Written Answers of 5 May 1989

WALES

  Pollution (Irish Sea)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from local councils in Wales concerning the pollution levels in the Irish sea; what is the general thrust of these representations; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department has received four such almost identical representations. These expressed general concern about the dumping of human and industrial waste and radioactive contamination. The replies explained the initiatives being taken to assess and determine means of reducing the pollution of the Irish sea, and reiterated the Government's decision to extend the North sea conference declaration to all United Kingdom coastal waters.

TRANSPORT

  London Buses Ltd
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any intention of privatising London Buses.

  Mr. Portillo
  I hope to see London Buses Ltd go into the private sector in due course.

  London City Airport (Security)
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of recent security breaches, he has any plans to improve security arrangements at London City airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The aircraft concerned were not in service when the incidents occurred. The aviation security programme requires aircraft to be checked before they are brought into service. These requirements are designed to protect passengers' safety and I believe that they were met.

  London Transportation Studies
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made for the continuation of London transportation studies services.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department's contract with the MVA consultancy has been extended. It will now run until October 1991, with an option for a further year. The earlier plan to hold a competition for a new contract proved impracticable because of additional work required for the Department's London studies and the need to maintain continuity in the model's development programme. We are, however, taking steps to involve other consultants in our use of the model.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Vagrancy
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the annual cost to public funds of the time expended by court officials, the Crown Prosecution Service and police officers, in the metropolitan police area, in the arrest, detention and prosecution of young people under section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824.

  The Attorney-General
  None. This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to the taxpayer.

  Hosni E. Forhat
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received regarding the implications for administrative routines within the Law Officers' Department of the case of Hosni E. Forhat.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Category A Prisoners
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what policy is adopted by his Department as to the location of trials of category A prisoners in relation to the original hearings and holding prison; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Section 7 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980 requires the magistrates' court to have regard to the convenience of the defence, the prosecution and the witnesses, expediting of the trial and to any directions given by or on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor. The directions governing the committal of cases for trial to particular Crown court centres are made by the Lord Chief Justice and may, from time to time, be altered in detail on his behalf by presiding judges; and each petty sessional division will normally commit to a particular Crown court centre in accordance with those directions.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Old Age Programmes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report a list showing expenditure on programmes for old age as a proportion of gross domestic product at market prices, for European Community member states, for each year since 1983, excluding expenditure on support for people living in residential and nursing homes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 14 April at columns 741–42. I regret that further information as requested by my hon. Friend is not available.

  Widows
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many women who were in receipt of widowed mothers allowance before September 1988 would have received a full widow's pension if the qualifying age had not been raised by five years;
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  (2) how many widows suffered a lowering of their income as a result of the qualifying age for the widow's pension being raised by five years in September 1988.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Entitlement to widowed mother's allowance and widow's pension changed on 11 April 1988. All women who were in receipt of widowed mother's allowance before then will be entitled to widow's pension on the age bands that existed before the reform changes were made. The increase, by five years, of the age bands will have no effect on these women. Women widowed after 11 April will be entitled to widow's pension based on the post reforms age bands; the numbers affected between 11 April and September 1988 cannot be determined accurately. However it is estimated that some 15,000 newly widowed women will have no title or a reduced title to benefit in the first year.

  Income Support
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children were in families on income support broken down into England, Scotland and Wales in 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest estimates are:

  Numbers

  England

  1,830,000

  Scotland

  236,000

  Wales

  129,000

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Premium Bonds
  Mr. David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposal to raise the lowest denomination of premium bond which can be purchased to £100.

  Mr. Lawson
  The increase is designed to secure administrative savings, following a regular review of the terms of all National Savings products. Sales of less than £100 represent only 12 per cent. of the total value of purchases but incur a disproportionate share of costs. The average purchase is now over £150. Parents, guardians or grandparents will still be able to make minimum purchases of £10 on behalf of children under 16.

  Finance Bill (Notes on Clauses)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place copies of notes on all clauses of the Finance Bill in the Library.

  Mr. Major
  Yes. Notes on clauses to be taken in Committee of the whole House have already been deposited in the House Library and those to be taken in Standing Committee will be deposited shortly.

  Value Added Tax
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will zero rate for value added tax purposes taxi card journeys.
  256
  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: No. Under article 28 of the sixth EC VAT directive, the United Kingdom is not permitted to enlarge the scope of the zero rates in force on 31 December 1975.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers (Incentive Allowances)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish the estimates for school years 1988–89 and 1989–90 mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Bridgend of 20 April,Official Report, columns 269–70; what evidence is available to his Department in relation to the accuracy of that estimate for school year 1988–89; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what account he took of the evidence in appendix B of Cm. 625, concerning the numbers of allowances being paid in September 1988, in preparing the estimates for school years 1988–89 and 1989–90 mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member on 20 April, columns 269–70; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The estimated numbers of incentive allowances in ordinary schools in September 1988 and September 1989 were set out in circular 3/88. They formed the basis for the table submitted in evidence to the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions in October 1988 and reproduced in my reply to the hon. Member on 20 April 1989, at columns 269–70. The figures are as follows:

  September 1988

  September 1989

  A

  43,000

  61,000

  B

  59,600

  50,400

  C

  9,300

  18,700

  D

  27,000

  25,500

  E

  8,000

  9,500

  TOTAL

  146,900

  165,100

  The evidence reproduced in appendix B of Cm. 625 was subsequently made available to the committee by the local authorities' conditions of service advisory board (LACSAB). The data suggest that the total number of incentive allowances awarded in the 1988–89 academic year broadly reflected the number assumed for that year in circular 3/88. No further information is at present available.

  Geography
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to set up a working group to recommend attainment targets and programmes of study for geography within the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are today establishing a working group for geography. The group will advise on attainment targets and programmes of study for geography within the national curriculum in England and Wales.

  I have sent supplementary guidance to the group's chairman, a copy of which I have placed in the Library. We are grateful to Sir Leslie Fielding, the vice-chancellor

  257
  of Sussex university, for agreeing to take the chair of the group. The vice-chairman will be Professor David Thomas, pro-vice chancellor and professor of geography at the university of Birmingham. Other members of the group are:

  Mrs. Kay Edwards—Head of Geography, Penglais Comprehensive School, Aberystwyth

  Mr. Richard Lethbridge—Former chairman, Tower Steel (Holdings) plc, now a branch secretary of the Country Landowners' Association

  Mrs. Wendy Morgan—Recently retired headmistress of Elmsett Primary School, Suffolk

  Dr. Keith Paterson—Senior Lecturer in Geography, Liverpool Institute of Higher Education

  Mrs. Eleanor Rawling—National Co-ordinator, Geography Schools and Industry Project

  Mr. Michael Storm—Staff Inspector for Geography and Environmental Studies, Inner London Education Authority

  Mrs. Rachel Thomas—Member of the Countryside Commission and Exmoor National Park Committee

  Mr. Rex Walford—Lecturer in Geography and Education, University of Cambridge

  Further appointments may be announced in due course.

  The group will begin work at once. I have asked for interim advice by 31 October 1989 and final advice by 30 April 1990. This will enable attainment targets and programmes of study for geography to begin to he introduced in schools from the autumn of 1991.

  The terms of reference are as follows:

  NATIONAL CURRICULUM GEOGRAPHY WORKING GROUP TERMS OF REFERENCE

  Background
  1. The Education Reform Act 1988 provides for the establishment of a National Curriculum of core and other foundation subjects for pupils of compulsory school age in England and Wales. The Act empowers the Secretary of State to specify, as he considers appropriate for each foundation subject, including geography, that there should be clear objectives—attainment targets—for the knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils of different abilities and maturities should be expected to have acquired by the end of the academic year in which they reach the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16; and to promote them, programmes of study describing the content, skills and processes which need to be covered during each key stage of compulsory education. Taken together, the attainment targets and programmes of study will provide the basis for assessing a pupil's performance, in relation both to expected attainment and to the next steps needed for the pupil's development.
  2. Both the objectives (attainment targets divided into up to 10 levels of attainment) and the means of achieving them (programmes of study) should leave scope for teachers to use their professional talents and skills to develop their own schemes of work, within a statutory framework which is known to all. It is the task of the Geography Working Group to advise on that framework for geography.

  The Task
  3. The Working Group is asked to submit an interim report to the Secretaries of State by 31 October 1989 outlining and, as far as possible, exemplifying:0

  (i) the contribution which geography should make to the overall school curriculum and how that will inform the Group's thinking about attainment targets and programmes of study;

  (ii) its provisional thinking about the knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils of different abilities and maturities should be expected to have attained and be able to demonstrate by reference to defined levels of attainment, at key ages; and the profile components into which attainment targets should be grouped; and

  (iii) its thinking about the programmes of study which would be consistent with the attainment targets provisionally identified.

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  4. By 30 April 1990 the Working Group is to submit a final report to the Secretaries of State setting out and justifying its final recommendations on attainment targets and the programmes of study for geography.

  Approach
  5. In carrying out its task the Group should consult informally and selectively with relevant interests and have regard to the statutory Orders on mathematics, science and English and to the work of the other subject groups—design and technology and history. Additionally, the Group should take account of:

  (i) the broad framework for assessment and testing announced by the Government on 7 June 1988 and subsequent development of it in the light of advice from the School Examinations and Assessment Council;

  (ii) the contributions which geography can make to learning about other subjects and cross-curricular themes including, in particular, environmental education, and which they in turn can make to learning in geography;

  (iii) best practice and the results of any relevant research and development; and

  (iv) the issues covered in the supplementary guidance to the Group's Chairman.

  Assessment
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received advice from the School Examinations and Assessment Council about assessing and reporting achievement in the light of national curriculum requirements.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I received a letter from the chairman of SEAC, Mr. Philip Halsey, on 28 April conveying the council's interim views on the future evolution of assessment and reporting at age 16 to which I replied on 4 May. Copies of the exchange of correspondence have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Education Support Grant
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish his proposals for the 1990–91 ESG programme.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have today written to the local authority associations proposing a programme to support expenditure of £140 million in 1990–91. A total of £50 million of this will be expenditure on new activities or extensions, and the remainder will represent continuing support for activities begun in 1989–90 or earlier years.

  My proposals are set out in full in the following table.

  My priority in drawing up the programme has again been to continue support for the implementation of the Education Reform Act. The programme that I am proposing expands the valuable work begun in 1989–90 to help LEA with the introduction of local management of schools and of the national curriculum. It also offers LEAs valuable support in other areas such as health education and provision for difficult pupils.

  I am proposing to increase the resources available for local management of schools, in particular for the purchase of management and curriculum information systems. Additional money will also be made available for the training of school and college governors, and I am proposing extra support for the core and other foundation subjects of the national curriculum.

  Following the report by the committee of inquiry into discipline in schools, my proposals also include £2·5

  259
  million expenditure to help LEAs with the development of support services for the most difficult pupils, and a similar sum for work to improve school attendance. £2 million will be available for measures to help combat vandalism and arson.

  The ESG to help combat the misuse of drugs has produced some very valuable work, and I now propose to

  Education Support Grants 1990–91—Proposed Programme

  £ million

  New Expenditure and Extensions

  Committed and Continuing Expenditure

  Total

  ERA Related

  1. Local Management of Schools

  11·5

  25·0

  36·5

  2. Management Information Systems for FE

  4·0

  7·1

  11·1

  3. Training for School Governors

  1·0

  4·1

  5·1

  4. Training for FE College Governors

  2·0

  —

  2·0

  5. Planning and Delegation to Colleges

  (ILBs only) 0·1

  1·2

  1·3

  6. Basic Curriculum and Assessment

  9·5

  10·0

  19·5

  7. LEA Inspection1

  —

  3·0

  3·0

  8. IT in Schools

  9·0

  4·8

  13·8

  9. English Language in the Curriculum

  —

  8·2

  8·2

  10. Primary Science and Technology

  —

  7·3

  7·3

  11. Maths in Schools

  —

  3·2

  3·2

  Other Priorities

  12. Difficult Pupils

  2·5

  —

  2·5

  13. Improving School Attendance

  2·5

  —

  2·5

  14. Combating Vandalism and Arson

  2·0

  —

  2·0

  15. Health Education

  4·0

  —

  4·0

  16. Teacher Recruitment

  2·0

  —

  2·0

  17. Youth Leaders in Inner Cities

  —

  3·9

  3·9

  18. Learning by Achievement

  —

  2·3

  2·3

  19. Adult Literacy

  —

  1·7

  1·7

  20. Open Learning

  —

  1·3

  1·3

  21. Educational Guidance

  —

  1·2

  1·2

  22. Education for a Multi-Ethnic Society

  —

  2·3

  2·3

  23. PORTAGE

  —

  1·4

  1·4

  24. Social Responsibility

  —

  1·3

  1·3

  25. Rural Primary Schools

  —

  0·6

  0·6

  Total

  50·1

  89·9

  140·0

  Grant2

  —

  —

  83·0

  1 Second tranche of support for LEA Inspection is included in the basic curriculum and assessment activity.

  2 Grant will be paid at 60 per cent, on all activities except science and technology in primary schools and maths in schools, where committed expenditure will continue to be paid at the 1989–90 rate of 50 per cent.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Risley Remand Centre
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost of damage at Risley remand centre following the disturbances over the bank holiday weekend; how the remedial work will be financed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are now establishing the extent of the damage caused by disturbances at HM remand centre, Risley and will then assess what repairs are justified in view of the imminent redevelopment of this establishment, what they will cost and how they should be paid for.

  Prison Quarters, Wayland
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a four-bedroomed prison quarter at Wayland prison with a historic cost of £55,942 in 1984 was given a valuation of £40,500 in 1987; and if he will urgently review his Department's procedures for making such evaluations.
  260
  etxtend its scope to take in other aspects of preventive health education, including alcohol abuse. I am proposing £2 million expenditure on projects to improve teacher recruitment.

  I am also proposing to provide further funding for IT in schools and computerised management information systems for FE colleges.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Prison quarters at Wayland were built at the same time as the prison. Building was completed by the Property Services Agency in 1984. The valuation in 1987 was made by the district valuer of the Department of Inland Revenue to enable the Home Office to calculate a sale price, after allowing for any discount under the department's discount sale scheme. The rules of that scheme stipulate that sales should not take place at less than the cost of providing the quarter, including the cost of the land, site development works and any administration costs (the historic cost). The Property Services Agency provides details of the historic cost and this has to be ascertained from the total contract price for building the prison establishment and any ancillary items such as quarters for staff. We have already agreed that where a current valuation is less than the historic cost, an offer of sale at the valuation price can be made. Further urgent consideration is being given to whether there is scope to make any further concession in offering properties for sale where the historic cost is an impediment to granting the normal discount.

  Mr. Osborne Rutherford
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Osborne Rutherford, prisoner No. C42357, Her Majesty's prison Wandsworth was kept without clothes in a strong box from 9 February to 23 February; and which doctor sanctioned his detention.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 9 February, whilst Mr. Rutherford was at Parkhurst prison, he was placed in a special cell on the authority of the governor in charge under prison rule 45 which empowers the temporary confinement in a special cell of a refractory or violent prisoner. The decision was taken because of Mr. Rutherford's threatening behaviour towards staff.

  In accordance with standard procedures, the medical officer was advised of the decision and indicated that there were no medical grounds why Mr. Rutherford should not be so confined. Subsequently, Mr. Rutherford engaged in a dirty protest and it was considered necessary to continue to hold him in the special cell until 23 February. The requirements in respect of the use of a special cell were followed during this period. After the initial 24 hours, the need for continued confinement was authorised periodically by members of the board of visitors who visited Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford was also visited regularly by a governor and by a medical officer.

  Although Mr. Rutherford's normal prison clothing was removed, he was provided with a suit of protective clothing to wear whilst in the special cell.

  Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped Prisoners
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which mentally ill and mentally handicapped people are in prison as a result of under-provision of community care facilities.

  Mr. Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to earlier replies given to questions from the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 20 March at columns 405–7. These gave details of studies at present taking place on the profile of mentally disordered offenders in the prison system and on the use made by the courts of hospital and restriction orders when sentencing mentally disordered offenders. When a court considers that an offender needs psychiatric treatment but not to be detained in a hospital, it may make a probation order with a requirement that the probationer undergoes psychiatric treatment, or it may make a guardianship order, which places the offender under the authority of a local authority social services department or approved person. The guardian may then require the patient to live at a specified place and attend a place for treatment. The availability of care facilities in the local community is only one of a range of factors which courts have to consider when deciding on the most suitable sentence for such an offender.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prisoners held in police cells at the most recent available date.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Sixty six, on 28 April.

  Rapists
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what treatment is available within prison for mentally disordered inmates serving sentences for rape; and what steps are taken to seek to prevent such men reoffending when they leave prison.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Sex offenders would normally be identified early in the prison reception process as requiring psychiatric assessment. Such assessment may be carried out by a suitably qualified prison medical officer or by a visiting specialist. Not all sex offenders are found to be grossly disturbed or in need of treatment whether from doctors, psychiatrists or psychologists. Where the diagnosis does suggest that the inmate's behaviour was the result of an underlying mental illness, specific treatment would be provided for that illness. If the behaviour was secondary to an aspect of personality disorder, the inmate might be offered psychotherapy, group therapy, behaviour therapy or a combination of these. Some prisoners are transferred to Grendon prison where the entire regime is that of a therapeutic community for such help.

  The prison medical and probation services would he concerned in making arrangements for the continuing care, medical or other, of such inmates on release. The appropriate police force would be notified.

  Prison Medical Officers
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the working group, chaired by the president of the Royal College of Physicians, set up to advise the director of prison medical services on qualifications and training for prison medical officers, to complete its work; and if he will place a copy of its report in the Library.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The report was completed recently and submitted by the president of the Royal College of Physicians to the chief medical officer. At this early stage there are no plans for its release.

  Crowd Pressure (Deaths)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the total deaths reported in the decades 1959 to 1968, 1969 to 1978 and 1979 to 1988, inclusive, resulting from crowd pressures or public disorder in the following circumstances (a) political demonstrations, (b) queueing for places of entertainment, other than sports meetings, (c) queueing for or occurring at sports meetings, other than football matches and (d) queueing for public transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  The exact information requested is not available.

  Prior to 1979, the international classification of diseases (ICD) did not allow for sufficiently detailed information of this nature; the current (ninth) revision includes the code E917.1:
  "Striking against or struck accidentally by objects or persons, caused by a crowd, by collective fear or panic."
  In the period 1979–87 inclusive there were three deaths where this code was assigned as the underlying cause of death, but there is insufficient information on the death certificate to allocate them to any of the categories requested.

HEALTH

  Ambulances
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the number of ambulances for each regional health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  The available information is given in the table.

  Ambulance Services

  Total number of ambulance service vehicles used to transport patients

  Regional Health Authority

  1987–88

  England

  6,482

  Northern

  479

  Yorkshire

  680

  Trent

  698

  East Anglia

  235

  North West Thames

  200

  North East Thames

  150

  South East Thames

  300

  South West Thames

  11,121

  Wessex

  247

  Oxford

  283

  South Western

  438

  West Midlands

  702

  Mersey

  393

  North Western

  556

  Source: York Health Authority—National Ambulance Service Survey 1987–88.

  The following types of vehicles have been included in the above figures:

  2—trolley emergency.

  2—trolley dual purpose.

  Sitting case seats only (under 14).

  Sitting case seats stretcher capacity.

  Sitting case seats + lift mechanism.

  Car (with or without stretcher capacity).

  Bus—14 or more seats with or without stretcher or wheelchair capacity.

  1 Includes London ambulance service.

  Defibrillators
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the number of ambulances for each region which carry defibrillators.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected centrally but I understand that as at March 1989, the numbers were as follows:

  Number

  Northern

  65

  Yorkshire

  75

  Trent

  125

  East Anglian

  64

  North West Thames

  45

  North East Thames

  51

  South East Thames

  76

  South West Thames

  1231

  Wessex

  147

  Oxford

  103

  South Western

  149

  West Midland

  104

  Mersey

  51

  North Western

  129

  1 Includes London Ambulance Service.

  Clinical Effectiveness
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider investing resources in a major database to 264
  collect information on patient demographics, patient diagnosis, clinical findings and clinical treatment to facilitate the creation of routine monitoring systems in order to improve clinical practice and resource allocation in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following implementation of the Körner recommendations in April 1987, each region now provides quarterly a set of data about every patient using a hospital bed, to a national database at the OPCS. These data include age, diagnosis and operative procedures. More detailed clinical information to assist doctors and others in their management of patient care is now being collected locally as part of the resource management initiative.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the cost of providing computer systems to(a) hospitals and (b) general practitioners to enable them to implement the National Health Service White Paper proposals will be found from additional Treasury funding or whether it will be deducted from current National Health Service provision.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government have made it clear that the cost of implementing the White Paper proposals will not be met at the expense of plans for patient care.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of National Health Service prescriptions are written for(a) people aged over 65 years and (b) the chronic sick.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not have information in the form requested. However, of all prescriptions dispensed in 1988, 41·2 per cent. were dispensed to people over pensionable age (men aged over 65 and women over 60).

  Self-governing Hospitals
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the mechanism proposed under the National Health Service White Paper provisions to enable hospitals to become self-governing; and how a majority view of those working in the hospitals will be obtained.

  Mr. Mellor
  The process for establishing an NHS hospital trust will be as simple and flexible as possible. The chief executive of the NHS management board wrote to all regional general managers on 14 March about the preparation of initial expressions of interest; a copy of that letter (reference: EL(89)MB/58) has been placed in the Library of the House. Further guidance will be provided in due course. Staff will be given opportunities to express views on applications; the precise arrangements for this will be determined locally.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many phone calls have been received from doctors by those manning the contact numbers set out in working papers 3 and 4 of the National Health Service White Paper; and whether at any time the contact numbers have had to be suspended.

  Mr. Mellor
  Telephone contact points were not in fact supplied in the NHS review working papers, as it was
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  envisaged that comments would be submitted in writing to the official addresses which were provided. A number of telephone calls from doctors have nevertheless been received routinely by the Department on these subjects but we hold no record of the total.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters his Department has received from general practitioners expressing general support for the National Health Service White Paper proposals; and how many he has received expressing opposition to the proposals.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received some 1,300 representations from general practitioners. Many have questions, many support all or some of the proposals, some only refer to specific aspects. It is not possible to distinguish the letters in the way my hon. Friend suggests.

  Staff Shortages
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records are kept of the number of occasions that anaesthetic services have been curtailed because of staff shortages; and what the number of such curtailments was.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence is available to him on whether a two-tier system of eye tests would be detrimental to a patient's sight; and whether there are any specific conditions which cannot be detected by test other than the full eye test.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: I must ask my hon. Friend to await my consideration of the results of the present consultations on regulations governing sight test.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the expenditure by Government and Government-funded health education agencies on mass media advertising campaigns on the following issues:(a) smoking, (b) alcohol, (c) drugs, (d) dental health, (e) AIDs, (f) family planning, (g) immunisation, (h) coronary heart disease, (i) the "Look After Your Heart" campaign, and (j) others, for each year 1978–79 to 1987–88;

  1978–79 £'000

  1979–80 £'000

  1980–81 £'000

  1981–82 £'000

  1982–83 £'000

  1983–84 £'000

  1984–85 £'000

  1985–86 £'000

  1986–87 £'000

  1987–88 £'000

  1988–89 £'000

  Smoking

  325

  407

  700

  892

  2,391

  2,630

  1,624

  2,346

  2

  —

  247

  Alcohol

  190

  25

  217

  121

  263

  311

  —

  327

  2

  —

  —

  Drugs

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Dental health

  147

  102

  38

  137

  265

  167

  311

  267

  2

  —

  100

  AIDS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3,369

  4,853

  Family planning

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Immunisation

  27

  62

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16

  654

  2

  —

  550

  Coronary heart disease

  691

  645

  757

  674

  756

  575

  754

  1,055

  2

  1,608

  354

  Look After Your Heart

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  —

  Others

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  19

  —

  1 Included in coronary heart disease.

  2 No information available.

  Information on the expenditure on mass media advertising by campaign by the Department of Health is as follows:
  266
  (2) what was the total expenditure by his Department and Government-funded health education agencies on mass media advertising campaigns on health-related issues in each financial year since 1978–79 to 1987–88;

  (3) what is the total expenditure from 1979 to date by Government and Government-funded health education agencies on mass media advertising for each of the following health campaigns (a) smoking, (b) alcohol, (c) drugs, (d) AIDs, (e) dental health, (f) immunisation, (g) family planning, (h) coronary heart disease and (i) others.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 26 April 1989]: The total expenditure by the Department on mass media advertising is as follows:

  £'000

  1978–79

  n/a

  1979–80

  337

  1980–81

  589

  1981–82

  825

  1982–83

  676

  1983–84

  1,167

  1984–85

  1,412

  1985–86

  3,259

  1986–87

  7,811

  1987–88

  6,668

  1988–89

  5,741

  Information on the expenditure on mass media advertising by the former Health Education Council and the Health Education Authority is not available. The total expenditure by these agencies on publicity was as follows:

  £'000

  1978–79

  1,380

  1979–80

  1,244

  1980–81

  1,712

  1981–82

  1,824

  1982–83

  3,675

  1983–84

  3,683

  1984–85

  2,705

  1985–86

  4,649

  1986–87

  n/a

  1987–88

  4,996

  1988–89

  6,104

  Information on the total expenditure by campaign by the Health Education Council and Health Education Authority is as follows:
  267

  1978–79 £'000

  1979–80 £'000

  1980–81 £'000

  1981–82 £'000

  1982–83 £'000

  1983–84 £'000

  1984–85 £'000

  1985–86 £'000

  1986–87 £'000

  1987–88 £'000

  1988–89 £'000

  Smoking

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  420

  283

  —

  —

  Alcohol

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Drugs

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  298

  1,391

  1,707

  1

  1,918

  Dental health

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AIDS

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  420

  4,340

  5,419

  79

  Family planning

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Immunisation

  2

  154

  —

  —

  240

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coronary heart disease

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Look After Your Heart

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,100

  Others

  2

  183

  589

  825

  436

  1,167

  1,114

  1,028

  1,481

  1,249

  1,644

  1 Joint anti-injecting AIDS/drugs campaign.

  2 No information available.

EMPLOYMENT

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the percentage of the work force of the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany and Japan employed in the manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest available information on common international definitions is as follows:

  Manufacturing employment as a percentage of total civilian employment (1986)

  Percentages

  United Kingdom

  22·5

  United States

  19·1

  France

  22·6

  Germany

  32·2

  Japan

  24·7

  Source: OECD Labour Force Statistics 1966–86.

PRIME MINISTER

  French Revolution
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will send a congratulatory communication to the President of the French Republic on the 200th anniversary of the French revolution.

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to be able to convey an appropriate message in person.

  Sultan of Brunei
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last met the Sultan of Brunei; and what was discussed.

  The Prime Minister
  I last met the Sultan of Brunei on 27 April. Our discussions covered a number of bilateral and international issues.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Government expenditure per head in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  The following table shows identifiable public expenditure per head for each of the four countries of the United Kingdom in 1987–88, the latest year for which information is available:
  268

  £ per head

  England

  2,063

  Wales

  2,370

  Scotland

  2,676

  Northern Ireland

  3,097

  The term "identifiable expenditure" refers to expenditure that can be identified from official records as having been incurred in a particular country. Total identifiable expenditure accounts for just over 80 per cent. of total departmental public expenditure; it excludes expenditure on defence, overseas aid and other overseas services which are deemed to have been incurred on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole. It also excludes Government net lending to, and the market and overseas borrowing of, the public corporations (including nationalised industries), due to the difficulty of allocating this finance to expenditure in a particular country.

SCOTLAND

  Glasgow (East End)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the new management structure in the east end of Glasgow which was set up following the Government's ending of the GEAR project in March 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  These successor arrangements are primarily the responsibility of Glasgow district council and Strathclyde regional council and are supported by the Scottish Development Agency and the private sector. I am not aware of any criticism of the arrangements.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to extend the right-to-buy discount; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have no plans at present to make changes to the current right to buy arrangements, although we are continually monitoring the effect of our policies to determine whether any further measures are necessary to stimulate diversification of ownership.

  The sustained level of interest from public sector tenants seeking to purchase their homes is evidence of the continuing success of the Government's right-to-buy policy.

ENVIRONMENT

  Waste Management
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the waste disposal authorities in England have now deposited waste management plans with his Department, pursuant to the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 2 February 1989 at columns 350–52. Since then we have received no more completed waste disposal plans, although Hampshire and Lincolnshire county councils have sent us preliminary draft plans.

  My noble Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment wrote to waste disposal authorities who had not yet submitted plans again on 18 April.

  Ocean Incineration
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given those companies currently using ocean incineration concerning waste reduction.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Officials have advised companies who currently hold licences for incineration of waste at sea of the need to reduce quantities of such wastes in the light of the recommendations of the North sea conference to end the dumping of polluting materials in the North sea at the earliest practical date. HM inspectorate of pollution has held discussions with the companies and further discussions are proposed.

  Football Membership Scheme
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes that individuals will be able to be registered as supporters of more than one football club under the proposed membership scheme.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It will be for the football membership authority to draw up the details of the scheme and submit proposals to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The report of the working party which I chaired recommended that members of the scheme should have only one card but that this should be valid for any designated match including the 92 Football League clubs.

  Spaying
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take urgent steps to introduce a policy of education concerning the spaying of dogs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is not a matter for central Government. Those who wish advice on such matters can obtain it from one of the voluntary bodies concerned with the welfare of dogs.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a specific grant allocation to assist people with the cost of having their animals spayed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has no powers to make grants for these purposes.

  Football Spectators
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the current maximum spectator capacity for each of the 92 Football League clubs.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The following figures are the most up to date available to the Football League, though I understand that they may not be precisely accurate in every case.

  Division One

  Numbers

  Arsenal

  57,000

  Aston Villa

  48,100

  Charlton Athletic

  38,366

  Coventry City

  29,800

  Derby County

  26,500

  Everton

  50,271

  Liverpool

  45,628

  Luton Town

  14,470

  Manchester United

  56,385

  Middlesbrough

  30,647

  Millwall

  25,850

  Newcastle United

  37,703

  Norwich City

  26,812

  Nottingham Forest

  35,367

  Queen's Park Rangers

  27,330

  Sheffield Wednesday

  54,324

  Southampton

  25,175

  Tottenham Hotspur

  34,258

  West Ham United

  35,556

  Wimbledon

  16,000

  Division Two

  Numbers

  A.F.C. Bournemouth

  12,038

  Barnsley

  36,987

  Birmingham City

  38,408

  Blackburn Rovers

  21,956

  Bradford City

  15,519

  Brighton and Hove Albion

  29,026

  Chelsea

  43,900

  Crystal Palace

  38,366

  Hull City

  19,797

  Ipswich Town

  37,345

  Leeds United

  39,133

  Leicester City

  31,057

  Manchester City

  51,993

  Oldham Athletic

  21,949

  Oxford United

  14,006

  Plymouth Argyle

  28,000

  Portsmouth

  29,664

  Shrewsbury Town

  16,000

  Stoke City

  35,812

  Sunderland

  37,775

  Swindon Town

  19,652

  Walsall

  16,018

  Watford

  26,956

  West Bromwich Albion

  35,000

  Division Three

  Numbers

  Aldershot

  12,000

  Blackpool

  11,500

  Bolton Wanderers

  29,000

  Brentford

  10,827

  Bristol City

  30,800

  Bristol Rovers

  5,100

  Bury

  15,770

  Cardiff City

  39,500

  Chester City

  8,200

  Chesterfield

  7,652

  271

  Numbers

  Fulham

  25,680

  Gillingham

  19,581

  Huddersfield Town

  31,000

  Mansfield Town

  10,468

  Northampton Town

  10,250

  Notts County

  24,045

  Port Vale

  16,800

  Preston North End

  20,000

  Reading

  17,100

  Sheffield United

  44,000

  Southend United

  10,753

  Swansea City

  21,860

  Wigan Athletic

  12,500

  Wolverhampton Wanderers

  28,051

  Division Four

  Numbers

  Burnley

  21,761

  Cambridge United

  10,000

  Carlisle United

  18,000

  Colchester United

  4,900

  Crewe Alexandra

  5,500

  Darlington

  13,551

  Doncaster Rovers

  7,500

  Exeter City

  9,230

  Grimsby Town

  20,865

  Halifax Town

  10,000

  Hartlepool United

  6,650

  Hereford United

  16,119

  Leyton Orient

  26,569

  Lincoln City

  13,189

  Peterborough United

  17,150

  Rochdale

  12,000

  Rotherham United

  17,913

  Scarborough

  10,000

  Scunthorpe United

  11,000

  Stockport County

  6,000

  Torquay United

  6,000

  Tranmere Rovers

  16,000

  Wrexham

  22,682

  York City

  14,109

  Pollution (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the county of South Yorkshire for each of the last four years, the number of pollution incidents caused by(a) silage liquor, (b) farmyard slurry and (c) other pollutants; and what action was taken in each case.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand from the Yorkshire water authority that the numbers of water pollution incidents in South Yorkshire in each of the last four years, and the action taken are as follows:

  Numbers of water pollution incidents in South Yorkshire

  Cause of pollution

  Year

  Silage

  Slurry

  All Other Sources

  Number of prosecutions

  1985

  20

  10

  13

  12

  1986

  2

  15

  9

  12

  1987

  16

  24

  8

  7

  1988

  24

  11

  40

  7

  Tree Planting
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact on the environment the 1988 Budget decision to end schedule D reliefs on tree planting had; and if he will make a statement.
  272
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The changes to the tax and grant arrangements made last year were designed to provide a more widely acceptable system of support for private forestry. The key aims of the new woodland grant include enhancing the landscape, creating new wildlife habitats and encouraging the multipurpose management of woodlands. The increased importance of grants has strengthened the Forestry Commission's procedures as a means of controlling the environmental impact of forestry and ensuring that the right trees are planted in the right places. The effects of the changes will be carefully monitored during the transitional period, but it is too early to make a detailed assessment as yet.

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what papers will be presented on behalf of his Department; and which departmental officials will be present, at the fifth summer school on radioactive waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No paper is to be presented on behalf of the Department. An inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be present to deliver a paper in a personal capacity.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are in hand to ensure adequate information flows between community charge registration officers and certification officers in educational establishments in London; and what representations on this matter he has received from the Association of London Authorities, London Boroughs Association and bodies representing educational institutions.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 4 May 1989]: Discussions are taking place, organised by my Department, between all the local authority associations and bodies representing educational institutions, on the practical aspects of registering students for the community charge. It is hoped to conclude these discussions in the near future and to issue a practice note giving advice to all parties on these matters.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue guidance to general practitioners on the exemptions from community charge for severely mentally impaired persons; and what discussions his Department has had with the British Medical Association on this matter.

  Mr. Nicholas Ridley
  [holding answer 4 May 1989]: This matter is being handled on my behalf by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, whose officials are in discussion with the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association. I understand that it is hoped to conclude the discussions shortly and to issue guidance to general practitioners as soon as possible afterwards.

  Planning Permissions (Revocation)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the addresses of sites where his Department has reimbursed a local planning authority as a result of a revocation of planning permission.
  273
  Mr. Howard
  With the exception of the limited circumstances set out in section 167 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, there is no provision for the Secretary of state to reimburse to local planning authorities the compensation payable when planning permission is revoked. Section 167 relates only to cases where, if planning permission had originally been refused, the Secretary of State would have been liable to pay compensation under part VII of the Act. There have been five such cases since 1979.

  Business Rate
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government will make further information available on the proposed reform of the business rate.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has today published a free booklet called "Time for Change: the new Business Rate". This explains the changeover to the new uniform business rate which will take place in April 1990, the up-to-date revaluation, and the Government's proposals for transitional arrangements, including those to help small businesses.

  The booklet is being distributed widely to industrial and commercial organisations and others with an interest in business matters. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings each local authority has sold under the right to buy legislation, or voluntarily, since April 1979.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have placed in the Library a table giving available information up to December 1988. It shows year-by-year information since 1984–85 together with cumulative figures since April 1979.

  Conservation Areas (Trees)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what particulars he has specified in relation to the provision of section 61(A)(7) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 concerning the need for district councils to keep a register of trees in conservation areas.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 27 April 1989 c. 657]: Section 61(A)(7) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 places a duty on district and London borough councils to compile and keep available for inspection a register of notices served on the council of intention to carry out work on trees in conservation areas, where such trees are not already protected by tree preservation orders or otherwise exempt. It also empowers the Secretary of State to determine what particulars should be included in such registers. The following matters were specified for this purpose in DOE circular 36/78:

  (a) the address of the land on which the tree stands and sufficient information to identify the tree;

  (b) details of the work proposed;

  (c) the date of the notice and who served it;

  (d) the decision of the authority in respect of the tree (when made), the date of any decision and the name of the authority; and

  274

  (e) an index for tracing entries.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cyprus
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated number of settlers from Greece who are now living in the southern part of Cyprus and who have been granted Cyprus passports since 31 December 1963.

  Mrs. Chalker
  According to the Republic of Cyprus statistical abstract for 1985 and 1986, the number of "immigrants" from Greece (whose status is not further defined) in the period 1981–86 was 24. We have no statistics for the rest of the period covered by my hon. Friend's question.

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department received any inquiries from Kleinwort Benson about the history of the Al-Fayed brothers in the course of the takeover of the House of Fraser.

  Mr. Eggar
  While the prosecution authorities are considering the report of the inspectors appointed on 9 April 1987 by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under section 432 of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate the affairs of the House of Fraser Holdings plc, it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

  South Africa
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will initiate collective action by European Community Governments against South Africa for its use of its embassies for illegal actions in host countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We expect all countries to abide by their obligations under the Vienna convention especially"to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state".

  There are no plans for collective EC action against South Africa.

  We are carefully examining the implications of the events that led up to the arrests in Paris on 21 April.

  North Atlantic Assembly
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) has replaced the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) as a member of the delegation.

  United Kingdom Embassies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries presently do not have a United Kingdom embassy; what is the reason for the absence; and what steps are being taken to establish an embassy in each case.
  275
  Mrs. Chalker
  [pursuant to the reply, 27 April 1989 c. 595]: Of those territories recognised by the United Kingdom as independent sovereign states, the United Kingdom does not have an embassy, a high commission, or a consulate-general accredited to the following:

  Albania

  Argentina

  Bhutan

  Cambodia

  Iran

  Libya

  Syria

  The United Kingdom does not have diplomatic relations with Albania or Cambodia.

  The United Kingdom does not have diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Bhutan but maintains friendly contacts and conducts official business with its embassy in New Delhi.

  Iran broke diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in March this year. British interests are represented by the Swedish embassy in Tehran, where there are no United Kingdom staff.

  There are British interest sections with United Kingdom staff in the embassies of protecting powers in Argentina, Libya and Syria.

  The staff of the British embassy in Afghanistan have been withdrawn for security reasons.

  There are no plans at present to establish additional representative offices.

DEFENCE

  Volunteer Gliding Schools
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of volunteer gliding schools which at present have no airfield in the part of the United Kingdom which they were established to serve.

  Mr. Neubert
  Two volunteer gliding schools established to serve the north-east and south coast of England are currently without an airfield.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can give details of the areas of the United Kingdom which are without a volunteer gliding school; and what proposals his Department has to establish volunteer gliding schools in these areas.

  Mr. Neubert
  The north-east, north-west, and south coast of England are poorly served by volunteer gliding schools. We are currently examining the possibility of acquiring an ex-RAF site in the north-east.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many volunteer gliding schools are operational; and how many are currently in suspense.

  Mr. Neubert
  Twenty-eight are operational and two are in suspense.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of officers and instructors currently on the strength of volunteer gliding schools.

  Mr. Neubert
  Volunteer gliding schools currently have a strength of 235 officers and 233 civilian gliding instructors.
  276
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of Volunteer Reserve officers on the staff of volunteer gliding schools who have over 25 years' service.

  Mr. Neubert
  Seven.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can give details of the type of motor glider which has been selected to replace the Venture glider at volunteer gliding schools.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement on 10 January at column 533.

  Z-berths
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of a Z-berth; if Z-berths have permanent safety precautions against radiological hazards; and if he will publish in the Official Report the locations of all the Z-berths in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A Z-berth is a berth designated for occasional operational or recreational visits by nuclear-powered warships. Its safety arrangements will include a public safety scheme prepared after discussion with the local authorities and civil emergency services, which will provide for a Royal Naval incident commander and a naval emergency monitoring team in the area to stand by throughout any such visit to respond to an emergency. The monitoring team has access to a supply of potassium iodate tablets, and carries out monitoring during the visit.

  The United Kingdom Z-berths are at Barrow-in-Furness, Barry, Brodick bay, Campbeltown, Cardiff, Coulport and Loch Long, Devonport and Plymouth Sound, Faslane, the Firth of Forth, Glen Malian, Lamlash bay, Lerwick and the Shetland isles, Liverpool, Loch Ewe, Loch Fyne, Loch Goil, Loch Striven, Portland, Portree, Portsmouth, Raasay (Broadford bay), Rosyth, Rothesay, Southampton, Spithead, Thurso bay and Torbay.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings there have been between his Department and local and port authorities concerning the possible locating of a Z-berth at Tilbury; when a decision is expected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 9 March 1989 at column 677, my officials have had preliminary discussions with port and local authorities about visits to Tilbury by Royal Navy ships, including nuclear-powered submarines. This remains the position. It would be premature to anticipate the outcome of these discussions at this stage.

  Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the naval emergency monitoring organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The naval emergency monitoring organisation is responsible within the Royal Navy for radioactive monitoring and hazard evaluation, and for advice on radiation levels in the event of an accident involving nuclear weapons or nuclear reactors.

  X-berths
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of an X-berth; if X-berths have permanent safety precautions against radiological hazards; and if he will publish in the Official Report the locations of all the X-berths in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  An X-berth is a berth designated for frequent and regular use by nuclear-powered warships, or a berth in a dockyard or naval base which is suitable for the building, refit, repair or maintenance of nuclear-powered warships. All X-berths have as an integral part of their safety arrangements a permanent health physics department, a local emergency monitoring organisation and a local safety plan prepared under the auspices of a local liaison committee. The United Kingdom X-berths are at Barrow-in-Furness, Devonport, Faslane and Rosyth.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy concerning provision of information about service personnel whose home addresses are in Scotland, but who are serving elsewhere, to poll tax registration officers in Scotland.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not my Department's policy to provide information to community charge registration officers (CCROs) in Scotland other than the names and addresses of personnel serving in the areas for which the CCRO is responsible.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision has been made to compensate service personnel who are affected by the imposition of the poll tax in Scotland for the fact that they have to meet this cost while their colleagues from other parts of the United Kingdom do not.

  Mr. Neubert
  Service personnel in Scotland who pay service accommodation charges are no longer required to pay the rates element of such charges, and can offset this amount against their community charge liability. Personnel serving in Scotland who are currently not paying these charges could be in a worse financial position in the interim year to 31 March 1990, than they would be when the community charge applies in England and Wales. In such circumstances I am prepared to consider, exceptionally, claims for some financial compensation.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide advice to service personnel and to Scottish poll tax registration officers concerning the fact that personnel who are serving outwith Scotland, notwithstanding the fact that their home address is in Scotland, are not liable to register for the poll tax in Scotland.

  Mr. Neubert
  Comprehensive guidance about the liability of service personnel for the community charge has been agreed with community charge registration officers and issued to service personnel. It is based on the general assumption that the sole or main residence of service personnel is where they live in respect of their work, although individuals may seek alternative treatment if their circumstances justify it.
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  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security implications of the publication of poll tax registers which show the Northern Ireland addresses of personnel who are serving in Northern Ireland, but who may be liable to pay the poll tax in respect of home addresses in Scotland.

  Mr. Neubert
  In such circumstances, community charge registers will include only the address in Scotland in respect of which community charge liability arises, and not the temporary address in Northern Ireland. All entries for service personnel will be in the same style as those for civilians and will not include their rank.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rates
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average rate of increase in(a) the non-domestic regional rate and (b) the domestic regional rate.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The regional rate for 1989–90, as published in the Rates (Regional rate) Order (Northern Ireland) 1989, is 138·07p, an increase of 12·63 per cent. on last year's rate of 122·59p. This rate applies unadjusted to all non domestic ratepayers.

  Domestic ratepayers have benefited, for many years, from an allowance of 12p in the pound in the form of a domestic rate aid grant. This has the effect of reducing the charge on them this year to 126·07p, an increase of 14 per cent. on last year's rate of 110·59p. Since the domestic rate is set at a level 12p lower than the regional rate, its percentage increase is calculated on a lower base and will, therefore, always be higher than the percentage rise in the regional rate.

ENERGY

  DIDO Reactor Harwell
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans there are to install a secondary borated water shutdown system into the DIDO reactor at Harwell.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand that the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority are considering the installation of a borated water injection system for the DIDO reactor at Harwell. This would supplement the normal and emergency shutdown systems which the reactor already has.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Health
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what animal health issues have been discussed by the Council of Ministers during the second half of 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The following issues have been discussed during this period:the recognition of parts of the Community as officially free from classical swine fever;
  the recognition of parts of Spain as free from African swine

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  fever;
  the socio-economic implications of the use of antibiotics and Bovine Somatrophin in dairy production;
  and the combating of Aujeszky's Disease.

  Meat and Bone Meal
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has had discussions with other European Economic Community member states about the export of meat and bone meal from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has on European regulations concerning the incorporation of meat and bone meal in ruminant feedstuffs;

  (2) what information he has on regulations governing the incorporation of meat and bone meal in animal feedstuffs in each individual European Community member state.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no detailed information on legislation which applies in other member states but the incorporation of meat and bone meal into animal feedingstuffs is permitted in all member states. In the United Kingdom statutory controls prohibit the feeding of ruminants with ruminant protein and all meat and bone meal which is added to feedingstuffs is required to be salmonella free.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what European quality standards apply to the production of meat and bone meal.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There are at present no European Community rules applying to the production of meat and bone meal.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received representations from any other country concerning the quality of meat and bone meal exported from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  France, West Germany and Israel have requested additional certification to accompany meat and bone meal exported from the United Kingdom. For France, fresh arrangements have been agreed which are being used by exporters. Certification intended to meet Germany's need is currently being devised. Specific requirements made by Israel are being examined to establish whether suitable measures can be offered their authorities.
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  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has issued any advice to countries which import meat and bone meal rendered in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the quantities of sheep carcases used by the United Kingdom rendering industry; and what proportion of those quantities are rendered into meat and bone meal.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  An estimated 15·3 per cent. of material used by the rendering industry comes from sheep. Most of this is slaughterhouse waste, so only a small part would be carcases. The proportion of carcases rendered into meat and bone meal is not known.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the United Kingdom feedstuffs industry first started using meat and bone meal in dairy rations.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The date when such material was first used is not known but meat and bone meal have been included in feedstuffs for at least 40 years.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has any new information on the destruction of the agent causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy by rendering.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No new information is yet available beyond that contained in the Southwood report.

  Consultation
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following the report of the National Consumer Council on food policy and the consumer, he intends to alter his Department's arrangements for making public responses to consultation exercises.

  Mr. Ryder
  I am pleased to announce that, following a recommendation by the National Consumer Council, we will, in future, arrange for a list of names and addresses of respondents to all formal consultation exercises in the food area to be made available to anyone on request. This will enable people to contact relevant organisations if they want to examine responses in detail. We will also consider issuing summaries of the responses, whenever we can.