullets in the penetration of laminated windscreens of vehicles.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Mr. Warlow examined 12 of the vehicles hit by bullets during the Hungerford shooting incident. Using unfired ammunition recovered from the scene, he measured the velocities of the bullets discharged from the firearms, calculated the kinetic energies and also made micro sections of different bullets and examined their construction. He did not conduct tests of the kind referred to in the question.

  Armed Police
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Avon and Somerset police as to what measures have been taken to improve the training and competence with guns and marksmanship of armed officers in the Avon and Somerset police following reports at the inquest of Glyn Davis, at Cullompton, Devon, in November 1988, that: a police officer fired two revolver rounds at the deceased at a range of 9–10 yards, and missed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  After every armed operation in which shots are fired by police officers the incident is carefully examined to identify the lessons to be drawn. Where necessary these are incorporated into firearms training programmes.

  An independent inquiry into this incident, which took place in darkness, was carried out under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority and no criticism was made of selection, training and safety standards. Avon and Somerset constabulary has carried out its own review and is satisfied that its measures are effective and comply with the national standards.

  Warning and Monitoring Trials
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates, locations and purpose of United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation trials in 1989.

  Mr. John Patten
  The 1989 exercise dates for the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation are 15 to 16 April, 18 June and 29 October. These exercises, which are designed to practise operational procedures, will involve UKWMO operational controls and monitoring posts throughout the country.

  Drink-driving
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision to review 742 drink-driving convictions in Greater Manchester after the use there of alcohol-impregnated swabs in taking blood tests and the possible review of 1,117 further cases.

  Mr. John Patten
  Between March 1987 and December 1988, police stations in the Greater Manchester police area were issued with blood sampling kits in which the alcohol-free swabs had been replaced by the stores department of the force with swabs acquired from an independent source. It was later found that these locally substituted swabs contained a solution with a very small percentage of alcohol. The blood analysis results in a number of these cases may therefore have been affected. At present, there are known to be a total of 742 cases in which prosecution was based on the results of the blood sample; together with a total of 729 cases in which prosecution was based solely on breath test evidence. In addition, there are a further 388 cases where it is not yet possible to say into which category they fall.

  I am arranging to review as quickly as possible the convictions in all those cases in which prosecution was based on the results of the blood sample, and I will also consider representations from individuals who believe that they were wrongly convicted. Each case will be considered on its merits.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his estimates of the costs to public funds of(a) reviewing 742 drink-driving convictions after use by Greater Manchester police of alcohol-impregnated swabs in taking blood tests and (b) the possible review of 1,117 further cases arising from the mistake.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our present estimate is that the cost to the Home Office is likely to be of the order of £36,000. This figure may be subject to revision when fuller details of the cases are available.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people there are to every police officer in(a) the north-west and (b) nationally; and what were the comparable figures for 1979.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is set out as follows:600

  1Police/population ratio

  31 December 1988

  31 December 1979

  (a) North-West

  Cheshire

  512

  510

  Cumbria

  426

  424

  Greater Manchester

  372

  394

  Lancashire

  437

  437

  Merseyside

  311

  347

  (b) England and Wales

  407

  414

  1 Population per officer is calculated on the basis of the authorised establishment of each force at 31 December.

  Betting
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his determination under section 1 of the Horserace Betting Levy Act 1969 of the horserace betting levy scheme beginning 1 April.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have today sent the following letter to the chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and written similarly to the chairman of the Bookmakers' Committee. A copy of the scheme has been placed in the Library."In your letter of 1 November 1988 you reported to me that the Board and the Bookmakers' Committee has failed to agree the Scheme to have effect for the 28th levy period and that the Scheme accordingly fell to be determined by me. I have now reached my decision and enclose a copy of the Scheme which I have determined.
  In reaching my decision I have taken into account all the submissions on the issue made to me by the Government-appointed members of the Levy Board and by the Bookmakers' Committee, together with other submissions and representations, including from the Jockey Club and the Horseracing Advisory Council, on which the Board members and the Committee were afforded the opportunity to comment to me.
  As recommended to me both by the Board members and by the Committee, the Scheme is 'shop based', that is to say, levy on the cash horserace betting turnover of betting offices is to be calculated by the reference to the turnover of each individual office, not the turnover of bookmaking companies. Levy on credit betting turnover necessarily has to be fixed on a different basis and is, therefore, to be calculated by reference to a scale which as nearly as practicable equates with the levy rates on cash betting.
  The cash yield from the Scheme will depend upon the level of leviable betting turnover. Assuming a turnover of £4,000 million, the total estimated yield will be about £34·5 million. In their final negotiations with the Bookmakers' Committee, the Levy Board sought some £34 million from the scheme, albeit assuming at that time a somewhat lower turnover. Equally, the Committee subsequently indicated that it was prepared for the scheme to produce some £34 million.
  Like the schemes recommended to me both by the Board members and by the Committee, the Scheme which I have determined is "leveraged", that is to say, should turnover in the 28th levy period increase beyond £4,000 million, for each 1 per cent. such increase the levy yield would be more than 1 per cent. This means that racing as well as bookmaking would benefit from higher turnover. It is, therefore, all the more important to re-emphasise my expectation that the Levy Board as a whole will continue to aim to achieve value for money in its expenditure, continuing and if necessary building upon the arrangements for that which were introduced following the last determination, of the 23rd levy scheme. It is equally important to put on record my confidence that the bookmakers will be able to make their contributions to the levy at the rates in the Scheme without making any increase in their deductions from the punters.
  The rates of levy in the Scheme, whilst in some respects higher than those recommended by the Bookmakers'

  601
  Committee, are overall lower than those sought by the Board. It has not been possible for me to accept the contention of some in the racing industry, to which the Board members have referred, that the target levy yield from this scheme should be set by reference to comparisons with the rates of return from betting to racing in other countries. The facts on this point are disputed and remain unclear.
  I also believe it to be right, under the current levy arrangements, for the needs of racing to be met by the levy to be quantified annually in cash terms, rather than assuming that what is required is a fixed percentage of turnover. Under the levy legislation the rates of levy are to be settled annually. Both the needs of racing and the capacity of bookmakers to make contributions can increase or decrease as a proportion of leviable turnover; they are not necessarily in a precise relationship to one another.
  My statutory duty is to determine a scheme for one year only, and it would not be right for me to say that the rates for the 28th levy period should or should not remain the same in successive schemes. In that it is shop-based, the Scheme represents a novelty. The Levy Board and the Bookmakers' Committee will no doubt wish to monitor its operation as closely and quickly as possible, and to take the results into account in their negotiations on successive schemes.
  I understand the arguments for the recommendation from the Government-appointed members of the Board that there should be an inquiry into the long term funding of racing. The possible privatisation of the Horserace Totalisator Board is a relevant factor for me to have in mind in reaching my conclusion on the need for, and scope of, an independent and objective assessment of the issues within that recommendation. I will announce that conclusion when I have received and considered advice of Lloyds Merchant Bank as to the feasibility of that privatisation. That advice is expected soon.
  My hope is that the negotiations for the 29th levy scheme will be conducted constructively and in a spirit of co-operation."

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cordless Telephones
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many prosecutions for breach of the Wireless Telegraphy (Cordless Telephone Apparatus) (Restriction) Order (SI, No. 774) have been made in(a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England in each of the last three years for which records are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Wireless Telegraphy (Cordless Telephone Apparatus) (Restriction) Order 1987 (SI, No. 774) came into force on 21 May 1987. Persons contravening the order can be prosecuted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. They can also be prosecuted for the unlicensed use of cordless telephone apparatus under the 1949 Act. My Department can also apply to a court under section 80 (section 81 in Scotland) of the Telecommunications Act 1984 for cordless telephones held in breach of the order to be forfeited, thereby avoiding criminal prosecutions. Finally, members of the public may decide voluntarily to surrender illegal apparatus to my Department, thereby avoiding all court proceedings. The relevant number of cases is as follows:

  Northern Ireland

  Scotland

  Wales

  England

  Prosecution

  1987

  —

  1

  —

  16

  1988

  —

  1

  —

  3

  1989 (to 20 March)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Forfeiture orders

  1987

  —

  —

  2

  4

  602

  Northern Ireland

  Scotland

  Wales

  England

  1988

  —

  1

  —

  13

  1989 (to 20 March)

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Voluntary surrender

  1987

  4

  —

  2

  71

  1988

  6

  9

  2

  141

  1989 (to 20 March)

  —

  —

  1

  17

  INWARD
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much his Department's support for INWARD has increased in the last three years; how much investment has been secured thereby; and how many jobs have been created or safeguarded.

  Mr. Atkins
  Department of Industry support for INWARD was £263,000 in 1986–87, £380,000 in 1987–88 and £450,000 in 1988–89. During the period INWARD has been involved in securing 40 projects which have resulted in known investment in excess of £94 million and the creation/safeguarding of approximately 1,700 jobs.

  Overseas Companies (North-West)
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many overseas owner companies are located in the north-west; and what was the comparable figure in 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are over 600 foreign-owned companies operating in the north-west. No comparable statistics are available for 1979.

  Foreign Investment (North-West)
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many jobs have been created or safeguarded by foreign investment in the north-west since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are no comprehensive figures but developments known to the Invest in Britain Bureau indicate that over 11,000 new jobs have been created and approximately 9,300 safeguarded by foreign investment in the north-west since 1979.

  South Africa
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will report on how British companies have complied with the European Community code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa during the 12-month period to 30 June 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  By 8 March 1989, 120 companies had submitted reports to the DTI under the code of conduct. Copies of the reports and of the Department's analysis and summary have, as in previous years, been placed in the Library of each House. These documents may also be inspected at the Department's export market information centre, at the British embassy in Pretoria, at the British consulate-general in Johannesburg, and at the British consulates in Cape Town arid Durban.

  The analysis and summary is the third since the adoption of the revised code of conduct by EC Foreign Ministers in November 1985.
  603
  The period under review has seen a further reduction in the number of black employees of British subsidiaries being paid below the code's recommended minimum level, with companies' reports indicating that again over 97 per cent. were paid above this level. In addition, companies continued to report impressive levels of involvement in projects benefiting not only their employees and their families but also the wider communities from which their work forces were drawn. Companies also continued to encourage the growth of black businesses, a new element introduced to the code in 1985.

  The Government are once more grateful to companies for their continued co-operation in providing reports, and urge them to maintain this performance and to comply fully with the code.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the individual payments to be made to the members of the national engineering laboratory supervisory board; and what is the projected total cost of the board's activities.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: some of the board's members are civil servants and Scottish Development Agency employees and these members will not receive any membership fee. The five members who are neither civil servants nor employed by the Scottish

  Establishment

  Location

  Curtailment of work

  NERC Headquarters

  Swindon, Wiltshire

  No

  London

  No

  British Geological Survey

  Keyworth, Nottingham

  No

  London

  1No

  Exeter, Devon

  No

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  No

  Wallingford, Oxfordshire

  No

  (London Information Office)

  Geological Museum, London

  No

  Institute of Oceanographic Science

  Deacon Laboratory

  Wormley, Surrey

  Yes

  Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory

  Birkenhead, Merseyside

  No

  Plymouth Marine Laboratory

  Plymouth, Devon

  Yes

  Sea Mammal Research Unit

  Cambridge

  No

  Robert Hooke Institute

  Oxford

  No

  Institute of Terrestrial Ecology

  (Merlewood Research Station)

  Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria

  No

  (Monks Wood Experimental Station)

  Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

  No

  (Furzebrook Research Station)

  Wareham, Dorset

  Yes

  Institute of Hydrology

  Wallingford, Oxfordshire

  No

  Institute of Virology

  Oxford

  No

  Freshwater Biological Association (until 1 April 1989 when these Institutes become the Institute of Freshwater Ecology)

  (The Ferry House)

  Ambleside, Cumbria

  Yes

  (The River Laboratory)

  East Stoke, Dorset

  Yes

  (Eastern Rivers Unit)

  Huntingdon, Cambridge

  No

  Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology

  University of Sheffield

  Yes

  Water Resource Systems Research Unit

  University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  No

  British Antarctic Survey

  Cambridge

  No

  604
  Development Agency will each be paid a fee of £5,000 per year (plus VAT if the member is registered for VAT purposes). In addition, such members will be entitled to the reimbursement of any travel and subsistence expenses incurred on account of board membership. Because the total cost of meeting expenses claims in a full year cannot be accurately estimated at present, we are unable to give a projected total cost of the board's activities.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Natural Environment Research Council
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the location of each natural environment research council establishment in England, showing whether there are any plans to close any of them or to curtail their work in any way.

  Mr. Jackson
  The table shows the location of each natural environment research council establishment in England indicating where one or more areas of scientific research is to be reduced in 1989. None of the establishments listed are to be closed. In some cases resources from lower priority areas of scientific research are to be redeployed to support new opportunities or expansion in areas of high priority.
  605

  Establishment

  Location

  Curtailment of work

  Isotope Geology Center

  London

  1No

  Remote Sensing Applications Development Unit

  Farnborough, Hampshire

  No

  Unit for Thematic Information Systems

  University of Reading

  No

  1 Relocating to Keyworth 1989.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received opposing the introduction of the student loans scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Since the publication of the White Paper on top-up loans for students we have received about 3,000 letters, expressing a variety of views. These included 29 petitions against student loans, with about 14,000 signatures, and about 170 formal responses to the White Paper from organisations with a special concern for student support. The responses have given us no reason to doubt that our plans are well judged. We shall take constructive criticisms into account as we proceed to develop a scheme for introduction in the autumn of 1990.

  Private Medical School
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is his policy on setting up a medical school using private finance.

  Mr. Jackson
  Any proposal to alter the present arrangements whereby medical schools receive public funds via the University Grants Committee (or, from 1 April, the Universities Funding Council) would need to be considered on its merits by my right hon. Friend together with the Secretary of State for Health. Important factors would include the demand for trained doctors, and the General Medical Council's involvement in setting and maintaining standards.

  Undergraduates on pre-clinical and clinical medicine courses 1987–88

  Universities in:

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  United Kingdom

  Full-time

  14,791

  754

  3,498

  724

  19,767

  Part-time

  20

  —

  48

  30

  98

  Of which domiciled in Wales

  Full-time

  649

  304

  28

  4

  985

  Part-time

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Most students following clinical medicine courses are in hospitals for much of their courses.

  Sex Education
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken, following the Women's National Commission's 1985 recommendation that in any future considerations of the scope of sex education in schools attention should be paid to the need for this to cover discussion of stereotypes of men and
  606

  Medical Schools
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many medical schools there are in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; and whether there is any plans to change these numbers.

  Mr. Jackson
  There are no plans to change the numbers of medical schools, which are 21 in England, one in Wales, five in Scotland (including one which offers pre-clinical studies only) and one in Northern Ireland.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present cost of training medical students in(a) the pre-clinical part and (b) the clinical part.

  Mr. Jackson
  Based on the latest available figures, for the academic year 1987–88, the cost per student charged to the appropriate university cost centre is £9,470 for the two-year pre-clinical part of the course and £23,058 for the three-year clinical part. These figures exclude universities' central costs, associated National Health Service costs and the cost of student support.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many of the medical students presently in universities and hospitals in the United Kingdom originate from Wales;

  (2) how many medical students there are in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is shown in the table:

  women, and the dangers these represent in marital relationships, as well as to biological and emotional matters.

  Mr. Butcher
  Responsibility for the scope and content of sex education in schools rests with the school governors, in accordance with section 18 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which handbooks relating to the
  607
  national curriculum are currently out of print; when they will be available; for what reasons any delays in supply have occurred; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department issued on 23 February two documents offering general guidance on the national curriculum, circular 5/89 on "The School Curriculum and Assessment" and a handbook for teachers entitled "From Policy to Practice". Nearly half a million copies of the handbook were sent direct to teachers in maintained schools, trainee teachers and local education authorities in the week after publication. The circular and handbook have remained in print and copies are available on request. The first orders and associated documents relating to national curriculum subjects, on mathematics and science attainment targets and programmes of study, were issued with an explanatory circular (6/89) on 14 March. Initial copies have already been sent to all maintained schools, and further copies are being sent to LEAs

  Human Genome Project
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what scientific research is currently sponsored on the human genome project(a) solely by his Department, (b) through the research council, (c) in conjunction with industry, (d) in collaboration with the European Commission and (e) within a multilateral international programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 20 February at column 518.

  Mossley C of E Primary School
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the points raised by the head teacher of the Mossley Church of England primary school about the way in which his local management initiative is being implemented by the local education authority and which have been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Congleton.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I have written to my hon. Friend about the detailed concerns raised by her constituent. It is a key aspect of local management that schools' funding should be determined on the basis of objective need to spend rather than existing spending patterns. The main determinants of needs will be the numbers and ages of pupils. It will be for LEAs to determine the weightings for pupils of different ages after consultation with the governing body and head teacher of each school to be covered by a scheme. My right hon. Friend will consider LEAs' detailed proposals for allocating resources to schools within the overall framework set out in circular 7/88 on local management.

  City Technology College (Surrey Docks)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assurances have been given to the governors of Bacon's school concerning finance for a proposed new city technology college in Surrey docks.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend wrote to the Reverend Canon Gerald Greenwood, director of the Southwark diocesan board of education, the sponsors of 608
  the prospective Bacon's city technology college, on 10 March. That letter confirmed that we would be prepared to make capital grant available, up to a total of £10 million, for the establishment of a Bacon's city technology college on the Surrey quays site. My right hon. Friend made clear, however, that that was subject to the city technology college proposal being adopted by the governors of the Bacon's school, to the outcome of a detailed feasibility study of the costs involved, to the sponsors providing their share of those costs, and to his decision on an application by the governors for his leave to their giving notice of their intention to discontinue the school under the provisions of section 14 of the Education Act 1944.

  My right hon. Friend also made clear that any such approach from the governors would be treated strictly on its merits. The factors he would take into account in these circumstances were set out in his statements of 28 July last year at column 402 and 23 January this year at column 383.

  British Antarctic Survey (Ship)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a contract has been placed for the construction of the new ship for the British Antarctic survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The natural environment research council yesterday signed a contract with Swan Hunter Shipbuilders for the construction of a new ship for the British Antarctic survey, to replace its 33-year-old dual purpose research and logistics vessel, the royal research ship John Biscoe.

  The new ship, which will be named the James Clark Ross, will enable the British Antarctic survey to enhance its marine biology, geology and geophysics research programmes and to strengthen the logistical support which it gives to its bases in Antarctica.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Forestry (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food if he will list by location the forestry projects currently taking place within the three counties of Yorkshire.

  Mr. Ryder
  Between 1 April 1988 and 28 February 1989 the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved 157 new applications for planting grants in the three counties of Yorkshire. These are listed:

  Name

  Location by local authority district

  Halton West

  Craven

  Acclom House

  Hambleton

  Moor Close

  Hambleton

  Patch Wood

  Wakefield

  Doncaster Golf Club

  Doncaster

  The Dell Grimethorpe

  Barnsley

  Spring Wood/St. Helens Wood

  Barnsley

  Dotterell Cottage Farm

  Ryedale

  Wentwood House

  Calderdale

  Toad Hall Wood

  Barnsley

  Goskins Farm

  Hambleton

  Beilby Wood

  Leeds

  Catterick Training Area

  Richmondshire

  609

  Name

  Location by local authority district

  Lower Pitcher Clough

  Bradford

  West Moss

  Craven

  Ganton Hall

  Ryedale

  Hunmanby Hall School

  Scarborough

  Ella House Farm

  Hambleton

  Bilton Beck

  Harrogate

  Westbank Farm

  Craven

  White House Farm

  Selby

  Lord Middleton

  Ryedale

  East Witton Estate

  Richmondshire

  Birdsall Estates Co.

  Ryedale

  Skiers Spring Drift Mine

  Barnsley

  Harton Lodge Plantation

  Ryedale

  Kilgram Grange

  Richmondshire

  Lords/Crag Woods

  Craven

  East Farm Sedbury

  Richmondshire

  Longside Woodlands

  Harrogate

  Aldby Park

  Ryedale

  Bridge Cross Farm

  Harrogate

  Hawkshaw Gill/Clarks Carr

  Harrogate

  Manor House Farm

  Calderdale

  Claxton House

  Ryedale

  Catkins Farm

  Craven

  Copley

  Calderdale

  Windmill Farm

  Harrogate

  Carlton Farm

  Harrogate

  Red House Farm

  Richmondshire

  Ribston Estate West

  Harrogate

  Kirkham

  Ryedale

  Todmorden Golf Club

  Calderdale

  Hazelwood Castle

  Selby

  Hook Carr Hill Farm

  Hambleton

  Longlands

  Richmondshire

  Lower Green Edge Farm

  Calderdale

  Hesley Aerodrome

  Doncaster

  Malton/Norton Golf Club

  Ryedale

  Gledhow Valley Wood

  Leeds

  Wyre Hall Farm

  Leeds

  Ribston Estate East

  Harrogate

  Howe Estate

  Hambleton

  Yafforth Road Site

  Hambleton

  Highfield Farm

  Harrogate

  Langton Hall

  Hambleton

  Whitwell

  Ryedale

  East Witton Estate

  Richmondshire

  Ganton Hall

  Ryedale

  Low Fold Farm

  Sheffield

  Hutton Wandesley

  Harrogate

  Kirkby Wood

  Hambleton

  Old Tip Asenby

  Harrogate

  Manor Farm

  Selby

  Towton Estate

  Selby

  Tithe House Farm

  Doncaster

  Cannon House Farm

  Selby

  Linton Woods Farm

  Hambleton

  Wink Lodge

  Doncaster

  Yorkshire Water Authority

  Harrogate

  Coverhead Farm

  Richmondshire

  Pallett Hill Quarry

  Richmondshire

  Squirrel Hall/Manor Farm

  Ryedale

  Hauxwell Estate

  Richmondshire

  Settington House Farm

  Ryedale

  Barlow Common

  Selby

  Loscar Wood

  Rotherham

  Ingbar Plantation

  Craven

  Manor Farm

  Richmondshire

  Wood Farm

  Ryedale

  Upper Helmsley Hall

  Ryedale

  Constable Burton

  Richmondshire

  Banks Ghyll

  Craven

  Halton Dene

  Leeds

  Oakridge Farm

  Calderdale

  Busty Pond

  Hambleton

  Ness Hall

  Ryedale

  Nine Acre Field

  Hambleton

  Home Farm

  Hambleton

  Sleightholmdale

  Ryedale

  610

  Name

  Location by local authority district

  Farndale

  Ryedale

  Land at the Old Brewery Thornton-le-Clay

  Ryedale

  Daletown Hawnby

  Ryedale

  North Farm Fryton

  Ryedale

  Dovecote Cottage

  Ryedale

  Low Park Farm

  Ryedale

  Bransdale

  Ryedale

  Crow Wood

  Hambleton

  Yeavering House

  Hambleton

  Elleron Lodge

  Ryedale

  Carle House Farm

  Hambleton

  Low Moor Farm

  Hambleton

  Three Cottages

  Ryedale

  Cockerdale Farm

  Ryedale

  Dale Farm

  Scarborough

  Wombleton Grange

  Ryedale

  Dale End

  Scarborough

  Newbiggin High Farm

  Scarborough

  Prospect Cottage Farm

  Scarborough

  Whisperdale Farm

  Scarborough

  Thornflatt Farm

  Hambleton

  East Harlsey

  Hambleton

  Kingthorpe

  Ryedale

  White House

  Hambleton

  Crow Wood

  Hambleton

  Low Costa Mill

  Ryedale

  Head House Farm

  Ryedale

  Fairfax Farm

  Scarborough

  Kepwick

  Hambleton

  Mann Farm Broughton

  Ryedale

  Home Farm

  Hambleton

  Wykeham

  Scarborough

  Nostell Priory

  Wakefield

  Thirkleby Warren

  Ryedale

  North House Farm

  Selby

  Red House Farm

  Richmondshire

  Willerby Wold

  Ryedale

  Long Stoop Farm

  Harrogate

  Manor Farm

  Richmondshire

  Beggar Hall

  Harrogate

  Croft

  Richmondshire

  Hauxwell Hall

  Richmondshire

  Higher Kingthorpe

  Ryedale

  Cheese Vat Farm

  Ryedale

  Neasham

  Richmondshire

  Manor Farm

  Hambleton

  Clifton Castle

  Hambleton

  Bramham Park

  Leeds

  West Lowfield Farm

  Hambleton

  Ripley Castle

  Harrogate

  Arkendale

  Harrogate

  Low North and Kirklees

  Scarborough

  Neasham

  Richmondshire

  Landales Wood

  Ryedale

  Manor Farm

  Hambleton

  Little Bottom Plantation

  Selby

  Nabs Wood

  Barnsley

  Low Laithe Farm

  Rotherham

  Ponden Hall

  Bradford

  Kexby Estate

  Selby

  Kirkby Wood

  Hambleton

  Bramham Park

  Leeds

  YWA Leighton Reservoir

  Harrogate

  YWA Thrushcross Reservoir

  Harrogate

  Wentwoodhouse

  Barnsley/Rotherdale

  Brown Rigg

  Scarborough

  High Dales

  Scarborough

  Intervention Stores
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many European Economic Community intervention stores exist in the United Kingdom; where
  611
  they are located; and what were the amounts and products held at each site on the last date for which information is available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  At the end of February 1989 140 stores in the United Kingdom were holding products bought into intervention. Their locations, the products and quantities held are as follows:

  Tonnes

  Location

  Feedwhe at

  Barley

  Butter

  Beef

  Aberdeen

  —

  —

  —

  593

  Antrim

  —

  —

  —

  1,974

  Ballymena

  —

  —

  —

  1,029

  Banbridge

  —

  —

  631

  —

  Banbury

  —

  —

  515

  3

  Belford

  —

  13,508

  —

  —

  Belfast

  —

  —

  415

  4,388

  Bellshill

  —

  —

  —

  13

  Birmingham

  47,422

  —

  —

  —

  Blackburn

  —

  —

  —

  286

  Blairgowrie

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Bressingham

  18,007

  —

  —

  —

  Bristol

  —

  —

  195

  —

  Bury St. Edmunds

  —

  —

  —

  121

  Cardiff

  —

  —

  763

  106

  Chichester

  5,937

  —

  —

  —

  Clivedon, Yorkshire

  1,111

  30,923

  —

  —

  Coleraine

  —

  —

  140

  1,450

  Colnbrook

  —

  —

  —

  84

  Coventry

  —

  26,184

  —

  —

  Craigavon

  —

  —

  —

  6,531

  Cullumpton

  —

  —

  1,955

  71

  Derby

  —

  —

  133

  —

  Dumfries

  —

  61,792

  —

  —

  Dundee

  —

  —

  —

  9

  Dungannon

  —

  —

  —

  600

  Duna

  —

  82,005

  —

  —

  Dysart

  —

  32,543

  —

  —

  Edinburgh

  —

  —

  1

  5

  Ely

  23,576

  21,007

  —

  —

  Evesham

  —

  —

  1,512

  —

  Exeter

  —

  —

  96

  48

  Felixstowe

  —

  33,129

  —

  —

  Fleetwood

  —

  —

  160

  —

  Fraserburgh

  —

  —

  —

  17

  Frome

  —

  —

  475

  —

  Gainsborough

  36,171

  —

  —

  —

  Glasgow

  —

  —

  9

  176

  Glenrothes

  —

  23,821

  1

  691

  Gloucester

  23,966

  —

  —

  —

  Goole

  —

  —

  476

  —

  Grantham

  —

  —

  —

  477

  Grimsby

  —

  —

  11

  —

  Halesworth

  74,190

  —

  —

  —

  Haresfield

  —

  21,172

  —

  —

  Hereford

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Heywood

  —

  —

  505

  —

  Hull

  —

  —

  252

  242

  Huntingdon

  12,158

  —

  —

  —

  Kidderminister

  26,805

  30,925

  —

  —

  Leeds

  —

  —

  —

  48

  Lisburn

  —

  —

  178

  2,609

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  649

  119

  London

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Londonderry

  —

  —

  —

  48

  Lurgan

  —

  —

  355

  —

  Maldon

  30,717

  —

  —

  —

  Market Rasen

  —

  12,925

  —

  —

  Market Racon

  —

  10,716

  —

  —

  Newmacher

  —

  4,148

  —

  —

  Newmarket

  12,746

  —

  —

  —

  Newport

  —

  —

  1,709

  —

  Newton Abbey

  —

  —

  610

  4,058

  Newry

  —

  —

  —

  20

  North Humberside

  16,637

  16,386

  —

  —

  Omagh

  —

  —

  —

  454

  Ormiston

  —

  59,345

  —

  —

  612

  Location

  Feedwhe at

  Barley

  Butter

  Beef

  Paddock Wood

  —

  —

  —

  72

  Penicuik

  —

  12,628

  —

  —

  Peterborough

  —

  —

  98

  251

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  —

  9

  Portadown

  —

  —

  1,109

  —

  Portbury

  —

  —

  740

  —

  Preston

  —

  —

  613

  —

  Rochdale

  —

  —

  460

  —

  Salisbury

  —

  32,364

  —

  —

  Salford

  —

  —

  —

  50

  Scunthorpe

  —

  10,837

  140

  1,417

  Selby

  —

  13,532

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  —

  —

  44

  —

  Sherborne

  —

  —

  944

  —

  Shrewsbury

  —

  —

  —

  56

  South Shields

  —

  —

  10

  —

  Staughton

  —

  25,304

  —

  —

  Strabane

  —

  —

  78

  744

  Strachan

  —

  51,006

  —

  —

  Sutton in Ashfield

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Swansea

  —

  —

  237

  —

  Tamworth

  —

  —

  1,729

  205

  Telford

  —

  6,801

  —

  —

  Tranent

  —

  16,766

  —

  —

  Truro

  —

  —

  80

  86

  Turriff

  —

  10,215

  —

  —

  Whitchurch

  —

  18,510

  —

  —

  Whittlesey

  —

  10,635

  —

  —

  Wigan

  —

  —

  —

  262

  Wigston

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Wimblington

  200

  —

  —

  —

  Wisbech

  18,128

  —

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  —

  —

  439

  —

  Total

  355,361

  689,128

  18,479

  29,434

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy confirmed in each county of the United Kingdom for the four week period ended 17 March.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In the four-week period to 17 March, 643 cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy were confirmed in the following counties and regions of Great Britain:

  County

  Confirmed cases

  Avon

  14

  Bedfordshire

  3

  Berkshire

  2

  Buckinghamshire

  4

  Cambridgeshire

  3

  Central

  1

  Cheshire

  5

  Cleveland

  1

  Clwyd

  5

  Cornwall

  48

  Cumbria

  6

  Derbyshire

  4

  Devon

  73

  Dorset

  82

  Dumfries

  1

  Durham

  2

  Dyfed

  29

  Essex

  1

  Glamorgan Mid

  1

  Glamorgan South

  3

  613

  County

  Confirmed cases

  Gloucestershire

  17

  Grampian

  2

  Gwent

  8

  Hampshire

  49

  Hereford and Worcester

  11

  Hertfordshire

  1

  Highland

  3

  Humberside

  2

  Isle of Wight

  3

  Kent

  27

  Lancashire

  16

  Leicestershire

  12

  Lincolnshire

  6

  Manchester

  1

  Merseyside

  2

  Norfolk

  12

  Northants

  2

  Northumberland

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  3

  Oxon

  15

  Powys

  2

  Salop

  5

  Somerset

  39

  Staffordshire

  6

  Strathclyde

  4

  Suffolk

  9

  Surrey

  7

  Sussex East

  7

  Sussex West

  15

  Warwickshire

  3

  Wiltshire

  39

  Yorkshire North

  21

  Yorkshire South

  1

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1), pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 3 March 1989,Official Report, columns 373–74, when he intends to introduce an amendment to the Diseases of Animals Protein Processing Order 1981 requiring protein processors to take samples from each day's production and to notify his Department of the results;

  (2), pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 3 March 1989, Official Report, columns 373–74, when he intends to lay an order providing for the compulsory bacteriological monitoring of all poultry laying flocks;

  (3), pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 3 March 1989, Official Report, columns 373–74, when he intends to introduce measures on the registration of breeding and laying flocks and the registration and monitoring of hatcheries;

  (4), pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 3 March 1989, Official Report, columns 373–74, when he intends to strengthen control measures applicable to rodents to further minimise the risk of spread of salmonella;
  614
  (5), pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 3 March 1989, Official Report, columns 373–74, when he intends to introduce statutory requirements for the hygienic handling of eggs.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  On 16 March I introduced secondary legislation under the Animal Health Act 1981 requiring poultry flock owners to submit samples from their flocks for salmonella testing and to keep records of the test results.

  An order will also be made as soon as possible requiring protein processors to take samples from each day's production and to notify the results to my Department.

  Animal Blood
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions there are on the importation of products containing animal blood.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The importation of any product containing animal blood is subject to licensing controls exercised by orders made under the Animal Health Act 1981. In addition any such product intended for sale for human consumption must satisfy the Imported Food Regulations 1984.

  Animal Feed
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he plans to restrict the use of animal blood in animal feed products;

  (2) whether he is considering further restrictions on the feeding of animal by-products to ruminants;

  (3) what evidence he has on the animal health implications of feeding ruminants with products containing animal blood.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Various pathogens can be transmitted by animal blood. Feeding ruminant animals with protein material, including blood, derived from ruminants has been prohibited since 18 July last year. This ban will remain in place unless processing methods are established which are sufficient to destroy the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Blood from other animals fed to ruminants must be processed to the standards required by regulations under the Animal Health Act 1981.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he intends to introduce legislation requiring the labelling of animal feeds with a list of ingredients;

  (2) Whether he has any plans to introduce legislation requiring animal feed products containing animal blood to be labelled as such.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Council of Ministers is currently considering a proposal which will require suppliers of animal feeds containing more than one ingredient to declare the materials or categories of materials used in them.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has determined the market support prices for potatoes to apply in Great Britain of the 1989–90 crop year beginning 1 July 1989.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Agriculture Ministers have consulted the National Farmers Union about the market support arrangements to apply for the 1989–90 crop year. We have decided to authorise the Potato Marketing Board to enter into pre-season contracts with producers over the period November 1989 to May 1990 at a scale of prices not exceeding a weighted average of £53 per tonne. We have also authorised the board to intervene directly on the market throuhout the season where this will ensure that support can be carried out more cheaply than by purchasing under contract, provided that the total intervention during 1980–90 does not exceed 500,000 tonnes. The target area for potato planting by registered producers in Great Britain was fixed last July at 155,000 hectares.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 24 November to the hon. Member for St. Ives, (Mr. Harris),Official Report, columns 9–10, what action the Government propose to take to designate areas sensitive of nitrate leaching.

  Mr. MacGregor
  After further careful consideration, the Government have reached broad conclusions on the type of agricultural measures which could be introduced in nitrate-sensitive areas. These will now be the subject of extensive consultations with farming, water and other interests. We have also decided that the first designated zones should represent a pilot sample of different types of areas in which a range of agricultural measures can be tested.

  It remains the Government's policy that, wherever possible, any agricultural restrictions should be on a voluntary basis, with compulsory powers available as a fallback. Where farmers are obliged to restrict their agricultural activities beyond the degree which could be regarded as good agricultural practice, they should be compensated. Under currently foreseeable circumstances the costs of compensation would be offset by CAP support savings resulting from reduced agricultural production. As part of their approach, the Government will be mounting an intensive advisory campaign in selected key areas. This will involve visits to individual farmers on specific aspects of good agricultural practice.

  It will be necessary to amend the current provisions in the Water Bill to provide appropriate powers, and the Government will shortly be tabling amendments. We will also be examining carefully the European Commission proposal for a directive on nitrate pollution of water but, in view of the importance the Government attach to this issue, we are anxious to press ahead with pilot schemes.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council in Brussels on 20–21 March; and if he will make a statement.
  616
  Mr. MacGregor
  Together with my hon. Friend the Parlimentary Secretary, I represented the United Kingdom at this Council.

  The main business before the Council was the Commission's proposals for farm support prices and related measures for 1989–90. No agreement was reached. The Council will return to the subject at its next meeting on 17 April, with the firm intention of reaching decisions.

  The Council again considered the Commission's proposal on the level of imports of butter from New Zealand between now and 1992, and the linked qustion of the arrangements for imports of sheepmeat. Several member states were unwilling to take decisions, and the butter import arrangements were therefore rolled forward for a further two months until the end of May 1989 on the basis of 1988 quantities.

  Finally the Council adopted a directive regulating imports of meat products from Third world countries with a view to avoiding human and animal health risks.

DEFENCE

  Helicopters
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost at time of purchase of the most recent procurements of(a) one Sea King HAS 3/5 ASW helicopter and (b) one Westland-Augusta EH 101 helicopter.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is no longer our practice to publish unit production costs.

  Challenger
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost at time of purchase of the most recently procured Challenger FV tank that is currently in service.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is no longer our practice to publish unit production costs.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air misses between hang gliders and military aircraft were reported in 1988; and how many of these were in risk category A.

  Mr. Neubert
  Only one such air miss report was filed in 1988. The joint air miss working group assessed this as category C, that is involving no risk of a collision.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy on the publication of the results of inquiries into air misses involving military aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 16 February at columns 331–34.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the air miss between a British Airways BAC 1–11 and a Royal Air Force Harrier north of Carlisle on 8 November 1988; and when he expects the results of the inquiry to be published.
  617
  Mr. Neubert
  This reported air miss is currently being investigated by the joint air miss section of the National Air Traffic Services, before being considered by the joint air miss working group. A copy of the group's conclusions will he placed in the Library in due course.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if low-flying training by Royal Air Force aircraft is planned to take place in Morocco.

  Mr. Neubert
  Discussions with the Government of Morocco on ways to strengthen links between the Royal Air Force and the Moroccan Air Force are continuing. The details are confidential.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has obtained a copy of the July 1988 report by the West German Federal Health Office in Berlin into the effects of low-flying military aircraft on the health of children in Bavaria; and what evidence he has on the effects of low flying on the health of children in Britain.

  Mr. Neubert
  Yes, my Department has a copy of the West Germany Federal Health Office pilot study report on "Health Effects of Noise from Military Low level Flights". The Department has no specific evidence on the effects of low flying on the health of children in Britain.

  Noise Levels
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the policy of purchasing dwellings subjected to noise levels from military aircraft of 125 db (A) or more, set out in his reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire on 3 February,Official Report, columns 447–48, applies to dwellings not located in the vicinity of a military airfield.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the heights, speeds and aircraft types which were found to produce noise levels of 125 db (A) or more in noise test measurements during Exercise Bedlam.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information is as follows:

  Aircraft

  Speed

  Power Setting

  Height (ft)

  Average decibel level at ground level

  Phantom

  507 knots

  Full Reheat

  315

  126dB (A)

  (583 mph)

  Tornado

  433 knots

  Full Reheat

  250

  (126db (A)

  (498 mph)

  Jaguar

  462 knots

  100 per cent.

  250

  126dB (A)

  (531 mph)

  + reheat

  Lightning

  495 knots

  Full Reheat

  250

  126db (A)

  (569 mph)

  Victor

  265 knots

  103 per cent.

  200

  127dB (A)

  (305 mph)

  Vulcan

  256 knots

  100 per cent.

  250

  127dB (A)

  (294 mph)

  618

  Aircraft

  Speed

  Power Setting

  Height (ft)

  Average decibel level at ground level

  VC10

  298 knots

  Full Power

  250

  125dB (A)

  (343 mph)

  The hon. Member will wish to note that the above figures are not representative of general military low flying in the United Kingdom arid I would refer him to my predecessor's reply of 13 June 1988 to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) at column 70.

  Range Activity (Otterburn and Spadeadam)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire of 3 February 1989,Official Report, column 448, if he will now publish figures showing the extent of range activity by aircraft at Otterburn and Spadeadam in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  Otterburn is primarily an Army artillery range and the use of the facility by aircraft is extremely limited. It would not be possible to detail this usage in terms of number of aircraft and sorties flown without disproportionate cost and effort.

  The following represents the number of 10-minute flying slots utilised at Spadeadam range in the years 1985–88. Records prior to 1985 no longer exist.

  Year

  Number

  1985

  6,330

  1986

  6,348

  1987

  5,959

  1988

  4,645

  Lindholme Facility
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the Royal Air Force communications facility at Lindholme near Doncaster; which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces provide personnel to operate the Lindholme facility; how many personnel are based at the Lindholme facility; and what are their ranks and functions.

  Mr. Neubert
  840 Signal Unit at Lindholme forms part of the defence communications network and is entirely United Kingdom manned. It is not our practice to give details of the strength and composition of operational units.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans for expansion of Territorial Army units based in the west country.

  Mr. Neubert
  As part of the phase II enhancement of the Territorial Army announced by the Government in 1984 the establishment of the Territorial Army in the west country has been increased by over 850 personnel. Of these additional numbers 175 will have been incorporated into existing Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Military
  619
  Police units and the balance into the formation of new Infantry, Army Air Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps units.

  The main enhancement to the infantry is the formation of a new home defence battalion, 4 Devon and Dorsets, with companies based at new TA centres at Exeter, which has just been completed, and Paignton and Plymouth which are both under construction. A new company of the RAOC, 94 Ordnance Company, will be based at Keynsham, near Bristol, while the Territorial Army's first and currently, only squadron of the AAC is at Middle Wallop. All these units have been formed and are gradually increasing towards their established strength.

  No additional enhancements to the RTA are currently planned.

  Tractors
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist for the purchase of tractors capable of transporting light armoured vehicles.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no plans at present to purchase tractors for transporting light armoured vehicles. The purchase option will however be considered when the arrangements for meeting this requirement in BAOR are reviewed later this year.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place between his Department and the company currently leasing Mercedes tractors to the British Army of the Rhine regarding their availability in the event of hostilities.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Agreement in principle has been reached with the company leasing Mercedes tractors to BAOR regarding their availability in the event of hostilities. Consultations are continuing on the terms of the amendment of the contract to cover this aspect.

  6 Brigade
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what helicopters will be specifically assigned to 6 Brigade.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are no helicopters specifically assigned to 6 Brigade as, following its trial in the air mobile role, it is being converted to an armoured brigade.

  Date

  Location

  Visitors

  February 1989

  Falkland Islands

  Sir Dudley Smith

  John Ward

  Keith Mans

  Gwilym Jones

  Bruce Grocott

  Elliot Morley

  William Ross

  March 1989

  Cyprus

  Eddie Loyden

  Frank Cook

  Jacques Arnold

  Nicholas Bennett

  Tim Devlin

  Harry Cohen

  M109 Howitzer
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding has been provided to Royal Ordnance plc or Vickers Defence Systems plc for trials of their suggested replacement for the M109 self-propelled howitzer.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  British Land Forces (Europe)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the figure for the average number of British land forces stationed on the mainland of Europe that was reported to the council of the Western European Union in 1987.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  NATO (Nuclear Weapons)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of "Modernising NATO's Nuclear Weapons", by Oliver Ramsbotham.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Ministry of Defence library has a copy of this book.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his Department's Library a copy of "In the Dark—Parliaments, the public and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Nuclear Weapons", by Scilla Elworth Mclean.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Ministry of Defence library has ordered a copy of this publication.

  Overseas Forces (Members' Visits)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those hon. Members who have visited British forces overseas in the last two years involving expenditure of public money, showing the units visited by each.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) on 10 February 1989, at columns 861–62 with the addition of the following:

  Private Security Firms
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military bases in Yorkshire employ private security firms(a) to guard entrances to the bases and (b) in any other capacity; and for which armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Agriculture
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out for each of the last four years the

  Imports and Exports of Agricultural Commodities Northern Ireland—Republic of Ireland

  Description

  Imports to Northern Ireland from Republic of Ireland

  Exports from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Live animals

  Cattle

  206,030

  210,974

  148,891

  177,328

  22,717

  13,548

  14,152

  27,998

  Pigs

  62,116

  66,777

  59,584

  45,371

  177,561

  64,160

  2,909

  5,552

  Poultry

  2,611,066

  3,349,596

  2,884,803

  1,527,165

  2,118,484

  3,227,280

  3,780,784

  5,681,032

  Products

  Meat of bovine animals Fresh, chilled or frozen1 (tonnes)

  59,757

  86,375

  89,376

  64,321

  14,687

  9,984

  9,459

  10,610

  Meat of swine Fresh, chilled or frozen (tonnes)

  13,046

  17,078

  20,743

  19,911

  15,725

  16,785

  13,067

  12,511

  Poultrymeat: fresh, chilled or frozen (tonnes)

  2,066

  2,133

  3,536

  n/a

  7,350

  8,368

  8,427

  n/a

  Eggs in shell ('000)

  3,830

  4,550

  7,760

  10,896

  160,094

  114,588

  70,151

  58,530

  Cereals (tonnes)2

  140,227

  230,430

  269,328

  215,196

  10,996

  7,904

  8,181

  4,475

  Butter (tonnes)

  1,782

  2,560

  2,307

  2,866

  464

  2,411

  3,093

  243

  Skimmed Milk Powder (tonnes)

  300

  463

  1,562

  1,168

  878

  535

  1,242

  378

  1 A significant proportion of these imports are believed to have been in transit to Great Britain.

  2 Barley, oats and wheat. Excludes cereal seed.

PRIVY COUNCIL

  Salary
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what allowances are included in the official income of the Secretary of State for Health; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  None. The official salary received by the Secretary of State for Health is set in accordance with the Ministerial and Other Salaries Order 1988. He receives a ministerial salary of £34,479 and a reduced parliamentary salary of £18,148. In addition he retains an entitlement to allowances available to other Members.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Demonstrations (Lhasa)
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Chinese Government about the recent shootings of demonstrators in Lhasa; and if he will make a statement.
  622
  volume of the main agricultural commodities recorded as flowing in each direction between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and the financial amounts payable from European Community resources in respect of each category.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The information available from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise records on the volume of trade in main agricultural commodities is given in the table. The financial amounts payable which may have derived from the European Community are not separately identifiable.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 March to the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant) at column 364. In addition the ambassadors of the troika in Peking have carried out a demarche on behalf of the Twelve at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the situation in Tibet, in context of the commitment of the Chinese authorities to ensure full respect for human rights.

  European Court of Human Rights
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of cases to date in which the United Kingdom has appeared before the European Court of Human Rights for breach of article 10 of the European convention; what was the judgment given; how many cases and who are the claimants that are pending to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The European Court of Human Rights has found a violation of article 10 of the European convention in one case brought against the United Kingdom. In The

  623
  Sunday Times judgment of 26 April 1979, which concerned contempt of court, the court found a violation by 11 votes to nine.

  There are five cases pending before the Commission in which the Government have submitted, or have been requested to submit, observations on article 10 of the convention. In three of these cases the applicants have not agreed to their identity being disclosed. The remaining two cases have been brought by Times Newspapers Ltd. and Neil, and by Atkinson and others.

  Israel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further talks he proposes to have with the Israeli authorities about open discussions to seek a solution to mutual problems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We remain in close touch with the Israeli authorities and look forward to welcoming Mr. Shamir to London soon.

  Council of Europe
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether relations between the European Community and the Council of Europe were discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Council discussed relations between the EC and the Council of Europe and agreed to continue the existing practical co-operation and to intensify political level contacts between the two organisations.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 20 March.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 20 March. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State represented the United Kingdom, accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State.

  The Council was preceded by an informal meeting of EC and EFTA Foreign Ministers. This noted the close economic and political links between EC and EFTA, and the importance of strengthening and expanding co-operation on the lines laid down in the 1984 Luxembourg declaration. The meeting welcomed M. Delors' call for a more structured relationship and the results of the meeting of EFTA Heads of Government in Oslo on 15 March, and agreed to establish a new bilateral dialogue with a view to a further ministerial meeting in the autumn. The United Kingdom warmly welcomes this new drive to deepen the relationship between the Community and its EFTA neighbours.

  The Council discussed progress in the GATT Uruguay round and preparations for the meeting of the GATT trade negotiations committee in Geneva in early April confirming the guidance given to the Commission in November.

  The Council also agreed to improve contacts between the Community and the Council of Europe.
  624
  An EC-Malta Association Council also took place.

  In the framework of political co-operation the Twelve reaffirmed the unacceptability of Iranian behaviour over the Rushdie affair and the continuing ban on high-level visits.

  Chemical Weapons
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to investigate the links between the firm Pen-Tsao-Materia-Medica Centre, based in Hong Kong, the firm Imhausen-Chemie A. G. based in Lahr, and the export of chemicals for the alleged chemical warfare agent factory at Rabta in Libya; and if he will raise the matter of dual-use chemicals export from the European Community at the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting of the EEC.

  The Foreign Affairs Council on 20 February adopted an EC directive controlling the export of eight "core" chemical precursors. All these chemicals were already subject to United Kingdom export control. The United Kingdom continues to work closely with other countries to tighten restrictions on the export of chemical weapon-related precursors and equipment.

  Ex-President Marcos
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs if he has received any representations from the Philippines Government to help them trace such assets of former President Marcos as may be in Britain or have been in Britain.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Philippines authorities have brought several cases to our attention. We have always co-operated fully.

  Namibia
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has concerning the organisations which will be responsible for the registering and processing of Namibian detainees held by the South West Africa People's Organisation after the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 435;

  (2) if he will make a statement outlining the provisions which are made in the United Nations settlement plan for the safe return of Namibians held in South West Africa People's Organisation camps in Angola and Zambia;

  (3) what information he has on the number and names of Namibians currently detained in South West Africa People's Organisation camps in Angola and Zambia;

  (4) what representations he has received during the last year concerning the fate and condition of Namibian detainees held by the South West Africa People's Organisation in Angola and Zambia;

  (5) what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of mechanisms in Angola and Zambia to ensure that Namibians resident outside Namibia are given a free and voluntary choice whether to return to Namibia to take part in free and fair elections under the United Nations plan; and if he will make a statement;
  625
  (6) what recent steps he has taken within the United Nations or other organisations to ensure that the lives of those Namibians detained by the South West Africa People's Organisation are not endangered and that they are permitted to return to Namibia to participate in the forthcoming elections;

  (7) what recent representations he has made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning the Namibian detainees held by the South West Africa People's Organisation in their camps in Angola and Zambia; and what response was received to these representations.

  Mr. Eggar
  We condemn human rights abuses whenever they may occur. We are aware of allegations of ill-treatment by SWAPO of detainees held in their camps in Angola and Zambia. This is primarily a matter for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to investigate, but we have raised the issue with SWAPO. We have also made our concern known to the office of the high commissioner.

  The United Nations plan for Namibian independence provides for the release of political prisoners and detainees and the voluntary return of exiles. We shall naturally do everything we can do to assist the United Nations Secretary General and his staff to ensure that all the provisions of the United Nations plan are implemented.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the status of the informal understandings reached in 1982 on the question of United Nations impartiality during the implementation of the United Nations settlement plan for Namibia;

  (2) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy as to the extent to which the United Nations is to be regarded as responsible for guaranteeing that relevant parties adhere to the letter and spirit of the impartiality package referred to in the United Nations Secretary General's report of 23 January on the question of Namibia;

  (3) whether he has any information about any mechanisms which may be in place to ensure that all relevant parties concerned with the United Nations settlement plan for Namibia adhere to the provisions of the impartiality package;

  (4) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the details of the impartiality package referred to in the United Nations Secretary General's report on 23 January on the question of Namibia.

  Mr. Eggar
  The provisions of the impartiality package referred to in the hon. Member's question have not been made public. However, the United Nations Secretary General confirmed in his report of 23 January (United Nations document S/20412) that the package remained binding on the parties. The Secretary General's report was in turn approved by United Nations Security Council resolution 632 of 16 February. We for our part shall do all we can to assist the United Nations Secretary General and his staff in ensuring that the provisions of the impartiality package are fully applied.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on 626
  recent progress by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on development loans to Brazil, relating to the power sector and rain forest.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The World Bank has development lending for the Brazilian power sector under consideration. The scope of the bank's proposed second power sector loan is under review between the bank and the Brazilian authorities. I cannot say when these discussions will be concluded or what the outcome will be. I have given an assurance to concerned non-governmental organisations that we will consult them, if and when a loan is put to the World Bank's executive board, before we decide what line to take.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conditions under which Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to give reconstruction aid for use internally in Kampuchea.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We shall not consider Government-to-Government aid for reconstruction until Vietnam has fully withdrawn from its illegal occupation of Cambodia.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rights of Way
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has had about the working of the footpath and rights of way sections of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A number of representations on these sections have been received. We are awaiting the advice of the Countryside Commission, which is monitoring the operations of the rights of way provisions in the 1981 Act and which has already published two reports.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate what the average community charge would have been in April 1989, based on the estimated level of domestic rates.

  Mr. Ridley
  Illustrative community charge figures for 1989–90 will be published when local authority budget returns have been received.

  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what a ward sister would pay(a) in community charge and (b) in a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in the proportions of 80–20, respectively, if she lived in a typical one-bedroom flat in Hornsey.

  Mr. Ridley
  A ward sister earning £15,000 living in a flat in Hornsey worth £70,000 would pay a community charge of £291 (disregarding the transitional safety net) and £875 under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on the same basis as table E5 in the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government", what percentage
  627
  of householders in Barnsley, Central constituency whose equivalent net income falls in the range of (a) £100 to £200 per week and (b) £400 to £500 per week would, on 1988–89 figures, pay a higher net community charge, un-safety netted, than net rates.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on the same basis as table F5 in the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government", what percentage of householders in The Wrekin constituency, whose equivalent net income falls in the range of(a) £100 to £200 per week and (b) £400 to £500 per week would, on 1988–89 figures, pay a higher net community charge, un-safety netted, than net rates.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on the same basis as table F5 in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government", what percentage of householders in Norwich, South constituency whose equivalent net income falls in the range of(a) £100 to £200 per week and (b) £400 to £500 per week would, on 1988–89 figures, pay a higher net community charge, un-safety netted, than net rates.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is not available. The table in the Green Paper was based on a sample survey which cannot provide reliable estimates for individual constituencies.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the proposed introduction of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend and I receive a variety of representations about the new system of local government finance. Recently, they have tended to be concerned with the detail of the community charge regulations.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the proposed timetable for the community charge regulations for England and Wales being laid before the House.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following statutory instruments on the community charge in England and Wales were laid before the House on 17 March.

  The Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989

  The Personal Community Charge (Students) Regulations 1989

  The Personal Community Charge (Exemptions) Order 1989

  The Valuation and Community Charge Tribunals Regulations 1989

  The Valuation and Community Charge Tribunals (Transfer of Jurisdiction) Regulations 1989

  The Community Charge (Information Concerning Social Security) Regulations 1989

  These form the bulk of the regulations on the community charge. Further regulations will be laid later this year, in the summer and autumn.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the present status of the Price Waterhouse study on the forecast of costs; and whether he intends to carry out any further assessments of the unit costs of implementing and calculating the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government commissioned the firm of Price Waterhouse to undertake an independent study of 628
  preparation and collection costs of rates reform in England and Wales. The report was published in June 1988 and its findings taken into account in allocating resources to charging authorities. I have no plans to carry out a further study.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations from the European Commission of the implementation of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider exempting from the community charge those who have been deemed educationally subnormal or statemented under the Education Act 1981.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Local Government Finance Act 1988 provides a community charge exemption for adults who are severely mentally impaired, as defined in the Act. I have no plans to amend that definition.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to seek to enable local authorities to make arrangements with individuals who wish to pay the community charge on behalf of another charge payer.

  Mr. Gummer
  It was always envisaged that local authorities could offer this facility, and practice note No. 12 published last month contained advice on its implications.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those organisations which have requested copies of "You and the Community Charge", published in December 1988 and the number of copies distributed.

  Mr. Ridley
  The booklet has been requested by local authorities; educational establishments; charitable, church and voluntary bodies; businesses; and political organisations.

  In addition, hon. Members and many members of the public have asked for copies. In total, approximately 900,000 copies have been distributed so far. Orders for a further 100,000 are currently being dealt with. Demand continues.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of "You and the Community Charge", published in December 1988, have been printed to date; what were the initial one-off costs of art work and creative design; and what is the total cost to date of copies printed.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department has printed 1,800,000 copies so far, reflecting a continuing high demand for this booklet. Art work and design cost £10,227. Printing has cost £115,427.

  Agricultural Land (Building)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to encourage the release of agricultural land for building at a faster rate; and if he will make a statement.
  629
  Mr. Howard
  No. It is frequently inappropriate to release agricultural land for building.

  Young People (Housing)
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any new proposals for enabling young people to enter the housing market either as tenants or owner-occupiers.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government have provided for an 80 per cent. increase over the next three years in the finance available to the Housing Corporation to provide new houses to rent and to promote low-cost home ownership including shared ownership. The deregulation of new private lettings will also encourage landlords to make more homes available to rent

  Land Disposals
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many directives he has made to owners of land on the land register under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to dispose of their holdings; and, of these, how many have been disposed of.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many directives he has made to owners of land on the land register to dispose of their holdings; and, of these, how many have been disposed of.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many directives he has made to owners of land on the land register to dispose of their holdings; and, of these, how many have been disposed of.

  Mr. Trippier
  The power to direct disposal of land entered on the land register can only be exercised site by site. By the end of February 1989 I had directed the owners of 77 sites to take steps to dispose of their interest in the Land. To date 42 of the sites have been sold.

  Wildlife Preservation
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to preserve wildlife.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already afford protection to all birds and to other species of animal or plant considered to be endangered and to any area of land considered to be of special scientific interest by reason of its flora, fauna or geographical or physiographical features. The schedules of protected species are reviewed every five years and, as a result of the last quinquennial review, 48 species of animals and 31 species of plants received added protection. The next review is scheduled for 1991.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his response to the request by the County Hall Development Group for a waiver from Lambeth Council's request for an environmental impact statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend directed on 14 March that an environmental statement was not required.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the ban on the use of products in his Department which contain chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have received a number of representations about the use of chlorofluorocarbons by Government Departments.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the world's chlorofluorocarbon production is made in Britain.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Figures for United Kingdom production of CFCs are not available for reasons of commercial confidentiality. In 1986, it is estimated that the European Community accounted for some 40 per cent. of world CFC production.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken since the international ozone conference to encourage the replacement of chlorofluorocarbons and halons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A message will be delivered from my right hon. Friend as chairman of the "Saving the Ozone Layer" conference on the first day of the meeting of the parties to the Montreal protocol in Helsinki on 2 May.

  Mr. Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what percentage cuts in(a) consumption and (b) production of chlorofluorocarbons Her Majesty's Government are committed; and by when.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Under the Montreal protocol and the implementing European legislation, production and consumption of CFCs must be reduced by 20 per cent. by 1994 and by a further 30 per cent. by 1999. On 2 March the EC Environment Council, in response to a United Kingdom initiative, called for the protocol to be strengthened so as to require a cut in production and consumption of CFCs of 85 per cent. as soon as possible, and their complete elimination by the end of the century.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to reintroduce legislation to tackle the problem of chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Montreal protocol requires cuts in production and consumption of CFCs of 50 per cent. by 1999. Within the overall framework of the EC regulation implementing the protocol in the Community we are strongly encouraging industry to reduce use of CFCs to the maximum possible extent. As a result of the steps industry is taking on a voluntary basis the United Kingdom will more than halve its consumption of CFCs by the end of 1989, 10 years ahead of the protocol requirement. If, however, extra powers are needed to back up this voluntary action we shall take them. The United Kingdom and its EC partners have now called for CFC production and consumption to be cut by at least 85 per cent. as soon as possible with a view to their complete elimination by the end of the century, and for the protocol to be strengthened accordingly.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many countries which attended the
  631
  current month's London conference on the ozone layer indicated that they would sign the Montreal protocol on reducing chlorofluorocarbon consumption.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A total of 20 countries attending the "Saving the Ozone Layer" London conference indicated their firm intention of ratifying or acceding to the Montreal protocol. A further 14 countries stated that they would give serious consideration to becoming parties to the protocol

  Rivers (Discharge Consents)
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to seek to increase the penalties currently available to the courts for dealing with those who breach their consents to discharge into rivers.

  Mr. Howard
  The maximum penalties which may be imposed by magistrates for offences under section 32 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 are fines not exceeding £2,000 and terms of imprisonment of up to three months. On indictment in the Crown court there is no limit on the fine that may be imposed and terms of imprisonment can be up to two years. Penalties for pollution offences are kept under regular review but there are no immediate plans for increasing them.

  Pield Heath Nurseries, Uxbridge
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision on the appeal concerning Pield Heath nurseries, Uxbridge.

  Mr. Howard
  As my hon. Friend will recall from the answer given on 27 January 1989 the further views of the parties are under consideration. A decision will be reached as soon as this process has been completed.

  "Environment in Trust"
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many "Environment in Trust" leaflets have been printed to date; and at what cost.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A total of 25,000 sets of "Environment in Trust" leaflets have been produced so far, at a print cost of £99,760. In addition, the one-off costs of creative design and artwork are £117,594.

  Rate Increases
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Association of County Councils in respect of rate increases in 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  None, although I met it to discuss the rate support grant settlement for 1989–90 on 30 November last.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the use of unleaded petrol in the European Community.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government are committed to promoting unleaded petrol in the European 632
  Community and have played a major role in securing the agreement to directives which cover the requirement for new cars to run on the fuel and its availability in Europe.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increase in demand for unleaded petrol since January 1987.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the month to mid-February, unleaded petrol accounted for 5·5 per cent. of the market. Demand has increased more than fiftyfold since figures were first made available in April 1987 when uptake stood at less than 0·1 per cent.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals the Government have for encouraging wider use of unleaded petrol.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget raised the duty differential between 4-star leaded and unleaded fuel by an additional 4p a gallon. This should result in a price difference of about 10p per gallon at the pump. It is the second largest differential in the European Community. I am confident that it will ensure a continued rapid increase in take-up of unleaded fuel. The average motorist travelling 10,000 miles in a year stands to save about £35. The Chancellor has also increased the duty on 2-star leaded petrol which will encourage the switching of storage facilities to unleaded petrol, and ensure that the number of outlets continues to rise rapidly. The Government will continue to take steps to promote the widest possible use of unleaded petrol.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that water authorities are penalised for supplying polluted water as drinking water; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Clause 51 of the Water Bill will make it an offence for a water undertaker to supply water unfit for human consumption. The penalty for an offence may take the form of a fine or imprisonment. Under clause 19 of the Bill my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be able to enforce compliance with drinking water quality standards set by regulations made under the Bill.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of English Heritage to discuss the improvement of visitor facilities at Stonehenge.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I met Lord Montagu on 28 February.

  English Heritage produced a very imaginative scheme for a new visitor centre some time ago. There has been a delay in taking it forward through the normal planning procedures because of the need to find a route for access to the centre which satisfactorily balances the Army's security and operational needs with the interests of visitors, other landowners and the local community. However, I very much hope that we are now close to a solution.

  Norfolk Structure Plan
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any representations about the Norfolk structure plan during the last six months.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's publicity budget for 1989–90.

  Mr. Ridley
  The provisional budget is £7·5 million including support costs.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government expect to publish their response to the second report from the Environment Select Committee on toxic waste HC22-I.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to respond to the Environment Committee's second report on toxic waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As soon as possible.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to strengthen the regulatory regime for policing sites for the dispersal of toxic waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Extended and strengthened controls over waste disposal were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 29 June 1988 and I put forward supplementary proposals on 23 November 1988. In addition, on 24 January 1989 the Government issued a consultation paper, "The Role and Functions of Waste Disposal Authorities", proposing to separate those authorities' operational and regulatory functions and promote the more effective control of waste disposal. Legislation to enact these measures will be introduced as early as possible during this Parliament.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to ensure that councils deal promptly with applications by their tenants to buy their homes.

  Mr. Trippier
  As I announced in my answer of 10 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) at column 699, provisions came into force on that date enabling tenants whose applications are delayed by the landlord to have rent payments put towards the purchase price.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in England since May 1979.

  Mr. T'rippier
  From April 1979 to December 1988 about 1 million tenants bought their homes from English local authorities and new towns.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he proposes to encourage council tenants to buy their homes.
  634
  Mr. Trippier
  As I announced in my answers of 9 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bo wis) at column 672 and 10 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) at column 699, we intend to increase the maximum value of discount from £35,000, and have brought into force new measures to help tenants whose applications are delayed by their landlord.

  Public Housing (Transfers)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he will make to ensure an orderly interaction between tenants' choice and other mechanisms for transferring public housing to the private sector.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department of the Environment and the Housing Corporation have today issued a joint statement. This sets out detailed arrangements for ensuring a smooth and sensible interaction between tenants' choice on the one hand; and voluntary disposals by local authorities and transfers by new town development corporations; the Commission for New Towns and housing action trusts on the other hand. The main principle proposed is that particular dwellings should be subject to only one transfer proposal at any one time, and that proposal should be allowed to run its course before any other transfer proposal affecting the same dwellings can be put in train. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been received under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988 for transfer of the housing stock of local authorities; and how many he has approved.

  Mr. Trippier
  None. Regulations have recently been laid before Parliament to implement the tenants' choice scheme on 5 April.

  Land Registers
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of sites, and their area, on land registers for each of the bodies listed in schedule 16 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, as amended.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House today.

  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many requests he has received to include specific vacant sites of under one acre to he listed on land registers under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many requests he has received to include specific vacant sites of under one acre to be listed on the land registers.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Dame J. Fookes).

  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long it will take for the land currently on the land registers to be removed therefrom.
  635
  Mr. Trippier
  Land is removed from the land registers either when it is brought into use, or sold, or where part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 ceases to apply to the owning body. The large number of separate public bodies whose unused or underused land is entered on the registers and the variety of circumstances related to each site make any prediction as to the time taken for the land currently on the register to be removed meaningless. At the end of February 1989 there were 84,400 acres of land on the registers: in 1986 10,200 acres of land were removed; in 1987 15,460 acres and in 1988 10,940.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether all vacant, unused and underused land held by Government Departments is now included on the land registers.

  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether all vacant, unused and underused land held by Government Departments is now included on land registers under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Mr. Trippier
  From the time the first land registers were compiled, Departments have provided details of land that meets the criteria for entry on the registers of unused and underused publicly-owned land maintained by my right hon. Friend under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. Generally, sites less than one acre in area are not entered on this register.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of sites, and their area, on land registers under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 owned by each Government Department.

  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites, and of what area, on land registers are owned by each Government Department.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites, and of what area, on the land registers are owned by each Government Department.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is set out in the table which shows the position on 28 February 1989.

  Department

  Number of sites

  Total area (acres)

  Department of health

  230

  4,605

  Department of the Environment

  35

  1,005

  Ministry of Defence

  39

  699

  Department of Transport

  40

  382

  Department of Energy

  12

  140

  Home Office

  3

  5

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of planning reports from his Department's inspectorate awaiting his decision, and if he will list them, giving the dates they were submitted by the inspectorate.

  Mr. Chope
  At the end of February 182 reports on planning appeals by the planning inspectorate were 636
  awaiting decision by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I will write to the hon. Member with details of these cases.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of the Sports Council; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I met the chairman of the Sports Council on 20 March together with the chairmen of the regional councils of sport and recreation. We discussed a number of issues relating to sport and recreation. I also had a private dinner with the chairman of the Sports Council yesterday evening.

  Rate Increases
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the average percentage increase in domestic rates in 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  The available figures now show an average domestic rate increase in England of between 8 and 9 per cent.

  Urban Development Corporations (Land Sales)
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by urban development corporation the cash sums raised from land sales each year since designation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Of the 10 UDCs established in England, only London Docklands and Merseyside development corporations reported receipts from land sales up to the end of 1987–88. For the figures for London Docklands I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 February 1989, at column 569 to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon). Receipts reported for Merseyside development corporation are as follows:

  Financial Year

  £000

  1982–83

  6

  1983–84

  120

  1984–85

  —

  1985–86

  72

  1986–87

  291

  1987–88

  225

  Manchester City Council
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the leader of Manchester city council; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Secretary of State for the Environment last met the leader of Manchester city council, Mr. Graham Stringer, during a visit to the Central Manchester urban development corporation on 28 July 1988, which was the main topic of discussion.

  Refrigerant Gases
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will launch a programme to finance the safe disposal of existing refrigerant gases.
  637
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Both United Kingdom manufacturers of chlorofluorocarbons, and some refrigeration companies, already offer a recycling service for used chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants free of charge.

  Pollution
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the contribution that individual citizens might make towards reducing pollution.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The individual citizen can make a considerable contribution towards the reduction of pollution. The prevention of litter and the choice of environmentally friendly products—for instance the use of lead-free petrol—are among the many examples of the action that can be taken.

  Overbuilding (Outer London)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the further representations he has received from London borough representatives and others on overbuilding in outer London, including during the 23 February meeting at his Department and since that date.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend and I discussed several planning issues with hon. Members and councillors representing a number of the London boroughs at a meeting on 23 February. Those present have not made any further representations about overbuilding. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 8 March at column 525, which sets out the further advice we have given to local planning authorities in London about residential densities.

  Football Membership Scheme
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he will meet the football authorities to discuss the implementation of identity cards for football supporters.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have no present plans to meet the football authorities but would be happy to do so whenever they feel this would be helpful and a mutually convenient date can be found.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the likely cost to football clubs of introducing a football membership scheme.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is not possible to estimate the financial effects of the scheme until its details, particularly the technology to be employed, have been settled. I understand that a number of companies have said that with co-operation from the football authorities and proper marketing and management, the scheme could be set up and run at no cost to the clubs.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his proposals are for the transfer of football passes between one person and another.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The details of the national membership scheme for football supporters will be for the football 638
  membership authority to draw up and submit to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment for approval. A central premise of the scheme is that membership cards will not be transferable.

  Rivers (Discharge Consents)
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum level of fines for breaching consents to discharge into rivers.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway).

  Black Country Development Corporation
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last visited the Black Country development corporation; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend last visited the development corporation on 15 February this year. Matters discussed related to the regeneration of the corporation's area including major projects such as the propose Sandwell mall and he Black Country spine road.

  Council Officers (Political Activity)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the acceptable extent of party political activity by local government officers earning above £13,500.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have concentrated on the appropriateness of applying political restrictions to the staff concerned rather than the extent of party political activity allowed to them. The representations have reinforced us in our view, that public political activity by such staff is unacceptable where it could conflict with the officers' duties. Our proposals in the Local Government and Housing Bill focus on those cases.

  Dogs (Registration)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals for a national dog registration scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 23 January to my hon. Frined the Member for Thanet, North, (Mr. Gale) on 23 January 1989 at column 461.

  Ozone Layer (Conference)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the ozone conference.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the international conference on the ozone layer held in London.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The outcome of the highly successful "Saving the Ozone Layer" London conference
  639
  was summarised in the chairman's message prepared by my right hon. Friend. Copies of the message, together with a more detailed account by the conference rapporteur, have been placed in the Library.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete the sale to the public of the nine English water authorities.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The nine English water authorities will be privatised by the end of 1989.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes meeting the chairmen of the water authorities to discuss water privatisation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend met the chairmen on Monday 20 March. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

  Childhood Cancer (Humberside)
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much funding has been made available by his Department for the London School of Hygiene's small area health statistics unit; and what progress has been made to date by the unit in analysing the incidence of childhood cancer in Humberside.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The costs for the small area health statistics unit so far total £507,894 of which the Department has provided £167,605. As I explained to my hon. Friend in my letter of 20 March 1989, the unit is not yet fully operational and has not so far been able to undertake studies in specific areas. However, the question of the SAHSU analysing the incidence of childhood cancer in Humberside has been referred to the steering committee for the unit and I should expect the committee to reach an early decision on whether further investigation would be worthwhile and should be undertaken.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bathing waters in England and Wales met European Community standards in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Moynihan
  In December 1979, the Government identified 27 bathing waters in England and Wales under the terms of the EC bathing water directive (76/160/EEC); 18 of these met the mandatory standards for coliform parameters in the directive. This continued to be the position until 1986 when an extended survey of 354 bathing waters in England and Wales was carried out. The Government announced early in 1987 that these waters would be included within the scope of the bathing water directive. In 1987, 197 out of 360 identified waters in England and Wales (55 per cent.) met EC standards. In each year compliance has been assessed on the basis that at least 95 per cent. of the samples met the mandatory standards.

  Sheffield UDC
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the first corporate plan from the chief executive of the Sheffield urban development corporation.
  640
  Mr. Trippier
  I expect to receive Sheffield development corporation's first corporate plan early in the summer.

  Cheap Housing
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on his proposals on cheap housing deals between councils and developers.

  Mr. Howard
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to the announcement in the House by my right hon. Friend on 3 February 1989 at columns 433–34 about the role of the planning system in securing the release of land for low-cost housing to meet specific local needs in rural areas.

  My Department has received a considerable number of inquiries and representations in response to our announcement which has been generally welcomed as a positive measure in helping to meet the need for suitable low-cost housing in rural areas.

  Rate Support Grant (Basildon)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the rate support grant for Basildon district council 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  Basildon district council is not entitled to block grant in 1989–90. Its block grant position has not changed since 1988–89. Basildon's proposed 74 per cent. rate increase cannot, therefore, be justified by changes in its block grant.

  Sewage (Discharge Consents)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many temporary relaxations in sewage works discharge consents have been allowed within the past 12 months.

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not at present held centrally. Details of applications made and consents granted under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 are held on each water authority's register although in the past the consents may not always have included details of any time limits which had been agreed. Current practice is however, that any time limits which apply to consent conditions are specified as part of the consent and therefore included on the register.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress local councils are making in putting their services out to competitive tender under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  The competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988 are being implemented in stages under regulations made in July 1988. The first round of work won in competition has to be under way by 1 August this year with further rounds by 1 January and 1 August in subsequent years. A substantial number of authorities are going out to tender well ahead of the timetable and dividing up the work into sensible packages. Where anti-competitive practice is alleged by contractors my officials are following up the cases vigorously.

  Waterways (Pollution)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of British waterways fall below acceptable European Community standards for pollution.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There is no European Community legislation setting general quality standards for waterways. However, the United Kingdom has designated some 50,000 km of waterways for the purposes of the EEC directive on the "Quality of freshwater needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life" (78/659/EEC).

  In 1984, a survey showed that over 90 per cent. of these waterways met all the directive's mandatory standards.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his current plans for addressing the problem of homeless families in the light of the recent Audit Commission report, "Housing the Homeless: the Local Authority Role".

  Mr. Trippier
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on 22 February at column 700.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is giving to help overcome the problems faced by the single homeless in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have taken a number of measures designed to assist the single homeless who do not fall into a priority need category. These include funding the Housing Corporation's programme of hostels and shared housing, which nationally has approved at least 18,500 places since 1981, and giving priority to key workers through the Housing Corporation's mixed funding programme with a total of £58 million being made available in 1988–89 for this initiative. The Department has produced a leaflet which has been widely distributed, encouraging householders to take in lodgers; and we have also funded a IYSH trust leaflet which informs young people of their housing options before they leave home. The Housing Act 1988 will, of course, increase the amount of private rented accommodation, in the sector where young people have traditionally sought accommodation.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider reallocating capital receipts in stress areas to help local authorities provide homes for homeless households.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has no powers to do this. The incidence of homelessness is, however, taken into account when capital allocations for housing are distributed to local housing authorities.

  Tenants' Incentive Scheme
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce details of the tenants' incentive scheme.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Housing Corporation invited comments by 6 March on its proposal to introduce a tenants' incentive scheme in 1990. The corporation is considering the responses.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the highest rental arrears recorded for(a) Langbaurgh borough council and (b) Middlesbrough borough council; in which months they occurred; and what is the present position.

  Mr. Trippier
  Tables showing the rent arrears outstanding to English local authorities as at 1 April 1987 and 1988 are in the Library. I have no information for other months of the year.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further proposals he has for enabling local authorities in rural areas to make provision for local housing need.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement made by my right hon. Friend on 3 February at column 433. A further announcement, about increased Housing Corporation funding for housing associations, was made by my noble Friend the Minister for Housing in another place on 7 February. Together, they will significantly increase low-cost housing provision for local need in rural areas.

  Drinking Water (Oxford)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the monitoring of the quality of drinking water supplied by the Thames water authority to the Oxford area.

  Mr. Howard
  Thames Water carries out daily monitoring for a number of substances in water supplied to the Oxford area, and undertakes about 7,000 analytical determinations a year. Further information may be obtained from the water authority.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current trend in the supply of affordable rented accommodation.

  Mr. Trippier
  The annual number of lettings of local authority and housing association housing has held up well in recent years. Our plans to increase private investment in the housing association sector and the 80 per cent. increase in the Housing Corporation's programme should significantly raise the output of new subsidised housing association dwellings.

  Rates (Derbyshire)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much Derbyshire county council's rate has increased since 1981–82; and what was the average for all other counties over the same period.

  Mr. Gummer
  Derbyshire county council's precept has increased by 161 per cent. since 1981–82. The average rise for all other counties since 1981–82 is 106 per cent.

  Archaeological Sites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that
  643
  unscheduled archaeological sites of importance discovered in the course of site clearance following the granting of planning permission for redevelopment can be excavated and recorded prior to redevelopment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration for the determination of planning applications, whether or not that monument is scheduled. Local planning authorities may also wish to impose conditions requiring developers to allow access for archaeologists to observe work and record items of interest.

  Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the section 7(1) submissions received by him from the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation in the last three months.

  Mr. Trippier
  In the last three months the development corporation has submitted one section 7(1) application in respect of housing, associated uses and open space on a 16·7 ha site at Norton Fields, Runcorn. Statutory consultations in relation to this application are being undertaken.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making in his discussions with private water companies concerning his request that they shall not raise water charges for 1989–90 by more than 10 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 14 March at column 211–12 pursuant to the answer I gave to his question of 23 February.

  Association of County Councils
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the officers of the Association of County Councils; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Association of County Councils and the other local authority associations on 29 November last year. The matters discussed were the associations' responses to the consultation papers "Capital Expenditure and Finance" and "Local Authorities' Interests in Companies".

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to revise the granting of tax allowances to large corporations in enterprise zones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have no plans at present to revise enterprise zone benefits.

  District Plans
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether planning inspectors take into account draft district plans before they complete their statutory confirmation.
  644
  Mr. Chope
  In dealing with called-in planning applications and appeals, inspectors may have regard to local plans that are going through the statutory procedures leading to their adoption or approval. The weight to be accorded to such a plan will increase as successive stages in the statutory procedures are reached. Further advice is given in DOE circular 22/84.

  Sewage Discharges
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sewer outfalls discharge untreated sewage into coastal waters.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 20 March at column 420.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when concessions were granted by his Department to South West Water to discharge raw sewage into fresh watercourses in the South Hams constituency; for how long the concessions last; and if he will review the arrangements;

  (2) what quantity of raw sewage is discharged into fresh watercourses, following concessions granted by his Department to South West Water; how regularly it is permitted; and what steps are taken to neutralise that discharge so that the waters are purified to an acceptable standard;

  (3) how many concessions have been granted by his Department to the South West Water authority to discharge raw sewage into fresh watercourses on the South Hams constituency; and how many have been granted for the towns of Dartmouth, Salcombe, Totnes, Ivybridge, Brixham and Kingsbridge.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: No such concessions have been granted by the Department.

  Information is not held by the Department in a form which would allow the identification of discharges in any particular area or, where appropriate, any time limits imposed. Details of all consents granted a water authority are, however, held on the register maintained by the water authority which may be inspected, free of charge, at all reasonable hours.

  The only discharges of untreated sewage to inland waters are from storm and emergency overflows. By definition, the operation of these is intermittent and thus conditions imposed reflect this and prescribe when a discharge may take place.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes meeting representatives of small businesses to discuss non-domestic rating.

  Mr. Gummer
  Ministers and officials from my Department frequently meet representatives of both large and small businesses to discuss the Government's arrangements for a fairer and more stable non-domestic rating system from 1 April 1990.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement part II of the Control of Pollution Act since 1974.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The main provisions of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 were brought into force between July 1984 and October 1986. These provided for more effective protection of inland surface and underground waters, the extension of controls to cover all coastal and estuarial waters and public involvement, for the first time, in the water pollution control system.

  These provisions are to be re-enacted and where appropriate strengthened in the Water Bill.

  Water Rates
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the average percentage increase in water rates to be charged by the statutory water companies over the coming year.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South-West (Mr. Madel) on 14 March at columns 211–12, pursuant to his question on 23 February.

  Urban Dereliction
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by urban development corporations in tackling urban dereliction over the last year.

  Mr. Trippier
  Excellent progress has been made. Many illustrations were recorded in "Progress on Cities", produced on 9 March to mark the anniversary of the action for cities initiative. Three particular projects announced that day give an indication of the scope and diversity of UDC activities: a major subsea research, development and testing centre (Teesside DC); a £.1·8 million environmental improvement scheme for the historic Castlefields area of Manchester (Central Manchester DC) and a construction industry training centre in conjunction with Henry Boot Training Ltd. (Black Country DC).

  Housing (Brent)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the housing investment programme allocation for 1989–90 for the London borough of Brent.

  Mr. Trippier
  An initial allocation of £15,233 million has been made.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the first report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be published.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The first report of HMIP was published today.

  The report gives a full account of the inspectorate's activities and achievements in its first year of existence,
  646
  from April 1987 to March 1988, and touches on some of the major developments in 1988–89. HMIP's first annual report comes at a time of increased awareness of environmental and pollution issues. It should be of interest to everyone with a direct concern in pollution control including central and local government, industry, pollution specialists, pressure groups and researchers.

  We set up HMIP in 1987 to provide a more effective and efficient basis for carrying out pollution control. Its formation laid the foundation for an integrated approach to pollution control. We accept that improving environmental standards demands high levels of monitoring and enforcement and adequate resources. The inspectorate's first report demonstrates the vitally important contribution that its activities are making to the protection and enhancement of the environment.

  We have already taken the lead in Europe in preparing an integrated pollution control system. Integrated pollution control is the way legislation on environmental protection will develop across Europe in the 1990s.

  The system will enable us to achieve a real and lasting overall reduction in pollution. We have recently strengthened the inspectorate's professional capability by the addition of 13 posts. This will ensure that they will remain in the vanguard of the Government's initiatives on environmental policy.

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Rate Defaulters (Imprisonment)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were imprisoned in England year by year since 1979 for defaulting on their domestic rate payments; and what was the average term of imprisonment.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of people imprisoned in England and Wales since 1979 because of non-payment of rates was:

  Number

  1979

  525

  1980

  465

  1981

  415

  1982

  483

  1983

  461

  1984

  420

  1985

  384

  1986

  366

  1987

  350

  Information for England only and on the average term of imprisonment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Magpies
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further studies he has made, since 1985, of the increase in the number of magpies in England and Wales, and the effect of this on the songbird population, particularly in the south of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Nature Conservancy Council has supplied information on the magpie population from the results of the common bird census
  647
  carried out annually by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). The NCC advise that magpie numbers in parts of southern England have increased markedly in recent years. Present evidence, pending the outcome of further studies, is that predation by magpies is only one of a number of complex factors affecting the population of small birds.

  I understand that a research project by the BTO and the university of Sheffield, sponsored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, will commence shortly to assess the effect of magpies on songbird populations. The Game Conservancy has a study under way of magpie predation of gamebirds.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average housing association rent in Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, Westminster and the City of London; and what this is predicted to be for (i) fair rent tenancies and (ii) assured tenancies by 1991 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Trippier
  In 1988 the average annual registered rents for housing association property in the London boroughs specified, with the exception of the City of London for which no information is available, were as follows:

  £

  Camden

  1,424

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,382

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,339

  Islington

  1,299

  Westminster

  1,630

  The figures include both furnished and unfurnished accommodation, but do not include rents for property let under assured tenancies or occupied under licence for which information is not available.

  No predictions are made of future rent levels.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing associations and local authority homes have been completed annually between 1978–79 and 1988–89 in the central London boroughs of Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, Westminster and the City of London.

  Mr. Trippier
  Housebuilding completions reported as taking place in these housing authorities in each calendar year from 1980 to 1987 appear in the "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas; 1980 to 1987". Figures for 1978, 1979 and the first half of 1988 were published in "Local Housing Statistics" issues 49, 59 and 87 respectively.

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Water Quality
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of breaches in 1988 in the EEC guide levels and maximum concentrations for (a) iron, (b) manganese, (c) copper, (d) zinc, (e) phosphorus, (f) barium, (g) cadmium, (h) chromium, (i) mercury, (j) nickel and (k) lead in water intended for human consumption supplied by the Thames water authority from the Hampton treatment works;
  648
  (2) if he will list in the Official Report the number of breaches in 1988 in the EEC guide levels and maximum concentrations for (a) herbicides, (b) fungicides, (c) PCBs, (d) insecticides, (e) total bacteria counts, (f) faecal coliforms and (g) faecal streptococci in water intended for human consumption supplied by the Thames water authority from the Hampton treatment works;

  (3) if he will list in the Official Report the number of breaches in 1988 in the EEC guide levels and maximum concentrations for (a) chlorides, (b) sulphates, (c) magnesium, (d) sodium, (e) potassium, (f) nitrates, (g) aluminium, (h) nitrites and (i) phenols in water intended for human consumption supplied by the Thames water authority from the Hampton treatment works.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand from Thames water authority that the water leaving the Hampton treatment works complied with the standards set in the EC drinking water directive for all the parameters listed by the hon. Member during 1988 except for a single sample which exceeded the herbicide standard.

  I have no information in relation to EC guide levels.

  Rain Forest
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from Dr. John Houghton, director general of the Meteorological Office, about his request for information about the climatological consequences of the destruction of the Brazilian rain forest.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department will continue to keep in touch with the work led by Dr. John Houghton which I described in my reply to the hon. Member on 17 March,Official Report, column 367.

  Sewage Discharges
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sewerage outlets discharge untreated raw sewage into the sea.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave today to the Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy).

  Construction Aggregates
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish new guidance on the supply of construction aggregates.

  Mr. Chope
  Planning guidelines for aggregates provision in England and Wales are being published today in mineral planning guidance note 6 and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library. It updates and replaces advice issued previously in DOE circular 21/82 and Welsh Office circular 30/82 and has been prepared following a public consultation exercise in 1988. The guidelines recognise that there is a need to ensure continuity of supplies to the construction industry of basic raw materials, and to meet demand. However, it is very important to strike the best balance of social, environmental and economic costs, and the guidelines demonstrate the burden of responsibility on mineral planning authorities in deciding applications for aggregate mineral extraction.
  649
  Aggregates working is often noisy, dusty and visually intrusive and the Government believe that industry, in consultation with local planning authorities, should make every effort to reduce these damaging effects. There is also a need to apply the national and regional guidelines at the mineral planning authority level and the Government believe that this important work should be treated as a priority task by the planning authorities and the regional aggregates working parties. In addition this recent review of the guidelines and the public consultation exercise have highlighted a number of long-term supply issues and these will be addressed by the Government through the Department of the Environment's mineral planning research programme.

  London Residuary Body (Superannuation Fund)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received from the London residuary body in respect to the transfer of its superannuation fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend has received proposals from Sir Godfrey Taylor, chairman of the London residuary body (LRB), under section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985 for the transfer to a new corporate body on 1 April 1990 of the superannuation fund and associated functions, rights and liabilities which it inherited on the abolition of the former Greater London council.

  My right hon. Friend is minded to accept the LRB's proposals, with certain modifications, and will shortly be commencing consultations with the London boroughs, including the City, and other interested parties over an outline for the transfer of these responsibilities. The scheme proposes the establishment of a new "London Pensions Fund", a corporate body with a membership of between seven and 11 members appointed by my right hon. Friend. It would have an independent chairman, with the remaining board members being drawn equally from London local government and independent sources. It is proposed that the London Pensions Fund would be brought within the scope of local government legislation.

  My right hon. Friend will also be seeking views on the establishment of a voluntary consultative committee which he might consult over appointments to the London Pensions Fund.

  Transferred Property (Sales)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his policy will be in relation to requests for his consent under sections 105 and 133 of the Housing Act 1988 to sales of transferred property by a mortgagee or chargee in possession.

  Mr. Trippier
  Subject to certain exceptions (notably sales under the right to buy), sections 105 and 133 of the Housing Act 1988 require my consent to be obtained before property which has been transferred by local authorities under section 32 or 43 of the Housing Act 1985 or by public sector landlords under part IV of the 1988 Act ("tenants' choice") may be disposed of by its new owners.

  We understand that some prospective acquirers of property under these powers have it in mind to apply, at the time when a mortgage or other charge is granted on transferred property as security for a loan, for my consent
  650
  to subsequent disposals should certain defined circumstances arise. My right hon. Friend will, of course, consider all applications for consent under sections 105 and 133 on their merits. Subject to that, however, my right hon. Friend will be prepared in principle to consider sympathetically applications at the time when such mortgages and charges are to be granted for my consent under either section 105 or section 133 to subsequent disposals of transferred dwellings by named mortgagees and chargees in the exercise of a power of sale, provided:
  that the dwellings to be disposed of are vacant when the power of sale is exercised;
  that the sales are to individuals intending to use the dwellings as their only or principal homes; that the sales are at the best price that can reasonably be obtained; and that the sales are by the mortgagee or chargee in exercise of the power of sale contained in the original mortgage or charge.

  Forest Proposal (Midlands)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has considered and responded to the Countryside Commission's proposal for the creation of a new forest in the midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: I understand that the Countryside Commission intends to submit proposals For the creation of a new forest in the midlands to the Department later this year, alter considering a feasibility study by consultants and carrying out consultations with the Forestry Commission and other interests.

  Docklands (Tourism)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to develop tourism in docklands.

  Mr. David Trippier
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The LDDC fully recognises the tourism potential of docklands. It has responsibility for tourism and leisure, projects to improve information to tourists and the tourism industry, projects to conserve and improve the environment and restore historic buildings, and it is attracting imaginative private sector developments, including proposals likely to bring in visitors. Public transport improvements are also helping.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what tourist facilities are being built into Canary wharf.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: Canary wharf is planned to include 500,000 sq ft of retailing arid other leisure facilities and extensive public places.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce new limits for diesel engine pollutants emissions.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  We shall be consulting shortly on regulations which will apply limits on gaseous emissions from diesel engined vehicles for the first time.

  For cars we shall apply European standards in two stages. The first stage (directive 83/351/EEC') sets

  651
  standards identical to those which currently apply to petrol-engined vehicles. It will take effect on 1 October 1990. The second stage (directive 88/76/EEC) will apply the same limits that will mean the general fitment of catalysts to petrol-engined cars. It will take effect by 1 October 1993.

  On 1 October 1990 we shall also apply the European particulate limits for diesel-engined cars (directive 88/436/EEC). Special arrangements in line with all these directives will be made for direct injection diesel-engined cars.

  For all other diesel-engined vehicles we shall apply the recently agreed European standard on gaseous emissions (directive 88/77/EEC) at the earliest date permitted, 1 October 1990.

  Discussions are continuing in the European Community on a tightening of the 88/77/EEC standards and on the introduction of particulate limits for these other categories of vehicle.

  UN Environment Programme
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who represented Her Majesty's Government at the latest United Nations environment programme conference in Basle on the international trade and regulation of hazardous and toxic wastes; what proposals were made at the conference by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement about the outcome of the conference.

  Mr. Ridley
  My noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside led the United Kingdom delegation at the diplomatic conference in Basle. I will make a statement about the conference as soon as possible.

SCOTLAND

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected residual regional develpment grant expenditure for Scotland for 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Estimated gross expenditure on regional development grant, including both the original and revised schemes, in 1988–89 is expected to be around £76 million. Planned net provision for 1989–90 is £61·2 million—details are published in the supply estimates.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected regional selective assistance expenditure in Scotland for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Planned net provision for regional selective assistance and related schemes (including regional enterprise grants), consistent with the figures published in "Public Expenditure to 1991–92, A Commentary on the Scotland Programme," for 1989–90, 1990–91 aand 1991–92 is £63 million, £80 million and £80 million respectively.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure on regional development grant for each of the years 1983–84 to 1987–88 inclusive, and the estimated expenditure for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: Total gross expenditures on regional development grant under both
  652
  the original and revised schemes in the years 1983–84 to 1987–88 inclusive are £143 million, £109·2 million, £107·5 million, £170·2 million and £78 million respectively. Estimated gross expenditure in 1988–89 is expected to be around £76 million. Planned provision for 1989–90 is published in the Supply estimates. Planned net provision, consistent with the figures published in "Public Expenditure to 1991–92, A Commentary on the Scotland Programme", for each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is approximately £30 million.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Development Agency about its future.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I have regular meetings with the board of the Scottish Development Agency about its future plans. Most recently, my right hon. and learned Friend met the Chairman, Sir David Nickson, on 7 March.

  Landfill Sites (Inspectors)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inspectors responsible for landfill sites are currently employed in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The authorities responsible for landfill sites are the district and islands councils. The hazardous waste inspectorate of the Scottish Development Department, which examines the management of hazardous waste by the responsible authorities, employs six staff for a part of their time equivalent to about two full-time officers.

  Illegal Dumping
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy towards central Government subsidy of incinerators as a means of removing the cost incentive for illegal dumping.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: Government policy is that the full costs of disposal and treatment should be met by waste producers. The Government have proposed strengthened and extended controls, including a duty of care on producers and holders of waste to ensure its legal disposal.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy towards the imposition of heavier fines on people convicted of illegal waste-dumping.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: Fine levels are set against a five point standard scale, which is subject to periodic review. The penalty imposed in any individual case is for the court to determine.

  Re-Chem Incinerator (Bonnybridge)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the closure of the Re-Chem incinerator at Bonnybridge.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The Government received four representations in 1984, two from industry, one from the industrial

  653
  waste panel (Scotland) and one from Glasgow college of technology expressing concern about the closure. None has been received since then.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy towards the compilation of a register of hazardous waste producers, with information relating to the means of waste disposal in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The disposal of controlled waste in Scotland is governed by the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977 and the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980. All waste must be disposed of at a site which is being used in accordance with a licence issued by the waste disposal authority for the area, and the waste disposal authority must keep available at its principal office a register of these licences. The special waste regulations make provision for a system of consignment notes to be used by those who produce, transfer for disposal or dispose of special waste so that the waste disposal authority concerned is properly informed.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make it his policy to give statutory powers of enforcement to the hazardous waste inspectorate in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The proposals for amendments to waste disposal law, which were announced by the Scottish Development Department on 14 February, including the placing of the inspectorate on a statutory footing.

  Waste Disposal
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures are proposed for giving citizens in Scotland greater access to information about the transportation and disposal of waste in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: Under the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977, every waste disposal authority keeps a register of site licences, which is available for public inspection at its principal office. Some of the Government's proposals to strengthen and extend the controls on waste disposal, including the registration of waste handlers, will result in greater public access to information.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take in order to deter illegal waste dumping in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The Government support the proposals in the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Bill to deter illegal waste dumping. The Scottish Development Department will shortly be issuing a follow-up consultation paper on waste disposal law amendment, which will address the subject.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the transportation of waste from Scotland to Third world countries in exchange for foreign currency.
  654
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: This information is not held centrally, but the hazardous waste inspectorate of the Scottish Development Department Is not aware of any traffic of this kind.

  Landfill Sites
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of landfill sites by district in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: Our latest information on the number of landfill sites where an operating licence or council resolution is in force is as follows:

  Number

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  3

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  5

  Roxburgh

  3

  Tweeddale

  1

  Tweeddale

  1

  Central

  Clackmannan

  6

  Falkirk

  19

  Stirling

  8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  5

  Nithsdale

  6

  Stewartry

  10

  Wigtown

  9

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  20

  Kirkcaldy

  17

  North East Fife

  9

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  16

  Banff and Buchan

  19

  Gordon

  14

  Kincardine and Deeside

  8

  Moray

  11

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  2

  Caithness

  7

  Inverness

  1

  Lochaber

  8

  Ross and Cromarty

  5

  Skye and Lochalsh

  3

  Sutherland

  8

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  9

  Edinburgh

  12

  Midlothian

  11

  West Lothian

  15

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  1

  Clydebank

  1

  Clydesdale

  7

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  8

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  3

  Cunninghame

  16

  Dumbarton

  5

  East Kilbride

  6

  Eastwood

  3

  Glasgow

  12

  Hamilton

  10

  Inverclyde

  4

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  4

  Kyle and Carrick

  4

  655

  Number

  Monklands

  6

  Motherwell

  8

  Renfrew

  17

  Strathkelvin

  14

  Tayside

  Angus

  11

  Dundee

  7

  Perth and Kinross

  21

  Islands

  Orkney

  18

  Shetland

  6

  Western Isles

  7

  TOTAL

  469

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change there has been in the level of employment in Scotland since 1979.

  Number of incidents

  Year

  Wildlife

  Domestic animals

  Number of victims (baits only)

  Species involved

  Number of species

  Pesticides involved

  1984

  10

  12

  2

  Eagles

  2

  Aldrin

  Buzzards

  4

  Chloralose

  Peregrine Falcon

  1

  Mevinphos

  Tawny Owl

  1

  Strychnine

  Corvids

  10

  Gulls

  4

  Pigeons

  4

  Song birds

  8

  Domestic animals

  17

  1985

  20

  8

  4

  Eagles

  3

  Chloralose

  Buzzards

  9

  Mevinphos

  Sparrow Hawk

  1

  Strychnine

  Corvids

  12

  Gulls

  18

  Pigeon

  1

  Foxes

  2

  Domestic animals

  13

  1986

  19

  6

  2

  Eagle

  1

  Chloralose

  Buzzards

  10

  Mevinphos

  Sparrow Hawks

  2

  Strychnine

  Kestrel

  1

  Herons

  6

  Corvids

  4

  Gull

  1

  Pigeons

  2

  Fox

  1

  Domestic animals

  13

  1987

  23

  8

  7

  Eagles

  2

  Chloralose

  Buzzards

  9

  Fenthion

  Corvids

  40

  Mevinphos

  Gulls

  3

  Strychnine

  Pigeons

  2

  Song birds

  3

  Domestic animals

  9

  1988

  20

  9

  6

  Eagles

  4

  Bendiocarb

  Buzzards

  7

  Carbofuran

  Tawny Owls

  2

  Chloralose

  Corvids

  27

  Metaldehyde

  Gulls

  6

  Mevinphos

  Pigeons

  4

  Strychnine

  Song birds

  10

  Fox

  1

  Hen Harrier

  1

  Domestic animals

  11

  656
  Mr. Lang
  Between June 1979 and June 1988 the civilian work force in employment in Scotland is provisionally estimated to have fallen by 77,000, but in the most recent five years there was an increase of 106,000. These estimates are subject to revision when the results of the 1987 census of employment become available.

  Wildlife Poisoning
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each of the last five years the number of cases of wildlife poisoning in Scotland caused by the illegal use of pesticides or poisoning; and if he will identify the species involved and if possible the poison or pesticide involved.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of incidents and affected species involving the illegal use of pesticides or misuse of poisons against wildlife in Scotland, as confirmed by the wildlife incident investigation service, in each of the years from 1984 to 1988, are given in the table.
  657

  Conservation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is Forestry Commission policy on leaving unplanted areas of archaeological, scientific or wildlife value on Forestry Commission land; and whether the commission has a rule of thumb as to the percentage of unplanted land it will maintain in its operational forests;

  (2) whether the Forestry Commission has examined the wildlife conservation value of its properties in the lowlands of England and Wales; what is the policy of the commission on leaving areas in such properties unplanted if this is seen to be in the best interests of nature conservation; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The wildlife conservation value of the Forestry Commission's properties throughout Great Britain has been carefully examined in the course of drawing up conservation plans for each of its forest districts. These plans contain environmental management policies for the forests as a whole and prescriptions for sites of particular conservation value.

  All well-designed forests have a proportion of open space within them for environmental as wel as practical reasons. These include not only roads and rides needed for operational purposes, but open spaces left for the protection of sites of archaeological value, the provision of deer glades, the needs of particular flora and fauna, and the development of recreation. Open spaces near water are of particular value. Since each conservation plan is tailored to the circumstances of individual sites, there is no fixed percentage of land to be left unplanted, but it is often of the order of 15 per cent. Where open space is lacking in existing forests opportunities are sought to create it at the earliest practical opportunity.

  Further information is given in the four environment leaflets published recently by the Forestry Commission, copies of which are in the Library. In addition, the commission is preparing a more comprehensive booklet giving guidelines on nature conservation in forests.

  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas of woodland grant scheme applications in excess of 100 hectares submitted since the start of the scheme in Scotland, showing for which of these an environmental assessment has been requested by the Forestry Commission; and if he will give reasons why environmental assessment has not been requested for any remaining applications.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Those applications received under the woodland grant scheme for more than 100 hectares of new planting in Scotland are listed in the tables. Environmental assessments have been requested for nine of these applications. An environmental assessment was not requested for the others, either because the applications were received before the environmental assessment provisions took effect or because they did not meet the criteria specified in the Forestry Commission booklet "Environmental Assessment of Afforestation Projects". A copy of this booklet is in the Library.

  In addition, environmental assessments have been requested for six applications of less than 100 hectares.
  658

  Name

  Region

  Area (ha)

  Applications for which an Environmental Assessment was requested

  Auchenroy and Dalcairnie

  Strathclyde

  419

  Brabster farm 2

  Highland

  564

  Corrielair

  Highland

  458

  Cnoc Nan Gall

  Highland

  231

  Gorteneorn

  Highland

  296

  Gulls Nest

  Grampian

  298

  The Hope

  Highland

  233

  Pitcarmick

  Tayside

  160

  Turbiskill Farm

  Strathclyde

  207

  Applications for which no Environmental Assessment was requested

  Ashkirktown

  Borders

  228

  Lumsdane

  Borders

  130

  Philogar

  Borders

  161

  Shankend II

  Borders

  154

  Bannockburn

  Central

  223

  Castlewood

  Central

  117

  Albierigg and Barascroft

  Dumfries and Galloway

  178

  Archbank and Pirnierig

  Dumfries and Galloway

  209

  Breckonside

  Dumfries and Galloway

  189

  Drumhumphrie

  Dumfries and Galloway

  127

  Ericstane

  Dumfries and Galloway

  168

  High Muir

  Dumfries and Galloway

  105

  Knockower Plann A

  Dumfries and Galloway

  278

  Knockower Plann B

  Dumfries and Galloway

  215

  Ballindalloch

  Grampian

  214

  Ben Rinnes the Convals

  Grampian

  596

  Berryley

  Grampian

  164

  Berrymoss

  Grampian

  129

  Boghead of Inverkeithley

  Grampian

  107

  Chraad farm

  Grampian

  160

  East Side Glendye

  Grampian

  1,077

  Hillpark

  Grampian

  110

  Hillside

  Grampian

  203

  Jocks Hill

  Grampian

  309

  Parkmore

  Grampian

  170

  Shians

  Grampian

  245

  West Touxhill

  Grampian

  161

  Achany

  Highland

  147

  Coishletter

  Highland

  602

  Corrary

  Highland

  163

  Dundreggan

  Highland

  107

  Glentruim

  Highland

  365

  Knoydart

  Highland

  681

  Limekiln and Whitewell

  Highland

  1,072

  Lochluichart (1)

  Highland

  253

  Lochluichart (2)

  Highland

  218

  Lochluichart (3)

  Highland

  211

  Lochluichart (4)

  Highland

  250

  Loubcroy

  Highland

  202

  Maol Donn

  Highland

  272

  Moll

  Highland

  101

  Sciberscross

  Highland

  790

  Strathvaich

  Highland

  360

  Trien plantation

  Highland

  164

  Tulchan

  Highland

  373

  Wyvis Estate

  Highland

  317

  Craigshiel Block A

  Strathclyde

  176

  Crossaig

  Strathclyde

  142

  Darbyburn Forest

  Strathclyde

  657

  Kilwhannel

  Strathclyde

  115

  Lambhill

  Strathclyde

  554

  Lambhill

  Strathclyde

  619

  Lennox

  Strathclyde

  255

  Lochorodale

  Strathclyde

  259

  Mosslingal

  Strathclyde

  530

  North Carse

  Strathclyde

  359

  Pennyghael

  Strathclyde

  105

  Upper Beoch

  Strathclyde

  582

  Brerachan

  Tayside

  189

  Fossoway

  Tayside

  165

  Glen Sherup

  Tayside

  123

  Kinnaird

  Tayside

  214

  North Hill

  Tayside

  103

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the Forestry Commission's planting operations in 1987–88, in terms of(a) direct costs of the planting in the year and (b) supervisory costs and overheads related to that planting.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  New planting

  Restocking

  Direct (forest) costs

  4·37

  6·59

  Supervisory costs and overheads

  1·53

  3·51

  Total costs

  5·90

  10·10

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and purchase dates of the blocks of land of areas greater than 100 hectares which were newly planted by the Forestry Commission in 1987–88.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Name

  Location1

  Area (hectares)

  Year of purchase

  Glenforsa

  Mull (North)

  160

  1977

  Dyke

  Dornoch (North)

  163

  1976

  Dalnessie

  Dornoch (North)

  243

  1957

  Invershin

  Dornoch (North)

  171

  1978

  Achormlarie

  Dornoch (North)

  257

  1983

  Dunans

  Cowal (Mid)

  129

  1980

  Skipness

  Kintyre (Mid)

  182

  1972

  Camusericht

  Perthshire (Mid)

  243

  1975

  Glassie Hill

  Perthshire (Mid)

  298

  1982

  Kinnelhead

  Nithsdale (South)

  121

  1965

  Dalwyne

  Ayrshire (South)

  323

  1984

  Drumlamford

  Newton Stewart (South)

  164

  1983

  Laggish

  Newton Stewart (South)

  147

  1983

  1All the land was in Scotland. The locations shown are by Forestry Commission forest districts, with the conservancy indicated in brackets.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what areas of land the Forestry Commission proposed to newly plant in the year 1988–89; and if he will list, by Forestry Commission conservancies, the total area to be planted and the names and locations of the blocks over 100 hectares.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Areas proposed for planting

  Conservancy

  Area (hectares)

  North England

  81

  East England

  16

  West England

  17

  Wales

  81

  North Scotland

  1,929

  Mid Scotland

  1,092

  South Scotland

  955

  Total

  4,171

  660

  Areas over 100 hectares

  Name

  Location1

  Area (hectares)

  Scotsburn

  Easter Ross (North)

  199

  Glenforsa

  Mull (North)

  150

  Corriemonie

  Fort Augustus (North)

  139

  Loch an Doire

  Lochaber (North)

  114

  Invershin

  Dornoch (North)

  183

  Achormlarie

  Dornoch (North)

  193

  Tannach Hill

  Dornoch (North)

  120

  Skipness

  Kintyre (Mid)

  387

  Carron

  Loch Awe (Mid)

  127

  Kinharvie

  Nithsdale (South)

  126

  Lamdoughty

  Ayrshire (South)

  259

  Whiteknowe/Badrochat

  Newton Stewart (South)

  388

  1 All the land was in Scotland. The locations shown are by Forestry Commission Forest Districts, with the Conservancy indicated in brackets.

  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will expand his response to "Forestry in Scotland" by the Countryside Commission and "Forestry in Scotland: Planning the Way Ahead" by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My letters to the chairman of the Countryside Commission for Scotland and the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities provide a full response to the reports by the commission and the convention respectively. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

  Roads
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1991–92, the provision for value-added tax liability on new construction within the budgets given for capital expenditure on roads by his Department and the local authorities in Scotland in chapter 17 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1989–90 to 1991–92."

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The relevant provision for trunk roads is £13·9 million, £19 million and £20·7 million respectively for the years in question. Allocations to local authorities for capital expenditure on road construction do not include provision for VAT liabilities. Local authorities are able to reclaim VAT where supply is not for the purpose of business activities.

  Drinking Water (Contamination)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all water supplies in Scotland that are in breach of the EEC directive on water quality in respect of safety limits in lead in drinking water; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The water supplies concerned are listed in the table. Improvement work is in hand for all these supplies and in most cases will be completed by the end of this year. Of the remaining 17 supplies, all in Strathclyde and Lothian regions, 15 are expected to comply with the EC limit not later than mid-1991 and two major schemes, of which lead remedial work is only a part, will extend into 1992.

  Authority and Supply

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Areeming (Springholm)

  Auchneel (Stranraer)

  661

  Black Esk (Annandale/Eskdale)

  Carsphairn

  Creet own

  Euchan (Kirkconnel)

  Glengap (Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse)

  Kettleton (Central Nithsdale)

  Killyl our (Dumfries)

  Landheads (Annan)

  Langholm

  Lochfoot

  Lochinvar (Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie)

  Loch Roan (Castle Douglas)

  Millburn (Palnure)

  Moffat

  New Abbey (South-West Nithsdale)

  Newton Stewart

  Penwhirn (Wigtown District)

  Sanquhar

  Wanlockhead

  Winterhope (South-East Annandale, Eskdale)

  Grampian Region

  Aberlour, Dufftown, Tomintoul

  Black Hills (Lossiemouth)

  Craigmill (Forres)

  Cullen

  Forehill (Peterhead, St. Fergus)

  Fortrie (Macduff, Gardenstown)

  Herricks (Keith)

  Hillhead (Fraserburgh) Newbigging (Inverurie)

  Terpersie (Strathdon, Strathbogie)

  Upper Deeside (Aboyne, Ballater)

  Wrack (Banff)

  Highland Region

  Ardnamurchan

  Calder and Hoy (Thurso)

  Corpach/Caol

  Fort William

  Helmsdale

  North Speyside

  Oldtown (Inverness)

  South Speyside

  Lothian Region

  Fairmilehead/Alnwickhill

  (parts of Edinburgh)

  Strathclyde Region

  Afton (Cumnock and Doon Valley)

  Bradan (North Ayrshire)

  Camphill (North Ayrshire, Paisley)

  Camps (parts of Clydesdale, Hamilton, Motherwell districts)

  Garshake (Dumbarton)

  Loch Ascog (Rothesay)

  Loch Eck (Dunoon area)

  Loch Lomond (hulk) (North Glasgow)

  Loch Lomond (Dumbarton, Leven)

  Loch Sloy (Arrochar, Gareloch)

  Luss

  Millglen (Ardrossan)

  Muirdykes (Paisley, Johnstone, etc.)

  Overton (Leven)

  Picketlaw (Eaglesham, Clarkston)

  South Moorhouse (Newton Mearns, Giffnock, etc)

  Spallander (Kyle and Carrick)

  Tayside Region

  Aberfeldy

  Acharn

  Alyth

  Burnhead (Blairgowrie)

  Camserney

  Clash (Kirriemuir)

  Grandtully

  Kenmore

  Kinloch Rannoch

  Lintrathen (Coupar Angus)

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in implementing section 5 of 662
  the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, in respect of its obligation to place duties upon educational authorities and social services authorities to identify, assess and provide for the needs of people with mental handicaps at the time that they move out of full-time education; and what arrangements have been made to ensure that these facilities are being monitored in respect of their implementation in terms of quality of life.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Section 5 does not apply in Scotland. The relevant provision is section 13 which came into operation on 1 February 1988. We are currently considering appropriate monitoring arrangements.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement sections 1 and 2 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and whether he will meet the cost implications required to appoint authorised representatives for all people with mental handicaps in connection with the provision of services and the right to obtain relevant information to facilitate an informed choice of a selection of appropriate support services.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A date for implementing sections 1 and 2 has not yet been set. The cost implications of those provisions will be the subject of consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other interests.

  Legall Aid
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish legal aid board will be authorised to pay legal aid accounts in cases where prior to the commencement of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations, work carried out by the solicitor had the effect of bringing proceedings to an end before a full section 1 application was determined.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In terms of a determination under section 4(2)(c) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, as amended, dated 29 July 1988, the Scottish legal aid board may make payments under specified conditions in cases where full civil legal aid is not made available.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which date will be fixed by the Scottish legal aid board as the date of notification by a solicitor that the £60 limit has been exceeded, under the terms of the Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Prospective Cost (No. 3) Regulations, 1988.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The date of the solicitor's letter notifying the Scottish legal aid board that the £60 limit has been exceeded.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance is given concerning any provisions there are for payment in full of legal aid to solicitors, under the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) and (No. 3) Regulations 1988, where work is undertaken in good faith for a client who was believed to be eligible for legal aid; and from whom it was agreed to accept payment by instalments towards his estimated legal aid contribution, on which the client subsequently defaults after legal aid has been refused.
  663
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In a letter to the profession dated 5 August 1988, and in the winter 1988 edition of its quarterly journal The Recorder, the Scottish legal aid board has advised solicitors to make such arrangements with clients as will protect them against the possibility of a refusal by the client to pay, noting that this is ultimately a matter between solicitor and client.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to increase the number of management agreements negotiated to date in environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland and improve their attractiveness to farmers and crofter within environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has published explanatory leaflets and held public meetings in each of the designated areas in Scotland to publicise the scheme. Local officers of the Department and Scottish agricultural college advisory staff are available to provide information and advice to farmers or crofters in the designated areas.

  Sports Medicine
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of health expenditure is devoted to sports medicine; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will state the number of consultants engaged in sports medicine and the health boards by whom they are employed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to expand the practice of sports medicine within the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of medical services for the treatment of injuries whether sporting or otherwise is for individual health boards.

  Education Initiatives
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the main education initiatives which the Government have undertaken in Scotland since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A list, with short descriptions, of the main initiatives undertaken in Scottish education since 1979 follows:

  1. Standard Grade—Introduction to schools of new courses and examinations for age 14–16 that give every pupil credit for his or her achievements.

  2. Action Plan—A new deal in education and training for age 16+, bringing pre-vocational and vocational training up to date and fitting it to the needs of employers and individuals.

  3. Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) —A national programme to provide within the school curriculum for the practical and applied skills and attitudes needed in employment in the years ahead.

  4. Industry' Education Initiative—A national measure to increase links between schools and employers so that each has a better understanding of the others needs and requirements.

  5. Curriculum and Assessment—A review of the primary and early secondary curriculum and of assessment
  664
  procedures, to introduce better quality and greater consistency in the delivery of education, and make the good practice of some the standard for all.

  6. Modern Languages—Planned extension of competence in a modern European language to all pupils.

  7. Special Educational Needs—More effective procedures to identify, record and make suitable provision for pupils with severe handicap. 1981 Act.

  8. Pupils with Learning Difficulties—Development of better provision and support for those pupils.

  9. Information Technology—Support for provision of computers in all schools.

  10. Equipment for Science and Technology—Support for extension and modernisation of equipment in schools.

  11. Research—Research projects to support all major Government initiatives.

  12. Publication of Inspection Reports on Schools—Reports produced on all schools which have been subjected to a full inspection, for information to parents and exemplification of good practice.

  13. Training for Teachers

  13.1 All graduate entry to teaching announced in 1983. New degree course for primary teaching introduced in 1984; degrees for music and technology teaching in 1987.

  13.2 Revised and extended postgraduate courses with more emphasis on school experience and the integration of theory and practice (primary-1986, secondary-1987).

  13.3 Better delivery of in-service training by:

  the introduction in 1984 of a specific grant to education authorities to encourage priority to nationally important topics; indentification of priority areas through the creation of the Scottish Council for Staff Development in Education (SCOSDE) in 1987; and

  an enabling clause in the self-Governing Schools Etc (Scotland) Bill currently before Parliament to introduce the appraisal of teachers' performance.

  14. Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Service—Revision through agreement of teachers' pay and conditions of service in 1987, which made specific provision for

  14.1 the appointment of a new grade of senior teacher;

  14.2 time away from the classroom for parents' evenings;

  14.3 time for in-service training and other forms of professional development (PAT).

  15. Staff Development

  15.1 A major management training programme for headteachers has been launched.

  15.2 More training support is planned for probationer teachers.

  15.3 Views have been invited on a voucher scheme to stimulate teachers' personal professional development.

  16. Parental Choice—Introduction of a right for parents to choose their children's school. More than 13 per cent. of pupils at P1 stage are now the subject of a placing request, more than 10 per cent. of pupils at S1. More than 90 per cent. of placing requests are granted.

  17. Parental Involvement in Schools—Establishment of School Boards in every local authority school in Scotland by October 1989; membership to include parents, teachers and co-opted members. This will give parents an effective voice in their children's education and in the management of schools.

  18. Assisted Places Scheme—The Assisted Places Scheme, introduced in 1981, has widened the scope for exercise of choice by parents and the range of educational opportunity for children, by enabling parents of modest income to send their children to independent fee-paying schools if they so prefer. The Scheme assists 2,670 pupils, at 41 schools. From 1989–90 the Scheme will be extended to include pupils in the later stages of preparatory schools. The total number of pupils benefiting is expected to rise to about 3,000 by 1991–92.

  19. Technology Academies—An initiative involving private sector sponsorship to extend the scope for choice, to widen the range and diversity of schools available and to raise standards and expectations of pupils, parents and teachers.

  665

  20. Parent Involvement in Discipline—Regulations made in 1982 require parents to be involved in decisions about disciplinary behaviour at a very early stage where exclusion from a school is in prospect. The closer involvement of parents with schools through School Boards will also encourage the partnership between home and school in maintaining good standards of behaviour.

  21. Abolition of Corporal Punishment—Since 1987 corporal punishment has been abolished as a sanction for pupils whose education is directly provided in whole or in part from public funds.

  22. Playground Supervision—Some £4 million has been provided in the Revenue Support Grant settlement in 1989–90, to enable education authorities to provide for proper playground supervision at lunchtimes.

  23. Educational Expenditure—Between 1979–80 and 1987–88 net current expenditure per pupil by local authorities on schools increased in real terms by 39 per cent. (now £1,587 per pupil compared with £1,143 in 1979–80 at 1987–88 prices).

  Burrell Gallery
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the cost of building the Burrell gallery in Glasgow was met by the Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have today authorised the payment of £595,662 in full and final settlement of the Government's grant contribution towards the cost of building the gallery. This will make the final total of Government grant £9,426,160. A total of £1,742,336 was contributed by the Burrell fund and the balance of just under 50 per cent. was met by Glasgow district council.

  Investment Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the will give the total number of applicants(a) received and (b) approved for investment grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988; what was the total amount of expenditure involved; and what the total estimated expenditure planned for that period;

  (2) if he will give the total number of applicants (a) received and (b) approved for innovation grants, from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988; the total amount of expenditure involved and the total estimated expenditure involved and (c) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply, Thursday 16 March 1989]: The information requested is shown for the period 1 April to 31 December.

  Regional Enterprise grants

  Number

  (ii) Investment grants

  Number of applications received

  247

  Number of applications approved

  125

  Value of applications approved

  £772·7 thousand

  (ii) Innovation grants

  Number of applications received

  66

  Number of applications approved

  21

  Value of applications approved

  £481·5 thousand

  The present provision for regional enterprise grants, which covers both investment and innovation grants, for the financial year 1988–89 is £1·6 million.
  666

  Development Corporation Houses
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses from development corporation stock have been sold in each of the new towns since vesting day, expressed as a percentage of the total stock.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply of 23 January, 1989.]: The information, as amended, is set out in the table.

  Total stock

  Total sales

  Percentage sales

  East Kilbride1

  22,585

  9,794

  43·4

  Glenrothes1

  12,095

  5,216

  43·13

  Cumbernauld1

  14,206

  6,857

  48·3

  Livingston2

  12,120

  2,780

  22·9

  Irvine1

  5,264

  1,016

  19·3

  1 As at 31 December 1988.

  2 As at 30 September 1988.

HEALTH

  Pharmaceutical Imports
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the value of pharmaceutical imports from Greece in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have been asked to reply.

  Imports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products from Greece in 1987 and 1988 were £6·7 million and £11·8 million respectively.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give the total national United Kingdorn expenditure on health care provision, including both public and private sector provision, but excluding any double counting, in money terms, for the latest 10 financial years for which figures are available; and whether this includes the voluntary sector;

  (2) if he will give the national United Kingdom expenditure on private sector health care provision in money terms, for the latest 10 financial years for which figures are available; and whether this includes the voluntary sector.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: The following table shows annual United Kingdom public and private health care expenditure in the period 1979 to 1988. The figures are derived from the United Kingdom national accounts prepared by the Central Statistical Office and do not double-count expenditures. The voluntary sector is not separately identified in the national accounts.

  Expenditure on health care in the United Kingdom

  £ billion

  Year

  Net public expenditure

  Private expenditure

  1979

  8·7

  1·1

  1980

  11·9

  1·3

  1981

  13·7

  1·7

  1982

  14·5

  2·0

  1983

  16·3

  2·3

  1984

  17·2

  2·5

  1985

  18·4

  2·8

  1986

  20·0

  3·0

  1987

  22·0

  3·3

  1988

  23·8

  3·8

  South Cumbria District Health Authority
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in revenue have been made in South Cumbria district health authority since 30 September 1982 in cash, real terms and percentages.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Vehicle Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health hazards presented by those exhaust emissions of vehicles which are capable of being reduced or eliminated by catalytic converters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The effects of the relevant primary pollutants, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen, and of secondary pollutants, notably ozone formed by subsequent reactions in the air, have been considered in consultation with United Kingdom experts and through the World Health Organisation. Their assessment is that there is no evidence that current environmental concentrations in the United Kingdom arising from traffic sources present health hazards.

  Social Workers (Training)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has plans for his Department to make a direct contribution to the improvement of the training of social workers dealing with mentally disordered people;

  (2) whether he has had discussions with local authority associations and directors of social services with a view to improving the training and supervision of social workers dealing with mentally disordered people.

  Mr. Mellor
  Social work training is essentially a matter for the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. We have had no discussions with the local authority associations or directors of social services about training for those social workers dealing with the mentally ill.

  General Practice Finance Corporation Ltd.
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the sale of the General Practice Finance Corporation Ltd.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I am pleased to announce that I have accepted an offer of £145 million from Norwich Union Life Insurance Society for the acquisition of all the ordinary share capital of the General Practice Finance Corporation Ltd., and the repayment of the company's indebtedness to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. The transaction is being completed this morning.

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances from the London ambulance service were deployed at the Clapham rail crash; how many St. John ambulance brigade vehicles were brought into use as a result; and if any non-London ambulances were used in London on the day in question.

  Mr. Freeman
  The LAS deployed 35 ambulances, 11 large sitting case vehicles and three small sitting case 668
  vehicles. A further seven vehicles attended the scene from the LAS training school, as well as the emergency control vehicle. In addition, six ambulances from the Surrey ambulance service with support from its control unit and three vehicles from their training school attended. These were the only non-London ambulances used in London on that day. No St. John ambulances were used as a result of the incident.

  Sports Medicine
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of consultants engaged in sports medicine in England and Wales and the health authorities by which they are employed.

  Mr. Mellor
  Sports medicine as such is not a recognised medical speciality so no such figures are available.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of health expenditure in England and Wales is devoted to sports medicine; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has any plans to expand the practice of sports medicine within the National Health Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Treatment for injuries sustained as a result of sport are not separately costed. Some sports injuries will be treated by general practitioners, and others in accident and emergency departments or, for example, hospital orthopaedic departments. This is a matter for clinical judgment by the responsible doctor.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each health district and health region in England and Wales the size of the waiting list on 30 September 1988, the percentage increase or decrease since 31 March 1988, and the national rank order of the district by size of waiting list.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is in the Library. Information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the population of England and Wales in 1986, 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  The estimates of resident population for England and Wales at mid-1986 and mid-1987 are 50,075,000 and 50,243,000 respectively. An estimate for mid-1988 will be available shortly.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales the number of electors on the register for each of 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Freeman
  The figures requested for 1988–89 have been published in "Electroal Statistics, 1988" (Series EL no. 15), a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Similar figures for 1989–90 are still being assembled centrally: they will be published in "Electoral Statistics, 1989" (Series EL no. 16) at the end of May.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental hospitals have been closed in the past year.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is routinely collected but not yet available for 1988. I will place a list in the Library in the near future.

  Children (Secure Accommodation)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged under 16 years are detained in Her Majesty's prisons; and when he expects to provide suitable secure accommodation.

  Mr. Mellor
  Provisional figures for 31 December 1988, the latest date for which information is available, show there were 24 untried males aged 15 remanded to prison department establishments.

  The provision of appropriate alternative facilities including secure accommodation is the statutory responsibility of local authorities. The Department has powers to make grant aid available to meet the capital cost of providing secure accommodation, and is always prepared to consider any application which might be made by local authorities to increase the stock of such facilities.

  Applications from a number of authorities are actively under consideration for the provision of new or extended secure facilities and approval has already been given to build two new secure units in Birmingham and Humberside, which will provide a further 16 secure places.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the arrangements for opting for trust status for hospitals will affect the status and appointment of hospital chaplains.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Hospital chaplains who transfer from health authority employment will retain their existing contracts and rights. For the future, NHS hospital trusts will be free to appoint chaplains on such conditions as they may determine.

  General Practitioners (Contract)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when formal negotiations on the proposed new contract for general practitioners began; how many meetings have taken place between the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association negotiators and his officials; how many hours of negotiation have taken place; how many departmental papers have been sent to the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association negotiators in the context of the negotiations: and how many papers have been received by his officials from the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association in response;

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Formal negotiations on the proposed new contract for general practitioners began in March 1988. They followed on from the Green Paper "Primary Health Care—an agenda for discussion" published in 1986 and the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" published in 1987. Since March 1988 there have 670
  been 18 meetings between the general medical services committee negotiators and my officials and some 100 hours of negotiations. Thirty-three papers from my Department and five from the GMSC have been considered at negotiating meetings.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times he has met the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association to discuss the proposed new contract for general practitioners.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have had three meetings with the general medical services committee to discuss the proposed new contract for general practitioners on 8 September 1988, 9 February 1989 and 20 March 1989. The first two meetings were to review progress on the continuing discussions on the new contract and covered the policy aims of the revised contract very fully. The last meeting was a three-hour discussion of the eight detailed points that the GMSC wished to put to me and its requests for outstanding detailed information.

  The GMSC has always agreed with me that revised regulations and a new statement of fees and allowances are required and should take effect in April 1990. We have agreed a number of points of the new contract including some originally proposed by the GMSC. I have stressed at all three meetings that I believe that we should make progress in the discussions because of the need to give GPs as much notice as possible of the new terms and conditions so that they can adjust their practices to prepare for them.

  I explained to the GMSC at our last meeting that I would reflect on the detailed submissions it put to me and respond to them in the draft regulations and statement that I will now put to it. Further consultation will take place on the terms of the draft regulations and statement.

  Private Residential Homes
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet Age Concern to discuss the rapid increase in the number of private residential homes and its relevance to the report by Sir Roy Griffiths on community care.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: We are currently giving active consideration to the future organisation and management of community care following Sir Roy Griffiths' report. We hope to bring forward our proposals soon and will consider requests for meetings from organisations involved in community care at that stage.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the waiting lists for hearing aids in the Leicester health authority; and what action the Government propose to take to cut them.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: Provision of local health services is a matter for the relevant district health authority, in this case Leicestershire. The hon. Member may care to write to the chairman of the authority for the information he seeks.

  No-fault Compensation
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the British Medical
  671
  Association concerning the introduction of a partial no-fault compensation system for high risk medical practitioners.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 21 March 1989]: We have had no such discussions.

  Health Authorities (Expenditure)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list by each district health authority area the overall levels of spending per head of population;

  (2) if he will list by each district health authority area the levels of spending per head of population by each identifiable cost centre.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 19 December 1988]: District based figures of total revenue expenditure per head of resident population for 1987–88 are shown in the table.

  For information on average treatment costs by type of hospital for health regions and England as a whole I refer the hon. Member to the Department's annual publication "Health Services Costing Returns" (the latest being for 1986–87)—copies of which are held in the Library.

  District health authorities

  Total revenue expenditure per resident £ cash1987–88

  Northern region

  Hartlepool

  233

  North Tees

  181

  South Tees

  253

  East Cumbria

  229

  South Cumbria

  169

  West Cumbria

  195

  Darlington

  253

  Durham

  149

  North West Durham

  215

  South West Durham

  223

  Northumberland

  220

  Gateshead

  168

  Newcastle

  514

  North Tyneside

  134

  South Tyneside

  161

  Sunderland

  223

  Districts total

  229

  Yorkshire region

  Hull

  236

  East Yorkshire

  212

  Grimsby

  207

  Scunthorpe

  151

  Northallerton

  139

  York

  225

  Scarborough

  167

  Harrogate

  211

  Bradford

  214

  Airedale

  191

  Calderdale

  187

  Huddersfield

  224

  Dewsbury

  162

  Leeds Western

  275

  Leeds Eastern

  263

  Wakefield

  339

  Pontefract

  172

  Districts total

  218

  Trent region

  North Derbyshire

  143

  South Derbyshire

  201

  Leicestershire

  196

  North Lincolnshire

  228

  672

  District health authorities

  Total revenue expenditure per resident £ cash 1987–88

  South Lincolnshire

  172

  Bassetlaw

  167

  Central Nottinghamshire

  196

  Nottingham

  254

  Barnsley

  178

  Doncaster

  191

  Rotherham

  170

  Sheffield

  322

  Districts total

  212

  East Anglian Region

  Cambridge

  282

  Peterborough

  202

  West Suffolk

  177

  East Suffolk

  206

  Norwich

  219

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  184

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  166

  Huntingdon

  189

  Districts Total

  209

  North West Thames Region

  North Bedfordshire

  159

  South Bedfordshire

  171

  North Hertfordshire

  149

  East Hertfordshire

  118

  North West Hertfordshire

  283

  South West Hertfordshire

  126

  Barnet

  263

  Harrow

  218

  Hillingdon

  282

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  211

  Ealing

  158

  Brent

  220

  Paddington

  599

  Riverside

  514

  Districts Total

  236

  North East Thames Region

  Basildon and Thurrock

  185

  Mid Essex

  199

  North East Essex

  202

  West Essex

  175

  Southend

  161

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  188

  Hampstead

  592

  Bloomsbury

  1,076

  Islington

  334

  City and Hackney

  483

  Newham

  227

  Tower Hamlets

  485

  Enfield

  166

  Haringey

  270

  Redbridge

  193

  Waltham Forest

  288

  Districts Total

  273

  South East Thames

  Brighton

  218

  Eastbourne

  203

  Hastings

  202

  South East Kent

  158

  Canterbury and Thanet

  217

  Dartford and Gravesham

  229

  Maidstone

  208

  Medway

  164

  Tunbridge Wells

  260

  Bexley

  190

  Greenwich

  300

  Bromley

  205

  West Lambeth

  568

  673

  District health authorities

  Total revenue expenditure per resident £ cash 1987–88

  Camberwell

  374

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  386

  Districts Total

  251

  South West Thames

  North West Surrey

  217

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  134

  South West Surrey

  271

  Mid Surrey

  276

  East Surrey

  288

  Chichester

  199

  Mid Downs

  179

  Worthing

  162

  Croydon

  209

  Kingston and Esher

  258

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  176

  Wandsworth

  543

  Merton and Sutton

  227

  Districts Total

  231

  Wessex Region

  East Dorset

  183

  West Dorset

  199

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  172

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  262

  Winchester

  198

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  199

  Salisbury

  278

  Swindon

  201

  Bath

  190

  Isle of Wight

  207

  Districts Total

  203

  Oxford Region

  East Berkshire

  171

  West Berkshire

  173

  Aylesbury Vale

  315

  Wycombe

  126

  Milton Keynes

  143

  Kettering

  148

  Northampton

  205

  Oxfordshire

  229

  Districts Total

  187

  South Western Region

  Bristol and Weston

  279

  Frenchay

  255

  Southmead

  221

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  181

  Exeter

  254

  North Devon

  199

  Plymouth

  241

  Torbay

  190

  Cheltenham

  165

  Gloucester

  208

  Somerset

  192

  Districts Total

  218

  West Midlands region

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  177

  Herefordshire

  192

  Kidderminster

  273

  Worcester

  195

  Shropshire

  185

  Mid Staffordshire

  153

  North Staffordshire

  223

  South East Staffordshire

  178

  Rugby

  160

  North Warwickshire

  213

  South Warwickshire

  215

  674

  District health authorities

  Total revenue expenditure per resident £ cash 1987–88

  Central Birmingham

  521

  East Birmingham

  211

  North Birmingham

  223

  South Birmingham

  283

  West Birmingham

  322

  Coventry

  220

  Dudley

  190

  Sandwell

  136

  Solihull

  155

  Walsall

  174

  Wolverhampton

  228

  District Total

  214

  Mersey region

  Chester

  283

  Crewe

  171

  Halton

  128

  Macclesfield

  208

  Warrington

  265

  Liverpool

  325

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  182

  Southport and Formby

  234

  South Sefton

  321

  Wirral

  196

  Districts Total

  237

  North Western region

  Lancaster

  353

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  186

  Preston

  582

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  181

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  300

  West Lancashire

  228

  Chorley and South Ribble

  79

  Bolton

  181

  Bury

  152

  North Manchester

  434

  Central Manchester

  562

  South Manchester

  518

  Oldham

  165

  Rochdale

  143

  Salford

  363

  Stockport

  176

  Tameside and Glossop

  148

  Trafford

  146

  Wigan

  172

  District Total

  241

  Sources:

  (a) 1987–88 annual accounts of district health authorities.

  (b) Mid-year estimates of resident population:–1987 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes:

  1. District capital expenditure and all expenditure incurred by regional health authorities on behalf of their regions as a whole is excluded.

  2. Expenditure on family practitioner services is excluded: such expenditure is accounted for by family practitioner committees (FPCs) and cannot strictly be attributed to particular districts.

  3. Significant variations in per capita expenditure figures at district level arise principally because:

  i. people travel across district boundaries for treatment and sub-regional resource allocations reflect the pattern of service provision locally.

  ii. the population figures used make no allowance for people resident in one district who receive treatment in another or for the difference in morbidity and age/sex structure of particular population.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Payments
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether a disabled person, in receipt of a disablement pension or the relevant disability allowances, is able to transfer such payment to another country, should that person decide to reside in another country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Disablement pension is payable to a person who resides abroad. Reduced earnings allowance is generally payable only during temporary absences but is payable for permanent absence if the disabled person goes to a country with which we have a social security agreement which provides for this or goes to another EC country (provided he is a national of an EC country, or a stateless person or refugee living there). Attendance allowance and mobility allowance are payable during temporary absence of up to six months, or temporary absence for the specific purpose of being treated for an incapacity or a disabling condition which began before leaving Great Britain.

  Severe disablement allowance (SDA) is payable during temporary absence for the specific purpose of being treated for an incapacity which began before leaving Great Britain; or during temporary absence if the person had been continuously incapable of work for six months when the absence began and remains continuously so incapable. However, if the disabled person is going to another EC country and is helped by the EC regulations on social security for migrant workers he will be able to continue to receive SDA even if he does not meet the above rules.

  Community Charge Benefits Regulations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received from computer companies on the timetable for the preparation of the community charge benefits regulations;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress being made on the preparation of the community charge benefits regulations; and when he expects that they will be laid before the House.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No representations have been received from computer companies about the timetable for preparing the Community Charge Benefits (General) Regulations 1989. Copies of the draft regulations were sent on 16 March to the Social Security Advisory Committee and to the local authority associations in accordance with the consultation requirements set out in section 61 of the Social Security Act 1986. The regulations will be laid before the House once the Social Security Bill has been enacted. In order to assist local authorities and the computer companies in their preparation for the introduction of the community charge benefits scheme, it is intended to send copies of the draft regulations to each authority as soon as possible after the completion of the consultation process.

  Disablement Income Group
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration his Department has given to the report published by the Disablement Income Group entitled, "Am I Entitled? Problems With The Take 676
  Up And Administration Of Attendance And Mobility Allowance"; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Department co-operated with this study, and commented on a draft of the report but we have not yet had an opportunity to consider the final version. We shall take careful account of the findings, together with the other recent Disablement Income Group report, "Being Disabled Costs More Than They Said," in our consideration of the OPCS findings.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate as to how much of the funds allocated to the social fund will have been unspent by the end of the 1988–89 financial year, broken down into (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis loans, and (iii) community care grants.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Based on expenditure to the end of February 1989 the gross underspend on the loans budget at the end of the 1988–89 financial year is estimated at £18 million. The estimated underspend on the grants budget is £20 million. Crisis loans and budgeting loans are paid from a single loans budget.

  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will announce the revised social fund allocation for the office at Chatham following the transfer to that office of responsiility for the area covered by Rochester area office.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 31 March 1989 the office at Rochester will close and merge with the office at Chatham on 1 April 1989. Accordingly the social fund allocation for Chatham has been adjusted. The revised allocation is:

  £

  Grants budget

  159,467

  Loans budget

  385,634

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, in his Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: Information is not available in the form required because records are held on a combined basis with the Department of Health.

  Information for both Departments is as follows:

  Grade

  Total staff

  Female staff

  1Ethic minority staff

  Number

  per cent.

  Number

  per cent.

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  12

  2

  16·7

  —

  —

  3

  39

  6

  15·4

  —

  —

  4

  29

  6

  20·7

  1

  3·4

  5

  268

  75

  28·0

  14

  5·2

  6

  373

  58

  15·5

  34

  9·1

  7

  1,049

  173

  16·5

  13

  1·2

  TOTAL

  1,773

  320

  18·0

  62

  3·5

  1 Ethnic minorities figures are based on questionnaires voluntarily completed by staff (75 per cent. response rate to date).

ENERGY

  Drilling Rigs
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of his Department's instructions to operators, following the blowout on the Ocean Odyssey, to suspend drilling using flexible jumper hoses at high pressure until an alternative acceptable to his Department can be found, he will now present an interim report on the scope and methods of his Department's review and give an estimate of the completion date and if he will also release details of the number of well drilling operations which are prevented from proceeding until his Department's review is satisfactorily completed.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  A full report of my Department's investigation into the Ocean Odyssey accident has been passed to the procurator fiscal in Aberdeen. The report takes account of both operational practices and the failure of the flexible hoses. Work is continuing on assessing all applications for consent to drill high pressure wells in order to ensure that they can be carried out safely giving full regard to the lessons learnt from the accident. Ten well operations are being delayed. Consent will be given when my Department is satisfied that it is safe to proceed.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of his Department's order that the drilling rigs Neddril Trigon, Glomar Labrador, Glomar Moray Firth, KCA Sandpiper, Shelf Driller, Trident X and Trident XI, are to be dry docked for inspection and remedial work following the discovery of serious cracking in the spud cans of one rig, he will now release the report of these inspection findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Conclusions and recommendations will be published when the results of the inspections have been fully assessed.

  Oil and Gas Pipelines
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will provide a list of all installations of submarine emergency shutdown valves in oil and gas pipelines which have been or are being, or are planned to be carried out since the Piper Alpha disaster;

  (2) how many existing oil and gas pipelines were fitted with submarine emergency shutdown valves prior to the Piper Alpha disaster; and what are their locations;

  (3) if he will provide a list of all oil and gas pipelines with an operating pressure in excess of 600 lb per sq in and a diameter of 6 in or greater which do not contain submarine emergency shutdown valves; and if he will also provide a list of the production platforms, onshore reception terminals and other facilities which are connected to these pipelines.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  There are approximately 124 offshore oil and gas pipelines with an operating pressure in excess of 600 pounds per sq in and a diameter of 6 in or greater that do not have sub-sea emergency shut down valves fitted. Full details of these have been placed in the Library.

  Six pipelines had sub-sea emergency shut down valves fitted prior to the Piper Alpha accident, located adjacent to the Brent Alpha, Fulmar, Murchison, Balmoral, Buchan
  678
  and Argyll platforms. It was also intended that two valves would be installed on the new pipeline, yet to be commissioned, in the Ivanhoe/Rob Roy field.

  Following the Piper Alpha accident and in response to a letter from my director of safety asking for pipeline isolation arrangements to be reviewed, the industry has to date made proposals for the installation of an additional 26 sub-sea pipeline isolation systems, seven of which have already been installed. A list of these has also been placed in the Library. My Department is giving urgent consideration to the proposals from operators and I expect the completion of the review work to identify the need for additional systems.

  These systems together with the mandatory offshore installation isolation systems, the proposals for which were issued for consultation this week, will provide a further step to greater safety offshore.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy why the list of major changes to the Piper Alpha platform in annex B to the technical investigation interim report does not mention the tie-in of the Tartan field gas export pipeline to the Piper platform.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The tie-in of the Tartan field gas export pipeline to the Piper Alpha installation was outside the scope of annex B of the technical investigation interim report but is covered elsewhere in the report.

  Electricity (Cost)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the price which would be charged for electricity if the cost of fuel for generation provided the same proportion of that price as it did three years ago.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This a matter for the electricity supply industry. I will ask the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member.

  Water Quality
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his answer of 13 March, he will list the criteria of the European Community directive on drinking water which the supply in his Department's head office failed to meet in 1988.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The responsibility for monitoring the quality of drinking water in my Department's headquarters building rests with the Property Services Agency.

  I am advised that the criteria of the European Community directive on drinking water for the permitted maximum admissible levels which the supply in my Department's head office failed to meet in 1988 are:

  Permitted maximum admissible levels

  Sulphate

  250mg/litre

  Fluoride

  1500ug/litre

  Potassium

  12mg/litre

  Sodium

  175mg/litre

  Magnesium

  50mg/litre

  Iron

  50ug/litre

  Manganese

  50ug/litre

  Nickel

  50ug/litre

  Conductivity

  1500us/cm

  Turbidity

  4NTU

  Nuclear Materials (Transport)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the liaison arrangements between his Department and the international safeguards authorities at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and Euratom in Luxembourg over the transport and transfer of nuclear materials to and from the Atomic Weapons Establishment to the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Commission regulation (Euratom) 3227/76 and the United Kingdom/Euratom/ IAEA safeguards agreement make provision for the receipt from and shipment to a facility not under safeguards.

  Sellafield (Safeguards)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if full facility attachments and particular safeguards provisions are now in force for all facilities at Sellafield containing safeguardable nuclear materials; and what has been the cost of implementation of a comprehensive safeguards regime for Sellafield.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The particular safeguards for provisions for facilities at BNFL Sellafield are currently under discussion and to date four have been brought into force. Facility attachments for certain facilities which the IAEA inspect are also being negotiated.

  The costs of meeting safeguards requirements cannot be separately identified among the general running costs of the facilities concerned. The costs incurred by Euratom and the IAEA are a matter for the authorities concerned.

  CUSTOMS AND EXCISE STAFF NUMBERS
  CUSTOMS AND EXCISE STAFF NUMBERS
  BELGIAN TRAWLER LOSS
  BELGIAN TRAWLER LOSS
  TRAWLER LOSSES IN IRISH SEA
  TRAWLER LOSSES IN IRISH SEA
  NHS STAFF NUMBERS
  NHS STAFF NUMBERS
  CHAPEL ALLERTON HOSPITAL
  CHAPEL ALLERTON HOSPITAL
  NEWPORT IOW; ENERGY-SAVING HOSPITAL
  NEWPORT IOW; ENERGY-SAVING HOSPITAL
  NHS PERFORMANCE-RELATED CONTRACTS
  NHS PERFORMANCE-RELATED CONTRACTS
  VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
  VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
  SALMON NETTING DATA
  SALMON NETTING DATA
  DRIFT NETTING BY IRISH VESSELS
  DRIFT NETTING BY IRISH VESSELS
  NITRATE POLLUTION: PREVENTIVE MEASURES
  NITRATE POLLUTION: PREVENTIVE MEASURES
  POTATOES: MARKET SUPPORT PRICE
  POTATOES: MARKET SUPPORT PRICE
  SHORT BROTHERS AND HARLAND: PRIVATISATION
  SHORT BROTHERS AND HARLAND: PRIVATISATION
  REPATRIATION OF SENTENCED PERSONS CONVENTION
  REPATRIATION OF SENTENCED PERSONS CONVENTION
  LAW OF BLASPHEMY: SCOPE
  LAW OF BLASPHEMY: SCOPE
  INFORM: BOARD OF GOVERNORS' REPORT
  INFORM: BOARD OF GOVERNORS' REPORT
  HORSERACE BETTING LEVY SCHEME1989–90
  HORSERACE BETTING LEVY SCHEME1989–90
  TENANTS' CHOICE: INTERACTION WITHPUBLIC HOUSING DISPOSALS
  TENANTS' CHOICE: INTERACTION WITHPUBLIC HOUSING DISPOSALS
  MERSEYSIDE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: NAO REPORT
  MERSEYSIDE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: NAO REPORT
  GREEN BELT MINERAL EXTRACTION
  GREEN BELT MINERAL EXTRACTION
  POLLUTION CONTROL: HMIP's FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
  POLLUTION CONTROL: HMIP's FIRST ANNUAL REPORT