Written Answers of 17 May 1989

NATIONAL FINANCE

  "Spot the Ball" Competitions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was collected in value added tax on "spot the ball" competitions in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that information is not available at a sufficient level of detail for estimates to be made.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Higher Education (Research)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish an estimate in current prices of his support for research in higher education through(a) the Universities Funding Council, (b) the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and (c) the research councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  Estimated expenditure on research in higher education in 1989–90 is as follows:

  £ million

  UFC

  780·0

  PCFC

  10·3

  Research councils

  345·1

  Total

  1,135·4

  Open University (Assistance to Commonwealth)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the contribution made by the Open university in assisting Commonwealth countries in establishing universities and other teaching-at-a-distance educational establishments.

  Mr. Jackson
  Staff from the Open university have undertaken numerous short-term specialist consultancies and have organised workshops throughout the Commonwealth, in Africa, Asia, and Australasia. They have also arranged familiarisation and specialist programmes for visitors from Commonwealth countries. In addition the Open university has played a major part in planning and developing Open universities in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General if, pursuant to his answer of 5 April,Official Report, column 185, he will list the total number of immigration appeals (a) lodged and (b) lodged and ready to proceed.
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  The Attorney-General
  On 29 March, the most recent date for which figures are available, 14,186 appeals had been lodged with the immigration adjudicators and 465 applications for leave to appeal had been lodged with the immigration appeal tribunal. On that date, the total number of cases lodged and ready to proceed to a hearing(a) before the adjudicators was 2,627; and (b) before the tribunal was 262.

DEFENCE

  Headquarters Contracts
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the precise amounts paid to each of the following contractors by his Department in respect of headquarters contracts in the year ended 31 March 1988 (a) Wimet Wear Parts Ltd., (b) J. S. Chinn Holdings Ltd., (c) Abbey Panels Investments plc., (d) Coventry Climax Engines Ltd., (e) Cornercroft Engineering Ltd., (f) Rotherham and Sons Ltd., (g) Commercial Shearing Inc., (h) Dunlop Ltd., (i) Alvis Ltd., (j) Lucas Aerospace Ltd., and (k) GEC Telecommunications Ltd.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The payment made to each of the following companies in the year ended 31 March in respect of headquarters contracts were as follows:

  £ million

  Coventry Climax Engines Ltd.

  1·75

  Dunlop Ltd.

  13·00

  Alvis Ltd.

  21·00

  Lucas Aerospace Ltd.

  35·00

  Payments made to GEC Telecommunications Ltd. are included within the total payments made to the General Electric Company and cannot be separately identified.

  We have no record of any headquarters contracts having been placed with any of the other companies listed.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the general differences which occur between individual memoranda of understanding governing the international collaborative production of military equipment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Within the general framework used for memoranda of understanding governing collaborative projects, issues which arise for consideration on a case-by-case basis include arrangements for management, contracting, cost and work-sharing, intellectual property rights and exports to third parties.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is possible to identify, from the records used to compile the regional disaggregation of expenditure published on page 62 of "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988", volume 2, the proportion of expenditure made to Rolls-Royce plc. which was allocated to the west midlands standard region in that analysis.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not possible to identify payouts to individual companies from the information used to compile the regional disaggregation of expenditure published in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates". Furthermore, it would be a breach of commercial confidence to give the degree of detail requested for an individual company.
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  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the precise amounts paid to each of the following contractors in respect of headquarters contracts by his Department in the year ended 31 March (a) National Plastics Ltd., (b) Commercial Hydraulics Keelavite Ltd., (c) Kalmar Climax Ltd., and (d) Jaguar Cars Ltd.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The payments made to each of these companies in the year 31 March 1989 in respect of headquarters contracts were as follows:

  £ million

  National Plastics Ltd.

  4·7

  Commercial Hydraulics Keelavite Ltd.

  2·3

  Kalmar Climax Ltd.

  2·1

  Jaguar Cars Ltd.

  1·4

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the value of headquarter contracts awarded by his Department on behalf of foreign Governments in each of the five years up to 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding reply 4 April 1989]: The information in the format requested is subject to commercial confidentiality. However, defence export sales by British industry are expected to be worth some £3,500 million in 1988. In earlier years, the figures were:

  £ million

  1984

  2,250

  1985

  2,900

  1986

  5,900

  1987

  3,500

  Further information concerning deliveries of defence equipment is given in table 2.7 of volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" (Cm. 675 II).

  Malaysia (Arms Sales)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was any reference to United Kingdom overseas aid to Malaysia in any of the correspondence in 1988 concerning arms sales to Malaysia, a memorandum of understanding on which was signed in September 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  All dealings between the two Governments on the proposed sale of arms were formalised in the memorandum of understanding signed in September 1988. No mention is made in that document of overseas aid to Malaysia.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received any representations from the chairmen designate of Power Generator and National Power seeking the creation of a separate national nuclear generation corporation as part of the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have discussions from time to time with both chairmen-designate of the successor 192
  companies to the CEGB about a wide range of issues relating to the reorganisation and subsequent privatisation of the electricity industry. These discussions are necessarily confidential.

  Druridge Bay
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many dwelling houses, including any used as holiday accommodation, will be transferred from the ownership of the Central Electricity Generating Board to National Power in connection with the transfer under the provisions of the Electricity Bill of the area proposed for a nuclear power station at Druridge bay, Northumberland.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Under clause 63 of the Electricity Bill, the CEGB would be required to prepare a transfer scheme for the allocation of all its assets to the successor companies. The proposed transfer of assets would be subject to my approval but is, initially, a matter for the CEGB. I am therefore asking the CEGB to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Oil Rigs (Safety)
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has as to whether the process pipework and vessels on the Piper Alpha platform were originally designed to comply with requirements of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers MR 01 75 standard for handling sour oil and gas;

  (2) if he is aware of any occasions in the United Kingdom continental shelf of premature failure of platform piping or vessels due to cracking induced by sour oil or gas;

  (3) what information he has as to whether during production from the Piper Alpha platform any sections of piping or vessels handled oil or gas which would be designated as sour by the NACE standard;

  (4) whether the operator of the Piper Alpha platform at any time informed the certifying authority of the handling of sour oil and gas and agreed a suitable programme of non-destructive testing to determine the suitability of the piping and vessels to handle sour oil and gas.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department has not received any reports of premature failure of offshore installation piping or vessels in the UKCS due to cracking induced by sour oil or gas. The bulk of the Piper Alpha installation was designed before the NACE MR 0175 standard was published. However, all installations are required to have a certificate of fitness issued by a certifying authority. The CA must ascertain, inter alia, that the materials employed are suitable for handling the products involved.

  I am advised that, from 1986, the levels of hydrogen sulphide produced from some of the Piper Alpha wells was increasing, and that the NACE standard would now designate some of the oil and gas on the platform as "sour". The owner is required to provide sufficient information to the CA for an independent assessment of the design to be carried out and for a periodic survey of the equipment to be undertaken.

  My Department understands from the CA that Occidental discussed with it a corrosion monitoring system, including non-destructive testing, which was designed to assess the suitability of the piping and vessels to handle the oil and gas involved, including the expected

  193
  levels of hydrogen sulphide. Only when the CA is satisfied that it is proper to do so will it issue or renew a certificate of fitness.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received a report on the causes of the recent explosion on the Cormorant Alpha platform; if he will make it his policy to publish any such report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The investigation into the cause of this incident is still in progress. As the hon. Member knows, and for reasons I have already explained, it would not be in accordance with our normal practice to publish the report on the findings of the investigation. I shall ensure that any lessons to be learned will be passed on to the industry at the earliest opportunity.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has concerning the recommencement of production on(a) the Cormorant Alpha platform and (b) the Brent pipeline system.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The latest information that my Department has from Shell indicates that the company believes there is a reasonable probability that start up of the Brent pipeline system will be achieved by 26 May 1989. Shell does not expect that the Cormorant Alpha platform will resume production before July 1989.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain and place copies of the daily transcript of the inquiry into the Piper Alpha tragedy in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The transcript is already accessible to the hon. Member at a number of locations, including my offices at Millbank, but I am happy to assist him further by placing a copy in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Quangos
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of members of each quango and non-departmental public body.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  A table giving this information has been placed in the Library.

  Public Order
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parades were notified to the police under the terms of the Public Order (N.I.) Order 1986 in each of the years 1986, 1987 and 1988; what information organisers of parades are expected to give in the notice to police; and what form this information has to take.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: In respect of parades notified to the police in the years 1986, 1987 and 1988, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 10 May 1989 at column 444. Those figures relate to parades under the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 and the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987. No similar order was made in 1986.

  The information required from parade organisers is a matter for the Chief Constable. However, I understand
  194
  that the organisers are expected to give sufficient information to enable him to make adequate policing arrangements for the particular occasion.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar Shootings
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will now reconsider his decision not to hold a full public judicial inquiry into the shootings in Gibraltar of Mairead Farrell, Daniel McCann and Sean Savage;

  (2) if he has received a copy of the independent report, commissioned by Amnesty International, on the Gibraltar shootings of Sunday 6 March 1988; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he has received a copy of the independent report, commissioned by the National Council for Civil Liberties, on the Gibraltar shootings of Sunday 6 March 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have received copies of the reports by Amnesty International and the National Council for Civil Liberties. We remain of the view that there are no grounds for holding a further inquiry into the deaths of Mairead Farrell, Daniel McCann and Sean Savage.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the role of his Department's AIDS unit; how many staff and at what grades are employed in it; what is its budget for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the diplomatic wing, AIDS is the responsibility of the narcotics control and AIDS department. Its role is to consider the foreign policy implications of our AIDS-related policies. Staff dealing with AIDS are 15 per cent. × one DS4, 30 per cent. × one DS5, 100 per cent. × one DS9, 50 per cent. × one DS10 and 30 per cent. × one S2A. NCAD has no dedicated budget but AIDS-related assistance may be funded from assistant under-secretaries' general purpose budgets.

  AIDS-related assistance under the overseas aid programme is coordinated by the Overseas Development Administration health and population division. HPD staff dealing with AIDS are 10 per cent. × grade 5, 90 per cent. × SEO, 55 per cent. × HEO, 95 per cent. × EO, 70 per cent. × AO, 5 per cent. × personal secretary, 40 per cent. × typist. The ODA has committed £7·2 million so far for expenditure this financial year on AIDS prevention and control. Of this, £5·4 million will be administered by HPD.

  Guyana (Elections)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Guyanese authorities to ensure that procedures operate for free and fair elections; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have no plans to make such representations to the Guyanese authorities. National elections are not due to be held in Guyana until 1990 and the great importance which we attach to the principle of free and fair elections is already widely known.

  British Council
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources are specifically allocated to the British Council to subsidise the travel costs of scientists engaged in the British-German academic research collaboration programme; what is the maximum grant available to individuals; and what are the criteria by which this sum is determined.

  Mr. Eggar
  The British Council is contributing £175,000 towards the cost of the joint British-German academic research collaboration programme in this its first year. A part of this money is for organisational visits but the major part is intended to contribute to both the travel and the living costs of British scholars supported under the programme. A standard contribution of £150 is offered towards the cost of travel, together with a standard contribution towards living expenses while the British scientist is in Germany at the rate of £200 per week. The contribution towards travel, which is not intended to cover all travel costs, is based on the cheapest return air fare between most airports in Britain and Germany.

WALES

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has given to health authorities in Wales on ensuring wherever possible that patients whose first language is Welsh, have access to Welsh-speaking nurses in hospitals in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Welsh Office Health Circular WHSC(IS)117 "The Health Service and The Welsh Language", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, recognises the importance of individuals being able to converse in their mother tongue during contact with the Health Service, and asks authorities to offer appropriate services wherever this would be reasonable and practicable.

  Museum of Welsh Antiquities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning his case for safeguarding the future of the museum of Welsh antiquities, and the associated art gallery, at Bangor; whether the Welsh Office are making any direct financial contribution towards the upkeep of these facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Six representations about the future of the museum of Welsh antiquities and the art gallery at Bangor have been received. The Welsh Office does not provide direct financial support for local museums and galleries. But local sources of funding for such facilities may be supplemented by the Council of Museums in Wales and the Welsh Arts Council which are centrally funded.

  Access (Development)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional monies are to be made available other than the higher education quantum to promote the development of access throughout Wales.
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  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  £50,000 is being made available from the higher education quantum in 1989–90 to establish a Wales access unit that will encourage the development of access courses giving entry to higher education. The university of Wales has been invited to join and contribute to the initiative.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an analysis of expenditure shown in table 17.1 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1989–90 to 1991–92" Cm. 617 on a similar basis to his reply of 25 January 1988, to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams),Official Report column 108.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 31 January 1989 at columns 97–110.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To aks the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the Welsh water authority commenced its current review into the costs of alternative schemes to deal with the 11 Welsh bathing beaches that do not conform with European Community bathing water directive 76/160/EEC; on what date the current review is expected to be completed; and if he will arrange for the review to be published.

  Mr. Grist
  Conclusions from the review of the bathing water compliance programme will be included in information made available prior to the flotation of Welsh Water.

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

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 10 May 1989, at columns 437–8.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of his initial housing investment allocated to local authorities in Wales for (i) 1989–90, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1985–86, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1981–82 and (vi) 1979–80, at constant 1989–90 prices, separately distinguishing each authority.

  Mr. Grist
  Initial housing allocations at constant 1989–90 prices, by local authority, for the years 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88 and 1989–90 are shown in the following table. Initial housing allocations are not available for 1979–80.
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  Initial local authority housing capital allocations: 1989–90 prices

  Local Authority

  1981–82£000

  1983–84£000

  1985–86£000

  1987–88£000

  1989–90£000

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,803

  3,796

  2,195

  2,178

  1,728

  Colwyn

  2,087

  3,376

  2,083

  1,989

  1,598

  Delyn

  1,523

  2,521

  1,505

  1,566

  1,276

  Glyndwr

  1,021

  2,279

  1,568

  1,400

  1,114

  Rhuddlan

  1,066

  1,616

  935

  1,032

  841

  Wrexham Maelor

  3,519

  5,211

  4,285

  4,555

  3,680

  Carmarthen

  2,026

  4,968

  3,400

  3,344

  2,263

  Ceredigion

  2,894

  4,178

  2,609

  2,696

  1,916

  Dinefwr

  975

  1,955

  1,135

  1,237

  1,007

  Llanelli

  2,620

  4,421

  2,837

  2,600

  2,096

  Preseli

  1,889

  3,030

  2,297

  2,084

  1,554

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,325

  3,255

  2,081

  2,146

  1,483

  Blaenau Gwent

  4,158

  9,635

  5,833

  10,389

  6,105

  Islwyn

  3,153

  6,456

  4,789

  6,009

  3,194

  Monmouth

  2,133

  4,107

  3,606

  2,920

  1,898

  Newport

  7,190

  10,622

  6,576

  6,198

  4,798

  Torfaen

  3,549

  5,941

  3,795

  4,378

  3,343

  Aberconwy

  1,630

  2,727

  1,607

  1,537

  1,252

  Arfon

  3,077

  4,231

  2,588

  2,450

  1,944

  Dwyfor

  975

  1,267

  743

  1,245

  783

  Meirionnydd

  1,280

  1,857

  1,088

  1,041

  848

  Ynys Mon

  1,523

  3,561

  2,281

  2,574

  1,765

  Cynon Valley

  3,092

  4,810

  3,036

  5,351

  3,276

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3,488

  4,280

  2,603

  3,758

  3,061

  Ogwr

  6,215

  7,981

  5,135

  5,656

  3,599

  Rhondda

  6,215

  8,195

  5,554

  7,980

  10,392

  Rhymney Valley

  4,311

  6,936

  5,245

  6,861

  4,335

  Taff Ely

  6,976

  8,114

  5,224

  5,382

  3,792

  Brecknock

  1,417

  2,181

  2,043

  2,123

  1,360

  Montgomeryshire

  1,417

  2,196

  1,651

  1,726

  1,386

  Radnor

  640

  1,659

  972

  1,042

  747

  Cardiff

  14,410

  19,609

  12,962

  17,085

  11,037

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,732

  5,234

  3,026

  3,405

  2,591

  Port Talbot

  2,133

  2,695

  1,654

  3,359

  2,323

  Lliw Valley

  3,549

  5,427

  3,189

  3,222

  2,464

  Neath

  2,056

  3,508

  2,642

  3,301

  2,251

  Swansea

  8,728

  15,143

  8,856

  8,607

  6,900

  Total Districts

  120,793

  188,977

  123,628

  144,427

  106,000

  Local Authorities (Capital Allocations)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library, for each local authority in Wales, its capital allocation, in total for 1989–90, showing the percentage change from(a) 1988–89 and (b) 1981–82.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is shown in the following table. The total amount to be allocated for 1989–90 is £336·9 million of which £307·3 million has been allocated to date. A copy of this answer will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Local authority

  1989–90 allocations to date £000

  Per cent. change from 1981–82 to 1989–90

  Per cent. change from 1988–89 to 1989–90

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,774

  -21·37

  2·36

  Colwyn

  2,365

  -8·69

  23·82

  Delyn

  2,823

  24·58

  12·38

  Glyndwr

  1,616

  16·01

  29·49

  Rhuddlan

  2,995

  60·93

  -27·69

  Wrexham Maelor

  7,080

  22·77

  19·57

  Carmarthen

  3,319

  12·89

  16·17

  Ceredigion

  2,868

  5·13

  0·35

  Dinefwr

  2,131

  111·20

  -4·18

  Llanelli

  4,187

  7·50

  24·72

  Preseli Pembs

  3,358

  67·31

  2·79

  South Pembs

  2,196

  53·78

  -33·19

  Blaenau Gwent

  11,553

  119·43

  33·89

  Islwyn

  4,439

  27·78

  -42·21

  Monmouth

  2,779

  31·71

  2·81

  198

  Local authority

  1989–90 allocations to date £000

  Per cent. change from1981–82 to 1989–90

  Per cent. change from 1988–89 to 1989–90

  Newport

  6,928

  -17·10

  -9·34

  Torfaen

  6,069

  76·37

  -3·83

  Aberconwy

  3,645

  75·58

  103·97

  Arfon

  3,210

  -10·41

  -14·40

  Dwyfor

  1,464

  34·81

  -26·80

  Meirionnydd

  1,665

  2·46

  -14·26

  Ynys Môn

  2,973

  52·15

  -20·19

  Cynon Valley

  7,915

  186·05

  9·35

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5,478

  39·00

  5·61

  Ogwr

  5,475

  2·26

  -19·54

  Rhondda

  12,707

  130·16

  -28·12

  Rhymney Valley

  7,578

  46·80

  -25·20

  Taff Ely

  5,148

  -19·27

  -10·49

  Brecknock

  2,120

  21·49

  25·52

  Montgomeryshire

  2,171

  53·86

  19·42

  Radnor

  1,042

  17·21

  -12·22

  Cardiff

  15,290

  -10·21

  -12·27

  Vale of Glamorgan

  4,031

  -20·68

  -·10·76

  Port Talbot

  3,544

  56·68

  -7·78

  Lliw Valley

  3,608

  3·50

  -0·82

  Neath

  3,512

  62·22

  -11·71

  Swansea

  10,418

  10·85

  -14·84

  Clwyd

  12,840

  49,80

  -23·56

  Dyfed

  16,948

  89·00

  9·66

  Gwent

  24,019

  16·16

  29·98

  Gwynedd

  7,903

  10·93

  -0·05

  Mid Glamorgan

  26,648

  43·08

  15·23

  Powys

  6,110

  15·20

  0·91

  South Glamorgan

  18,132

  0·29

  -38·76

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  Local authority

  1989–90 allocations to date £000

  Per cent. change from1981–82 to 1989–90

  Per cent. change from 1988–89 to 1989–90

  West Glamorgan

  22,247

  79·44

  22·49

  Total

  307,321

  Water Quality
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Gower on 2 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will place in the Library details of the time limits on the derogations and delays relating to the non-compliance of potable waters in Wales with the European directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption 80/77/EC.

  Mr. Grist
  I shall arrange to place the relevant information in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

  Sewage Sludge
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a list of the outfalls around the Welsh coast where consents have been given by his Department to the Welsh water authority for the disposal of sewage sludge.

  Mr. Grist
  Yes.

PRIME MINISTER

  EC Commission
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Southend, East of 8 May, if she has provided advice to Ministers about the procedures which are available to them in cases where the Commission submit proposals for legislation which do not fall within agreed Community competence; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  As I have told the House, we will continue to examine carefully whether proposals for EC legislation fall within agreed Community competence and we shall continue to deal with such proposals in the Council of Ministers in whatever way best protects and promotes British interests.

  House of Commons (Attendance)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions she has attended the Chamber on official duties in the past 12 months, apart from when dealing with oral questions.

  The Prime Minister
  I frequently attend the Chamber on official duties.

  Poverty (Manchester)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will agree to meet, either in Manchester or London, a group of constituents of the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton who are living in poverty.
  200
  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Airport Policy (Scotland)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received from Scottish industry and commerce concerning Scottish lowland airports policy; and what reply she has given.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received representations from a Scottish bank, the chairman of a major Scottish firm and two Scottish chambers of commerce. In reply I have said that it was clear from the financial information on Prestwick airport submitted by BAA plc, along with its request for a review of the Scottish lowland airports policy, that there had in fact been a steady improvement in Prestwick's financial position. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, having consulted my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, concluded that a review of current policy would not be appropriate. I also pointed out in my reply that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland considers that access to Prestwick could be improved and that steps are in hand to improve both rail and road access to the airport.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what forecast studies of increased rail freight tonnage, following the opening of the Channel tunnel, his Department has made; whether the proposed rail routes for this traffic will be able to cope with any substantial increase; and to what extent the exporting base of the country in the north will be efficiently served by these routes and thus able to fully compete in the European market.

  Mr. Portillo
  In compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act, British Rail have to publish before the end of this year their plans for Channel tunnel freight and passenger services. The plans will take into account BR's widespread consultations with national and regional interests and customers. BR is satisfied that the rail network itself is capable of handling the substantial increase in freight traffic that is envisaged, but this report will look at the adequacy of road/rail interchange facilities and the need for improvements in local rail access.

  Traffic Speed
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has available on the average speed of traffic in(a) central London, (b) Paris, (c) Rome and (d) Madrid.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asserting for a year that traffic moves faster in London than in comparable cities. I do not know whether this is true. So far no one has contradicted the claim.

  Comparisons of average traffic speeds between cities are difficult. The figures we have show speeds of 20 kilometres per hour or less for most major cities. Differences in survey method and coverage do not permit any firm conclusions to be drawn about differences.

  Speeds in central London are regularly surveyed at three or four-year intervals using timed runs over a

  201
  network of 160 km of road, including all A roads. In 1986, the average speed between 7 am and 7 pm was found to be 18 kph. Full details are published in statistics bulletin (87)41. A copy is in the library.

  The available information for other cities is more limited. For Rome, the Rome municipal administration has provided figures for 1986 relating to the 13 km bypass route around the historic centre. The centre itself, covering roughly 14 square kilometres, is subject to traffic control measures which permit only residents, public transport and vehicles with special tickets to enter in the periods 7 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 7 pm. A series of timed runs commencing at 7.30 am, 10.00 am, 12.30 pm and 5.30 pm produced an average speed of 20 kph.

  According to the office of the mayor, the average traffic speed in Paris in 1987 was estimated at between 14 and 15 kph. Details of the survey method used and the area covered are not available.

  Our searches have failed to locate any statistics on the average traffic speed in Madrid.

  I believe traffic does move faster in Berlin, where few drive in from the suburbs.

  British Rail
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with whom he is consulting over his Department's consideration of the future of British Rail; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend expects to consult widely in due course if a decision is made to privatise British Rail.

  A1 Belford Bypass
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the most recently recorded traffic flows in each direction on the A1 Belford bypass.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department has no data on the A1 Belford bypass. The nearest point on the A1 for which a count has been made is at Ellingham south of Belford. The estimated 1987 annual average daily flow for combined directions at that point is 5,500. The AADF is not computed by direction. The count on which the AADF is based was carried out for 12 hours (7am to 7pm) on 5 October 1987 and recorded 2,569 vehicles northbound and 2,147 southbound. The records show that conditions were foggy on the day of the count, which may have affected traffic levels.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the safety implications of the dispute involving 200 maintenance workers on the Severn bridge and the recruitment of unskilled labour.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There have not been any safety implications for users of the bridge as a consequence of the dispute. Under the conditions of contract, the contractor is responsible for safety on site. Labour recruitment is also his concern.

  Road Works
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the period of the following construction 202
  and maintenance works (a) Tees viaduct A19, (b) Darlington area A1 (M), (c) Dishforth interchange A1 and (d) Doncaster area A1(M ); what estimates he has of average delay times at peak periods for each set of works; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for undertaking all these works at the same time.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is:

  1months

  2minutes

  (a) Tees Viaduct A19

  28

  3

  (b) Darlington area A1(M)

  4

  20 to 30

  (c) Dishforth Interchange A1

  17

  0 to 30

  (d) Doncaster area A1(M)

  32 1/2

  20 to 30

  1 Period of works.

  2Estimated average delay at peak times.

  3 Now finished.

  The delays vary greatly depending upon the stage of the works and traffic conditions.

  These road works are essential to maintain and improve these heavily trafficked routes.

  Road Traffic (Public Inquiries)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public inquiries have been held, pursuant to section 19 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act; and if he will name and indicate the result of each such inquiry.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Central records are not kept of inquiries held in connection with traffic regulation orders made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

ENVIRONMENT

  Factory Building
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the level of factory building in 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  The value of construction orders for new factories for private sector clients in 1988 was £2·1 billion in current prices, an increase of 36 per cent. over the previous year.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the special situation of hon. Members regarding community charge payments and liability.

  Mr. Gummer
  A few hon. Members have raised the position of those whose parliamentary duties require them to keep more than one home. Just as in any other case, it is for the relevant community charges registration officers to decide where an individual's main residence is for the purposes of the community charge. Like any other citizen, a Member of Parliament has the right to take such a decision to a valuation and community charge tribunal if he is dissatisfied.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his proposal to exclude from standard community charge unoccupied property which is held for the purpose of being available for occupation by
  203
  a minister of religion as a residence from which to perform the duties of his or her office would also apply to unoccupied property owned by the Religious Society of Friends for the purposes of that society's ministry.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The Government are currently consulting on the draft of a regulation under section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The regulation—as drafted—sets a zero multiplier for the purposes of the standard charge for all unoccupied property which is held for the purpose of being available for occupation by a minister of religion as a residence from which to perform the duties of his office. The Government's proposal is to continue for the community charge the present position under the General Rate Act 1967. As is the case under the General Rate Act, the draft regulations do not give any definition of "minister of religion".

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the poll tax per head in Oxford city.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Illustrative 1989–90 community charges in England will be published once detailed budget returns from local authorities have been received and analysed.

  Housing Act 1985
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement section 450A of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend proposes to make an order bringing into force section 5 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986, which inserted section 450A into the Housing Act 1985, as soon as the necessary regulations are ready to be made; they are in preparation and will be completed as soon as resources permit.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures have been introduced following the report of the National Audit Office to monitor payments of grants under the urban programme and to assess the effectiveness of the programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Various measures were introduced under the urban programme management initiative in 1985 in anticipation of the NAO report that year. These included the preparation by each local authority of standardised inner area programmes, annual reports and regular financial forecasts. The Department annually examines selected projects and has a continuing programme of research to assess the programme's effectiveness.

  Football Stadiums
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates the cost to be of making every Football League ground all-seater.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The cost of making every Football League ground all-seater would depend on a variety of factors including the number and type of seats to be installed at each ground. I am not in a position to estimate these factors.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will change responsibility for notification to adjoining owners of planning applications from the local authority to the applicant.

  Mr. Howard
  No. The present arrangements reflect the purpose of the planning system which is to regulate the development and use of land in the public interest. The extent of publicity for planning applications is best left to the discretion of the local planning authority, which can exercise their judgment in the light of local circumstances. A general requirement for applicants to notify owners of adjoining land would be an additional and unwarranted burden for applicants, and for local authorities in ensuring compliance.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will place in the Library, the information his Department holds concerning time-limited derogations and delays which have been granted on the non-compliance of potable waters in England with the European directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption 80/77/EC.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) on 7 February 1989 at column 591–7 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

  "Tenants' Choice"
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the leaflet "Tenants' Choice" was withdrawn by his Department; what were the reasons for withdrawing it; and what was the cost of producing and distributing the leaflet.

  Mr. Trippier
  A tenants' choice leaflet was produced in June 1988 at a cost of £1,102 to explain the provisions of the then Housing Bill. About 5,000 copies were sent out in response to inquiries.

  A second leaflet was produced in March 1989 at a cost of £22,598 to explain the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988. More than 11,000 have been sent out, also in response to inquiries. Neither booklet was withdrawn, although the first is now obsolete.

  Water Disconnections
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of water disconnections for each regional water authority for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Ridley
  The information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the following table. Information on disconnections in 1988–89 is not yet available. Information on disconnections by the Welsh water authority is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Water authority disconnections

  Authority

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  North West

  110

  238

  457

  448

  Northumbrian

  70

  59

  300

  480

  Severn Trent

  650

  1,074

  1,000

  932

  205

  Authority

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Yorkshire

  25

  189

  293

  560

  Anglian

  218

  774

  2,268

  1,586

  Thames

  788

  235

  576

  1,594

  Southern

  115

  1,249

  1,152

  1,164

  Wessex

  0

  0

  0

  32

  South West

  76

  404

  404

  324

  England

  2,052

  4,212

  6,450

  7,120

  There were approximately 6,600 water authority disconnections for non-payment in 1981–82.

  Humber Estuary
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being taken to reduce water pollution in and around the Humber estuary.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 16 May 1989]: The Humber estuary from its confluence with the River Trent to the sea, is classified as good or fair quality (class A or B). Since the early 1960s there has been a progressive improvement in water quality. Measures being taken to reduce pollution include improvements to sewage treatment works, particularly at Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield and Chesterfield; a new long sewage outfall at Grimsby; and improvements by several factories to their effluents discharges to the Humber and the Ouse.

  Sea Pollution (Study)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the pilot study for the testing of viruses in sea water will include the Solent and adjacent waters; if he will place in the Library the details and parameters of the study; and if he will extend the study to include the effect of disposal of sewage at sea on marine wildlife and the food chain.

  Mr. Howard
  I can today announce that my Department has let a contract to establish the risks of health of bathing in the seas off the United Kingdom. This is on the recommendation of a working group of experts which was set up last year to advise me on the best way to assess the risk of contracting illnesses from sea bathing. The working group has recommended that two types of study should be made at bathing waters that meet the standards set in the EEC bathing water directive.

  The first study involves bathers who are on the beach of their own volition. Information of any perceived symptoms will be obtained by means of a questionnaire at the time and subsequent telephone follow-ups.

  The second study will involve the use of healthy volunteers who will be asked to swim in waters meeting

  Beaches

  Scheme/type

  Total capital expenditure £ million

  Expected completion date

  Minehead Terminus; Dunster North

  Sea outfall with headworks

  10·8

  1989–90

  Burnham Sea Jetty; Barrow

  Diversion of Sewage to inland works

  3·1

  1990–91

  Weston Super Mare; Uphill Slipway and Grand Jetty

  New headworks for sea outfall

  4·4

  1990–91

  Clevedon Swimming Pool

  Diversion of sewage to inland works

  1·2

  1990–91

  The comparative costs of alternative schemes is not available.
  206
  EEC standards. The volunteers will be examined medically both before and after swimming. The Committee on Ethical Issues in Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians has given clearance for this study.

  A contract has now been let to the Water Research Centre to carry out the first stage of the study this year. Further studies are likely to be required in 1990 and later years. The bathing waters at which the studies are to take place have yet to be selected.

  Reports of the studies will be placed in the Library in due course. The studies will not be extended to study the effect of sewage disposal at sea or marine wildlife and the food chain. This area of research is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Water Meters
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the Property Services Agency in installing water meters in residential buildings owned by Her Majesty's Government; and whether a water meter has been installed at No. 10 Downing street.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Departments are responsible for water comsumption in the buildings they occupy: the PSA gives professional advice and recommends the installation of meters where justified on economic grounds.

  Nos. 10, 11 and 12 Downing street are jointly served by one water meter.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated cost for each of (a) Minehead terminus, (b) Dunster North West, (c) Burnham jetty, (d) Barrow, (e) Weston Super Mare uphill slipway, (f) Weston Super Mare grand pier and (g) Clevedon swimming pool of (i) a long sea outfall, (ii) full sewage treatment works with a short sea outfall and (iii) full sewage treatment works with a long sea outfall to enable them to comply with European Economic Community bathing water directive 76/160/EEC; and when the appropriate solution will be put in place, giving estimated cost of commencement and completion.

  Mr. Howard
  I understand that Wessex water authority has schemes in progress which aim to bring these bathing beaches into compliance with the EC bathing water directive by mid-1991. The details are as follows:

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Yemen (Aid)
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much public money has been allocated to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen during the past 12 months; for what purposes; and whether the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen has taken up all these allocations;

  (2) how much public money has been allocated to the Yemeni Arab Republic during the past 12 months; for what purposes and whether the Yemeni Arab Republic has taken up all these allocations.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  For details of the level and nature of our aid to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic in the financial year 1988–89, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) on 10 April at column 572.

  Expenditure for the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen was somewhat lower than originally anticipated mainly because of problems arising from delay to the signature of a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation. Expenditure for the Yemen Arab Republic was somewhat higher following approval of a project to be funded from the aid and trade provision.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much public money has been allocated to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen by the European Community and the United Nations and its specialised agencies during the past 12 months; for what purposes; and whether the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen has taken up all these allocations;

  (2) how much public money has been allocated to the Yemeni Arab Republic by the European Community and the United Nations and its specialised agencies during the past 12 months; for what purposes; and whether the Yemeni Arab Republic has taken up all these allocations.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We are not aware of any pre-set annual allocations but in 1987, the latest year for which we have information, actual net flows of aid to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen from the European Community and from the United Nations system were US$0.06 million (£0·04 million) and US․18·49 million (£11·4 million) respectively. Comparable figures for the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) are US․2·45 million (£1·48 million) and US․16·75 million (£10·09 million) respectively.

  European Community aid to the PDRY was in the form of medical assistance; and to the YAR was in the form of food aid and assistance for rural development. The register of development activities of the United Nations system 1987, a copy of which is in the Library, provides a breakdown of United Nations aid to these countries by project.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the number of notices
  208
  of intention to deport under the Immigration Act 1971 and (b) the number of persons subsequently removed for each week in 1989; if he will indicate the average length of time between issuing a notice of intention to deport and deportation in 1988 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The latest available information about the number of notices of intention to deport and the number of persons removed under the deportation powers is contained in table 14 of the Home Office statistical bulletin 10/89 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1988", a copy of which is in the Library. Corresponding information for the first quarter of 1989 is due to be published next month. The average length of time beween the issue of a notice of intention to deport and removal under the deportation powers is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The period varies greatly from case to case.

  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the outcome of the meeting of EC Immigration Ministers and of Trevi Ministers in Madrid on 12 May.

  Mr. Hurd
  The meeting of Ministers responsible for immigration, attended also by a vice-president of the Commission, was the sixth such meeting following an initiative taken during the United Kingdom presidency in 1986 to help prepare the EC's approach to the creation of the single market by end 1992 so far as the movement of persons is concerned.

  The meeting on 12 May took a significant step forward on asylum by instructing the official group to prepare a draft convention to deal with the so-called "refugee in orbit" problem. This would establish the criteria for determing which state should be responsible for examining an application for asylum. The meeting reviewed the other work done by officials, and in particular noted with satisfaction that the first regular bulletin on forged and false documents had been produced in April in accordance with the group's earlier recommendations. I welcome this example of solid, practical co-operation on shared operational problems.

  I took the opportunity of the meeting to re-state the Government's view of the interpretation of the relevant provision of the Single European Act and the frontier controls of persons, as endorsed by the House on 4 May at column 417.

  The later meeting of Trevi Ministers took further measures to enhance collaboration between European Community countries to combat terrorism and other crime. Agreement was reached on the study of forged documents, streamlined procedures for secure communications between Trevi countries, further exchanges on specialist matters, and the establishment in all member states of national drugs intelligence units similar to our own, as well as the later examination of the establishment of a European drugs intelligence unit. Ministers agreed to further work on closer co-operation between police forces.

  They also considered the preliminary work of the Group established within Trevi to study border checks and other security measures post 1992 in order that the changes to take place should not adversely affect the prevention of terrorism, drug trafficking and other serious crime in the Community.

  Accommodation Agencies
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) accommodation agencies and (b) directors of accommodation agencies have (i) had summons issued against them, (ii) been successfully prosecuted and (iii) continued to trade after successful prosecution under the Accommodation Agencies Act 1953 for each year since 1975.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information available to me relates to the number of prosecutions and convictions under the Accommodation Agencies Act 1953 in England and Wales for 1986 and 1987.

  1986

  1987

  Prosecutions

  21

  3

  Convictions

  8

  2

  To produce further information for each year from 1975 would involve disproportionate cost. Information as to whether the prosecution was against the agency or a director and whether the agency continued to trade is not available.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the projected size of each index and the projected number of accesses to each index, including those accesses that retrieve information from more than one index of the new police national computer for each year until 1993.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The projected size of each index on the new police national computer for the years 1991, 1992 and 1993 is as follows:

  millions

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Criminal Names

  6·300

  6·700

  7·200

  Wanted Missing

  0·100

  0·120

  0·140

  Disqualified Drivers

  0·250

  0·270

  0·290

  Impending Prosecution

  0·500

  0·540

  0·570

  Convictions

  2·300

  2·500

  2·600

  Fingerprints

  4·000

  4·300

  4·600

  Vehicles

  42·800

  45·800

  49·000

  Stolen Property

  0·030

  0·032

  0·034

  The estimated number of inquiries to each index on the new police national computer for the years 1991, 1992 and 1993 is as follows:

  millions

  1991

  1992

  1993

  All names indexes combined

  15·700

  16·700

  17·700

  Vehicles

  19·100

  20·300

  21·500

  Stolen Property

  0·090

  0·950

  0·101

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place the operational specification of the new police national computer and its accompanying management summary in the Library.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have placed a copy of the functional specification for the new police national computer in the Library.

  Parking
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to review the enforcement of parking restrictions.

  Mr. Hurd
  Parking enforcement has been under review by a working party under Home Office chairmanship on which the Department of Transport, the police service and the local authority associations have been represented. The working party has now completed its report, which identifies a number of areas of concern and possible proposals for change. I am placing a copy of the report in the Library. The Government will consider their conclusions carefully over the next few months.

  Political Refugees
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply has been sent to the letter sent to his Department from Amnesty International dated 21 April about political refugees.

  Mr. Renton
  None, as yet. Amnesty International's letter raises a number of different points which we need to consider fully before replying.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his decision on the possible prosecution of Nazi war crimes perpetrators now resident in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hurd
  I shall consider what further action is required when I have had an opportunity to study the report of the war crimes inquiry, which I expect to receive in June.

  Football Stadiums
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to discuss all-seater football stadiums with the football authorities.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government will be consulting the football authorities about the introduction of all seated accommodation at major football clubs. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is hoping to meet them for this purpose later this month.

  Private Remand Centres
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of cells in any privately managed remand centres will be for(a) single and (b) double occupation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is too early to take detailed decisions, but if the contracting out of the design, construction and operation of remand centres were to go ahead, I would expect inmates normally to he accommodated in individual cells, with some provision for circumstances where it is considered there are advantages for inmates to share with others.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Daveis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 April,Official Report, column 748, what information his Department possesses concerning the incidence and location of confirmation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection in cattle at slaughterhouses of fatstock markets.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on Friday 12 May at column 571.

  National Office of Animal Health
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the duties of the National Office of Animal Health together with the sources of its income and any specific tasks that it has been set by Government.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The National Office of Animal Health Ltd. is a trade organisation representing manufacturers of veterinary medicines. I do not know how it is financed. It has not been set tasks by Government although it is consulted, along with other representative organisations, on matters affecting its members.

  Food and Wine Surpluses
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount, expressed in pounds sterling, which the EEC plans to spend this year on the disposal or destruction of food and wine surpluses; and if he will also publish a table showing these amounts in respect of the previous 15 years.

  Mr. Ryder
  The 1989 Community budget made provision for expenditure of £8,281·9 million on export refunds, subsidies for internal disposals, losses on sale out of intervention and depreciation of stocks. Comparable data for earlier years are shown in the table.

  £ million

  1974

  431·1

  1975

  677·3

  1976

  1,058·4

  1977

  1,284·8

  1978

  2,836·2

  1979

  3,860·1

  1980

  3,947·5

  1981

  3,417·9

  1982

  3,565·0

  1983

  4,280·4

  1984

  5,249·1

  1985

  5,384·0

  1986

  6,272·4

  11987

  8,130·8

  121988

  8,451·4

  21989

  8,281·9

  1 1987 budget year covered 10 months' expenditure, 1988 budget year covered 11½ months' expenditure.

  2 Excluding provision for additional depreciation of old stocks; 1,240 mecu in 1988 and 1,449 mecu in 1989.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his answer to the right 212
  hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, Official Report, 25 April, column 493, he will list the mechanical problems that he believes would arise if the European Commission's proposal for information labelling on food was implemented.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Commission's proposal concerns only post-harvest pesticide treatments. Some pesticide active ingredients can be used either pre or post-harvest. A requirement to label post-harvest might mislead consumers into believing no pre-harvest treatment had been given. In some cases it may be possible to evade the control by switching treatment which is normally post-harvest to the pre-harvest stage; it will be very difficult for the enforcement authorities to police such switching, and, more fundamentally, to test for the wide range of possible treatments.

  There could also be problems for packers, wholesalers and retailers especially when they are dealing with consignments from a number of sources which have been subject to differing treatments. The costs need to be weighed against the benefits which might arise from the proposal, especially when the results of pesticide residue monitoring are published.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 25 April, column 492, whether any of the maximum residue levels for pesticides are at such a level they would result in any of international acceptable daily intakes being exceeded.

  Mr. Ryder
  No. The MRLs used in the United Kingdom are either the same as, or less than, those used by international bodies such as the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission and should not be expected to result in international ADIs being exceeded.

  Salmonella
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his reply of 3 March,Official Report, columns 373–74, he will list for each of the 17 measures he has taken to control salmonella in poultry; whether primary or secondary legislation has been or will be implemented giving dates for each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: The measures listed in my earlier reply are either covered by secondary legislation or are non-statutory. For each of the measures mentioned in my reply of 3 March, numbered as in that reply, the information is as follows:

  Entry into force

  1. The Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) (Amendment) Order 1989

  2 February 1989

  2. Achieved by administrative action

  3. The Processed Animal Protein Order 1989

  14 April 1989 and 13 June 1989

  4. Achieved by administrative action

  5. See my rely of 3 March

  6. The Testing of Poultry Flocks Order 1989

  16 March 1989

  7. Still to be implemented

  8 Achieved by administrative action

  9. Achieved by administrative action

  213

  Entry into force

  10. Still to be implemented

  11. Still to be implemented

  12–17. Non-statutory

  Set-aside Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of(a) registrations and (b) applications for the set-aside scheme were validated by field inspections in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: About one quarter of total applications for set-aside in the United Kingdom in 1988–89 were subject to field inspection before acceptance. Further field inspections of farms accepted into the scheme will be taking place as part of the ongoing monitoring of set-aside obligations. Farms which have been registered have not in general been field inspected, but will be liable to inspection on a sample basis if and when applications are made under the scheme.

EMPLOYMENT

  Task Force
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment has been made of the impact on British business of the activities of the task force on small and medium-sized enterprises; and what plans there are to extend the role of the task force in the run up to 1992.

  Mr. Cope
  As part of its action programme for small and medium sized enterprises, the task force has introduced a number of initiatives designed to assist SMEs. Most of these are at a pilot stage and have yet to be assessed, but some evaluation has been carried out of the network of European information centres set up by the Commission, of which there are four in the UK. Clients of these centres have reported a high level of satisfaction with these services and the commission now proposes to extend the network.

  The Commission has also put forward a proposal for a formal legal base for the activities of the task force, and closer involvement by member states in its plans for the future. The UK Government welcome these proposals, placing particular priority on the task force's deregulatory activities and the need to evaluate its cost-effectiveness carefully.

  Bridging Allowance
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds were in receipt of bridging allowance by region at the end of January, February and March 1989.

  Mr. Cope
  The numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds in receipt of bridging allowance for the nearest available dates are as follows:

  Region

  9 February 1989

  9 March 1989

  13 April 1989

  East Midlands and Eastern

  1,513

  1,380

  1,170

  West Midlands

  1,498

  1,507

  1,298

  Wales

  832

  774

  671

  214

  Region

  9 February 1989

  9 March 1989

  13 April 1989

  Eastern Division

  620

  657

  542

  Southern Division

  576

  543

  521

  Western Division

  667

  612

  554

  South West

  753

  760

  630

  Northern

  1,088

  1,124

  1,021

  Yorks and Humberside

  1,820

  1,816

  1,487

  Scotland

  2,194

  2,182

  1,912

  North West

  2,602

  2,600

  2,235

  YTS
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list at the most recently available date, YTS providers by the following occupation categories(a) administration and clerical, (b) creative, education, recreation, (c) health and community, (d) personal services, (e) selling and storage, (f) construction, (g) electrical engineering, (h) mechanical engineering, (i) motor vehicle repair, (j) non metal processing, (k) catering and food, (l) agriculture, horticulture, forestry, (m) mining, (n) fishing, (o) transport, (p) scientific, (q) printing, and (r) clothing and textiles.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. A copy of the YTS directory of approved training organisations is in the Library.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list at the most recently available date, YTS providers by the following industry categories(a) agriculture, forestry, fishing, (b) energy and water, (c) extraction, metals, minerals, chemicals, (d) metal goods, engineering, vehicles, (e) other manufacturing, (f) construction, (g) distribution, hotel, catering, repairs, (h) transport and communications, (i) banking and finance, (j) other services, and (k) not classified.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. A copy of the YTS directory of approved training organisations is in the library.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of trainees on each employment training scheme operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and give the name of each scheme and the total allowances paid to each scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information about the number of people in training with individual employment training managers in England and Wales can only be provided at disproportionate cost. The names and addresses of Training managers are held in the employment training directory of training agents and training managers, a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library. Information about the amount of trainee allowances paid to trainees with individual training managers is not available. Government programmes in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for how many trainees has each employment training scheme management agency and employer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland contracted to fill for
  215
  each month since the inception of the scheme; and what percentage of these places have actually been filled in each case on a monthly basis.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested can be provided in respect of England and Wales only at disproportionate cost. Government programmes in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of staff involved in monitoring fraud by employment training scheme management agencies and employers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training in England and Wales is delivered by the Training Agency's network of 50 area offices, each of which has a team of officers who, as part of their duties, are responsible for investigating cases of fraud. In England and Wales, the incidence of fraud in the programme is monitored by the Training Agency's head office on the basis of quarterly returns provided by each area office.

  Responsibility for Government programmes in Northern Ireland lies with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of fraud his Department has detected among employment training scheme management agencies and employers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; what sums were involved; and how many prosecutions have proceeded.

  Change in population 75 and over from 1989 to 1999 by Standard Region: Absolute change in thousands and percentage change1

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  75 and over

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  North

  3·3

  1·7

  2·5

  1·2

  0·5

  0·3

  -1·7

  -0·8

  -1·1

  -0·6

  Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands

  4·7

  1·4

  2·0

  0·6

  -0·9

  -0·3

  -4·3

  -1·3

  -3·3

  -1·0

  East Midlands

  5·3

  2·0

  3·5

  1·3

  1·1

  0·4

  -1·7

  -0·6

  -1·0

  -0·4

  East Anglia

  4·2

  2·8

  2·6

  1·6

  1·3

  0·8

  -0·3

  -0·2

  -0·2

  -0·1

  South East

  10·8

  1·5

  7·2

  0·6

  -2·4

  -0·2

  -14·5

  -1·2

  -10·8

  -0·9

  Greater London

  2·9

  0·6

  -2·0

  -0·4

  -5·6

  -1·2

  -9·9

  -2·1

  -8·6

  -1·9

  Rest of South East

  15·9

  2·1

  9·2

  1·2

  3·1

  0·4

  -4·6

  -0·6

  -2·2

  -0·3

  South West

  8·7

  2·2

  4·2

  1·0

  1·2

  0·3

  -2·6

  -0·6

  -1·3

  -0·3

  West Midlands

  6·0

  1·9

  4·6

  1·4

  0·4

  0·4

  -2·3

  -0·7

  -1·4

  -0·4

  North West

  5·0

  1·2

  1·5

  0·3

  -2·3

  -0·5

  -6·6

  -1·5

  -5·3

  -1·2

  Wales

  3·7

  1·8

  1·9

  1·0

  1·1

  0·5

  -0·2

  -0·1

  0·3

  0·2

  Scotland

  5·0

  1·5

  1·6

  0·5

  -0·7

  -0·2

  -3·1

  -0·9

  -2·2

  -0·7

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  75 and over

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  North

  7·6

  3·7

  7·0

  3·3

  5·2

  2·4

  3·3

  1·5

  2·9

  1·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  10·6

  3·2

  8·4

  2·5

  6·0

  1·7

  3·1

  0·9

  2·7

  0·7

  East Midlands

  10·3

  3·9

  8·8

  3·2

  6·8

  2·4

  4·3

  1·5

  3·9

  1·3

  East Anglia

  6·9

  4·3

  5·2

  3·1

  4·3

  2·5

  2·9

  1·7

  2·8

  1·6

  South East

  38·2

  3·1

  29·5

  2·3

  21·7

  1·7

  11·4

  0·9

  10·1

  0·8

  Greater London

  9·4

  1·9

  5·4

  1·2

  2·6

  0·6

  -1·0

  -0·2

  -1·3

  -0·3

  Rest of South East

  29·8

  3·8

  24·1

  3·0

  19·1

  2·3

  12·3

  1·4

  11·5

  1·3

  South West

  14·7

  3·7

  10·0

  2·4

  7·8

  1·8

  4·7

  1·1

  4·5

  1·0

  West Midlands

  12·8

  3·9

  11·6

  3·4

  8·8

  2·5

  5·5

  1·5

  4·9

  1·3

  North West

  12·0

  2·9

  9·5

  2·2

  6·4

  1·5

  2·8

  0·6

  2·3

  0·5

  Wales

  7·0

  3·4

  5·8

  2·7

  4·5

  2·0

  2·9

  1·3

  3·2

  1·4

  Scotland

  10·0

  3·0

  6·8

  2·0

  5·7

  1·7

  3·1

  0·9

  3·5

  1·0

  1 1985 based population projections.

  216
  Mr. Nicholls
  No cases of fraud by employment training agents and managers in England and Wales have been detected since the start of the programme on 1 September 1988.

  Responsibility for Government programmes in Northern Ireland lies with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment training scheme management agencies and employers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been terminated because of fraud or other malpractice.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No training agents or managers contracting with the Training Agency under employment training in England and Wales have been terminated because of fraud or other malpractice.

  Responsibility for Government programmes in Northern Ireland lies with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

HEALTH

  Pensioners
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by region the estimated growth in the population over 75 years old for each of the next 10 years.

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

  Pain
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made for research into alternatives to narcotic analgesics for nerve pain sufferers who cannot be relieved by these means.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is not directly funding research into the problem, but the pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom carries out research and development in virtually all therapeutic areas.

  This is supported by the Department through the prices of National Health Service medicines. The current cost of this support is approximately 20 per cent. of the National Health Service drugs bill.

  Drug Addicts
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the National Health Service reforms will have on the current situation in which drug addicts living in one health authority area are treated in another without refund because of the restrictive prescribing policies in the former.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under the proposed reforms of the National Health Service, district health authorities will have powers to charge each other for patients from outside their administrative boundaries, either under contract or, exceptionally, through extra-contractual arrangements.

  Head Lice and Nits
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the incidence of head lice and nits in schoolchildren in North Staffordshire; and if he will direct extra resources to enable school nurses to carry out more frequent and regular inspections.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information specifically about the incidence of head lice infestation is not available. However, the following details relate to health surveillance by nurses in the area covered by North Staffordshire health authority:

  Maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools

  Number of infestations1

  1987–88 North Staffordshire health authority

  Number of pupils examined (thousands)

  80·5

  Number of pupils found to be infested (thousands)

  2·4

  Infested pupils as a percentage of the maintained school population aged 5 to 14 years

  4·26

  1 Infestations include head lice, vermin, scabies, ringworm, impetigo and verrucæ.

  Responsibility for the control of head lice infection among pupils rests with individual health authorities through the school health service. It is for them to determine the policy for dealing with this problem in the light of local circumstances. Many have stopped routine head inspections and are now adopting more positive practices through health education programmes and advice to parents on head lice infestation and how to deal with the problem. By increasing parental awareness cases of infestation can be indentified and dealt with more promptly.

  West Lancashire District Health Authority
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total budget for the West Lancashire district health authority in 1978–79, 1983–84 and 1988–89: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to pursue his inquiries with Mr. R. B. Martin, chairman of North Western regional health authority, which is responsible for allocating resources to its districts.

  Midwives (Regrading)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Social Services Select Committee's recommendations on midwives' regrading.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mrs. Peacock) and the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) on 10 May at columns 450–51.

  GPs (Expenditure)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average expenditure per patient by general practitioners.

  Mr. Freeman
  in 1988–89, the estimated average cost of drugs and appliances prescribed by general medical practitioners per patient in England was about £37. The average cost per patient on the general medical services was about £29·50. These figures are based on provisional and estimated returns and exclude the costs of hospital referrals initiated by general medical practitioners, and the administrative costs of family practitioner committees.

  Physiological Measurement Technicians
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to improve the pay and career prospects of physiological measurement technicians.

  Mr. Freeman
  Pay and grading structures are matters for negotiation in the appropriate Whitley council. I understand that yesterday (16 May) the management side of the professional and technical B Whitley council made an offer to the staff side which would improve the pay and grading structures applicable to many NHS technical staff groups, including physiological measurement technicians.

  Nurses (High Technology)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to expand post registration training opportunities for nurses in high technology care.

  Mr. Mellor
  To assist health authorities to expand their post-registration training opportunities for nurses in high technology care we created a central fund of £3 million and invited authorities to submit bids against this fund. Allocations have now been made as follows:

  Regional health authority

  £

  Northern

  202,000

  Yorkshire

  190,000

  Trent

  242,000

  219

  Regional health authority

  £

  East Anglia

  123,000

  North West Thames

  162,000

  North East Thames

  238,000

  South East Thames

  265,000

  South West Thames

  200,000

  Wessex

  152,000

  Oxford

  128,000

  South Western

  163,000

  West Midlands

  353,000

  Mersey

  150,000

  North Western

  202,000

  London Post Graduate SHA's

  142,000

  Total

  2,902,000

  We have also allocated £100,000 to the English national board to fund five additional nurse tutor posts.

  The purpose of the additional funds is to provide start-up costs, additional tutors and some student salaries for courses in high-technology care. Detailed decisions on allocations will be for regional health authorities, but we shall be asking them to expand student numbers in courses which are already running, to start extra courses and develop new types of courses in critical care nursing.

  We are separately providing £400,000 to the English national board to undertake a review of all post-registration nurse education and training.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications he has received since April 1988 from hon. Members on behalf of 19-year-olds, or the families of 19-year-olds, for extra-statutory payments of income support to be made in order to allow such students to complete courses of non-advanced education; and how many of such applications have been successful.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since April 1988, we have received 31 such requests. Extra-statutory payments are made only where legislation is faulty, and does not meet our intention. This is not appropriate in these circumstances; accordingly, none of the applicants has been successful.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will detail how councillors' expenses are taken into account when computing eligibility for income and support and family credit; and if he will give the reference to the regulations which determine these rules.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Councillors' expenses are treated in the same way as the expenses incurred by anyone in employment and receiving income support or family credit.

  Payments made in respect of income tax, socal security contributions and one half of a contribution towards an occupational or personal pension scheme are disregarded under regulation 36(3) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 and regulation 20(3) of the Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987. In addition, payments received for employment expenses which are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred are not treated as earnings and are also disregarded under regulation
  220
  35(2)(c) of, and paragraph 3 of schedule 9 to, the Income Support Regulations and regulation 19(2)(b) of, and paragraph 32 of schedule 2 to, the Family Credit Regulations. However, any payments for employment expenses which are not wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred are treated as earnings in the normal way in accordance with regulation 35(1)(f) of the Income Support Regulations and regulation 19(1)(d) of the Family Credit Regulations.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds had made applications for income support on grounds of extreme hardship and how many had been granted at the end of January, February and March 1989; and how many at the same dates had been granted income support on grounds of being within exempted categories, shown by category and by region.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of applications from 16 and 17-year-olds on grounds of "severe hardship" and the number of directions given to enable benefit to be paid, at each of the dates specified, are in the following table:

  Cumulative totals—period ending

  Totals

  27 January 1989

  Applications received

  3,492

  Directions given

  2,332

  24 February 1989

  Applications received

  4,770

  Directions given

  3,092

  31 March 1989

  Applications received

  6,336

  Directions given

  4,104

  Notes:

  1. Based on 100 per cent. count of applications received.

  2. Information relates to the number of applications received rather than to the number of individual young people involved. Some individuals may have received more than one direction.

  3. Figures are cumulative to the last Friday in each month.

  The numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds granted income support because they fall within one of the groups defined in regulations ceased to be collected after October 1988. They could be obtained now only at disproportionate cost.

  Members' Letters
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many letters he received from hon. Members in each month for the last four months;

  (2) what was the average delay between receipt of letters from hon. Members to date of reply in each of the last four months.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information in respect of letters, most of which were from hon. Members receiving a ministerial reply, is as follows:

  Totals

  January 1989

  Letters received

  1,333

  Average time to reply

  45 days

  February 1989

  Letters received

  1,533

  Average time to reply

  35 days

  221

  Totals

  March 1989

  Letters received

  1,676

  Average time to reply

  32 days

  April 1989

  Letters received

  1,714

  Average time to reply

  38 days

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps are being taken to deal with correspondence from hon. Members more expeditiously;

  (2) what proportion of letters from hon. Members sent to his office he estimates could have been dealt with more speedily by the local Department of Social Services office concerned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We are constantly seeking to improve the service provided to hon. Members.

  As my hon. Friend suggests, usually the most satisfactory way to resolve queries relating to the personal circumstances of individual constituents is to take them up directly with the manager of the appropriate local or Central office. Many hon. Members already do so. However, no figures are kept on which an estimate could be made of the proportion of letters which could be dealt with more speedily in this way.

  Social Fund
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total value of applications for(a) budgeting loans, (b) cash loans and (c) community

  Real changes in pensioners' income by quintile (percentage)

  1974 to 1975

  1975 to 1976

  1976 to 1977

  1977 to 1978

  1978 to 1979

  1979 to 1980

  1980 to 1981

  1981 to 1982

  1982 to 1983

  1983 to 1984

  1984 to 1985

  1985 to 1986

  Net income

  Quintile

  Lowest

  Q1

  5

  3

  1

  6

  -2

  4

  4

  2

  6

  2

  -1

  1

  Q2

  2

  4

  -3

  7

  -2

  2

  6

  3

  6

  1

  0

  2

  Q3

  0

  4

  -5

  8

  -3

  1

  6

  2

  7

  -1

  1

  3

  Q4

  0

  1

  -3

  8

  -2

  2

  3

  2

  9

  -2

  1

  5

  Highest

  Q5

  -3

  -5

  2

  6

  -1

  2

  5

  -6

  16

  -2

  4

  7

  All

  0

  0

  -1

  7

  -2

  2

  5

  -1

  11

  -1

  2

  5

  Equivalised Net income

  Quintile

  Lowest

  Q1

  4

  3

  1

  6

  -3

  1

  6

  1

  6

  1

  -2

  2

  Q2

  4

  2

  -1

  6

  -2

  1

  6

  1

  6

  1

  -1

  3

  Q3

  3

  0

  -2

  6

  -2

  1

  5

  2

  7

  0

  0

  3

  Q4

  2

  0

  -4

  8

  -1

  0

  6

  1

  8

  0

  1

  4

  Highest

  Q5

  -2

  -6

  1

  4

  -2

  2

  6

  -6

  17

  -1

  1

  9

  All

  1

  -2

  -1

  6

  -2

  1

  6

  -1

  10

  0

  0

  5

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey. Comparison with one year with another may be affected by sampling error.

  Note: Equivalised figures allow for the different circumstances of pensioners, eg householders/non-householders, single/married.

  Income Support
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the maximum level of income support payments, in cash and constant prices, available to meet residential care and nursing home fees in each of the last five years.
  222
  care grants from the social fund for the year 1988–89 in respect of the Department of Social Security local offices at Eston, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on the numbers of community care grant, crisis loans and budgeting loan applications processed and the value of these applications is available in the Library.

  Pensioners (Income)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners' income was derived from(a) social security benefits, (b) occupational pensions, (c) savings and investment and (d) earnings in 1974, 1979, 1983 and 1988.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Source of pensioners' gross incomes

  Per cent.

  1974

  1979

  1983

  1986

  All social security benefits

  55

  61

  60

  59

  Occupational pensions

  15

  16

  18

  20

  Savings and investment

  13

  11

  14

  14

  Employment earnings

  17

  12

  8

  7

  Source: Family expenditure survey.

  Note: Information for 1986 is the latest available.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the increase in pensioner income for each quintile of the income distribution in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The tables show the supplementary benefit-income support limits for help with fees in private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes. The figures given without brackets are amounts in cash prices; the ones in brackets are rounded March 1989 prices.
  223

  £ cash (March 1989 prices)

  April 1985

  November 1985

  July 1986

  April 1987

  April 1988

  April 1989

  Residential care homes

  Elderly

  110 (130)

  120 (140)

  125 (144)

  130 (143)

  130 (138)

  140

  Very dependent or blind elderly

  — —

  — —

  140 (161)

  145 (160)

  155 (165)

  155

  Mentally ill

  120 (142)

  130 (152)

  130 (150)

  130 (143)

  130 (138)

  140

  Drug-alcohol dependent

  120 (142)

  130 (152)

  130 (150)

  130 (143)

  130 (138)

  140

  Mentally handicapped

  140 (166)

  150 (176)

  150 (173)

  150 (165)

  160 (170)

  165

  Physically disabled under pension age

  170 (201)

  180 (211)

  180 (207)

  190 (210)

  190 (202)

  200

  Others

  110 (130)

  120 (140)

  125 (144)

  130 (143)

  130 (138)

  140

  Nursing homes

  Elderly and others

  138·60 (164)

  170 (199)

  170 (196)

  175 (193)

  185 (196)

  190

  Mentally ill

  148·60(176)

  180 (211)

  180 (207)

  180 (199)

  185 (196)

  195

  Drug-alcohol dependent

  148·60 (176)

  180 (211)

  180 (207)

  180 (199)

  185 (196)

  190

  Mentally handicapped

  168·60 (200)

  200 (234)

  200 (230)

  200 (221)

  200 (212)

  205

  Physically disabled under pension age

  198·60 (235)

  230 (269)

  230 (265)

  230 (254)

  230 (244)

  235

  Terminally ill

  198·60 (235)

  230 (269)

  230 (265)

  230 (254)

  230 (244)

  235

  Attendance Allowance Board
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many of his Department's staff, and what grades, have been seconded to the attendance allowance board under paragraph 9, schedule 11, Social Security Act 1975; how many are located in London and Blackpool; and what are the comparable figures for the past three years;

  Numbers, grades and locations of Department of Social Security staff made available to act as officers and servants of the attendance allowance board 1986–87 to 1989–90

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Grade

  London

  Blackpool

  London

  Blackpool

  London

  Blackpool

  London

  Blackpool

  SMO

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  1·5

  —

  1·5

  —

  Principal

  0·5

  —

  0·5

  —

  0·5

  —

  0·5

  —

  SEO

  0·6

  —

  0·6

  —

  0·6

  —

  0·6

  —

  HEO

  1·0

  0·5

  1·5

  0·5

  2·0

  1·0

  2·0

  1·0

  EO

  1·4

  12·0

  1·8

  12·0

  1·8

  16·0

  1·8

  18·0

  AO

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  AA

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  —

  Total

  19·0

  19·9

  25·4

  27·4

  Community Charge
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions have taken place involving his Department as to the effects of the poll tax on the social security budget.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No discussions have taken place with any organisations outside Government.
  224
  (2) if he will publish the arrangements made under paragraph 9, schedule 11, Social Security Act 1975.

  Mr. Scott
  The requested information is in the table. Staff are made available to the attendance allowance board having regard to its needs, the type of work involved and the personnel policies of the Department. I should emphasise that these staff are not involved in the decision-making process.

  Availability for Work
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current average length of time between an unemployed claimant receiving an adjudication officer's adverse decision on grounds of restricted availability and non-availability for work and a subsequent appeal, by standard Great Britain region, including Greater London.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information is not available.

SCOTLAND

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1979(a) the number of acute beds available and (b) the number of non-acute beds available in each regional health authority; and if he will give the national total for each year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no regional health authorities in Scotland. The nearest equivalent to a regional health authority is Scotland taken as a whole. The average available number of staffed beds in NHS hospitals in Scotland at 30 September in each year since 1979 is set out in the table below.

  Year

  1Acute

  2Non-acute

  Total

  1979

  24,546

  33,956

  58,501

  1980

  24,412

  33,793

  58,205

  1981

  24,222

  33,808

  58,028

  1982

  23,727

  33,715

  57,440

  1983

  23,574

  33,722

  57,295

  1984

  23,367

  33,849

  57,216

  1985

  33,936

  33,399

  56,335

  1986

  22,450

  33,284

  55,734

  1987

  22,113

  32,775

  54,888

  1988

  21,691

  32,235

  53,925

  These figures reflect changes in clinical practice and more extensive use of community care offset by increased provision for priority groups such as the elderly.

  1 Includes the following specialty groups: acute, supra-area, obstetrics and special categories

  2 Includes long-stay, psychiatric and mental handicap specialty groups.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each year since 1979(a) each hospital closed completely and (b) each hospital closed partially; and if he will break that list down by each region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information is not available by region, and details are not held centrally of partially closed hospitals. The information requested on hospitals closed completely is as detailed below and covered 2,883 beds. During the same period, 60 projects involving 6,747 beds and 521 day places were opened:

  1979

  Broadstones Jubilee Hospital, Port Glasgow

  Duncan McPherson Hospital, Gourock

  Gateside Hospital, Greenock

  Greenock Eye Infirmary

  Greenock Royal Infirmary

  Dunbar Cottage Hospital

  Kings Cross (West) Hospital, Dundee

  1980

  Shotts Hospital

  Charleton Maternity Home, Montrose

  Sidlaw Hospital, Auchterhouse

  1981

  Carnbooth Children's Home, Glasgow

  Homoeopathic Hospital for Children, Glasgow

  Burghmuir Hospital, Perth

  1982

  Kilmarnock Infirmary

  Torrance House, Kilmarnoc

  Strathmore, Hospital, Blairgowrie

  226
  1983

  Peebles County Hospital

  Peebles War Memorial Hospital

  Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Glasgow

  Brevik Hospital, Lerwick

  1984

  Finnartmore Auxiliary Hospital, Kilmun

  Buckreddan Maternity Hospital, Kilwinning

  County Hospital, Dufftown

  Old Gilbert Bain Hospital, Lerwick

  1985

  Caldwell House Hospital, Uplawmoor

  Northern Hospital, Dunfermline

  Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Glasgow

  1986

  Broadfield Hospital, Port Glasgow

  Royal Alexandra Infirmary, Paisley

  Royal Alexandra Infirmary Annex, Paisley

  Royal Victoria Eye Infirmary, Paisley

  Thorn Hospital, Johnstone

  Hozier House, Lanark

  Schaw Hospital, Bearsden

  Bignold Hospital, Wick

  1987

  Ochil Hills Hospital, Milnathort

  Windsor Hospital, Falkirk

  Glenlomond Hospital, Mawcarse, by Kinross

  Hilton Hospital Inverness

  Leith Hospital, Edinburgh

  1988

  Galashiels Hospital

  Selkirk Hospital

  Peel Hospital, Galashiels

  Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital, Edinburgh

  1989

  Bruntsfield Hospital, Edinburgh

  Staff Statistics
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by each region for each year since 1979 the numbers of staff expressed as a whole-time equivalent and as actual full-time and part-time members in the following categories(a) ancillary, (b) administration and clerical, (c) nurses and midwives and (d) professional and technical.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no regional health authorities in Scotland. The nearest equivalent to a regional health authority is Scotland taken as a whole. The information requested for the years 1979 to 1987 can be found at table 9.2 in successive volumes of "Scottish Health Statistics", published annually by information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency in Scotland. Copies are held in the Library. The latest information, provisional data relating to 30 September 1988, is as follows:

  Selected staff groups

  Whole time

  Part time

  Whole time equivalent

  Ancillary

  11,855

  18,584

  22,067·8

  Administrative and Clerical

  12,203

  4,670

  14,752·2

  Nurses and Midwives1

  27,060

  14,585

  35,663·3

  Professional and Technical2

  9,980

  2,352

  11,084·6

  1 Qualified staff only.

  2 Includes scientific, paramedical, technical and works staff, opticians and pharmacists.

  Capital Projects
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give detail of each capital project costing more than £1 million(a) actually under construction and (b) at the proposal or planning stage; if he will give the estimated date of completion for each project; and if he will break this list down by each region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no health regions but the information for Scotland is as follows:

  Estimated date of Completion

  Projects Under Construction

  Pollok Health Centre, Glasgow

  Spring 1989

  Castlemilk Health Centre, Glasgow

  Spring 1989

  Raigmore (Control of Infection Unit and on-call accommodation), Inverness

  May 1989

  Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall

  July 1989

  Gilbert Bain Hospital (Phase I), Lerwick

  August 1989

  Ravenscraig Phase IIIA, Greenock (Alcohol and Rehabilitation Unit)

  December 1989

  Dumfries and Galloway Services for the mentally handicapped

  11989

  City Hospital, 2nd 60 bed unit, Aberdeen

  May 1990

  Seafield Hospital, Ayr

  December 1990

  West Lothian District General Hospital, Livingston

  a. Phase II

  1991

  b. Residences

  February 1990

  Royal Cornhill Phase I, Aberdeen

  Spring 1991

  Royal Infirmary, Perth

  April 1991

  Acute Hospital, Ayr

  July 1991

  Maternity Hospital, Bellshill

  1992

  Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride

  1992

  Udston Hospital, Hamilton

  1992

  Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway

  1993

  Schemes Completed but under Commissioning

  Royal Infirmary Phase I, Stirling

  Due to open October 1989

  West Lothian District General Hospital Phase I, Livingston

  Due to open October 1989

  Projects at Proposal or Planning Stage

  Whitefield Road Phase II, Dunfermline

  1990

  Edinburgh Dental Hospital

  1991

  Oban Hospital

  1991–92

  Campbeltown Hospital

  1992–93

  Bo'ness Hospital

  1993

  Lochgreen Hospital, Falkirk

  1993

  Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert

  1993

  Ayrshire Central Laundry

  not known

  Rutherglen Geriatric Services

  not known

  Leverndale Support Services

  not known

  1 This is a phased development on a number of sites, other stages will follow.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each region, details of proposed capital developments costing more than £1 million which have been cancelled for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No hospital project has been cancelled by my right hon. and learned Friend or his predecessor since 1979.

  Roads
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in what respects his announcement of 8 May concerning surface access to Prestwick airport changes the timetable for the Ayr road route as set out in his letter of 8 April 1987 to the hon. Member for Eastwood;
  228
  (2) what measures he now intends to take to improve road links between East Kilbride new town and Prestwick airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The announcement of 8 May does not affect the timetable for the Ayr road route. The Secretary of State for Scotland is now considering the report of the public local inquiry in respect of this project. The works are at present programmed to start late 1990 but achieving this will depend on the outcome of the inquiry.

  Following the planned upgrading of the A77, further improvement of the road links between East Kilbride new town and Prestwick airport would depend upon the upgrading of a local road which would be a matter for Strathclyde regional council to consider.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of press officers employed in his Department; in what capacity they serve; and what is the scope of their duties.

  Mr. Rifkind
  At 30 April 1989 there were 27 press officers, namely:

  1 chief information officer (A)

  1 chief information officer (B)

  3 principal information officers

  9 senior information officers

  10 information officers

  3 assistant information officers

  Their function is to support (by the provision of advice and specialist skills) Ministers and the Scottish Office Departments in supplying information to press, radio and television. They also provide a service, on request, to United Kingdom Departments, the Crown Office, those other departments that fall within my responsibilities such as Scottish Courts Administration, and a range of non-departmental public bodies. SIO is also responsible for media arrangements in relation to royal and state visits to Scotland; the provision of information overseas through the Central Office of Information; and the overseas visitor programme of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  The office, which provides a 24-hour service, also lends support to the emergency services on media matters in the event of major civil emergencies such as Lockerbie.

  The Scottish information Office has press offices in Edinburgh, London and Glasgow.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors Nirex took into account in choosing to shortlist Dounreay as a possible site for the disposal of solid low and intermediate-level radioactive waste.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 May 1989]: The factors which Nirex took into account in choosing Dounreay and Sellafield as sites for investigation for the disposal of radioactive wastes, are set out in Nirex's report to the Government, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information he has concerning the future location of radioactive waste disposal sites in Scotland by Nirex; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on Wednesday 17 May 1989.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Nirex has advised him that it has identified any other sites besides Dounreay as being suitable for the disposal of nuclear waste.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  (holding answer 15 May 1989): I am aware that Nirex has identified sites in addition to Dounreay as potentially suitable for the disposal of radioactive waste. Its report to the Government, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, indicated a short list of 12 sites, but it recommended, and the Government has accepted, that investigations should be limited to Dounreay and Sellafield in the first instance.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the change in competitiveness of British industry in the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the change in competitiveness of British industry in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Newton
  Competitiveness involves numerous factors including quality, reliability, assurance of delivery and after-sales service. In relation to price competitiveness alone, unit labour costs in United Kingdom manufacturing compared with those in other industrial countries, allowing for the effects of exchange rate movements, are thought to have been on average the same in 1988 as in 1979.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the change in competitiveness of British industry in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Newton
  Competitiveness involves numerous factors including quality, reliability, assurance of delivery and after-sales service. In relation to price competitiveness alone, unit labour costs in United Kingdom manufacturing compared with those in other industrial countries, allowing for the effects of exchange rate movements, are thought to have been on average the same in 1988 as in 1979.

  Girobank
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received on the future of Girobank.

  Mr. Newton
  Since the beginning of the year I have received a small number of representations from MPs and members of the public, raising a variety of questions about the future of Girobank.
  230
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the future of Girobank.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the future of Girobank.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the future of Girobank.

  Mr. Newton
  As I stated in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 20 April, the Post Office board accepted a conditional offer by the Alliance and Leicester Building Society for Girobank, and I endorsed the decision. Detailed negotiations between the two parties are continuing with a view to completion as soon as possible in the coming weeks.

  The regulatory authorities will need to be satisfied and my consent will be needed before a sale can take place.

  Manufacturing Sales
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the share of imports in United Kingdom manufacturing sales three years ago; and what it is at the present date.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the share of imports in United Kingdom manufacturing sales in each of the last three years; and what it is now.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The share of imports in United Kingdom manufacturing sales was 34·3 per cent. in 1985 and 35·8 per cent. in the 12-month period ending in the first quarter of 1988.

  Post Boxes (Sealing)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has had any discussion with Sir Bryan Nicholson of the Post Office regarding the case for reviewing the legal basis whereby post boxes may be sealed off.

  Mr. Forth
  No, Sir. Section 59 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 makes it clear that the Post Office is entitled to interrupt, suspend or restrict any service provided by it in an emergency. On occasion, the Post Office is obliged to suspend collections from certain letter boxes during periods of industrial action and, in such circumstances, the letter boxes are sealed up.

  World Trade
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the United Kingdom share of world trade in(a) 1978 and (b)

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the United Kingdom share of world trade in(a) 1978 and (b)

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the United Kingdom's share of world trade in ( a) 1978 and(b)

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United Kingdom share of world exports was 5·2 per cent. in 1978 and in January to September 1988, the latest period for which figures are available.
  231
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which three industrial countries have lost the largest share of world trade over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which three industrial countries have lost the largest share of world trade over the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which three industrial countries have lost the largest share of world trade over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which three industrial countries have lost the largest share of world trade over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Netherlands, France and Greece recorded the largest reductions in share of world trade between 1978 and 1988.

  Anti-dumping Duties
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of. Lancaster how many anti-dumping duties the European Economic Community has established on imports into the European Economic Community over the last year.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the period May 1988 to April 1989, definitive anti-dumpting duties were imposed by the EC in 30 cases involving 15 products.

  Manufactured Goods (Exports)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactured goods; and what was the level in 1979, 1969 and 1959.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United Kingdom share of the main manufacturing countries' exports of manufactures was 8·2 per cent. in the first three quarters of 1988, 9·1 per cent. in 1979, 11·2 per cent. in 1969 and 17·9 per cent. in 1959.

  "The Observer"
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the Newspaper Publishers Association to discuss control of The Observer newspaper.

  Mr. Maude
  I have had no meeting with the Newspaper Publishers Association to discuss control of The Observer newspaper.

  Consumer Affairs (EC)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss consumer affairs.

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to meet the European Community Commissioner for Consumer Affairs; and what he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to meet the European Community Commissioner for Consumer Affairs; and what he expects to discuss.
  232
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what matters he proposes to discuss at the forthcoming meeting of European Economic Community Consumer Ministers.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what matters he proposes to discuss at the forthcoming meeting of European Economic Community Consumer Ministers.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what matters he proposes to discuss at the forthcoming meeting of European Economic Community Consumer Ministers.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss consumer affairs.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss consumer affairs.

  Mr. Forth
  I hope to meet my European Community counterparts and Mr. Van Miert, Commissioner with responsibility for consumer issues, at the Council of Consumer Ministers which the Spanish Presidency has planned for 1 June. The provisional agenda is as follows:Proposal for a Council directive amending directive 87/102/EEC for the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of member states concerning consumer credit.
  Draft resolution for the relaunch of EC consumer policy.
  Commission report on the European home and leisure accident surveillance system.
  Exchange of views on the Commission report on consumer education.
  Commission presentation of the general product safety directive.
  Any other business.

  Brewing Industry (MMC Report)
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any representations concerning the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the brewery industry.

  Mr. Maude
  I have received a large number of representations expressing various points of view.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to respond to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission Report on the supply of beer.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend and I are currently considering the various representations being made to us, and we will announce as soon as possible the action that we propose to take.

  Pound Sterling
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what effect the current rate of the pound sterling against the deutschmark and dollar is having on export performance of manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Manufacturing industry continues to improve its expert performance. The first quarter volume rose by 5 per cent. compared with the last quarter of 1988.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what advice his Department is giving to export industries regarding the exchange rate of sterling.
  233
  Mr. Alan Clark
  Our consistent advice to exporters on exchange rates has been that they should consider protecting themselves against the risk of exchange rate fluctuation and to consult experts, primarily the banks, about the best way of doing this.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce regulations to require moneylenders, banks and credit agencies, including credit card companies, to show clearly and simply in statements to customers the real rate of interest on any balance outstanding.

  Mr. Maude
  I have no plans to amend the current regulations under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which have been in force since May 1985, relating to the disclosure of the rate of interest applied to outstanding balances due under running account credit agreements. These types of agreement apply to credit cards, store cards and budget accounts. Discussions are currently underway with the banks on making known the rate of interest that has been applied to an overdraft.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the impact of the current level of interest rates on United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  Manufacturing industry will greatly benefit from the Government's firm anti-inflationary policy because inflation is the greatest threat to the nation's prosperity.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the cost to industry of the rise in base rates since April 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The cost to industrial and commercial companies to date of the changes in bank base rates since April 1988, compared with the cost if bank base rates had remained the same since April 1988, is estimated to be about £1 .3 billion. The hon. Member should bear in mind, however, that a one percentage point increase in interest rates, even if sustained for a full year, costs companies far less than a one percentage point increase in pay settlements.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the output per employee in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, West Germany and Japan.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the output per employee in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, West Germany and Japan.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the output per employee in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, West Germany and Japan.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the seven major industrial countries have a higher manufacturing productivity level than the United Kingdom; and which have a lower.
  234
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the output per employee in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, West Germany and Japan.

  Mr. Atkins
  No reliable comparisons exist for absolute levels of output per employee in manufacturing industry between different countries, but available figures show that in the 1980s output per employee in manufacturing industry has grown faster in the United Kingdom than in France, the United States of America, West Germany or Japan.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactured goods; and what was the level in 1979, 1969 and 1959.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Monklands. West (Mr. Clarke) on 10 May 1989,Official Report column 435.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent figure for output in manufacturing industry; and what was the figure for the same month in 1973.

  Mr. Atkins
  In March 1989 manufacturing output was at a level of 118·5, based on 1985 equal to 100. This is 7½ per cent. more than the level of 110·4 for March 1973. But my hon. Friend will appreciate that monthly data can be erratic. A firmer based comparison would be that in the first quarter of 1989 manufacturing output was 7½ per cent. higher than in the same period in 1973. It was also 6½ per cent. higher than in the first quarter of 1938. Manufacturing output is now at its highest ever level.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the United Kingdom trade deficit in information technology products in 1988.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the United Kingdom trade deficit in information technology products in 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United Kingdom trade deficit in the products of the electronic and information technology sector was £2·3 billion in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Borrowers (Advice)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received recent representations from United Kingdom banks, other financial institutions and credit-giving institutions in general concerning proposed regulations giving advice to borrowers on secured and unsecured loan obligations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Maude
  Draft proposals were recently circulated to credit trade associations, enforcement bodies and consumer organisations on amendments to the consumer credit advertisements regulations. These include a warning that a borrower's home is at risk if repayments are not kept up on a secured loan. Comments were invited by 28 April and these are under consideration.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total of inward investment recorded by industries engaged in motor and component manufacturing since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 1984 there have been 83 inward investment projects in the United Kingdom in the motor and component manufacturing sectors involving the creation of around 12,000 new jobs and the safeguarding of around 18,000 existing jobs. These projects include the establishment of new businesses, the expansion or acquisition of existing businesses and involvement in joint ventures. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available. The job figures are based upon information provided to the Department at the time the investment decisions were made and take no account of subsequent developments.

  Included among these figures are the major investments by Nissan in 1984 creating 2,700 jobs in the North East (later expanded in 1987, creating a further 1,400 jobs); and of Ford in 1988 which will create more than 1,700 jobs in Wales. In April 1989 Toyota announced its decision to manufacture cars in Derbyshire with the eventual creation of 3,000 new jobs. Bosch announced that it will be manufacturing alternators in Wales creating over 1,000 new jobs; and Fujitsu announced a new factory in the North East with the eventual creation of 1,500 new jobs.

  From 1980 to 1987 inclusive, the latest years for which such information is available, foreign companies directly invested £0·9 billion net in the their subsidiary associate and branch conerns in the United Kingdom vehicle industry. This figure, which excludes funds raised locally understates the amount of new investment in production capacity because other overseas funding flows are included.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of inward investments in 1979 and for the most recent year for which information is available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The latest available information on the level of inward investment in the United Kingdom is given in table 9·1 of the United Kingdom Balance of Payments —1988 (the CSO Pink Book). A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are his current criteria for referring a bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are his current criteria for referring a bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Maude
  The Government's policy remains as we set it out on 3 March 1988. Our review, the results of which we announced at that time, concluded that the effect of a merger on competition in the United Kingdom should continue to be the main criterion in deciding whether a merger should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Household Electrical Goods
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current import penetration of the market for household electrical goods.

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current import penetration of the market for household electrical goods.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current import penetration of the market for household electrical goods.

  Mr. Atkins
  Taking the coverage of "household electrical goods" to be the same as that of business monitor PQ 3460—"Domestic electrical appliances"—it is estimated that in 1988 the import penetration of the market for household electrical goods was 40 per cent.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the seven major industrial countries have higher manufacturing productivity than the United Kingdom; and which have a lower level.

  Mr. Atkins
  No reliable comparisons exist for absolute levels of manufacturing productivity between different countries, but available figures show that in the 1980s the United Kingdom has had the fastest rate of growth of manufacturing productivity of the seven major industrialised countries.

  Chemical Industry
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution the chemical industry has made to the balance of payments over the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The contribution for the three-year period is estimated as a positive balance of some £9 billion.

  EC (Inward Investment)
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the total amount of(a) United States inward investment into member states of the European Community and (b) inward investment into the United States by European firms, over the past three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information, as published by the United States Department of Commerce, is as follow:

  Flows of United States direct investment

  US$ billion

  1986

  1987

  1988

  United States 'outward' direct investment in the EC

  12·8

  20·9

  15·8

  'Inward' direct investment in the United States by the EC

  19·1

  31·4

  122·4

  1 provisional estimates

  Source: United States Department of Commerce—Survey of Current Business

  Estate Agents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes to the Estate Agents Act 1979 he is considering; and if he will make a statement.
  237
  Mr. Forth
  I am currently in the process of concluding a review of estate agency. The review has examined the operations of the Estate Agents Act 1979 and has considered recommendations from the Director General of Fair Trading and proposals from estate agency bodies. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in drawing up a statutory code on practice for estate agents.

  Mr. Forth
  I am currently in the process of concluding a review of estate agency. In the course of my review I have given particular consideration to whether it might be appropriate to develop a code of practice for estate agents to supplement the existing consumer protection provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the Chairman of British Shipbuilders; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Newton
  I last met Mr. John Lister on Thursday 12 January and am in regular contact with him on matters relating to the corporation's disposals programme.

  Textiles
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on trends in productivity and output in the United Kingdom textiles industry over the last three years.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1988 output and productivity in the United Kingdom textiles industry are estimated to have been 2·5 per cent. higher and 7·1 per cent. higher respectively than in 1985.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what effect he expects there to be on industry from the controls on chlorofluorocarbon production and consumption; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Because of the wide variety of uses to which chlorofluorocarbons are put, the effects of the controls will vary for both producers and industrial consumers depending on the precise products and applications involved. Market forces should encourage the development of alternative technologies, products and processes.

  The controls represent both a challenge and an opportunity to which industry is already making positive responses.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the help which is being given to companies to enable them to take full advantage of the establishment of the internal market in 1992.

  Mr. Maude
  DTI's "Europe Open for Business" campaign provides a comprehensive service to business including:
  238
  A 24-hour telephone 'hotline': 01–200 1992.
  Factsheets on the single market programme.
  An 'action checklist for business'.
  "Spearhead" database giving the up-to-date position on single market proposals and details of relevant Community legislation.
  Range of booklets on standards.
  Video pack on the Brussels decision-making process.
  Quarterly newsletter Single Market News.
  Proposals.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to ensure that industry in(a) the North East of Scotland and (b) the other regions of the United Kingdom is ready to benefit from the single European market.

  Mr. Maude
  The completion of the single market by the end of 1992 will affect all regions, directly or indirectly. The central message of our "Europe Open for Business" campaign is therefore to encourage all firms, wherever they are located, to take action now to ensure that they benefit from the opportunities the single market will bring.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of their investments has now been recovered by investors in the McDonald Wheeler and Barlow Clowes funds; and how many criminal charges have now been preferred in respect of those involved in these businesses.

  Mr. Maude
  I understand that investors in McDonald Wheeler have received 36p in the pound in distributions made to date. Investors in Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Ltd., whose accounts were with Lloyds Bank trustee account have received 75p in the pound and other investors in Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Ltd. have received 25p in the pound to date.

  Mr. John David William Wheeler has been charged on three charges of fraudulent trading, 11 of theft, two of using a false instrument, one of publishing a false statement and one of false accounting. These charges are the subject of extradition proceedings in the Republic of Ireland. Mr. John Arthur Woodall has been charged on three charges of fraudulent trading, one of theft, one of false accounting and one of publishing a false statement. Mr. Peter Clowes and others have been charged on two charges of conspiracy to steal, 13 of theft, one of false accounting and one of perverting the course of justice.

  Building Societies and Insurance Companies
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the impact on consumer choice of the development of tied arrangements between building societies and insurance companies.

  Mr. Forth
  I have made no formal assessment but this is an issue which my Department and the other departments concerned are keeping under review.

  Competition
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next intends to meet with the responsible vice-president of the European Commission to discuss competition policy.
  239
  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend and I expect to meet Sir Leon Brittan from time to time, to discuss a variety of competition issues.

  Machine Tools
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received from the machine tool industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have not recently received any representation from the machine tool industry.

  "Releasing Enterprise"
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in helping to achieve a greater understanding between Government and business following the publication last year of "Releasing Enterprise".

  Mr. Maude
  Departments have now drawn up their action programmes to boost the number and range of secondments and attachments of employees from the Civil Service to business and vice versa and the number of civil servants holding non-executive directorships. Overall, these programmes imply a doubling of the numbers involved by the end of this year. On 1 March, the Government launched the bridge programme to alert businesses to these new interchange opportunities and to encourage direct contact with Departments. I sent a copy of the documents to all hon. Members.

  Departments' plans also include training, workshops and management action to improve awareness of the impact of Government on enterprise.

  Packaging (Security)
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent talks he has held with food manufacturers with regard to packaging security.

  Mr. Forth
  No such talks have been held as food matters are not the responsibility of this Department.

  UniChem
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on UniChem; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The report is published today. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission concluded that UniChem has arrangements for the allotment of shares in its capital which are anti-competitive and against the public interest.

  I accept the MMC's findings and conclusions. As from tomorrow, 18 May 1989, purchases from UniChem by its members will not be able to contribute towards the allotment of shares in its capital. A notice will shortly be published describing in detail the order I propose to make with a view to achieving this result.

  UniChem is an industrial and provident society whose main activity is the wholesale supply of pharmaceutical goods. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission was asked to investigate UniChem's allocation of shares prior to its proposed conversion into a public limited company in mid 1990. UniChem had decided to allocate a large
  240
  number of shares at £1 per share nominal value (refundable if members left the society) to new and existing members of the society. The allocations to be made on the basis of the levels of business placed by them with UniChem in the period up to May 1990.

  Because UniChem is a profitable business with a large share of the market, the value of shares on conversion is likely to be well in excess of the nominal value. Partly as a result of this prospect of considerable capital gain, UniChem has attracted both new members and additional business from existing members, and increased its market share.

  The commission found that the arrangements enabled UniChem to increase market share by means other than price reduction or improved quality of service, and that competitors were not likely to be able to compete using similar arrangements, or, having regard to the low margins prevailing in the industry, through price reductions or other forms of discount. The commission concluded that UniChem's arrangements had distorted competition and were therefore anti-competitive. The commission went on to conclude that the arrangements were also against the public interest and, if the arrangements were allowed to remain in place, would continue to be, as leading to reduced competition in the supply of goods to retail pharmacies, reduced choice of wholesalers, and reduced quality of service.

  The commission also concluded that measures should be taken to prevent further damage to the wholesale pharmaceutical market, and recommended that any shares to be issued by UniChem in future should not be related to purchases from UniChem made after publication of the report. Nor should UniChem change the minimum level of turnover required for membership, or the number of shares to which new members must subscribe.

  I accept the commission's recommendations. I intend to make an order which will prohibit UniChem Limited from continuing to operate its "share scheme", under which shares will be allotted by reference to the amounts of goods and services acquired from UniChem, except in respect of allotment by reference to goods and services acquired by 17 May 1989. UniChem may not make or carry out any agreement in respect of allotment by reference to later acquisitions of goods or services.

  UniChem must also hold its minimum purchase qualification for continued membership to £3,000 per month and its initial share subscription qualification to 200 per premises, up to a maximum of 1,000.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any further announcement to make concerning the National Engineering Laboratory.

  Mr. Newton
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State has now received the report from Touche Ross Management Consultants appointed on 29 November 1988 to undertake a detailed study of the National Engineering Laboratory and to advise on the restructuring that is necessary as the way forward towards privatisation. Copies of a summary of their report are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses and made available to staff at NEL.

  Taking account of the report and the advice of the NEL supervisory board, we concluded that the considerable skills of the laboratory are best exploited in a framework

  241
  which provides greater opportunities for commercial drive. In our view this is best secured through privatisation. We have concluded that in order to achieve a successful privatisation, restructuring and a new commercially oriented approach to business must first be established. This process could take some years.

  To prepare for privatisation, we propose to follow the recommendation of Touche Ross and to transfer the laboratory out of the Civil Service into the ownership of a limited company, to be called the National Technology Centre Ltd., whose shares will be held initially by Government, but which could later be sold when the business of the laboratory has been transformed. The necessary legislation will be brought forward as soon as possible. The laboratory will play a central role within the National Technology Centre and within the East Kilbride site. The future of the East Kilbride site is also important, and we intend that it should be developed as a science and technology park which will be an attractive location for science based companies.

  Management Training
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he has taken in support of the charter group initiative for management training.

  Funding (£ million)

  Programme

  Government Departments

  Research councils

  Private sector

  Molecular electronics

  5·00

  5·00

  10·00

  Advanced semiconductor materials

  9·00

  3·00

  12·00

  Industrial measurement systems

  5·40

  5·40

  10·80

  Eukaryotic genetic engineering

  1·50

  0·80

  2·40

  Nanotechnology

  6·00

  1·50

  7·50

  Biotransformations

  1·00

  1·00

  2·00

  Personal communications

  3·35

  3·00

  6·35

  Drug delivery and targeting

  0·50

  1·00

  1·50

  Construction maintenance and refurbishment

  0·75

  0·75

  1·50

  Food processing sciences

  7·00

  —

  7·00

  Ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration

  0·75

  0·75

  1·50

  Optoeolectronics

  10·00

  5·00

  15·00

  Design of high speed machinery

  5·00

  5·00

  10·00

  Structural composites

  14·00

  6·00

  20·00

  Telephones (Pensioners)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, when he next meets the Director-General of Oftel, he will direct him to make it a condition of British Telecom's licence that they abolish rental charges on telephones for pensioner customers.

  Mr. Atkins
  Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act 1984, it would be entirely for the Director General of Telecommunications to consider whether such a licence condition would be appropriate. I understand that he is considering with British Telecom the details of a more effective replacement for the existing low user rebate scheme and that he is aware of the importance such a scheme has for those pensioners who spend relatively little on telephone calls.

  Space
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards space and its exploitation.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government work primarily through the European Space Agency in pursuing space science
  242
  Mr Forth
  My Department's strong support for the management charter initiative (charter group initiative) is set out clearly in the 1988 White Paper, "DTI—the Department for Enterprise"(Cm. 278). We have offered pump-priming funding of up to £0·5 million a year for up to five years, to match employer donations. £500,000 was awarded during financial year 1988–89. DTI and all major Government Departments have become founder members of the management charter initiative.

  Link
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the LINK programmes so far announced, showing in each case the funds committed to them by(a) the Government, (b) higher education institutions, (c) the research councils and (d) the private sector.

  Mr. Forth
  The LINK programmes so far announced, together with the funding authorised, are listed below. Higher education institutions are normally recipients of research council funding. The private sector is required at least to match the Government funding for each LINK programme.

  research and in developing those areas of space activity that have commercial potential. Earth observation is now the centre piece of civil space policy. The United Kingdom has joined ESA's Columbus programme, concentrating on the polar platform element: and the Government are funding the establishment of the earth observation data centre at Farnborough. The civil space programme is implemented through the British National Space Centre which brings together the space interests of various Departments and research councils. Greater private sector participation in space programmes is being encouraged. But the Government expect to maintain its own expenditure on civil space at the level of approximately £130 million per annum. Further details are given in the Government's response to the Second Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, 1987–88 Session. The memorandum containing this response was placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 28 July 1988 (Official Report, House of Lords, c. 477.] and was subsequently published in HL Paper 105 (11 October 1988).

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 12 April,Official Report, column 543, when he expects the urgent and thorough investigations into the leaking of his Departmental inspectors' report on the acquisition of the House of Fraser to be concluded.

  Mr. Forth
  This investigation is still in progress. It is not yet possible to forecast when it will be concluded.

  Kemp Report
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consult interested parties before 244
  reaching any decision on the recommendations of the Kemp report on the future of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The report on the future status of ECGD has only just been received by DTI Ministers. The procedures for considering it are still being examined.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received the report by Mr. Kemp on the future status of Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Mr. Kemp has submitted his report on the future status of ECGD to the Secretary of State and other relevant DTI Ministers.

  IRISH AND UK AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT PRICES
  IRISH AND UK AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT PRICES
  BBC SALARIES
  BBC SALARIES
  PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS: ACCOMMODATION AND POPULATION
  PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS: ACCOMMODATION AND POPULATION
  MENTAL ILLNESS INCIDENCE
  MENTAL ILLNESS INCIDENCE
  LORD ADVOCATE: QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICE
  LORD ADVOCATE: QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICE
  LAW OFFICERS: QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE
  LAW OFFICERS: QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE
  SCOTTISH PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS: POPULATION
  SCOTTISH PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS: POPULATION
  NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
  NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
  KENSINGTON PALACE ORANGERY
  KENSINGTON PALACE ORANGERY
  EC IMMIGRATION AND TREVI MINISTERS' MEETINGS
  EC IMMIGRATION AND TREVI MINISTERS' MEETINGS