Written Answers of 1 November 1989

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying exercises have been carried out by the Royal Air Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation over the Hexham constituency for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Neubert
  I regret that the information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.

  Weapons Security
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received from the United States Government a copy of the latest nuclear weapons surety report to the United States President which deals with security of United States nuclear warheads and weapons deployed in the United Kingdom and Europe; and whether his Department received earlier copies of this report.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. We do, however, work closely with the Americans on a range of nuclear safety and security matters.

  Bullets (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount of compensation paid for(a) deaths and (b) injuries inflicted by (i) rubber bullets and (ii) plastic bullets fired by the Army in Northern Ireland from 1969 to the present.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, our records show that of the claims received since 1 April 1987, we have paid out to date a total of £8,250 in compensation awards for injuries caused by rubber or plastic bullets in Northern Ireland.

  HMS Tamar
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the considerations which influenced him to order the relocation of HMS Tamar from Hong Kong to Stonecutters island.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The defence estate in Hong Kong is the property of the Hong Kong Government. Under long-standing arrangements, whenever defence land is required for redevelopment, for economic or social purposes, the Hong Kong Government reprovide defence facilities, as required, at other suitable locations. The naval basin and related facilities at HMS Tamar lie in an area required by the Hong Kong Government for a major new development. No decision has been taken on the future of 180
  the Prince of Wales building (headquarters British forces Hong Kong), which is unaffected by the reprovision of the Royal Navy's facilities at Stonecutter's island.

  Vanguard Submarine
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out into the power-to-weight ratio of the Vanguard class submarine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The power-to-weight ratio for the Vanguard class was calculated in the course of deciding on the submarine's design. Adequate power will be generated to satisfy the operation requirement.

  Aircraft
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the joint tactical information distribution system will be fitted to aircraft of the Royal Air Force, and to which aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The AEW Sentry E3D will enter RAF service in the early 1990s fitted with JTIDS class 2. On current plans the Tornado ADV will have JTIDS fitted shortly after. Consideration is also being given to fitting JTIDS to tanker aircraft in the mid-1990s. A reduced size version of JTIDS is specified for the European lighter aircraft.

  Field Howitzer
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to order the evaluation on behalf of his Department of the 155 mm ultra lightweight field howitzer.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I will write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training and material resources have been provided to Cambodian resistance groups; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 30 October 1989.

  Tanks
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's plans to coordinate the development of the next generation of tanks.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  NATO nations generally consider opportunities for collaboration in the development of equipment, and are doing so in relation to elements of armoured fighting vehicle technology. There is at present no project aimed at the development of a complete tank.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  EC Education and Training Policy (Seminar)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representation there was from his Department at the seminar on the education and training policy of the European Commission held at the university of Manchester and Wales on 14 October.

  Mr. Jackson
  None.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will initiate a national child abuse education campaign to explain the problem of child abuse.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department last year issued a circular entitled "Working Together for The Protection of Children From Abuse: Procedures Within The Education Service", which was designed to help local education authorities and others to increase the effectiveness of their efforts to prevent and deal with child abuse.

  The circular discussed the potential contribution of the curriculum in this matter and invited local education authorities and schools to consider carefully the extent to which teaching should be directly concerned with warning children of the risks of child abuse. The circular also invited local education authorities to consider the extent to which, within their responsibilities for adult, further and higher education, there was scope for personal and social education about the prevention of child abuse.

  The Department has recently asked local education authorities to report on the action they have taken to give effect to the recommendations of the circular.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up a programme to train teachers to recognise the signs of child abuse.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department is currently providing grant of some £70,000 towards the costs of a programme to help local education authorities to train teachers in the protection of children from abuse.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Civil Catastrophes
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the preparedness of United Kingdom emergency services to deal with major civil catastrophes.

  Mr. John Patten
  As my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary said on 15 June at columns 514–15, the emergency services provide an excellent response to such incidents, and recent events have confirmed that.

  Risk Conference (Bradford University)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution was made by Ministers or officials of his Department to the conference on risk held at the university of Bradford on 12 September.

  Mr. John Patten
  The conference was attended by two officials from the emergency planning division and the 182
  principal of the Emergency Planning College. A presentation was given on the outcome of the Home Office review of peacetime emergency arrangements.

  "Making Rehabilitation Work"
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to respond to the recent Apex Trust report, "Making Rehabilitation Work:" and if he will make a statement regarding implementation of its proposals in future legislation.

  Mr. John Patten
  We wrote to the Apex Trust on 22 August. I will put a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Dispersal Prisons
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the latest available figures from the staff-inmate ratios in dispersal prisons during the time that inmates are unlocked.

  Mr. Mellor
  The seven dispersal prisons vary considerably in size, design, function and population. Comparisons between staff/inmate ratios need therefore to be made with some care. As at 1 September 1989 the position was as follows:

  Prison

  Prisoners

  Officers in post

  Prisoners per officer

  Typical number of prisoners per officer at time of unlocking

  Albany

  375

  317

  1·2

  3·0

  Frankland

  388

  396

  1·0

  2·4

  Full Sutton

  386

  381

  1·0

  2·5

  Gartree

  316

  290

  1·1

  2·7

  Long Lartin

  425

  337

  1·3

  3·1

  Parkhurst

  224

  338

  0·7

  1·7

  Wakefield

  689

  429

  1·6

  4·0

  Broadcasting (Children's Programmes)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make provision in the broadcasting legislation for a franchise section to provide for children's programmes;

  (2) if he will make provision in the broadcasting legislation for the protection of hours during which children's programmes traditionally are shown;

  (3) if he will make provision in the broadcasting legislation for children's television programmes to continue being provided as a public service, and not subject to subscription;

  (4) if he will make provision in the broadcasting legislation for the setting up of an independent panel to ensure quality children's programmes;

  (5) if he will make provision in the broadcasting legislation for the distribution of money through a public service broadcasting council, to the BBC and earmarked for children's programmes;

  (6) if he will make provision in the broadcasting legislation to permit the Independent Television Commission to arrange a minimum level of funding for children's programmes on channels 3 and 5.

  Mr. Mellor
  There is no express requirement in current broadcasting legislation to show children's programmes. Under our proposals for new legislation Channel 3 and Channel 5 will be required, among other things, to cater
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  for a wide range of tastes and interests, and Channel 4 will be required to include programmes appealing to tastes and interests not generally catered for by Channel 3. As new television channels proliferate it becomes generally less desirable for legislation to impose detailed requirements for particular programme types to be included in schedules at particular times or made subject to special funding or licensing mechanisms. But our proposals will suffice to ensure that children's programmes continue to be shown on both the BBC and on independent terrestrial television; and that the possible outlets for children's programmes will increase.

  Deportation
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons from Liverpool have accepted voluntary repatriation at the latest available date;

  (2) how many persons have accepted voluntary repatriation at the latest date; and what was the total cost;

  (3) if he will list the number of deportations from Liverpool for each of the last three years to the latest available date;

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on persons removed from the United Kingdom under the deportation process in the years 1986 to 1988, including those who accepted supervised departure, and those on whom a deportation order was enforced, is published in table 14 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue 31/89 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Second Quarter 1989", a copy of which is in the Library. Separate information on the removal of persons from Liverpool, and on the total cost of supervised departures, is not available.

  Wrongful Imprisonment (Compensation)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names, dates and amounts paid to persons who have been wrongfully imprisoned and the method of calculating compensation for each year since 1970.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not our practice to publish details of individual payments to applicants for compensation. The assessment of the amount paid is based in the main on written submissions setting out the relevant facts. In making his assessment, the independent assessor will apply principles analogous to those governing the assessment of damages for civil wrongs.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications for compensation in respect of unlawful conviction of Paul Hill, Carole Richardson, Gerard Conlon and Patrick Armstrong he has received; how they will be assessed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Applications for compensation have been received in respect of Paul Hill, Carole Richardson, Gerard Conlon and Patrick Armstrong. As I informed the hon. Gentleman in my written reply on Monday 30 October, on the advice of the independent assessor my right hon. and learned Friend has agreed that interim awards of compensation should be made to all four pending a final settlement of their claims, for which purpose further information has been sought.184
  Arrangements are in hand for the early payment of the interim awards, and my right hon. and learned Friend will accept the assessor's recommendation as to the final amount to be paid in due course.

  West Midlands Police (Investigation)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a report on investigations into the west midlands serious crime squad currently being conducted by Mr. Donald Shaw.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under the terms of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the reports on these investigations will be made to the Police Complaints Authority and the chief constable of the West Midlands police. I understand that reports on individual cases will be submitted as they are completed and it will be some time before all cases have been examined.

  The chief constable of the West Midlands police has been asked to inform my right hon. and learned Friend if anything emerges which casts doubt on the safety of any conviction.

  Pub Bombings
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he has had with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police since 1 January; and on how many occasions the convictions for the Guildford and Woolwich public house bombings were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) had three meetings with the commissioner this year. The subject of the convictions for the Guildford and Woolwich public house bombings arose at one of those meetings.

  Refugees
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the UNHCR concerning the right of appeal for asylum seekers under United Kingdom law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In a variety of contacts over a number of years UNHCR officers have made clear their preference for an in-country right of appeal for all asylum applicants. The Government have responded by explaining the risk that we see of encouraging abusive asylum applications from passengers who have been refused leave to enter for other purposes in order to benefit from the delays inherent in an extended appeal system. The experience of those countries that operate such appeal systems is that the delays in deciding cases typically run into several years. Despite this difference of view, both sides have worked together in establishing and operating the UKIAS referral arrangements, which successfully provide an independent input to the consideration of port cases.

  Downing Street (Barricade)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority members of the public are prevented from walking along Downing street.
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  Mr. Waddington
  Access to Downing street is controlled under the police's common law powers which allow them to take reasonable steps to preserve the peace and prevent threats to it.

  Bingo
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to amend section 42 of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 to allow bingo organisers to advertise specific games of bingo at pre-arranged times and places; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: The advertising of licensed bingo clubs is controlled by section 42 of the Gaming Act 1968. We have no current plan for Government legislation to amend the section, but we are considering arguments put forward by the Bingo Association of Great Britain for supporting a private Member's Bill entirely to remove bingo clubs from these advertising controls. Bingo clubs can, and do, advertise freely as social clubs; specific games of bingo, and certain prizes in them, can already be advertised on the front of licensed bingo club premises.

  Sex Offences
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to increase staffing levels at Wormwood Scrubs unit for sex offenders, and to improve training for staff.

  Mr. Waddington
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: Wormwood Scrubs therapeutic unit for addicts and sex offenders is carrying vacancies at senior and principal hospital officer level; action is being taken in connection with current promotion boards to fill them. In-house training is provided by the establishment's medical staff, who are considering what further steps can be taken, and by visiting consultants; a senior hospital officer was released last month for a one year course in group psychotherapy and the possibility of further external training will be reviewed as vacancies are filled.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Leasehold Flats
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor has yet received the draft Bill to reform the leasehold system of ownership of flats, which he indicated on 13 June that he was expecting; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Work is continuing at the Law Commission with the preparation of draft legislation to give effect to the recommendations made in the report of the working group on commonhold. The Lord Chancellor hopes to announce a decision about the matter in the next few months.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Rain Forest
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects his Department is presently sponsoring to use British forestry expertise in pursuit of conserving the rain forests.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Under our bilateral country programmes we are currently supporting 64 forestry projects in 27 countries; in addition we are funding 23 forestry research projects. We are also co-financing 38 projects under our joint funding scheme with British NGOs. I am sending a list of these projects to my hon. Friend.

  International Literacy Year
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to contribute to International Literacy Year; and whether additional public funds will be available to assist projects undertaken by non-government organisations in support of International Literacy Year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our contribution to International Literacy Year will be as part of our on-going programme of literacy activities within wider programmes of help for people and their communities. Examples are support for the Gujarat integrated family welfare project, the Hyderabad slum improvement project and the Ghana programme of action to mitigate the social costs of adjustment. We shall also consider carefully any further projects in the literacy field overseas which non government organisations might wish to send us under the joint funding programme.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Nursing Home Care)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the £3,000 savings limit which debars pensioners from having the costs of their long-term nursing home care met by his Department.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Pensioners with savings of over £3,000 can receive income support and, therefore, help with nursing home fees. However, an income of £1 a week is assumed for every £250, or part of £250, of any savings between £3,000 and £6,000. No income support is payable to people with more than £6,000. There are no plans, at present, to raise these capital limits.

  Archway Tower Local Office
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date he expects the Department of Social Security offices in Archway tower to close; how many staff will be transferred; and what will be the location, staffing levels and opening date of the new offices for Finsbury Park and Highgate.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The restructuring of social security services in the Department's offices in Archway tower is due to start in August 1990 and should be completed by March 1991. During this period there will be a phased transfer of backroom work to the social security
  187
  centre in Glasgow and of administrative and specialised services to the district office to be located in Euston. Branch offices providing the full range of social security services to public callers will be established within Archway tower. At present we have no firm dates for the movement of these offices.

  A study is currently under way to find a better location for each branch office in order that it can meet our objective of placing service where our customers need it. Accommodation will then be sought within the required areas and plans developed to vacate the premises in Archway tower. In the meanwhile both offices will continue to provide a full personal service from their existing location.

  Staffing levels in the existing offices in Archway tower will start to reduce from August 1990 when the first tranche of back room and specialised work is transferred to the Glasgow social security centre and Euston district office. Rundown of surplus staff will be achieved by a combination of natural wastage and transfers to nearby offices or other Government Departments. Precise details of the numbers to be transferred will not become clear until nearer the date for relocation of the work.

  The number of staff required to support the remaining business at each branch office is estimated to be between 12 and 15 per office. These figures will, however, be subject to continuing review and adjustment in the light of departmental experience of existing offices whose backroom work has earlier been relocated.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further plans he has to study ways of encouraging single mothers to return to work rather than depend on income support and other benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to help and encourage lone parents who want to become more independent through work.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: The number of lone parent families dependent on supplementary benefit income support has grown from 318,000 in 1979 to 722,000 in 19881 and approximately two-thirds of all lone parent families are dependent on income support.

  Legislation places a duty on absent husbands and fathers to meet their responsibilities wherever they can afford to. However, for over three quarters of the lone parent families receiving income support the absent parent pays no maintenance at all. We shall continue to look for ways to make our efforts to obtain a contribution even more effective. Regular payments of maintenance can provide a useful basis of non-benefit income for lone parents who wish to work.

  Lone parents are able to receive income support without having to be available for work, and it is right that they should be able to decide for themselves what is best for them and their children. However, where the lone parent does wish to work the family credit and housing benefit schemes give special help which recognises that lone parents can face extra expenses in working.

  In addition, as announced in my right hon. Friend's statement about the uprating of Social Security Benefits,
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  on 25 October, lone parents in work will receive extra help from next year. In housing benefit, the lone parent premium will increase from £8·60 a week to £9·70 from April 1990 and the earnings disregard will increase from £15 to £25 a week from October 1990.

  In addition, lone parent families in work will benefit like other families on low incomes from increases my right hon. Friend has announced of £1 a week in the family credit adult credit and 50 pence a week housing benefit family premium which are in addition to the normal uprating of these benefits.

  1 Sources:

  1979 Supplementary Benefit Annual Statistical Enquiry.

  1988 Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry.

  Note: The figures on the numbers of lone parents do not include prisoners' partners.

HEALTH

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his national policy for the future management, operation and ownership of the non-emergency ambulance services.

  Mr. Freeman
  Health authorities will remain responsible for the operational management of ambulance services and they are currently considering how best to provide non-emergency ambulance services in the light of the review proposals and local circumstances.

  North-East Thames RHA
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will alter the composition of North-East Thames regional health authority to give due representation to Waltham Forest.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No; RHA members are appointed for their personal qualities and experience, and not to represent any particular or geographical interest.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the representation of residents of each district health authority area on the North-East Thames regional health authority, showing political affiliation where known.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  RHA members are appointed for their personal qualities and experience and not to represent the residents of a particular geographical area.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct Waltham Forest district health authority to increase the provision of essential life-saving emergency equipment at Whipps Cross hospital; if he will provide additional funding to the hospital for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The level of provision of health care services within a particular area is a matter for the health authority concerned, who are best able to judge the priorities for provision of services and equipment in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  Insulin
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths have been reported of young diabetics who have switched from animal to human insulin; and
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  what study the Committee on Safety of Medicines has made of the effects of treatment by synthetic human insulin for diabetics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has received three reports of deaths of young diabetics who have switched from animal to human insulin. Such reports do not establish a relationship between cause of death and change of insulin type. The CSM considered a range of studies in relation to human insulin before product licences were granted and since this time has monitored published studies worldwide. Currently the CSM is working closely with the British Diabetic Association and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the United Kingdom and epidemiological centres in the USA to monitor the possible effects of changing from animal to human insulin and of improving diabetic control in patients under treatment with all types of insulin.

  The CSM has advised all diabetics not to make any change in the type of insulin they use, or the dose they take, without consulting their doctor.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is an adequate supply of animal insulin for the treatment of diabetics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are four suppliers of animal insulin for the treatment of diabetes in the United Kingdom. Each has given an assurance that there are adequate supplies available.

  AIDS
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the guidance and criteria for support grant for social services for people with AIDS and related expenditure will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement.

  Abortions to non-British Isles residents by country of origin and gestation period for 1988

  Gestation weeks

  Country

  Total1

  Under 9

  9–12

  13–17

  18+

  unknown

  Other European

  7,357

  1,084

  1,366

  2,263

  2,644

  —

  Austria

  54

  4

  1

  13

  36

  —

  Belgium and Luxembourg

  33

  3

  5

  1

  24

  —

  France

  3,047

  45

  126

  1,335

  1,541

  —

  Gibraltar

  32

  14

  12

  4

  2

  —

  Italy

  631

  26

  32

  257

  316

  —

  Malta

  45

  19

  20

  2

  4

  —

  Portugal

  51

  17

  8

  12

  14

  —

  Spain

  3,188

  900

  1,107

  601

  580

  —

  Switzerland

  68

  9

  11

  14

  34

  —

  German Federal Republic

  140

  24

  31

  14

  71

  —

  Rest of world

  1,011

  371

  342

  172

  126

  —

  Algeria

  78

  11

  5

  22

  40

  —

  Australia

  40

  16

  17

  7

  —

  —

  Republic of South Africa

  400

  112

  156

  90

  42

  —

  United States of America

  66

  33

  24

  4

  5

  —

  Zimbabwe

  49

  14

  21

  8

  6

  —

  1 Only countries where the number of terminations exceeds 24 are included.

  The upper limits and circumstances in which abortions may lawfully take place vary widely from country to country but do not affect the availability in individual cases of abortions in this country to foreign women.

  Information about the sums paid to private clinics by non resident women is not collected centrally.
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  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We will outline the criteria following consultation with the local authority associations later this year.

  Handicapped Children
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children up to 18 years of age are(a) mentally handicapped, (b) physically handicapped and (c) both, by health region and by severity of disability.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not available centrally. The third report from the OPCS on disability in Great Britain, "The Prevalence of Disability Among Children" contains estimates of the number of mentally and/or physically handicapped children under 16 years of age in each local government region of England, but these regions are not regional health authority areas. A copy of this report is in the Library.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were carried out on overseas women in the last 12 months; at how many weeks gestation they were undertaken; if he will list their countries of origin; what information he has on the allowable upper time limit for abortions in their countries of origin; how much was paid to private clinics in fees to carry out these abortions; how many were after 18 weeks gestation; and whether his Department requires an anaesthetic or pain killer to be administered to the unborn child before a late abortion takes place.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information regarding the numbers of abortions performed in England and Wales to overseas women, with a breakdown by gestation, is shown in the table.

  Decisions as to the drugs and anaesthesia to be given to a woman undergoing an abortion are entirely a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctor responsible for her care.

  Haemophiliacs
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what further consideration he has given to the settlement of compensation claims by haemophiliacs infected by the HIV virus through National Health Service blood transfusions: and what plans he has for an early out-of-court settlement with these victims;

  (2) what further representations he has received regarding financial compensation for haemophiliacs infected by the HIV virus through National Health Service blood transfusions.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what study he has undertaken of compensation arrangements made by other Governments for people with haemophilia who, in the course of medical treatment, have been infected with HIV virus; and if he will now facilitate an out-of-court settlement of the claims of the British victims; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received 30 further representations from members about compensation for people with haemophilia and HIV infection since my hon. and learned Friend replied to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 23 October at column 318. We understand that a variety of schemes have been adopted in other countries, although some have made no special arrangements.

  I am advised that the current legal action relating to haemophiliacs is sub-judice and it would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment further.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government will respond to the sixth report, 1988–89, of the Social Services Committee on food poisoning, listeria and listeriosis.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have today published their response to this report. Copies have been placed in the Library.

TRANSPORT

  King's Cross Fire
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total expenditure incurred by London Regional Transport and London Underground Limited arising from the King's Cross Underground fire.

  Mr. Portillo
  London Regional Transport estimated last year that £266 million needed to be spent between 1989–90 and 1991–92 on proposals to enhance underground safety following the King's Cross fire. It is expected that about £80 million of this will be incurred in 1989–90.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether at the Council of European Transport Ministers on 16 October in Luxembourg he introduced any policies to promote the reduction in road traffic use in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Atkins
  It is not the Government's policy to seek to influence overall levels of road traffic, but to secure efficient use of vehicles and highways. At the Council on 16 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State pressed for action to liberalise road haulage cabotage across the European Community. The effect of allowing non-resident companies to offer road haulage services within a member state would be to reduce the number of lorries which return home empty.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions are made of the value of public open space needed for road schemes in cost-benefit analysis.

  Mr. Atkins
  Public open space taken for road schemes, like all land acquired for road schemes, is valued in the cost-benefit analysis on the basis of market prices as assessed by the district valuer, who is independent of the Department. Cost-benefit analysis is only one part of the total appraisal procedure for road schemes. Decisions are taken in the light of a comprehensive assessment which includes environmental effects, such as the effect on amenity and nature and environmental conservation. Under the terms of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 if open space or common land is taken for a road scheme, the Department provides equivalent land in exchange or the compulsory purchase order is subject to special parliamentary procedure. The current approach to the valuation of public open space, like all elements in the appraisal of roads, is kept under review.

  Roads (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has given to the consultants for the London assessment studies with regard to(a) scheme components to be dropped from the studies and (b) scheme components to be added to the studies in advance of the consultants finalising their reports.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is for the study consultants to determine what components should or should not be included in their recommendations. I am still awaiting their reports.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value was ascribed to that portion of Oxleas wood needed for the east London river crossing for the purposes of assessing the costs and benefits of the scheme.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mrs. Barnes) on 23 January 1989, at column 387.

  Air Traffic Congestion
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what strategy the Government have for tackling air traffic congestion in Europe.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority have reviewed the provision of air traffic control in Europe. We consider that in addition to initiatives taken in the last year, western European states
  193
  should now work urgently towards the integration of their air traffic control systems. In order to achieve this, states would need to enter into a specific commitment to integrate their system to an agreed timetable and to bring about the necessary changes to the institutional framework.

  We envisage that the integrated system would be operated from a series of area control centres which have compatible systems and equipment and would be connected by a common communications network. Some changes of air space boundaries might be agreed, but we would expect most control centres to continue to be operated by national authorities. The system would function irrespective of state boundaries, which would become transparent to airspace users. Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, would be given an enhanced role in developing a single integration plan and in helping national authorities to expedite its implementation.

  £ thousand

  Increases

  Current

  End year flexibility1

  Revised

  Class and vote

  cash limit

  Capital

  Running costs

  Other

  cash limit

  VIII, 1

  1,282,912

  22,832

  —

  265,000

  1,370,744

  2

  234,213

  2,000

  686

  31,970

  238,869

  4

  128,883

  1,913

  602

  —

  131,398

  5

  218,706

  —

  —

  41

  218,707

  1 Take up in full of entitlements announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 20 July 1989 (Official Report, columns 258–62).

  2 Increases of £25 million towards preparation and supervision of new construction as part of the expanded roads programme described in the Roads for Prosperity White Paper (Cm. 693) and £40 million to meet faster than expected progress in schemes in the current roads programme.

  3 Additional running costs provision to cover work on the expanded roads programme.

  4 Token. Increased payments and recoveries in respect of traffic control systems.

  All these increases will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The running costs limit of the Department of Transport has been increased by £3,258,000 from £284,873,000 to £288,131,000 as a consequence of the running costs increases referred to above.

  Roads (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money, and on what projects, has been spent by his Department on road schemes in Greater

  Expenditure on major DTP schemes in London—construction costs only

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  A12 Gallows Corner/Brentwood

  0·6

  —

  —

  —

  A406 South Woodford/Barking Relief Road

  32·8

  21·8

  5·4

  0·6

  A20 Sidcup Bypass Improvement

  14·2

  9·2

  3·8

  1·1

  A2 Rochesterway Road Junction

  7·3

  13·0

  2·7

  2·3

  A406 Great Cambridge Relief Road

  0·8

  5·7

  7·0

  8·4

  A406 Hangar Lane/Harrow Road

  —

  0·2

  1·6

  18·8

  A406 Chingford Road/Hale End Road

  —

  3·9

  1·5

  25·2

  A40 Swakeleys Road Junction

  —

  —

  4·7

  6·7

  A23 Waddon Marsh Bridge

  —

  —

  0·4

  0·4

  A40 Long Lane Junction

  —

  —

  —

  0·7

  Hackney Wick/M11Link

  —

  —

  —

  1·9

  East London Traffic Control System

  —

  —

  —

  0·4

  Final Accounts for earlier schemes

  0·6

  0·6

  0·1

  0·5

  Total

  56·3

  54·4

  27·2

  67·0

  194
  In response to a United Kingdom proposal, the European Civil Aviation conference recently established a task force to examine the scope for further integration of air traffic control systems in Europe. The United Kingdom will be playing a leading part in the work of the task force and we will be putting forward proposals at the first meeting of the task force on 3 November. The task force's report will be considered at a meeting of European Transport Ministers in the spring of 1990 at which I hope the Governments of western Europe will agree a timetable for the necessary technical and institutional changes.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limits on his votes and to his Department's running costs limit.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limits for my votes are to be changed as follows:

  London for each year since 1975 to date; and what is proposed to be spent, and on what projects, for the remainder of this year and each year until 1995.

  Mr. Atkins
  Details of construction costs for individual projects costing over £1 million each in progress in the period 1986–87 to 1989–90 are shown in table 1. All 1989–90 figures are estimates.

  Expenditure in future years will be determined by progress on preparation and construction of individual projects and the total funds available for road building.

  The information for earlier years could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
  195
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report from Ove-Arup partners on the east London assessment study.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 October to my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Sir B. Hayhoe),Official Report, column 373.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Meat Imports
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the powers to serve notice requiring the re-importation of meat unfit for human consumption under the Imported Food Regulations (NI) 1984 are to be retained after the implementation of the Single European Act in 1992; and if he will make a statement about controls against the importation of unsuitable meat into Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Until the EC negotiations are finalised it is not certain what effect the single market proposals for 1992 will have on public health inspection of imported meat, but in those negotiations the United Kingdom are arguing strongly in favour of adequate safeguards on meat from member states. The existing controls under the Imported Food (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1984, require that imported meat shall be subject to inspection by authorised officers of district councils, to ensure compliance with the EC certification and health marking conditions.

  ACE Schemes
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the operation of the ACE scheme and give the following information: how many people are currently employed on the ACE scheme, how many people currently employed on the ACE scheme are disabled and what this is as a percentage of the total number employed on ACE schemes, how many sponsor organisations within the ACE scheme employ 20 or more staff and which statutory provisions apply to these organisations, what information he has as to how many sponsor organisations within the ACE scheme fulfil their obligations under the 1945 and 1960 Acts to employ a minimum of 3 per cent. registered disabled people, what arrangements are made by the Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland to monitor whether organisations in receipt of public money fulfil their legal obligations in respect of employing disabled people and what action is taken by the Department of Economic Development against organisations who are in breach of the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) National Insurance Act 1945 and 1960; if he will list any prosecutions undertaken and the outcome in each case; what is his policy regarding promotion of equality of opportunity in obtaining employment under the ACE scheme for disabled people; and whether he has any plans to introduce further measures to ensure that disabled people have equality of opportunity to obtain employment under the ACE scheme.
  196
  Mr. Needham
  The Action for Community Employment (ACE) scheme provides temporary employment for up to one year for the long-term unemployed in work of community benefit. A total of 10,561 people are currently employed on the ACE scheme and 182 or 1·7 per cent. of the total work force have declared themselves to be disabled; 147 sponsors employ 20 or more staff; ACE sponsors are subject to all statutory provisions affecting employers;

  Information about the number of ACE sponsors who meet their obligations under the 1945 and 1960 disabled person's legislation is not available.

  Organisations in receipt of public money, in common with all other employers, are required to obtain a permit from the Department of Economic Development if they do not meet the quota obligations imposed by statutory provision and wish to recruit non-disabled employees. Permits are issued only where the Department is satisfied the employer has made every effort to recruit registered disabled people and has been unsuccessful. Employers with 20 or more employees are required to make an annual return to the Department of Economic Development showing the number of disabled workers in their work force. Visits are paid by the Department's disablement resettlement officers to employers not fulfilling their quota obligations to check on their recruitment practices and to advise on the recruitment of registered disabled people. It has not previously been normal practice for DRO's to monitor recruitment of disabled people into ACE jobs, but this matter is now under review.

  Employers in breach of the statutory provisions are liable to prosecution, but it is generally considered more appropriate to advise employers about any departures from their statutory obligations and provide advice and assistance in helping them to meet their obligations; there have been no prosecutions.

  The Department's policy is that registered disabled people should be given every opportunity to compete on equal terms with their non-disabled colleagues for ACE jobs, and should benefit from the special measures in operation to assist with the employment of this group. Under existing recruitment rules disabled people get preferential treatment in that they need only to have been unemployed for eight out of the previous 15 months before being eligible for the scheme and can obtain a further ACE job 16 months after leaving the scheme, instead of the normal 24 months. In a recent series of conferences with ACE sponsors special attention was drawn to the employment needs of disabled people and sponsors were asked to develop positive policies towards the employment of these people. The Department of Economic Development is currently reviewing measures that may be taken to increase the number of registered disabled people employed in the ACE programme.

  Students
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from(a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) other European Community countries are in receipt of state-supported education in Northern Ireland; and what is the total cost in Northern Ireland of support.

  Mr. Needham
  The total numbers of students from the Republic of Ireland and other EC countries respectively
  197
  attending Northern Ireland universities, teacher training colleges and further education college in 1988–89 were 1,783 and 110.

  It is not possible to disaggregate the overall cost of support. However, the cost of remitting the tuition fees of eligible students from the Republic of Ireland and other EC countries in 1988–89 (1,256 total student numbers of which four are from EC countries other than the Republic of Ireland) was £702,650 (£700,550 Republic of Ireland and £2,100 other EC countries).

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated total value of grants paid to students in Northern Ireland in the academic year 1989–90.

  Mr. Needham
  A total of £53,949,000.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of grants paid to Northern Ireland students in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Financial year

  £000s

  1986–87

  41,720

  1987–88

  44,912

  1988–89

  48,606

  Belfast Urban Area Plan
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give an approximate date for the publication of the Belfast urban area plan.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 17 October 1989 at column 69.

  Education
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many secondary schools in Northern Ireland fall into a particular group category for promotional allowance values and are paid(a) at the lower allowance and (b) at the higher allowance.

  Mr. Needham
  One secondary school has a promotion allowance value which is lower than that appropriate to its group and six secondary schools have promotion allowance values which are higher than that appropriate to their groups.

  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those schools in Northern Ireland which fall into group 12 category for promotional allowance values for secondary schools and are treated accordingly.

  Mr. Needham
  Following is the information:

  Ballyclare High School

  Ballymena Academy

  Coleraine Academical Institution

  Grosvenor High School, Belfast

  Rathmore Grammar School, Belfast

  Sullivan Upper School, Holywood

  St. Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School, Belfast

  St. Patrick's College, Maghera

  Thornhill College, Londonderry

  Wallace High School, Lisburn

  198
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those schools in Northern Ireland which fall into category group 12 for promotional allowance values for secondary schools and are paid group 11 allowances.

  Mr. Needham
  One group 12 school—Portadown college—has had a promotion allowance value appropriate to a group 11 school determined for it by the Department of Education for the 1989–90 school year.

  Arts
  The Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the projects in Northern Ireland which have benefited from his Department's support for the arts in the last three years for which figures are available, and the sums granted in each case.

  Mr. Needham
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many general practitioners were registered at 31 December 1987 and 1988 to provide a National Health Service family planning service to their patients in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: The total numbers providing such services were 876 and 904 respectively.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Stationery
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the date of the expiry of the current contract to supply the House with stationery; when he intends to invite tenders for any subsequent contract; and whether it will be open to any company located in the United Kingdom to tender for that contract.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The HMSO is responsible for supplies of stationery to the House of Commons (Estimate Class XIX Vote 6). A contract for the supply of die-stamped stationery was awarded in May 1989 following competitive tendering. This is due to run for three years.

  Invitations to tender for a replacement contract will be issued in late 1991, following advertising in the Official Journal of the European Communities, to all suppliers on HMSO's tender list, together with any acceptable firms who may respond to the notice in the Official Journal. Interested suppliers may request inclusion on HMSO's tender list at any time.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how much paper used by the House of Commons is(a) recycled and (b) virgin; and what are the comparative costs.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I refer the hon. Member to my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) of 4 April 1989, column 69.
  199
  Papers used in the production of buff envelopes and file covers for HMSO are traditionally made from recycled papers and therefore a comparison with virgin papers is not possible. For general purpose printing papers the price of recycled qualities is similar to that for virgin papers. For higher quality writing papers savings of up to 10 per cent. may be obtainable.

  Refreshment Department (Packaging)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the policy of the Refreshment Department on the use of chlorofluorocarbons containing packaging material, non-bio-degradable wrapping and recycled paper.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Refreshment Department's policy with regard to the use of environmentally friendly products and recycled paper is in line with that of the House. The Department is not responsible for the manufacture of the wrapping and packaging materials it receives but does have plans to use biodegradable carrier bags when current stocks are exhausted.

PRIME MINISTER

  Whisky Look-alikes
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, she raised the subject of the appropriate steps to resolve the issue of whisky look-alike products.

  The Prime Minister
  During my visit to Japan I told the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Kaifu, of the concern in the United Kingdom about the sale of whisky look-alikes in Japan. Mr. Kaifu responded helpfully, saying that action would be taken to ensure that such products were clearly perceived as being different from genuine whisky. I understand that the Japanese authorities have given guidance to the trade to this effect. Our embassy in Tokyo continues to monitor the market situation closely.

  Advisers
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her advisers, their terms and length of appointment and salaries.

  The Prime Minister
  My current advisers, who are not career civil servants, are:

  G. D. Bourne

  Sir Percy Cradock

  A. Dunlop

  Professor B. Griffiths

  G. Guise

  H. Harris-Hughes

  Mrs. A. Ponsonby

  I. K. Whitehead

  The conditions of service are broadly the same as those for established civil servants. The appointments may be terminated at the end of the current Administration; following a general election; or if the Minister who appointed them moves on. It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what are her plans regarding appointing a successor to Professor Walters as her economic adviser; and if she will make a statement.
  200
  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister how many advisers who were not career civil servants, indicating whether part time or full time, she had in 1979–80; and how many in each year since.

  The Prime Minister
  I have had the following number of advisers in the policy unit since 1979:

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1979

  2

  —

  1980

  2

  —

  1981

  2

  —

  1982

  4

  —

  1983

  11

  —

  1984

  11

  —

  1985

  8

  —

  1986

  7

  —

  1987

  4

  —

  1988

  6

  —

  1989

  6

  —

  In addition Sir Percy Cradock has been my foreign affairs adviser since 1984. Professor Alan Walters was my economic adviser from 1981 until 1983 on a full-time basis and this year on a part-time basis. I have also had a personal assistant full-time from 1979 until 1986 and part-time since then.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all her current advisers who are not career civil servants, giving their date of appointment and fees.

  The Prime Minister
  My current advisers in the policy unit are:

  Appointed

  Professor B. Griffiths

  1985

  G. Guise

  1986

  G. D. Bourne

  1988

  A. Dunlop

  1988

  I. K. Whitehead

  1988

  H. Harris-Hughes

  1989

  In addition Sir Percy Cradock has been my foreign affairs adviser since 1984. Mrs. A. Ponsonby has been my personal assistant since February.

  It is not the Government's practice to reveal the salaries of advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of the Prime Minister's advisers who were not career civil servants in 1979–80 and each succeeding year.

  The Prime Minister
  The total expenditure on the salaries of my advisers since 1981 is as follows (the figures for earlier years are no longer available).

  Year

  £

  1981

  35,762·50

  1982

  75,569·25

  1983

  1167,126·97

  1984

  145,022·52

  1985

  188,654·82

  1986

  210,746·87

  1987

  239,459·46

  1988

  215,379·85

  21989

  141,142·00

  201
  1In 1983 the CPRS was abolished and a few members became ministerial advisers.

  2 To date.

  Commonwealth Conference
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers and Government officials, respectively, accompanied her at the Commonwealth conference in Malaysia.

  The Prime Minister
  I was accompanied at the Commonwealth conference in Malaysia by the Foreign Secretary and his party, three officials from my office and 24 support staff (including secretaries, a duty clerk and security personnel).

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of her visit to Malaysia for the Commonwealth conference.

  The Prime Minister
  Information on the cost of this visit is not yet available.

  Prime Minister's Office
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the Prime Minister's Office in 1988–89; and what is the estimated cost for 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  The total cost of my Office in 1988–89 was £6,553,712 (1). The latest estimate of the total cost for 1989–90 is £7,003,500 (1).Note: (1) Salaries and wages, notional pension liability, administration costs and the grant-in-aid to the Chequers trust are included. My salary as a Cabinet Minister is excluded, as are my pay and allowances as a member of this House.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total number of staff in the Prime Minister's Office in 1988–89; and what is the estimated total for 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  The total number of staff in 10 Downing street during 1988–89 was 67. At present the number of staff is 68.

  Japan (Visit)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether any Conservative party official accompanied her on her recent trip to Japan.

  The Prime Minister
  Four Conservative officials accompanied me to Japan for the International Democratic Union conference.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Council
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much per copy it cost to produce the report of the British Council for the reporting years 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The British Council annual report and accounts for 1986–87 cost £1·96 per copy and the report had 64 pages. In 1987–88 the cost per copy was £2·23 and there were 36 pages. In 1988–89 the cost per copy was £3·41 and there were 72 pages.

  Chile
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to send observers to the forthcoming elections in Chile.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no plans to send any official British Government observers to the forthcoming elections in Chile.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken at the Antarctic meeting in Paris to protect the Antarctic environment; what was the outcome of debate on the Franco-Australian proposals; what steps were taken by the British delegation to protect the Antarctic environment; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In line with our view that all possible concrete and practical steps should be taken to protect the Antarctic environment, building on the measures already adopted under the Antarctic treaty, including the Antarctic minerals convention, the meeting adopted an unprecedented number and range of environmental recommendations. These dealt with waste disposal; the prevention and control of, and response to marine pollution; environmental monitoring; improved descriptions and management plans for specially protected areas (SPAs); the amendment of article VIII of the agreed measures for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora to provide for management plans for SPAs; new sites of special scientific interest, the establishment of specially reserved areas, the establishment of multiple-use planning areas. The concentration of the siting of stations, the use of Antarctic ice, the role of Antarctica in understanding and monitoring global change, including the ozone layer, the charting of Antarctic waters, and co-operation to improve scientific productivity in Antarctica. Of the 14 recommendations covered in this list, 12 resulted from the initiatives of, and close collaboration between, the United States and the United Kingdom delegations.

  The meeting also considered the Franco-Australian proposals, as well as other proposals submitted by the Chilean, New Zealand, Swedish, United Kingdom and United States delegations, relating to comprehensive measures for the protection of the Antarctic environment. While none of those proposals was endorsed by the meeting, it was agreed that meetings should be held next year:

  (i) to explore and discuss all proposals relating to the further elaboration, maintenance and effective implementation of a comprehensive system for the protection of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems, aimed at ensuring that human activity does not have adverse environmental impacts or compromise the scientific, aesthetic or wilderness values of Antarctica; and

  (ii) to explore and discuss all proposals relating to article 8(7) of the convention on the regulation of Antarctic mineral resource activities, relating to the issue of liability.

  The venue or venues of these two meetings, and their timing, are to be decided through diplomatic channels.

  We are very satisfied with the results of this meeting which carry forward protection of the Antarctic environment. At next year's meetings our representatives will continue to support the process of further strengthening the system for protecting the Antarctic

  203
  environment. The outcome of the Paris meeting reinforced our view that the early entry into force of the minerals convention, with its strict environmental standards and procedures, remains an important objective as a necessary element in the overall system for protection of the Antarctic environment.

  I will deposit a copy of the report of the meeting in the Library of the House when it becomes available.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he will now take to comply with the Antarctic treaty convention in respect of(a) the removal of rubbish and sewage from British bases, (b) the preservation of fish stocks and (c) the proposed environmental convention due to be held in Santiago in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 31 October 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) today about the XVth Antarctic treaty consultative meeting held earlier this month in Paris, which covers part (c) of his question. In answer to parts (a) and (b)

  (a) the British Antarctic survey is taking steps to ensure that it will be able to comply with the mandatory code for waste disposal in the Antarctic, adopted at Paris, when it enters into force; and

  (b) the preservation of fish stocks is a matter for the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources meeting in Hobart from 6–17 November, and was not dealt with at Paris.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Maude
  The Foreign Affairs Council meets on 6 November and again on 27–28 November. At the earlier meeting the Council will discuss progress in the Lomé renegotiation in the light of the outcome of the ACP/EC ministerial negotiating meeting in Luxembourg on 27–29 October. There will be a further ACP/EC ministerial negotiating meeting on the Lomé renegotiation towards the end of November in Brussels but dates have yet to be confirmed. A meeting of the EC/Egypt Co-operation Council will be held on 6 November in the margins of the FAC. Also on 6 November the FAC will consider proposals for further assistance to Poland and Hungary. The Council will discuss follow up to the Audio-Visual Conference which took place in Paris from 30 September to 2 October. The Council will consider the adoption of the Commission's proposals to renew generalised tariff preferences in 1990, to include Poland and Hungary in decisions for 1990 GSP schemes, subject to the Ministers' agreement to their inclusion in the GSP. The Council is also expected to discuss economic and monetary co-operation, and free movement of people. The FAC may also take stock of recent developments in its trade relations with third countries.

  A further meeting of the FAC will be held on 27–28 November, when it will discuss preparations for the Strasbourg European Council and the future of the Communities relations with eastern Europe; a meeting of the EC/Yugoslavia Co-operation Council will take place in the margins of FAC. The Council may also discuss the Commission's draft negotiation mandate for second stage
  204
  EC/GCC agreement. The Council is expected to discuss preparation for the 19 December EC/EFTA ministerial meeting. The ministerial meeting will review progress in recent discussions between the Commission and EFTA on closer economic co-operation. The Council will discuss the present state of play and prospects for the current round of multilateral trade negotiations taking place in Geneva under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Japanese cars and EC/US relations may also be considered.

  The Telecommunications Council meets on 7 November when the Presidency is hoping to reach a common position on the ONP directive, the pan-European paging directive and recommendation and high definition television. Discussion is likely on liberalisation of telecom services, ONP directive and recommendation on pan-European radio paging, common action on HDTV in CCIR, external aspects of telecoms policy, use of ECU in European telecoms accounting, new R & D in broad band telecoms and postal Europe.

  The Consumers Council on 9 November is expected to consider some key questions arising from the draft directive. The Presidency will seek member states' views in an orientation debate on the future of this proposal. Proposals for future representation of consumers at Community level (an oral communication from the Commission) will be presented orally. This may take the form of an informal lunch meeting. A draft Council resolution outlining future priorities will be considered and the Commission may also give an oral presentation of its three year future programme. The European home and leisure accident surveillance system (EH LASS) is also likely to be discussed at the Consumer Council on 9 November.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 13 November to discuss stage 1 of Economic and Monetary Union including the revised decisions on economic convergence and co-operation between the central banks of the member states. There will also be a discussion on the longer term, which will consider the report of the high level group and the Chancellor's paper on an alternative approach to that in the Delors report. The discussion of taxation of savings will focus on measures to combat tax evasion. ECOFIN is expected to discuss a further report on indirect taxation on rates and technical systems for both VAT and excise duties and on budgetary consequences. There will also be a discussion on, and the probable adoption of a draft directive co-ordinating regulations on insider dealing across the Community, thereby establishing standards and providing for collaboration in the exchange of relevant information.

  The Health Council is scheduled to meet on 13 November. The agenda will include the tobacco labelling directive, which requires member states to introduce legislation to ensure that standardised health warnings are printed on packets of tobacco products: the tobacco tar yields directive, which sets a maximum limit of 15 mg of tar per cigarette by 1992 and 12 mg tar/cigarette by 1995; tobacco advertising directive, which concerns advertising of tobacco products in the press and by means of bills and posters. The directive places restrictions on the content of advertisements, and requires them to include health warnings. Also to be considered are the 2nd action against cancer programme 1990 to 1994. This continues and expands work carried out under the first cancer programme with the aim of reducing projected cancer

  205
  mortality by 15 per cent. by the year 2000 through prevention campaigns, information, training and research. A solemn declaration on AIDS policy and conclusions on measures for the prevention of addiction and the care of drug addicts are expected. The Health Council will discuss a Presidency note urging meetings on a regular basis to discuss the problem of the movement of health professionals around the Community in view of the overall surplus of trained doctors and the shortage of nurses, and oral conclusions urging acceleration of work on European self-sufficiency in blood and blood products. The mutual recognition of pharmaceutical products will be discussed, in particular a note from the Presidency and possibly written conclusions on the current situation and problems and conclusions asking the Commission to report on developments so far and to make recommendations for future action to encourage the use of the European emergency health card. The question of a standard European number for calling emergency services will also be discussed.

  The Industry Council meets on 14 November. The textiles sub-group will be looking at the effects of the Uruguay round, the setting up of a monitoring body or observatory to improve statistics on the sector and possibly an exercise to improve the transparency of state aids to this sector. The Council will discuss how the Community should respond to United States proposals to eliminate all state aid to shipbuilding by the end of 1991. Cars and HDTV are also likely to be discussed.

  The Budget Council will meet on 14 November to consider the second reading of the 1990 draft budget and the amending letters.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 20 and 21 November to discuss the reform of the agricultural structures regulations and the cereals co-responsibility levy. It may also discuss milk quotas, veterinary checks, bovine somatotropin, and pigmeat.

  The Development Council will meet on 21 November. The Council will adopt conclusions arising from an evaluation of Community aid to Asia and Latin America, the period 1976 to 1988, and will consider annual guidelines for the Community's aid programme to Asia and Latin America for 1990. The Council is expected to adopt a resolution on priorities and the future direction of the Community's food aid programme, and will adopt conclusions based on a Commission paper on the implementation of the Community's aid control programme. The Council will adopt conclusions on desertification based on a Commission paper on action taken in this field since 1986, and will have a free-ranging discussion on other environmental issues, specifically the management and conservation of tropical forests. The council will also review progress on the current renegotiation of the Lomé convention.

  The Internal Market Council on 23 November will discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the single market.

  The Fisheries Council will meet on 27 November to discuss prices, inspection and surveillance, processing and marketing of fisheries products and possibly EC/ Greenland and EC/USSR relations and 1990 TACS and quotas.

  The Environment Council is scheduled to meet on 28 November. The Presidency is hoping for a political agreement on the terms of reference for a European
  206
  environment agency to co-ordinate and analyse environmental information from existing national and regional networks for Commission and member states' use. There is likely to be a detailed discussion of the proposal concerning the protection of habitats and of wild fauna and flora and an attempt to resolve some of the outstanding difficulties. Early exchanges of views are expected on the proposal to protect waters from nitrate pollution and on the proposal to guarantee the public freedom of access to data on the environment.

  The Social Affairs Council is due to meet on 30 November, when Ministers will discuss health and safety directives on work place requirements, work equipment and personal protective equipment. In the field of vocational training the Council will also discuss Eurotech II, and the medium term guidelines for education and training the Community. The establishment of a employment observatory may also be discussed.

WALES

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many disabled people are currently in local authority, health authority, voluntary and private sector homes in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of disabled people in local authority, voluntary and private sector homes in Wales is shown in the table:

  as at 32 March 1988

  Category of resident1

  Residents in local authority homes

  Residents in private and voluntary homes

  Total residents

  Elderly

  7,067

  6,497

  13,564

  Younger

  physically handicapped

  99

  198

  297

  Blind

  —

  101

  101

  Mentally ill

  288

  258

  546

  Mentally handicapped

  676

  699

  1,375

  Alcohol dependence

  —

  48

  48

  Total

  8,130

  7,801

  15,931

  1 These categories are as defined under Sections 21 and 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 and under section 1 of the Registered Homes Act 1984.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will conduct a detailed HMI survey on further education provision to assess the demand for and availability of provision for students with learning difficulties.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Her Majesty's inspectors are currently undertaking a survey of the provision for students with special educational needs in the Welsh further education colleges.

  Common Land
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received a copy of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation's report on common land; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards commons.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I have received a copy of the report "Wildlife importance of common land" prepared by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC) under contract to the Nature Conservancy Council. I understand that there is another report, "A Future for Wildlife on our Commons" published by the RSNC itself, which I have not been sent. The Government are considering our future policy on common land.

  Water Supply
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report (a) the number of people in Wales who receive water from supplies granted relaxations to the aluminium standard under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989, (b) the location of each supply, by county and (c) the number of people served by each of those supplies.

  Mr. Grist
  Under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted undertakings from Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig relating to the aluminium parameter in respect of the water treatment works shown in the following table:

  Location and water treatment works

  Estimated population served

  Clwyd

  Bylchau

  2,350

  Cynwyd

  3,230

  Glascoed

  30,270

  Meifof

  1,470

  Trecastell

  9,700

  Alwen

  108,750

  Bretton

  12,640

  Cilcain

  9,640

  Dyfed

  Bontgoch

  22,050

  Strata Florida

  21,750

  Bolton Hill

  53,780

  Hotwells

  590

  Preseli

  41,450

  Valley Court

  10,870

  Capel Dewi

  21,150

  Bryncoch

  15,870

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  Bryngwyn

  87,580

  Felindre

  311,500

  Powys

  Llanwrtyd Wells

  1,470

  Llandeilo Graban

  5,880

  Portis HL

  3,820

  Hereford and Worcester

  Byton

  2,645

  Broomy Hill

  99,330

  Gwent

  Cwmtillery

  36,150

  Nantybwych

  10,580

  Georgetown

  10,000

  Craig Dhu

  7,940

  Rhymney Bridge

  18,220

  208

  Location and water treatment works

  Estimated population served

  Gwent and Mid Glamorgan

  Pontsticill

  164,300

  South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan

  Cantref

  133,700

  Llwynon

  22,600

  Mid Glamorgan

  Hendre Bailey1

  3,530

  Penderyn BH

  2,940

  Maerdy HL and LL

  37,030

  Gwynedd

  Abergynolwen

  290

  Total Population

  1,325,065

  1 Currently not in supply.

  Note.—Population figures have been derived by Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig from the average daily output of the works when in use, and therefore represent the potential number of customers.

  Toxic Waste Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the ports in Wales currently registered for the import of toxic waste and the amount of such waste imported through each of those ports for the last 10 available years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The available information on imports of special/hazardous waste through Welsh ports, based on returns made by waste disposal authorities, is shown in the table:

  Tonnes

  Port of entry

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Briton Ferry (Neath)

  2,300

  15,000·0

  12,360

  Fishguard

  50

  0

  0

  Holyhead

  124

  383·5

  221

  Newport

  3,082

  448·0

  0

  Health Service (Information Technology)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the information technology requirements under the proposals of the National Health Service White Paper for(a) acute hospitals, (b) general practitioner practices that opt. to control their own budgets and (c) general practitioner indicative prescribing budgets; and for each, what assessment he has made of (i) capital equipments costs and (ii) manpower costs.

  Mr. Grist
  The Information and IT implications of the White Paper for all levels of the NHS have been subject to a detailed and widespread consultation and review. The results will be published shortly in the form of a Strategy of Wales which will include recommended core strategic systems for each tier. The implementation costs are currently under examination.

  Renal Unit (Wrexham)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive a case from the Clwyd health authority containing a justification for a renal unit in Wrexham.
  209
  Mr. Grist
  I understand that the authority will be presenting its case in response to consultation which is presently taking place on the report of the evaluation of renal services in Wales.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when, as a result of a request from the Clwyd health authority, he decided to decline funding to the authority for a renal unit in Wrexham; and when, subsequently, he invited the authority to present to him a case containing a clear justification.

  Mr. Grist
  Funding by the Welsh Office was considered inappropriate and the authority was invited to present a detailed case for the regional designation of the unit on 24 January 1989.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVII and to his Department's provision for running costs in the current financial year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the following changes will be made.

  The cash limit on class XVII vote 2 is to be reduced by £1,499,000 from £90,947,000 to £89,448,000 reflecting (i) a decrease of £1,500,000 in the public dividend capital provision for the Welsh Development Agency and (ii) a token £1,000 Supplementary to open a new subhead to make a special contribution to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. The reduction in the provision for public dividend capital will enable a corresponding increase to be made in the agency's non-voted borrowing facility with the National Loans Fund and assist in meeting the higher demand for capital investment loans from small businesses in Wales.

  The cash limit for class XVII, vote 5 is to be increased by £2,260,000 from £266,711,000 to £268,971,000. The increase covers the transfer of responsibility for payment of grants in respect of hostel deficits from the Secretary of State for Social Security (£20,000), an increase to the grant-in-aid for the Wales Tourist Board to be met from existing but unallocated public expenditure provision (£100,000) and an increase for the carry forward of 1988–89 capital underspends under the end year flexibility scheme (£2,140,000).

  The cash limit for class XVII, vote 8 is to be increased by £5,000,000 from £830,510,000 to £835,510,000. The additional provision is required to help meet the cost of implementing the National Health Service Review proposals contained in the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  The cash limit for class XVII, vote 9 is to be increased by £1,786,000 from £46,271,000 to £48,057,000. This increase covers the take up of 1988–89 capital and running costs underspends under the end year flexibility scheme (£317,000 and £205,000 respectively) and makes provision for the running cost implications of the National Health Service review (£1,000,000), for the statutory audit of National Health Service activities in Wales (£200,000) and for the administrative cost of introducing two new grant regimes (£64,000). The Department's running costs limit is to be increased by £1,469,000 from £44,688,000 to £46,157,000.
  210
  In accordance with the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 26 October 1989 to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), the cash limit on class XVII, vote 13 is being increased by £276,000,000 from £1,000 to £276,001,000. This increase provides for the establishment of an appropriate capital structure for Welsh Water plc.

  The cash limit changes total £283,547,000. Allowing for the cash limit reduction on vote 2 (£1,499,000), the total of the cash limit increases is £285,046,000. Of this sum, the increase in respect of the capital structure of Welsh Water and compensation by the residuary company (£276,000,000) will be met from the privatisation proceeds programme; the increases on account of end-year flexibility (£2,662,000), the National Health Service Review (£6,000,000) and the administration costs of National Health Service Audit and the new grants regimes (£264,000) will be charged to the Reserve and the increases for hostel deficit grants (£20,000) and the Wales Tourist Board (£100,000) are covered by my existing PES resources. These increases will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the factors he took into account when announcing on 27 July Official Report, column 950, his decision to maintain the rates of payment for set-aside unchanged.

  Mr. Curry
  I see no reason to alter rates of payment which have attracted a good level of uptake in two successive years.

  Eggs
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action he has taken concerning imports of contaminated eggs from other European Community countries; and what evidence he has that other national governments are taking any steps to prevent such exports or to apply standards similar to those which have been imposed in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what proportion of eggs imported into the United Kingdom are tested for salmonella and other forms of contamination; how many incidents of such contamination have been verified during the last 12 months; and how many consignments found to contain such contaminated eggs have been disposed of.

  Mr. Curry
  Arrangements have been made for port health authorities and the public health laboratory service to monitor imported eggs for salmonella. This is done by taking a sample of 60 eggs from each consignment, for testing. Since April when these arrangements commenced, six isolations of invasive salmonella have been made from imported eggs. We have, as a matter of the utmost seriousness, taken these up straightaway with the member states concerned.

  The aim of the monitoring is to determine the risk of infection that imports pose over a period of time. No consignments of imported eggs have been destroyed.

  No other member state is taking such comprehensive action as we are to deal with salmonella contamination in

  211
  eggs although I am aware that the Dutch Government have introduced measures in respect of the presence of Salmonella enteritidis in breeding flocks. For the future, effective safeguards depend on taking action on an EC-wide basis and we are pressing for the introduction of effective EC measures on specified zoonoses as soon as possible.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to my written answer to him of 31 October 1989.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions are taking place between his Department and the European Commission about proposals to restrict the current European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund contributions to hill livestock compensatory allowances; what response has been made by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall South-East (Mr. Hicks) on 30 October 1989.

  Beagles (Death)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will publish in full the results of his Department's investigation into deaths of 79 beagles in the care of Alpha-Sirius (Perrycroft Lodge Kennels);

  (2) whether he will initiate a prosecution against Alpha-Sirius (Perrycroft Lodge Kennels) under the Transport of Animals (General) Order 1973 for failing in their duty of care in respect of the deaths of beagles transported to Sweden; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department is investigating this tragic incident with a view to possible prosecutions. We cannot divulge details of the case in advance of any proceedings.

  Papain
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is expecting to announce guidelines on the use of the tenderising agent papain in administration to cattle.

  Mr. Curry
  I intend to include guidance on the handling of cattle injected with papain in a code of practice on the welfare of livestock at slaughter. I propose to issue the code under new enabling powers which it is proposed to take in primary legislation when parliamentary time permits.

  Hens
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of hens slaughtered under the provisions of the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order for each month of its operation.
  212
  Mr. Curry
  The provisions relating to the compulsory slaughter of poultry are contained in the Animal Health Act 1981, as applied in respect of salmonella through the provisions of the Zoonoses Order 1989. The number of birds compulsorily slaughtered since 1 March 1989 when the order came into force is as follows:

  Numbers

  March

  207,379

  April

  95,378

  May

  48,178

  June

  91,941

  July

  47,718

  August

  55,221

  September

  131,379

  October (to 20)

  39,141

  Hormone Implants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many successful prosecutions his Department has initiated following the discovery of cattle with hormone implants.

  Mr. Curry
  Two farmers have been prosecuted following the discovery of cattle with hormone implants and convictions were achieved in both cases.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the monitoring procedures whereby samples of animals at point of slaughter are taken and tested for hormone implants; by whom the sampling and testing is carried out; and what numbers and proportion of animals are tested.

  Mr. Curry
  Under the terms of the Animals and Fresh Meat (Examination for Residues) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/848) animals are sampled by staff of the state veterinary service for veterinary residues including evidence of illegal hormone implantation. All samples for hormone analysis are forwarded to the Ministry's central veterinary laboratory. Each year some 3,700 samples are collected at slaughterhouses in Great Britain. These comprise about 0·15 per cent. of those fattening bovine animals which are slaughtered and 1,300 samples from cull cows, sheep and pigs.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the most recent figures available on the proportion of cattle sampled which carry traces of hormone implants.

  Mr. Curry
  In the course of routine monitoring for illegal hormone use a total of 1,296 samples were taken from cattle at slaughterhouses in Great Britain between January and June of this year. 0·3 per cent. of these were found to be positive.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the existence of hormone implant stocks in other European Community countries.

  Mr. Curry
  None. I am not aware that such information is collected.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to ensure that live cattle or beef imports have not been subjected to artificial hormone treatment.
  213
  Mr. Curry
  Under Community monitoring arrangements (Directive 86/469/EEC) responsibility for hormone testing of cattle and beef entering intra-Community trade rests with the Member State of origin. In the case of supplies from third countries the Community has obtained assurances that production is subject to controls equivalent to those operating in the Community.

  Food Advisory Committee
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those recommendations he has received from the Food Advisory Committee during each of the last three years, and which have not been implemented by his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is not practical to answer this question in quite the way the hon. Member has asked. The following list represents the committee's published reports over the last three years on which the recommendations have yet to be implemented.

  Final Report on the Review of colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973 published March 1987 (MAFF Press Release No. 83/87).

  Report on Coated and Ice Glazed Fish Products—published March 1987 (MAFF Press Release No. 58/87).

  Caffeine and Saccharin and Soft Drinks—announcement made in May 1988 (MAFF Press Release No. 180/88).

  Use of the term "low alcohol" in the labelling of Alcoholic Drinks announced September 1988 (MAFF Press Release No. 358/88).

  The Use of Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food—published February 1989 (MAFF Press Release No. 53/89).

  Slimming pills—announcement made in May 1989 (MAFF Press Release No. 212/89).

  Use of Nutrition Claims in Food Labelling and Advertising—published July 1989 (MAFF Press Release No. 309/89).

  We have accepted all these reports in principle. We shall shortly be announcing my decision on the recommendations in the Colouring Matter in Food report. On all the other reports we have either published implementing regulations for consultation or are in course of so doing.

  Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer the additives tartrazine and sunset yellow to the Food Advisory Committee for re-assessment.

  Mr. Maclean
  These two substances are covered by the recent Food Advisory Committee review on the use of colouring matter in food on which I shall be announcing my decisions shortly. I therefore have no plans to ask the Food Advisory Committee to re-assess them unless or until any new scientific evidence about them becomes available.

  Food Premises
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to introduce measures in the forthcoming food Bill to provide for a compulsory licensing system for all food premises.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have already made it clear that the new legislation will provide for the registration of all food premises, for an associated system of improvement notices and for enhanced closure powers. We also envisage making provision for licensing in certain sensitive areas.

  Frozen Food
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to introduce legislation governing frozen food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I shall need to implement into United Kingdom law the provisions of Council Directive 89/108/EEC on quick frozen foodstuffs for human consumption and the provisions of Council Directive 89/395/EEC on food labelling which includes a requirement for the date marking of frozen foods. I expect to issue separate proposals for regulations under the Food Act 1984 on both these matters early in 1990.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends introducing legislation to regulate the use of descriptions such as low fat, no added sugar and high in fibre in food labelling.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. The legislation is intended to form part of the regulations to protect consumers from misleading nutrition claims which I announced in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 28 July at column 1153.

  Meat and Meat Products
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist for the certification of meat and bone meal of ruminant derivation destined for export from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  The Agriculture Departments provide certification for exports of meat and bone meal in accordance with the requirements of individual importing countries. Certificates are signed by officers of the Departments or by authorised local veterinary inspectors.

  Livestock Market (Computerisation)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has taken any steps to investigate the possibilities of computerising livestock markets.

  Mr. Curry
  The extent to which any market can or should take account of new technology is a matter for the commercial judgment of its operators.

  Pesticides
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to the report on pesticide use in the United Kingdom sent to him on 7 August by the Green Alliance and the British Agrochemicals Association.

  Mr. Curry
  I have replied to these organisations on behalf of all the Ministers responsible for the control of pesticides in a letter dated 26 September 1989. A copy of the letter has been deposited today in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects British manufacturing trade to be in balance.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects British manufacturing trade to be in balance.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects British manufacturing trade to be in balance.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects British manufacturing trade to be in balance.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The deficit on manufacturing trade reflects the surge in investment and the fall in personal saving in recent years. Tighter monetary policy is already slowing the growth in demand. As new capacity comes on stream, and domestic demand slows further, the deficit will narrow.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the total United Kingdom trade deficit for the current year.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the total United Kingdom trade deficit for the current year.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the deficit in manufactured trade for 1989–90.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A new forecast will be published at the time of the Autumn Statement.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further policies he has to deal with the trade deficit.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further policies he has to deal with the trade deficit.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further policies he has to deal with the trade deficit.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No further policies are necessary. The current account deficit will gradually narrow as the Government's tight monetary policy continues to slow domestic demand.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest balance of trade in manufactured goods.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information was published on 24 October in table 12 of the monthly press notice on the current account of the balance of payments, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects the balance of trade to be in surplus.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Tighter monetary policy is already slowing the growth in demand. As domestic 216
  demand continues to slow down, and new capacity comes on stream, the deficit on visible trade will gradually narrow.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with which European Community countries Britain is running a trade deficit.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The United Kingdom's balance of trade in the first nine months of 1989 was in deficit with the following European Community member states:

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  Denmark

  Federal Republic of Germany

  France

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further policies he has to deal with the trade deficit.

  Mr. Major
  No further policies are necessary. The current account deficit will gradually narrow as the Government's tight monetary policy continues to slow domestic demand.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current balance of trade with(a) Australia and (b) New Zealand.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the first nine months of 1989 the United Kingdom's crude balance of trade1 showed a surplus of £550 million with Australia and a deficit of £49 million with New Zealand.

  These figures are only available on an overseas trade statistics basis which tends to overstate deficits and understate surpluses.

  1 Exports free on board (fob) less imports carriage, insurance and freight (cif).

  Share Ownership
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the adult population owns shares(a) directly and (b) as members of pension schemes and life assurance schemes.

  Mr. Lilley
  Twenty per cent. of the adult population owned shares directly at the beginning of the year. Subsequently the Abbey National flotation will have led to a large number of people becoming shareholders for the first time.

  Surveys suggest that around 60 per cent. of the adult population have some form of life assurance policy, 35 per cent. are members of company pension schemes and 13 per cent. have personal pensions.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total percentage growth in output in manufacturing industry for each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  On the basis of the most recent published figures, manufacturing output grew by 6·8 per cent. between 1987 and 1988, following growth of 5·5 per cent. between 1986 and 1987.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the balance of payments deficit for the last full year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information was published on 24 October in table 2 of the monthly press notice on the current account of the balance of payments, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Base Rates
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to industry of the rise in base rates since April 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is not possible to answer this question with any acceptable degree of precision. It would depend on how industry reacted to the interest rate changes themselves and any changes in borrowing for other reasons. The costs to British industry of high inflation are far greater than the costs of higher interest rates. Tight monetary policy will ensure that inflation is brought down.

  Investment
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on current investment levels in British industry.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In 1988 business investment grew by 17½ per cent. to reach £51·3 billion at 1985 prices. Business investment is now at the highest level ever recorded as a proportion of GDP.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of industrial investment and company profitability.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In 1988 business investment grew by 17½ per cent. to reach £51·3 billion at 1985 prices. Business investment is now at the highest level ever recorded as a proportion of GDP.

  Data for company profitability are available only up to 1987. The net real rate of return on capital employed for non-North-sea industrial and commercial companies rose from 9 per cent. in 1986 to 10 per cent. in 1987, the highest level for over a decade.

  High levels of investment and company profitability reflect the success of the Government's macroeconomic policy.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest figures for manufacturing investment, and show comparable figures in real terms for a similar period in 1978.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Revised estimates of investment in the second quarter of 1989—the most recent available—were included in the GDP press release issued on 22 September. Manufacturing investment including leased assets, is estimated to have been £3·2 billion (1985 prices, seasonally adjusted) in the second quarter of 1989, compared to £2·7 billion in the second quarter of 1978. The figure for the second quarter of 1989 is the highest 218
  recorded, and comes after growth of 8¼ per cent. a year between 1983 and 1988. Under the last Labour Government manufacturing investment grew by less than 2½ per cent. a year.

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

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The August 1989 index of manufacturing output (based on 1985 =100, seasonally adjusted) was 120·0, 8·1 per cent. higher than the level of 111·0 in August 1973. Figures for individual months can be erratic, however, and a more reliable comparison can generally be made on the basis of three-month on three-month changes. On this latter basis, in the three months to August 1989, manufacturing output was 7·3 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1973.

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the development of the Government data network.

  Mr. Ryder
  In addition to the service provided to the initial four departments, Department of Social Security, Inland Revenue, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and Home Office, access agreements to use the network have been made between Racal Data Networks Ltd. and Department of Employment, Department of Energy, General Register Office (Scotland), Her Majesty's Stationery Office, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, Her Majesty's Treasury and the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce. Discussions with the contractor on development of the service, including its use to carry value added data services, are proceeding.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average yearly public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product from(a) 1970 to 1979 and (b) 1980 to 1988 as shown in table 2.3 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1989–90.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: The averages of the annual ratios of general Government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) to GDP for the financial years 1970–71 to 1979–80 and 1980–81 to 1988–89 on a basis consistent with the figures given in table 2.3 of the 1989 FSBR are 43·75 and 44·5 per cent. respectively. In the earlier period the ratio peaked at 48·5 per cent. in 1975–76. The highest level in the later period was 46·75 per cent. in 1982–83; and ratio in 1988–89 was 39·5 per cent.

SCOTLAND

  Exports
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of Scottish exports in the latest year for which information is available; and what was the comparable figure in the previous five years.
  219
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of exports from Scotland in the latest year for which information is available; and what was the figure for each of the previous five years.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of exports from Scotland in the latest period for which information is available; and what was the comparable figure in the previous five years.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of Scottish exports in the latest year for which information is available; and what was the comparable figure in the previous five years.

  Mr. Lang
  There are no official figures for Scottish exports since overseas trade statistics are compiled on a United Kingdom basis only. This is because United Kingdom export statistics are collected at ports of exit and Scottish-produced goods can and do leave the country from ports throughout Britain. The Scottish Council (Development and Industry) carries out an annual survey of Scottish manufactured exports. This is a voluntary survey of manufactured exports only, and the preliminary results for 1988 indicate Scottish manufactured exports of £7,166 million. The comparable figures for the previous five years are set out in the table.

  £ million

  1983

  4,254

  1984

  4,953

  1985

  5,522

  1986

  5,300

  1987

  6,393

  Birds (Isle of Islay)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many birds, by species, were illegally killed by poisons on the Island of Islay for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of 17 birds were killed by the illegal use of pesticides on Islay, as confirmed by the wildlife incident investigation service, from 1979 to the current date. Details are as follows.

  1979

  Gyr Falcon

  1980

  —

  1981

  Buzzard

  1982

  Golden Eagle

  1983

  Crow

  1984

  —

  1985

  —

  1986

  Buzzard

  1987

  Buzzard; Crows (5)

  1988

  Buzzard; Raven; Golden Eagles (2)

  1989

  Raven; Buzzard

  Correspondence
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Minister of State responsible for industry the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, (Mr. Lang) has not replied to the letter on the Clyde port authority and the Rothesay dock in Clydebank from the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie.

  Mr. Lang
  I regret that I have no record of having received the letter to which the hon. Member refers until he sent me a copy under cover of his letter of 3 October. I220
  have arranged for the correspondence to be passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport who will send a reply.

  Public Sector Rented Homes
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial help the Government propose to give to councils to build new public sector rented accommodation in areas where there is a shortage of such accommodation, including Tweeddale.

  Mr. Rifkind
  It is for individual housing authorities to determine their own policies and priorities, based on their own assessment of housing needs in their districts, and to programme capital expenditure accordingly within the resources made available. If councils identify a particular need for additional rented accommodation in the public sector then they should in the first instance include proposals for remedying any such housing shortage in the housing capital programme due to be submitted to the Scottish Development Department by Friday 3 November. Next year's capital allocations will be determined, as in previous years, in the light of the aggregate resources available and the competing requirements of all 56 housing authorities.

  Rents to Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to promote his rents to mortgages scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 30 October that Scottish Homes is now able to consider applications to purchase under the rents to mortgages scheme. This is a pilot scheme scheduled to run for three years during which time its results will be monitored carefully to ensure that any promotional opportunities are quickly identified and acted upon.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the amount a tenant, paying an average Scottish council home rent, would pay if the tenant participated in his Department's rents to mortgages scheme, showing the method of calculation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The scheme introduced by Scottish Homes does not apply to tenants of local authorities. The method of calculation would follow that outlined in the Scottish Homes booklet on rents and mortgages placed in the Libraries of the House of Lords and House of Commons. However the calculation following demonstrates the notional financial arrangements which would apply to a tenant of a local authority house (rather than flat) paying rent at the level of the average council house tenant, whose discount entitlement is that of the average council house tenant and whose home has a market value of the sale of the average council house in Scotland.

  Average

  Market Value of House

  £23,975·00

  RTM Discount (Equivalent RTB discount less 15 per cent. points)

  36 per cent.

  Therefore Purchase Price

  £15,344·00

  Weekly Rent1

  £18·79

  Sum Available for Mortgage Repayment (weekly) (Rent + 10 per cent. less £5 per week)

  £15·67

  221

  Average

  Amount of Mortgage Supportable (Assumes interest at 13·75 per cent.)

  £6,668·00

  Deferred Financial Commitment

  £8,676·00

  1This is the average rent for all council homes in Scotland.

  Forensic Science
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many scientifically qualified persons work in the forensic science departments of each Scottish police force.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Four police forces have forensic science laboratories in which the following numbers of scientifically qualified staff are employed:

  Number

  Grampian

  7

  Lothian and Borders

  8

  Strathclyde

  25

  Tayside

  3

  The remaining four forces use these laboratories for forensic science services.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the funding of the independent forensic unit of the department of forensic science at Strathclyde university in the light of the requirement on police forces to pay for forensic services.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Funding for the Strathclyde university department of forensic science as for universities generally is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  Official Stationery
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if any reimbursement to public funds has been made for his use of official Government stationery to write an undated letter to students of St. Andrew's university inviting them to consider joining the University Conservative Association;

  (2) what is his policy towards the use by Ministers in his department of official Government stationery for party political purposes;

  (3) what was the charge to public funds of his use of official Government stationery to write an undated letter to students of St. Andrew's university inviting them to consider joining the University Conservative Association.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I regret that, through inadvertence, a sheet of Government stationery was used for the issue from my office of a letter with this political purpose. This was contrary to normal practice and should not happen again. The cost of reimbursement would be disproportionate to the amount involved.

  Roads
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) fatal and (b) serious road traffic accidents have occurred on the A98 Fochabers-Buckie road in each of the last five years including 1989 to the latest available date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of fatal and serious accidents requested for the Fochabers to Buckie stretches of the A98 are as follows:

  A98 Fochabers to Buckie

  Fatal

  Serious

  1985

  2

  1

  1986

  0

  3

  1987

  0

  2

  1988

  0

  3

  1989 (to June)

  1

  2

  I understand there has been a further fatal accident in October this year but the Scottish Development Department has yet to receive formal notification of it.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many SDD funded road improvement schemes have been completed on the Fochaber-Buckie stretch of the A98 in each of the last five years; how many proposals for SDD funded improvement schemes on that route are currently under consideration; and if he will give the costs involved in each instance.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There has been one improvement carried out in the last five years. This was at Tulloch Farm corner and was undertaken during the financial year 1988–89 at a cost of £108,000. Three further improvement schemes are planned for this section and will be started after completion of the statutory procedures and when available resources and other priorities permit. These are Portgordon crossroads, Arradoul to Barrhill road and Swiss Cottage corner and are estimated to cost £122,000, £238,000 and £650,000 respectively.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of enrolled nurses who undertook bridging courses in each of the past two years, giving a breakdown per health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Only certain health boards offer such courses. The numbers for 1987–88 and 1988–89 are set out in the table.

  Nurses Undertaking Bridging Courses

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Argyll and Clyde

  5

  16

  Ayrshire and Arran

  10

  19

  Dumfries and Galloway

  10

  4

  Fife

  18

  32

  Forth Valley

  14

  13

  Grampian

  47

  49

  Greater Glasgow

  142

  152

  Highland

  3

  12

  Lanarkshire

  28

  38

  Lothian

  45

  36

  Tayside

  31

  21

  Total

  353

  392

  Mortgage and Rent Arrears
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing(a) the number of owner-occupiers whose homes were repossessed, (b) the number of owner-occupiers whose mortgages were six to 12 months in arrears and (c) the number of owner-occupiers whose mortgages were over 12 months in arrears for each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is available only for building society loans, for the United Kingdom as a whole. The most recent figures were published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders in the 9 September issue of its newsletter "Mortgage Finance Monthly", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Hospitals (Self-governing Status)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what method he intends to consult staff and patient representatives or local communities before awarding self-governing status to hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: Our proposals are set out in the document "Self Governing Hospitals: An Initial Guide" which was issued when we debated the health service in the Scottish Grand Committee estimates debate on 25 July.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action he is taking this year to promote or publicise the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations; and what estimates he has of the costs involved for the agricultural industry in complying with these regulations;

  (2) what estimates he has of the costs involved in implementing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations for (a) industry and (b) small businesses in Scotland; and what steps he is taking in the current year to promote or publicise these regulations for those sectors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  Where substances hazardous to health were adequately and reliably controlled and where there was full compliance with existing legislation, the costs of implementing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations should be marginal; they will arise mainly from reviewing and formalising existing arrangements. The Health and Safety Executive estimated in its cost-benefit analysis for the COSHH proposals that for a typical small firm, the additional costs arising would amount to no more than about one quarter of a percentage point of the firm's net output. This estimate included the costs of monitoring of exposure and health surveillance which apply to only a minority of firms. For most larger firms, the costs will be substantially smaller in relation to net output.

  No special analysis for any particular geographical region, nor for any sector of activity, including agriculture, has been carried out.

  The Health and Safety Executive has promoted and publicised the regulations by a variety of means, including national and trade advertising and the distribution of some 3·5 million introductory leaflets. Many activities have been
  224
  particularly geared to the need to reach small firms, including the provision of information to the principal small firms advisory organisations.

  Standards Register
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what finance was provided by or what participation the Scottish Office had in producing the United Kingdom standards register; and what steps he is taking to promote it.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  The publication "Standards significant to health and safety at work", launched by the Health and Safety Executive on 22 June 1989, updates a similar publication first produced in 1983. It is a list, published for information, of those standards to which frequent reference is made by HSE in its advisory and enforcement work.

  A press release was issued by HSE at the time of publication of the list and the British Standards Institute has co-operated with the publicity.

ENERGY

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much plutonium has been recovered from the uranium dioxide breeder fuel pins and pellets integral in the Dounreay prototype fast reactor core fuel subassemblies; and if this matter was reprocessed with, or separately from, the uranium/plutonium dioxide fuel pellets incorporated into the same core sub-assemblies.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is an operational matter for the UKAEA. I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list the number of export licences granted for the export of plutonium to the Federal Republic of Germany for each year since 1959;

  (2) if he will list the number of export licences granted for the export of plutonium to Japan for each year since 1959;

  (3) if he will list the number of export licences granted for the export of plutonium to Canada for each year since 1959;

  (4) if he will list the number of export licences granted for the export of plutonium to Belgium for each year since 1959;

  (5) if he will list the number of export licences granted for the export of plutonium to Italy for each year since 1959;

  (6) if he will list the number of export licences granted for the export of plutonium to (a) Sweden, (b) the Netherlands, (c) Switzerland, (d) the United States of America and (e) Austria, for each year since exports of plutonium to each country began;

  (7) if he will list the number of plutonium export licences granted for the export of plutonium to France for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  It has been the standard practice of successive Governments not to make public the number of export licences granted for the various categories of goods controlled.
  225
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, under existing arrangements one export licence for the export of plutonium is sufficient to cover more than one contract for the supply of plutonium, or more than one load of plutonium; and what information is required to be supplied by the applicants for such an export licence to be granted.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Export licences for plutonium are issued for a specific quantity of material destined for a specific purpose. Multiple shipments can be made under an individual licence.

  Applications must be made on the Department of Trade and Industry's official export licence application form which calls for detailed information, including the end-use and user. Additional information may be requested in support of a particular application depending on the circumstances of the case.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has assessed the proposals contained in the two volume report "Energy Technologies for Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases", from an experts' seminar at the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris in April.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  A number of copies of the report have been received by my Department and the energy technology support unit. Members of the Department and the energy technology support unit attended the seminar, and subsequently have been assessing some of the more significant of the many technical papers that were then presented.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he, any other Minister, or any official of his Department was present at, or presented a paper to, the seminar on the greenhouse effect at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on 29 September.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Officials from this Department and the energy technology support unit (ETSU) attended the seminar. An official from the chief scientist's group within ETSU gave a short paper at the meeting.

  Earthquakes (Nuclear Plants)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make available to the state of California the expertise of the nuclear installations inspectorate team which evaluated the Calder hall and Wylfa nuclear plants in the United Kingdom after earthquakes, in order to assist in the assessment of the safety of nuclear plants in California following the earthquake on 17 October.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate would, if asked, be willing to provide assistance.

  Conservation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to evaluate the applicability to the United Kingdom of energy saving and energy efficiency proposals contained in the United States National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (1987).

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 10 226
  July 1989 at column 378, my energy efficiency office has already commissioned a study of domestic electrical appliances. The United States National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (1987) is among the matters to be examined in this study.

  Solar Energy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he, any departmental Minister or departmental official, was present at, or presented a paper to, the conference on energy policy and the environment at the Geological Society, London, on 9 October.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No Minister or official from this Department attended the meeting "Energy Policy and the Environment" organised by the United Kingdom section of the International Solar Energy Society on 9 October.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department, or the energy technology support unit at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, has studied the development of the Rheinische-Westfaelische Elektrizitaetswerke 340 kilowatt photovoltak solar power plant at Kober-Gondorf, to judge the applicability of this technology to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Preliminary results from the photovoltaic plant at Kober-Gondorf were presented at the ninth European Commission solar photovoltaic energy conference in September 1989. A representative of the energy technology support unit attended the conference. The 340 kW peak, array covering 15,000 square metres has just completed its first year of operation since commissioning in October 1988. It produced a little over 73,000 kWh against an expectation of 250,000 kWh when fully available.

  A review of solar technologies is currently being undertaken within the United Kingdom renewable energy R & D programme and the results are expected to be published shortly.

  World Energy Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what Ministers and officials of his Department were present at the world energy conference held in Canada in September; what papers his Department contributed; and if he will make a statement on the beneficial outcome of the conference in regard to(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Three officials from my Department accompanied me to Canada last month where, inter alia, I addressed the World Energy Conference on "Sustainable energy development, possible or impossible?" The main purpose of my speech was to alert the conference to the need to adapt energy strategies to take account of environmental consequences, particularly in relation to climate change. I outlined some possible responses, in particular market-related measures and sought the world energy community's help in resolving the problems which I see as critical to increasing the well-being of all countries, particularly developing nations. My speech was distributed as a conference document. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The Department contributed no other papers.

  The conference provided a valuable opportunity for scientists, engineers and industrialists from the western,

  227
  eastern and developing nations to explore new ideas for meeting global energy needs in an environmentally responsible fashion.

  Geothermal Energy Projects
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has evaluated the research undertaken by the Federal German Ministry for research and technology since 1982, on geological research in Bavaria into hot dry rocks, in terms of its relevance for the United Kingdom geothermal energy projects.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The British geothermal hot dry rock research team is fully aware of the German research and assisted with the early experimental work. The Falkenberg project in north-east Bavaria was operated by the Federal Republic of Germany Ministry of Research and Technology between 1978 and 1987. Investigations were made into the hydraulic and heat-transfer properties of fractured granite at depths between 300 and 500 metres. The British team conducted comparable work at Rosemanowes quarry in Cornwall between 1977 and 1980 with similar results to those obtained later in Germany. The British team has of course gone on to more advanced work at greater depth in Cornwall.

  Decommissioning Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what volumes of decommissioning waste will be sent from Sellafield to that Federal Republic of Germany arising from section 2(a)(iii) of the joint declaration between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, signed in Bonn on 25 July; and how this will be calculated.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Contractual negotiations are still proceeding regarding the reprocessing in the United Kingdom of further quantities of German spent fuel. Therefore it is not possible to estimate the volume of waste which will be returned following reprocessing.

  North-West Hutton Platform
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy at what time crew members were mustered to emergency or lifeboat stations during evacuation of the north-west Hutton production platform; how many crew members were evacuated; how many crew members were left on board after the evacuation; and why these crew members were left on board.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  At 10.38 hours on 3 September 1989 the crew were mustered to emergency stations; 108 persons were evacuated as a precautionary measure. There was no immediate danger and 77 crew members remained on board to continue the well controlled operation.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether during the drilling programme prior to' the evacuation of the north-west Hutton production platform, full mud returns were recorded while setting the casing and cementing it into place; whether a cement bond log was run after the casing was set; what was the equivalent mud weight recorded during the formation integrity test; what was (i) the expected and (ii) the actual formation pressure at the depth at which the kick or unexpected increase in pressure originated; and what was(a) the programmed and (b) the actual mud density and weight.
  228
  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Full mud returns were recorded while setting and cementing the casing. A cement bond log was not run after the casing was set. Formation integrity tests measured at two points in the well bore were 14·1 pounds per gallon at 6,837 ft. and 13·3 pounds per gallon at 6,892 ft. The expected and actual formation pressures were 7,800 psi and 9,600 psi respectively. The programmed and actual mud weights were 12·8 pounds per gallon.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many previous wells had been drilled in the structure, including exploration and appraisal wells, where drilling operations were taking place prior to the evacuation of north-west Hutton production platform.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  A total of 55 exploration, appraisal and development wells have been drilled in the north-west Hutton field.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the well in the drilling operations prior to the evacuation of north-west Hutton production platform production was shut in using the blowout preventers; if the choke above the blowout preventers was open when the well was shut in; after the blowout preventers were closed what well head shut in pressures were recorded; if a formation higher up the well from the kick zone fractured or broke down, allowing the uncontrolled movement of gas or fluid from the kick zone via the well bore into the fractured formation; if an underground blowout occurred; and at what depth the formation fractured.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The blow-out preventer and the choke were closed simultaneously to shut in the well. Drill pipe pressure of 500 psi was recorded which fell to 375 psi indicating that a zone higher up in the well formation had fractured and an underground blowout had occurred. It is not possible to be precisely certain at what depth the formation fractured.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy in which well drilling was taking place on the north-west Hutton production platform prior to evacuation; and what was the rig activity at the time of the kick or unexpected upsurge of pressure in the well.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Drilling was taking place on well 211/27-A42. At the time of the well incident, drilling was being undertaken with a 12.¼" bit at a measured depth of 13,113 feet below the kelly bushing and a true vertical depth of 11,710 feet.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made in relation to the north-west Hutton production platform of the possibility of an abnormally pressured formation in the field, charged by gas or fluid from another formation, and of the hazard posed thereby in respect of other wells which may be drilled in the formation.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The possibility of encountering an abnormally pressurised formation is present in all drilling operations. Before consent is given to any well operation, my Department must be satisfied that the drilling programme has been designed to provide safeguards against this eventuality.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what remedial action was taken to stabilise the well at the
  229
  time of evacuation of the north-west Hutton production platform; at what times pumping of cement into the well (a) commenced and (b) ceased; at what time all movements of gas or fluids through the well bore ceased; if the well is now safe; and if it has been re-entered since the incident which led to the evacuation.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  After the well was closed in, attempts were made to kill it by circulating mud of a higher density. The first cementing operation commenced at 23.00 hours on 4 September 1989. Operations continued for several days. The first occasion when movement of gas and fluids appeared to have ceased was 12.00 hours on 4 September 1989 although subsequently there was some further movement. It is not possible to be precise about when movement actually ceased. The well is now considered safe and has been re-entered.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the diameter of the last casing set around the drill hole in the drilling operations prior to the evacuation of north-west Hutton production platform; at what depth, measured and true vertical, the casing was set around the drill hole; how many attempts had been made by the operators to set the casing around the drill hole; and at what depth, measured and true vertical, the casing was programmed to be set around the drill hole.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The diameter of the casing set was 13⅜ in at a measured depth of 6,823 ft and a true vertical depth of 6,102 ft. No difficulty was experienced in setting and cementing the casing. It was programmed to be set at 150 ft into the cretaceous formation but a re-evaluation of the indicators used to determine the setting depth suggests that the casing was set just in the top of the cretaceous.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the immediate reason for the evacuation of the north-west Hutton production platform; at what time the evacuation took place; what was the sequence of events leading to the evacuation; and at what time each of these took place.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Evacuation was undertaken as a precautionary measure to reduce the number of persons at risk because the well was not responding to measures to regain full control using normal procedures. At 18.27 hours on 2 September 1989 the well was closed in by the use of the blow-out preventer. Thereafter attempts were made to kill the well by the circulation of mud. At 09.00 hours on 3 September it was concluded that the well could not be killed in this way. At 10.30 hours the decision was taken to reduce the numbers on the platform and at 10.38 hours the platform was shut down and the crew mustered to emergency stations.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the measured and the true vertical depth of the hole in the drilling operations prior to the evacuation of north-west Hutton production platform; if, in the drilling

  Table 1

  Non-housing

  £ (cash)

  Rate support1 2 grant

  Urban3 programme

  Derelict land grant

  Clean air grant

  Public open spaces grant

  1979–80

  10,706,558

  18,542

  73,016

  —

  254

  1980–81

  12,055,507

  22,477

  263,762

  —

  254

  1981–82

  4,430,147

  31,245

  180,420

  —

  254

  230
  operations, the reservoir had been reached; and if, prior to the drilling operations, or concurrent with them, the reservoir had been recently pressurised, through gas, or water injections, or by any other means.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The measured depth of drilling was 13,113 ft and the true vertical depth was 11,710 ft. A reservoir had been reached. The reservoir had been subjected to water injection.

  Nuclear Plants (Security)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many members of the Atomic Energy Authority constabulary have applied for voluntary early retirement on the special terms circulated on 26 May;

  (2) how many staff employed by the Royal British Legion security division are currently engaged at the Sellafield site; and if he will list by site the numbers of Royal British Legion Association staff engaged elsewhere on United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority sites;

  (3) if he will list the number of Atomic Energy Authority constabulary employed at the Sellafield site, West Cumbria on 1 July for each of the last 10 years; and what is the projected number for July 1990;

  (4) if he will show for each relevant site the proposed reduction in posts of the Atomic Energy Authority constabulary.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the UKAEA. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list those areas of the Sellafield site which are patrolled by staff of the security division of the Royal British Legion Association;

  (2) if he will state when Royal British Legion Association security officers were first engaged at the Sellafield site; how many were initially engaged; and what is the projected number for July 1990;

  (3) what qualifications are required of people applying for employment as Royal British Legion Association security officers at the Sellafield site, west Cumbria.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for BNFL. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

ENVIRONMENT

  Pendle (Financial Support)
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will summarise the financial support provided by his Department to Pendle in each year since 1979 divided as between the different programmes.

  Mr. Chope
  The following financial support has been provided by the Department to the borough of Pendle since the 1979–80 financial year.
  231

  Rate support1 2 grant

  Urban3 programme

  Derelict land grant

  Clean air grant

  Public open spaces grant

  1982–83

  4,438,542

  47,183

  207,408

  —

  254

  1983–84

  4,351,523

  63,991

  82,393

  2,502

  254

  1984–85

  4,395,197

  81,776

  95,503

  —

  254

  1985–86

  4,171,795

  83,102

  51,940

  4,632

  2,519

  1986–87

  4,330,327

  94,673

  39,005

  —

  —

  1987–88

  4,502,649

  97,597

  349,719

  —

  —

  1988–89

  4,712,923

  92,878

  372,239

  —

  —

  1989–90

  4,971,859

  36,146

  Not available

  —

  —

  1 1979–80 and 1980–81 figures include grant towards county council expenditure, paid direct to the county council in subsequent years.

  21979–80 and 1980–81 figures comprise needs, resources and domestic elements; figures for subsequent years comprise block grant and domestic rate relief grant.

  3The 1988–89 and 1989–90 figures are on account and have not been finalised.

  Table 2

  Housing

  £ (cash)

  Housing Subsidies and Grants

  Main housing

  Modified rent rebate

  Rent allowance

  Slum clearance

  Homes insulation

  Improvement contributions

  Improvement for sale

  Housing efects

  1979–80

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1980–81

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1981–82

  710,585

  456,978

  33,492

  171,255

  52,002

  711,486

  7,827

  —

  1982–83

  95,694

  599,181

  47,320

  257,079

  77,671

  873,906

  30,607

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  330,841

  78,741

  1,151,830

  16,700

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  —

  433,117

  70,590

  1,528,366

  26,107

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  584,125

  50,544

  1,782,609

  27,835

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  —

  628,778

  55,686

  1,877,589

  40,160

  1987–88

  —

  —

  —

  691,253

  41,234

  1,960,378

  17,575

  3,918

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  742,594

  13,820

  2,030,063

  65,216

  13,885

  1989–90

  —

  —

  —

  810,000

  10,840

  2,222,910

  —

  2—

  Notes:

  All figures are those claimed by the local authority in the relevant years.

  1981–82 to 1987–88figures are from the audited claims for those years.

  1988–89 figures are from the unaudited final claims for that year.

  1989–90 figures are taken from the advance claim, subject to adjustment on audit.

  1— Figures for 1979–80and 1980–81 are not readily available.

  2—Cannot be claimed for in advance.

  Table 3

  European Regional Development Fund

  The Borough also received the following payments from the European Regional Development Fund.

  £ (cash)

  1979–80

  84,453

  1980–81

  84,243

  1981–82

  5,380

  1982–83

  —

  1983–84

  4,480

  1984–85

  1,779

  1985–86

  89,567

  1986–87

  35,604

  1987–88

  52,579

  1988–89

  57,040

  1989–90

  1—

  1 No payments have been made to date.

  Table 4

  Capital Allocations

  In addition, the Department made the following capital expenditure allocations1 to the Borough of Pendle during the period:

  £ thousands (cash)

  Housing

  Urban programme

  2Other

  1979–80

  3,378

  —

  —

  1980–81

  2,954

  —

  —

  1981–82

  4,079

  16

  492

  1982–83

  5,163

  166

  869

  1983–84

  4,469

  85

  543

  1984–85

  3,815

  211

  400

  1985–86

  3,157

  82

  340

  1986–87

  2,980

  69

  280

  232

  Housing

  Urban programme

  2Other

  1987–88

  3,191

  468

  272

  1988–89

  3,196

  372

  307

  1989–90

  2,574

  n/a

  416

  1 Comparable data before 1981–82 not available except for Housing.

  2 Includes waste collection and disposal, sport and recreation, planning and economic development.

  n/a.= Not available.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the threatened legal action by local authorities against the water and sewerage plcs on the flotation of the companies.

  Mr. Howard
  None.

  On the basis of legal advice, including advice from leading counsel, we are confident that the threatened action is groundless and that there is no legal foundation for it. It was Parliament's clear intention in 1973 that all the pre-1974 local authority assets connected with the functions of the new water authorities should be vested in the water authorities. Similarly, in 1989, the vesting schemes under the 1989 Act were designed to ensure that such of those assets remaining in the ownership of the water authorities and not required for the functions of the

  233
  National Rivers Authority should be vested in the water service companies. We are satisfied that in both cases the legislative provisions fully achieved those objectives.

  None the less my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have today put before Parliament departmental minutes describing indemnities which the Government propose to grant to the water and sewerage companies appointed under the Water Act 1989. Under these, the companies would be indemnified against any material additional expenditure incurred as a result of legal claims, of the kind understood to be planned by a consortium of local authorities, against the proceeds of sales of assets which cease to be used for water and sewerage functions.

  We believe that such indemnities are extremely unlikely to be called upon. But we nevertheless feel duty bound to protect the interests of taxpayers by securing flotation on the basis that Parliament intended.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to make an order specifying the amounts eligible for capital allowances to successor water companies under section 95 of the Water Act.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I propose, and Her Majesty's Treasury consents, to make an order today under section 95 of the Water Act, specifying the amounts eligible for capital allowances on plant and machinery and on industrial buildings in respect of the qualifying assets transferred from the water authorities to the successor companies.

  The total amounts eligible to be specified for each company will be:

  Industrial buildings £'000s

  Plant and machinery £'000s

  Anglian Water Services Limited

  80,681

  1,149,424

  Northumbrian Water Limited

  56,348

  344,428

  North West Water Limited

  83,748

  1,076,092

  Severn Trent Water Limited

  43,995

  1,018,365

  Southern Water Services Limited

  36,710

  559,525

  South West Water Services Limited

  33,695

  281,621

  Thames Water Utilities Limited

  58,016

  1,031,962

  Wessex Water Services Limited

  6,575

  460,925

  Community charge benefit: Net income at which minimum CCB of 50 pence is payable

  Annual Community Charge

  Single under 25 working

  Single 25 to 29 working

  Single Pensioner aged 60–74 not working

  Pensioner Couple aged 60–74 not working

  Couple 2 children under 11 working

  1989–90 Benefit rates

  £250

  54·72

  62·22

  68·42

  119·81

  142·76

  £300

  59·85

  67·35

  73·55

  130·07

  153·02

  £350

  64·98

  72·48

  78·68

  140·32

  163·27

  1990–91 Benefit rates

  £250

  56·11

  64·06

  70·86

  123·58

  147·68

  £300

  61·26

  69·20

  75·97

  133·78

  157·90

  £350

  66·36

  74·26

  81·06

  144·05

  168·15

  Landmark Trust
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet Bryn Jones the director of the Landmark Trust.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. I understand that the director is, in fact, Mr. Robin Evans.
  234

  Industrial buildings £'000s

  Plant and machinery £'000s

  Yorkshire Water Services Limited

  63,825

  783,952

  Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedid

  48,262

  451,387

  These amounts have been determined after consultation with the companies and Inland Revenue.

  In the same way as other businesses the water service companies are subject to corporation tax and are entitled to capital allowances on their qualifying assets including those transferred to them from predecessor water authorities. As the predecessor authorities were exempt from tax and no consideration passed on transfer of the assets, it was necessary to determine opening figures of eligible expenditure for capital allowances purposes. The amounts shown represent the depreciated historical cost of the qualifying assets and are a fair measure of their value for tax purposes.

  Eligible expenditure incurred after the transfer date will be agreed with the Inland Revenue in the normal way.

  Community Charge Rebates
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has of the income levels up to which community charge rebates will be payable on hypothetical 1989–90 community charges of (i) £250, (ii) £300 and (iii) £350; and what the income levels will be for (i), (ii) and (iii) for actual 1990–91 community charges.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply. The levels of income at which community charge benefits will be payable will be dependent upon the personal circumstances of the claimant. The information requested is set out in the table for various representative groups of claimants. The figures in the table assume that: claimants under pension age are working and the standard disregard has been applied; claimants over pension age are not working; all claimants have savings of less than £3,000; and no member of the household is disabled.

  Toxic Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the environment if, following Her Majesty's Government's signing of the Basel convention on transfrontier transport of hazardous toxic waste, on 6 October, he will make it his policy to refuse entry to the United Kingdom of any hazardous waste cargo originating in a state that has not signed the convention.
  235
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Basel convention prohibits a party from importing hazardous waste from a non-party. An exception to this is permissable where there is a bilateral, multilateral or regional agreement or arrangement with a non-party. The Government urge all countries to ratify the convention.

  Only if there are sound environmental reasons would the United Kingdom contemplate entering into agreements or arrangements with non-parties to allow imports of hazardous waste.

  GRID and GEMS
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what involvement with the United Nations global resource information database and the global environmental monitoring system his Department has had over the past year.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Government policy is to support the work of UNEP. Departmental statisticians have been closely involved in the production of the second edition of UNEP's environmental data report (EDR) which became available last week. The EDR is the main vehicle for presenting the data from GEMS and GRID to a wider audience. The Department also supports UNEP's global monitoring efforts through GEMS. Data are supplied to GEMS annually from the United Kingdom national air pollution monitoring network and from the harmonised monitoring network on water quality. The co-ordinator for the water monitoring programme in GEMS is in DOE.

  Environmental Assessments
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each case where an application for direction has been made since 15 July 1988 what further information has been requested from the developers, local plannng authorities or others; and what additional scientific or technical advice has been sought before determining whether environmental assessment is required.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In most cases in which the Secretary of State has been asked for a direction on the need for environmental assessment, he has been able to make a decision on the basis of information already available to him. In a few cases he has informally sought further advice from the local planning authority or from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. In one case, a proposed incinerator for medical and hospital wastes at Kirkby, Merseyside, the developer was formally asked for further information under regulation 6(3) of the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988; the developer subsequently withdrew the related planning application and no direction was given.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those developments where a direction whether environmental assessment is required has been given without application by the developer, and the effect of each decision.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A direction has been given without an application by the developer in the following case which concerned a local authority's own development proposal:
  236

  LPA

  Proposed development

  Date of direction

  Effect of direction

  Lincoln City Council

  Business Park, Bishop's Bridge, Lincoln

  13 April 1989

  EA required

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to monitor and assess the quality of environmental impact statements which have been required subsequent to the implementation of the European Community directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We are about to commission research to monitor the operation of the regulations which implement the EC directive in respect of projects requiring planning permission. The research will include some assessment of the adequacy of environmental statements submitted by developers.

  Yachting
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the implications for participation in the sport of the International Yacht Racing Union's proposals to categorise yachtsmen into professional and amateurs.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received no such representations though I am aware of the Royal Yachting Association's concerns. This is a matter for the governing bodies of the sport.

  Plastics
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce a coding system for grading plastics similar to that used in the United States of America to encourage the development of efficient plastic collection and recycling programmes involving the general public.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced our aim to improve the level of recycling of domestic waste. We are, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, looking at the possibility of establishing a coding scheme to assist in the post-consumer recycling of plastic.

  Rosehaugh Self-build Housing Initiative
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an assessment of the Rosehaugh self-build housing initiative and issue recommendations to district councils on the applicability of this initiative to those who are unemployed or on low incomes in their areas and could be thus assisted to build their own homes.

  Mr. Chope
  The first scheme under this initiative is still under way; so it is too early to make an assessment. I understand a number of similar schemes are in prospect, which give people the opportunity to harness their energy and commitment to provide a home for themselves. I very much hope that they will be successful, and I would encourage local authorities to consider whether this initiative would be of help in their own areas.

  Partridges
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the extension of the open general licence to release chukar and hybrid partridges into the wild;

  (2) whether his Department is aware of any research into the impact on partridge populations of the release of chukar and hybrid partridges into the wild.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Last year the Game Conservancy produced a paper "The Chukar Report" dealing with the 'impact of releasing hybrid partridges on wild populations of red-legged partridges'. The main conclusion was that releases of Chukar partridges and their hybrids have an adverse conservation effect on the native partridge and should be phased out. General licences which expire at the end of 1992 have therefore been issued. This will enable game farmers to phase out releases of Chukars and their hybrids.

  Myopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will commission research into the incidence of myopathy in wild deer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have no plans to do so.

  Housing Policies (Monitoring)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has put in hand to ensure that councils monitor the effectiveness of their housing policies and publish the results.

  Mr. Chope
  The Local Government and Housing Bill will require every local housing authority in England to publish information about their housing management performance, for their tenants. We are consulting the local authority associations at the moment on the type and extent of information to be provided. The consultation paper, issued on 10 October, has been placed in the Library.

  Building Land
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that councils will be able to provide sufficient land for five years' building requirement in the light of his new planning guidance note; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Yes. While we propose to end the special presumption in favour of housing development which currently operates in certain circumstances, the draft guidance nevertheless stresses the need for adequate planned provision for new housing, and for regular monitoring of land availability.

  Parkinson Homes
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many owner-occupied Parkinson homes remained unrepaired at the latest available date; and how many of these were built in Bristol.

  Mr. Chope
  By April 1989, all but 187 of the 730 privately owned Parkinson houses identified by local 238
  authorities had been repurchased; of these, 178 were built in Bristol, of which 17 have either been repaired or are registered for repair under the PRC Houses Ltd warranty scheme.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his latest actions to try to prevent the build-up of chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Co-ordinated international action is the only effective answer to this global problem. The United Kingdom proposals for strengthening the Montreal protocol would require a complete phase out of chlorofluorocarbons by the end of the century. These proposals, which have now been adopted by the European Community, will require a faster phase out than proposals made by any other country.

  Sewage Discharges (Bristol Channel)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to refuse permission to water authorities or water companies to construct or maintain long sea outfalls delivering raw sewage into the Bristol channel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Applications for consent to discharge sewage into the Bristol channel are matters in the first instance for the National Rivers Authority. Each application will be considered on its own merits.

  United Nations Environment Programme
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to distribute copies of the United Nations environment programme's environmental data report for 1987–89 to interested bodies in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The environmental data report was prepared for the United Nations environment programme by the monitoring and assessment research centre at King's college, University of London, in association with the World Resources Institute, Washington and the Department of the Environment. It is a valuable contribution to UNEP's global environmental monitoring programme and an important and authoritative source of environmental information. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House. The report will be publicised at a seminar on environmental awareness on 10 November organised by the United Kingdom committee for UNEP which will be attended by a wide range of interested Government and non-governmental organisations, including industry, the media and the academic community.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As I mentioned in my letter of 19 October to the hon. Member, I was able to visit his constituency on 27 October. I am writing to the hon. Member with details of my tour of the Brunswick enterprise centre on that day.

  Downing Street (Barricade)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated scrap value of the gates to be erected across Downing street.

  Mr. Chope
  Less than £1,000.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of the permanent gates to be erected across the end of Downing street.

  Mr. Chope
  It is not the Government's practice to comment on the costing of individual security measures.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Downing street ceased to be a public thoroughfare.

  Mr. Chope
  Access to Downing street is controlled under police common law powers which allow them to take reasonable steps to preserve the peace and prevent threats to it.

  The present barriers at the Whitehall entrance to Downing street, which the demountable gate will replace, have been in place since 1982.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the permanent gates to be erected across Downing street are expected to provide more security than the present barrier.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes.

EMPLOYMENT

  Skills Shortages
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the industries and the areas where he has been advised that there are significant shortages of skills such as to present a risk to effective or planned industrial production; and what action he proposes to take in response.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The detailed information is not available in the form requested.

  It is for employers to assess their future skills needs in the light of their overall business plans and take the appropriate action. Details of the Government's sizeable contributions are set out in the White Paper "Employment in the 1990s" (Cd 540).

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the increase in average and median earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in manufacturing and non-manufacturing workers since April 1979.

  Earnings of full-time adult employees in Great Britain whose earnings were not affected by absence; April of each year

  Weekly earnings

  Percentage increase Hourly earnings

  1970–79

  1979–89

  1970–79

  1979–89

  (i)Males

  (a)Manuals in manufacturing

  243

  139

  249

  142

  (b)Non-manuals not in public sector

  226

  200

  n/a

  200

  (ii)Males and Females

  (a)Manuals in public sector

  267

  126

  n/a

  137

  (b)Non-manuals sector

  226

  169

  n/a

  171

  240
  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information from the new earnings survey is provided in the table:

  Increase in weekly earnings April 1979–April 1989

  Percent.

  Average

  Median

  Manufacturing

  139

  134

  Non-manufacturing

  138

  137

  Note: Full-time adult male manual employees in Great Britain whose earnings were not affected by absence.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the average earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in the motor vehicle industry and (b) the average earnings of full-time adult male non-manual workers generally at (i) the latest available date, (ii) for 1959 and (iii) for 1972; and what information he has as to the nearest comparable figures for 1972 and the latest available date in West Germany.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is provided in the tables:

  1. Average gross hourly earnings of adult male employees in Great Britain: pay not affected by absence, April of each year

  1972 £

  1989 £

  (a) Manual employees in the motor vehicle industry

  0·93

  5·69

  (b)All non-manual employees

  1·11

  8·23

  Source: New Earnings Survey

  2. Manual workers in the motor vehicle industry in West Germany, October of each year

  1972 DM

  1988 DM

  Average gross hourly earnings

  8·55

  21·79

  Source Eurostat

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the increase in (a) 1959 to 1968, (b) 1968 to 1979 and (c) 1979 to date in weekly and hourly earnings of (i) full-time adult male manual workers in manufacturing and all other full-time adult males excluding those working in the public sector and (ii) for manual workers and other workers in the public sector.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information from the new earnings survey is provided in the table:
  241
  Note: n/a denotes not available.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each of Training Agency's areas within Greater London, Birmingham and Greater Manchester, what are the latest available monthly statistics since September 1988, showing for each month(a) the number of referrals to employment training from Restart interviews, (b) the number of employment training action plans completed, (c) the number of starts with employment training training managers, (d) the number of employment training filled places, and (e) the number of profiled or contracted employment training places.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As the information requested is contained in a number of tables I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each of the Training Agency's areas within Greater London, Birmingham and Greater Manchester, what are the latest available statistics for employment training showing the number of trainees in each monthly period who(a) have entered employer-based work placements and the cumulative total of how many are in employer placements at the latest available date and (b) the number of trainees in each monthly period who entered project-based work placements and the cumulative total of how many are in project-based placements at the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Reliable statistics on the number of trainees on employer and project placements are not currently available at an area office level.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment training places, at the latest available date, in each Training Agency area have been filled with starts with training managers; and what percentage that is in each case of total employment training places contracted in each training agency area, for the latest available four months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: The figures are given in the following table.

  Table 1

  Number of employment training places: June-September 1989

  Area office

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  South East Region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  1,267

  1,544

  1,502

  1,603

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  1,729

  2,152

  2,027

  2,234

  Essex

  1,750

  2,194

  2,144

  2,238

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  2,260

  2,898

  2,836

  2,793

  Kent

  2,060

  2,536

  2,476

  2,422

  Surrey

  499

  594

  610

  752

  Sussex

  1,926

  2,618

  2,652

  2,759

  London Region

  Inner London North

  6,054

  6,362

  6,434

  6,986

  Inner London South

  3,302

  3,485

  3,429

  3,556

  London East

  2,338

  2,519

  2,523

  2,502

  London North

  3,704

  3,772

  3,922

  4,180

  London South

  1,759

  1,698

  1,598

  1,798

  London West

  1,186

  1,152

  1,086

  1,186

  South West Region

  Avon

  2,675

  2,616

  2,567

  2,841

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,654

  5,696

  5,706

  5,681

  242

  Area office

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Dorset and Somerset

  1,889

  1,907

  1,769

  1,909

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  1,568

  1,563

  1,529

  1,604

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  7,677

  7,894

  8,151

  8,119

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  2,674

  2,768

  2,777

  2,831

  Dudley and Sandwell

  2,907

  2,937

  3,020

  3,029

  Staffordshire

  3,635

  3,693

  3,698

  3,513

  The Marches, Hereford/ Worcester

  2,702

  2,781

  2,865

  2,908

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  3,161

  3,141

  3,129

  3,004

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  1,703

  1,759

  1,736

  1,793

  Derbyshire

  2,962

  3,089

  3,157

  3,072

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  2,830

  3,000

  3,105

  3,297

  Lincolnshire

  1,389

  1,475

  1,519

  1,483

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  3,230

  3,272

  3,329

  3,333

  Nottinghamshire

  3,428

  3,779

  3,911

  3,907

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  4,590

  4,616

  4,630

  4,561

  Humberside

  5,231

  5,214

  5,187

  5,040

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  4,494

  4,404

  4,397

  4,632

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  5,492

  5,475

  5,515

  5,575

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  5,389

  5,496

  5,390

  5,368

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  3,192

  3,405

  3,330

  3,227

  Cumbria

  1,399

  1,524

  1,518

  1,563

  Lancashire

  4,202

  4,201

  4,489

  4,464

  Central Manchester

  4,136

  4,327

  4,060

  4,136

  Greater Manchester North

  2,810

  2,983

  2,963

  2,899

  Greater Manchester East

  2,560

  2,642

  2,433

  2,546

  Merseyside

  9,266

  9,882

  9,885

  10,249

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  6,312

  6,448

  6,500

  6,375

  County Durham

  5,535

  5,732

  5,884

  5,854

  Northumberland,

  North Tyneside and Newcastle

  4,607

  4,878

  4,929

  5,249

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  6,531

  6,793

  6,875

  6,740

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  4,404

  4,613

  4,607

  4,749

  Gwent

  2,237

  2,344

  2,410

  2,552

  Gwynned, Clwyd and Powys

  3,222

  3,620

  3,654

  3,889

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  4,957

  5,186

  5,289

  5,285

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  3,144

  3,182

  3,239

  3,431

  Central and Fife

  2,870

  2,891

  2,794

  2,884

  Glasgow City

  4,739

  4,807

  5,042

  5,304

  Grampian and Tayside

  2,522

  2,516

  2,598

  2,655

  Highlands and Islands

  993

  1,149

  1,133

  1,175

  Lanarkshire

  2,628

  2,697

  2,971

  2,901

  Lothian and Borders

  3,492

  3,549

  3,590

  3,542

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  2,817

  2,941

  3,064

  3,161

  243

  Table 2

  Number of employment training filled and contracted places at 30 September 1989

  Area office

  Filled places

  Contracted places

  Percentage of contracted places

  South East Region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  1,603

  2,269

  71

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  2,234

  2,201

  101

  Essex

  2,238

  2,324

  96

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  2,793

  3,108

  90

  Kent

  2,422

  3,232

  75

  Surrey

  752

  964

  78

  Sussex

  2,759

  2,560

  108

  London Region

  Inner London North

  6,986

  7,974

  88

  Inner London South

  3,556

  4,286

  83

  London East

  2,502

  2,620

  95

  London North

  4,180

  4,398

  95

  London South

  1,798

  1,965

  92

  London West

  1,186

  1,604

  74

  South West Region

  Avon

  2,841

  3,393

  84

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,681

  6,125

  93

  Dorset and Somerset

  1,909

  1,855

  103

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  1,604

  2,109

  76

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  8,119

  8,725

  93

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  2,831

  3,553

  80

  Dudley and Sandwell

  3,029

  3,735

  81

  Staffordshire

  3,513

  4,286

  82

  The Marches, Hereford/ Worcester

  2,908

  4,095

  71

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  3,004

  4,110

  73

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  1,793

  1,968

  91

  Derbyshire

  3,072

  3,412

  90

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  3,297

  3,559

  93

  Lincolnshire

  1,483

  1,536

  97

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  3,333

  3,250

  103

  Nottinghamshire

  3,907

  4,100

  95

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  4,561

  5,147

  89

  Humberside

  5,040

  6,315

  80

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  4,632

  5,195

  89

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  5,575

  7,080

  79

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  5,368

  5,350

  100

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  3,227

  4,245

  76

  Cumbria

  1,563

  1,619

  97

  Lancashire

  4,464

  5,874

  76

  Central Manchester

  4,136

  6,876

  60

  Greater Manchester North

  2,899

  3,505

  83

  Greater Manchester East

  2,546

  3,269

  78

  Merseyside

  10,249

  11,383

  90

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  6,375

  6,861

  93

  County Durham

  5,854

  5,474

  107

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  5,249

  6,315

  83

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  6,740

  8,323

  81

  244

  Area office

  Filled places

  Contracted places

  Percentage of contract- ed places

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  4,749

  5,220

  91

  Gwent

  2,552

  3,719

  69

  Gwynned, Clwyd and Powys

  3,889

  5,216

  75

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  5,285

  6,703

  79

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  3,431

  4,200

  82

  Central and Fife

  2,884

  3,124

  92

  Glasgow City

  5,304

  7,010

  76

  Grampian and Tayside

  2,655

  3,754

  71

  Highlands and Islands

  1,175

  1,249

  94

  Lanarkshire

  2,901

  3,585

  81

  Lothian and Borders

  3,542

  3,619

  98

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  3,161

  4,695

  67

  Note: Contracted places figures only available for end September.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many starts have been undertaken at employment training training managers on a monthly basis(a) nationally and (b) by training agency area, since May.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]The figures are provided in the following table.

  Starts with Employment Training managers 1989

  Area office

  In month figures

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  South East Region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  253

  428

  199

  378

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  308

  614

  310

  492

  Essex

  406

  786

  264

  508

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  494

  915

  342

  572

  Kent

  365

  762

  283

  491

  Surrey

  128

  155

  92

  248

  Sussex

  433

  876

  382

  679

  London Region

  Inner London North

  1,005

  1,073

  955

  1,638

  Inner London South

  543

  542

  469

  823

  London East

  452

  452

  290

  467

  London North

  549

  544

  592

  999

  London South

  399

  261

  216

  530

  London West

  198

  206

  138

  307

  South West Region

  Avon

  325

  326

  261

  681

  Devon and Cornwall

  971

  733

  623

  882

  Dorset and Somerset

  297

  221

  180

  344

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  328

  218

  148

  354

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,254

  1,079

  1,033

  1,461

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  449

  454

  415

  641

  Dudley and Sandwell

  452

  426

  467

  622

  Staffordshire

  597

  499

  389

  647

  The Marches, Hereford/ Worcester

  455

  414

  388

  615

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  609

  598

  489

  550

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  254

  260

  249

  396

  Derbyshire

  510

  444

  430

  512

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  476

  571

  733

  960

  Lincolnshire

  264

  271

  334

  196

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  549

  526

  395

  540

  Nottinghamshire

  740

  1,062

  929

  964

  245

  Area office

  In month figures

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  906

  730

  745

  953

  Humberside

  847

  748

  653

  1,167

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  911

  727

  639

  1,230

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  927

  810

  808

  1,171

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  901

  776

  704

  991

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  839

  666

  416

  548

  Cumbria

  228

  272

  175

  325

  Lancashire

  876

  652

  946

  978

  Central Manchester

  965

  871

  643

  937

  Greater Manchester North

  871

  589

  569

  609

  Greater Manchester East

  588

  516

  458

  588

  Merseyside

  1,969

  1,753

  1,323

  2,193

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  1,360

  719

  838

  1,226

  County Durham

  919

  790

  704

  931

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  874

  810

  668

  1,003

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  1,037

  1,014

  734

  1,427

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  807

  807

  596

  1,068

  Gwent

  322

  358

  327

  622

  Gwynedd, Clwyd and Powys

  558

  651

  682

  983

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  959

  850

  741

  1,019

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  603

  366

  481

  694

  Central and Fife

  534

  297

  402

  700

  Glasgow City

  991

  636

  1,005

  1,122

  Grampian and Tayside

  535

  364

  457

  713

  Highlands and Islands

  269

  295

  173

  282

  Lanarkshire

  638

  465

  677

  611

  Lothian and Borders

  692

  565

  781

  703

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  558

  437

  554

  732

  Residential Training Colleges

  105

  92

  31

  314

  Great Britain Total

  36,642

  34,342

  29,924

  44,337

  1 Cumulative since 1 April 1989.

  Parliamentary Answers (Drafting)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many individuals were employed by his Department whose primary role it was to draft answers to parliamentary questions in November of each of the last five years; and how many he expects will be so employed at the end of November.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department does not employ any individuals whose primary role is to draft answers to parliamentary questions. Answers are drafted by officials employed with policy responsibility for the subject area to which the question relates; it is part of their normal range of duties.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he plans to take regarding the Health and Safety Executive office at Baynards house.
  246
  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no plans regarding the Health and Safety Executive office at Baynards house.

  Health and Safety (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, for each Health and Safety Executive area, on how many occasions in the last three years Health and Safety Executive inspectors have arranged for letters to union appointed safety representatives to be translated into the appropriate mother-tongue language.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Service Men's Wives
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has, for the latest year for which records exist and for the preceding three years, on the number of wives of service men seeking but unable to find employment(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in the British Army of the Rhine and (c) elsewhere.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: This information is not available.

  YTS
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged 16 and 17 years have not been offered places on YTS schemes in their own localities in each of the past 12 months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: The Government guarantee the offer of a suitable YTS place to all young people under the age of 18 who are not in full-time employment or in full-time education who apply for one.

  The guarantee continues to be met nationwide. At the end of September there were over 500,000 YTS places in contract, of which 110,821 were still unfilled.

  Training (Statistics)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the monthly statistics for the latest available four months for Great Britain and each standard training agency area for employment training showing(a) entrants in each monthly period and the number of cumulative entrants since the scheme started, (b) the total number of currently filled places, (c) the number of trainees in each monthly period, on employer based work placements and on project-based placements and (d) the number of trainees who left the scheme in each monthly period and the number of cumulative leavers since the scheme started.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 20 October 1989]: The figures for entrants and filled places are provided in tables 1 and 2. Information about trainees on employer and project-based training on a particular day is not available at area office level. The figures are collected quarterly; the most recent figures for Great Britain are given in table 3. Information on leavers is not available at area office level. The figures for Great Britain are given in table 4.
  247

  Table 1

  Starts with Employment Training training managers 1989

  Area office

  In month figures

  June

  July

  August

  September

  Cumulative since 1 September 1988

  South East Region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  253

  428

  199

  378

  3,325

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  308

  614

  310

  492

  4,238

  Essex

  406

  786

  264

  508

  4,793

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  494

  915

  342

  572

  6,224

  Kent

  365

  762

  283

  491

  5,361

  Surrey

  128

  155

  92

  248

  1,519

  Sussex

  433

  876

  382

  679

  4,789

  London Region

  Inner London North

  1,005

  1,073

  955

  1,638

  13,526

  Inner London South

  543

  542

  469

  823

  7,364

  London East

  452

  452

  290

  467

  5,220

  London North

  549

  544

  592

  999

  8,430

  London South

  399

  261

  216

  530

  3,784

  London West

  198

  206

  138

  307

  3,054

  South West Region

  Avon

  325

  326

  261

  681

  5,121

  Devon and Cornwall

  971

  733

  623

  882

  11,464

  Dorset and Somerset

  297

  221

  180

  344

  3,893

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  328

  218

  148

  354

  3,630

  West Midlands

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,254

  1,079

  1,033

  1,461

  15,915

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  449

  454

  415

  641

  5,949

  Dudley and Sandwell

  452

  426

  467

  622

  6,769

  Staffordshire

  587

  499

  389

  647

  7,622

  The Marches, Hereford/Worcester

  455

  414

  388

  615

  6,241

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  609

  598

  489

  550

  7,503

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  254

  260

  249

  396

  3,920

  Derbyshire

  510

  444

  430

  512

  6,668

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  476

  571

  733

  960

  7,087

  Lincolnshire

  264

  271

  334

  196

  2,992

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  549

  526

  395

  540

  6,988

  Nottinghamshire

  740

  1,062

  929

  964

  9,708

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  906

  730

  745

  953

  11,175

  Humberside

  847

  748

  653

  1,167

  12,212

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  911

  727

  639

  1,230

  11,073

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  927

  810

  808

  1,171

  14,027

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  901

  776

  704

  991

  12,160

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  839

  666

  416

  548

  7,999

  Cumbria

  228

  272

  175

  325

  3,230

  Lancashire

  876

  652

  946

  978

  11,483

  Central Manchester

  965

  871

  643

  937

  10,644

  Greater Manchester North

  871

  589

  569

  609

  7,886

  Greater Manchester East

  588

  516

  458

  588

  7,327

  Merseyside

  1,969

  1,753

  1,323

  2,193

  21,064

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  1,360

  719

  838

  1,226

  13,665

  County Durham

  919

  790

  704

  931

  10,778

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  874

  810

  668

  1,003

  9,541

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  1,037

  1,014

  734

  1,427

  13,349

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  807

  807

  596

  1,068

  10,349

  Gwent

  322

  358

  327

  622

  5,092

  Gwynned, Clwyd and Powys

  558

  651

  682

  983

  7,622

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  959

  850

  741

  1,019

  11,456

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  603

  366

  481

  694

  6,203

  248

  249

  Area office

  In month figures

  June

  July

  August

  September

  Cumulative since 1 September 1988

  Central and Fife

  534

  297

  402

  700

  6,269

  Glasgow City

  991

  636

  1,005

  1,122

  11,146

  Grampian and Tayside

  535

  364

  457

  713

  6,682

  Highlands and Islands

  269

  295

  173

  282

  2,217

  Lanarkshire

  638

  465

  677

  611

  7,323

  Lothian and Borders

  692

  565

  781

  703

  8,867

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  558

  437

  554

  732

  6,459

  Residential Training Colleges

  105

  92

  31

  314

  1707

  Great Britain Total

  36,642

  34,342

  29,924

  44,337

  451,102

  1Cumulative since 1 April 1989

  Table 2

  Number of Employment Training filled places: June-September 1989

  Area Office

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  South East Region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  1,267

  1,544

  1,502

  1,603

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  1,729

  2,152

  2,027

  2,234

  Essex

  1,750

  2,194

  2,144

  2,238

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  2,260

  2,898

  2,836

  2,793

  Kent

  2,060

  2,536

  2,476

  2,422

  Surrey

  499

  594

  610

  752

  Sussex

  1,926

  2,618

  2,652

  2,759

  London Region

  Inner London North

  6,054

  6,362

  6,434

  6,986

  Inner London South

  3,302

  3,485

  3,429

  3,556

  London East

  2,338

  2,519

  2,523

  2,502

  London North

  3,704

  3,772

  3,922

  4,180

  London South

  1,759

  1,698

  1,598

  1,798

  London West

  1,186

  1,152

  1,086

  1,186

  South West Region

  Avon

  2,675

  2,616

  2,567

  2,841

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,654

  5,696

  5,706

  5,681

  Dorset and Somerset

  1,889

  1,907

  1,769

  1,909

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  1,568

  1,563

  1,529

  1,604

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  7,677

  7,894

  8,151

  8,119

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  2,674

  2,768

  2,777

  2,831

  Dudley and Sandwell

  2,907

  2,937

  3,020

  3,029

  Staffordshire

  3,635

  3,693

  3,698

  3,513

  The Marches, Hereford/Worcester

  2,702

  2,781

  2,865

  2,908

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  3,161

  3,141

  3,129

  3,004

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  1,703

  1,759

  1,736

  1,793

  Derbyshire

  2,962

  3,089

  3,157

  3,072

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  2,830

  3,000

  3,105

  3,297

  Lincolnshire

  1,389

  1,475

  1,519

  1,483

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  3,230

  3,272

  3,329

  3,333

  Nottinghamshire

  3,428

  3,779

  3,911

  3,907

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  4,590

  4,616

  4,630

  4,561

  Humberside

  5,231

  5,214

  5,187

  5,040

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  4,494

  4,404

  4,397

  4,632

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  5,492

  5,475

  5,515

  5,575

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  5,389

  5,496

  5,390

  5,368

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  3,192

  3,405

  3,330

  3,227

  Cumbria

  1,399

  1,524

  1,518

  1,563

  250

  Area Office

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Lancashire

  4,202

  4,201

  4,489

  4,464

  Central Manchester

  4,136

  4,327

  4,060

  4,136

  Greater Manchester North

  2,810

  2,983

  2,963

  2,899

  Greater Manchester East

  2,560

  2,642

  2,433

  2,546

  Merseyside

  9,266

  9,882

  9,885

  10,249

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  6,312

  6,448

  6,500

  6,375

  County Durham

  5,535

  5,732

  5,884

  5,854

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  4,607

  4,878

  4,929

  5,249

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  6,531

  6,793

  6,875

  6,740

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  4,404

  4,613

  4,607

  4,749

  Gwent

  2,237

  2,344

  2,410

  2,552

  Gwynned, Clwyd and Powys

  3,222

  3,620

  3,654

  3,889

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  4,957

  5,186

  5,289

  5,285

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  3,144

  3,182

  3,239

  3,431

  Central and Fife

  2,870

  2,891

  2,794

  2,884

  Glasgow City

  4,739

  4,807

  5,042

  5,304

  Grampian and Tayside

  2,522

  2,516

  2,598

  2,655

  Highlands and Islands

  993

  1,149

  1,133

  1,175

  Lanarkshire

  2,628

  2,697

  2,971

  2,901

  Lothian and Borders

  3,492

  3,549

  3,590

  3,542

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  2,817

  2,941

  3,064

  3,161

  Residential Training College

  512

  560

  528

  730

  Great Britain

  194,201

  202,969

  204,111

  208,069

  Table 3

  Employment Training

  Percentages of Trainees on Placements with Employers and on projects as at 30 June 1989

  Employer Percentage

  Project Percentage

  Great Britain

  25

  50

  Table 4

  Employment Training Leavers (Estimated)

  Month

  Leavers

  June

  31,000

  July

  25,000

  August

  28,000

  September

  40,000

  Cumulative (since September 1988) 239,000

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to introduce new legislation or regulations on consumer protection.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to introduce new legislation or regulations on consumer protection.

  Mr. Forth
  We intend to improve the protection given to consumers in a number of ways including the introduction of regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 on price indications and unit pricing about which we are currently engaging in public consultation, and changes to other legislation affecting consumers' interests.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to introduce new legislation or regulations on consumer protection.

  Mr. Forth
  We intend to improve the protection given to consumers in a number of ways including the introduction of regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 on price indications and unit pricing about which we are currently engaging in public consultation, and changes to other legislation affecting consumers' interests.

  Imports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the rise in import penetration in manufactured goods from 1979 until the first quarter of the current year.

  Mr. Ridley
  Import penetration in manufacturing industry rose from 27 per cent. in 1979 to 36 per cent. in the year ending March 1989.

  Petrol Retailing
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to respond to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol retailing.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to respond to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol retailing.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to respond to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol retailing.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to respond to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol retailing.

  Mr. Redwood
  The deadline for completion of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report has been extended to 20 December. The nature and timing of the response will depend on the findings of the report.

  Competition Policy
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans for a review of competition policy.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans for a review of competition policy.

  Mr. Redwood
  We are in the process of implementing the conclusions of our wide-ranging review of competition policy, which were published last year, and have no plans for a further review.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State far Trade and Industry if he has any plans for a review of competition policy.

  Mr. Redwood
  We are in the process of implementing the conclusions of our review of competition policy, which were published last year, and have no plans for a further review.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans for a review of competition policy.

  Mr. Redwood
  We are in the process of implementing the conclusions of our review of competition policy, which were published last year, and have no plans for a further review.

  EC Meeting
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet his EEC counterparts; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet his EEC counterparts; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Ridley
  I intend to maintain close contact with all my EC counterparts, and a whole range of matters will be discussed.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a trade surplus, or a smaller trade deficit as a proportion of gross domestic product, than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a trade surplus, or a smaller trade deficit as a proportion of gross domestic product, than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a trade surplus, or a smaller trade deficit as a proportion of gross domestic product than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Redwood
  All OECD countries except Portugal, Greece and Spain were in one or other category in 1988, the latest year for which complete figures are available.

  Textiles (False Labelling)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received over the question of false labelling of textiles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Representations have been received from the west Yorkshire trading standards service and a number of hon. Members in west Yorkshire expressing concern about overstatement of the wool content in imported carpets, and in garments made from Italian reclaimed fabric. Responsibility for enforcing the regulations which require the fibre content of textile products to be accurately described rests with local authority trading standards departments.

  Footwear Industry
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current state of the footwear industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department is fully aware of the difficulties facing United Kingdom footwear manufacturers and of their continuing concern over low-cost imports, particularly from the far east. We expect the Commission to publish the findings and recommendations of its Community-wide investigations into imports of footwear from Taiwan and South Korea shortly and we will give these prompt and serious consideration.

  Labelling
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans for the labelling of consumer goods.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans for the labelling of consumer goods.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans for the labelling of consumer goods.

  Mr. Forth
  Additional labelling requirements will come into force over the next year for toys and all-terrain vehicles. The Government has made clear its support for the early introduction of a Community-wide voluntary eco-labelling scheme. In addition my Department is supporting work designed to establish a certification trademark which could be awarded to goods which consistently meet high specifications, although launch of such a scheme would depend on adequate support from industry.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to conduct a review of the way regional selective assistance has operated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  An evaluation of the operation and effects of regional selective assistance in the period 1980 to 1984 has recently been completed and will be published in the first part of next year. The findings will be taken into account in the future operation of the scheme.
  254
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individual firms and undertakings in the north west have benefited in the last 12 months as a result of funds made available through the regional selective assistance programme.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During the period 1 October 1988 to 30 September 1989, payments of regional selective assistance were made to 483 firms and undertakings in the north west region.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans for stimulating industry in Britain's regions.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans for stimulating industry in Britain's regions.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Changes in the focus of our regional policies were made early last year. There are no plans for further changes.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further help is being given to companies to enable them to take full advantage of the establishment of the internal market in 1992.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department's own "Europe Open for Business" information service is continually updated and expanded. Practical help is available through our enterprise initiatives—the consultancy initiative and the export initiative are particularly relevant to firms preparing for the single market.

  There is also a growing range of information and advice available from private sector organisations and my Department will continue to work with such organisations to help enhance the services they offer.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the competitiveness of British industry.

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

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the competitiveness of British industry.

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

  "British Business"
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he has ceased publication of British Business.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he has ceased publication of British Business.
  255
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he has ceased publication of British Business.

  Mr. Forth
  Following the decision that responsibility for the statistical series with which DTI was previously concerned should transfer to the Central Statistical Office,British Business magazine lost much of its market and was no longer viable.

  I understand that the CSO are about to launch a series of business bulletins containing most of the new data previously published in British Business.

  Consumer Councils
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect nationalised industry consumer councils have had in protecting the consumer against above inflation price increases and poor service.

  Mr. Forth
  The national industry consumer councils are consulted by their respective industries on price increases. The industries concerned take a number of factors into account in arriving at a decision on such increases, and the national industry consumer councils play a valuable role in ensuring that the consumer view is adequately presented. The councils also have an influential role so far as standards of service are concerned, seeking improvements where experience shows this to be needed; and they are able to take up individual complaints with their industries where the consumer has failed to resolve the matter direct with the industry.

  British Telecom
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any estimate of the number of people who own shares in British Telecom.

  Mr. Forth
  British Telecom's annual report and accounts indicate that at 31 March this year there were 1,203,243 shareholders.

  Furniture (Safety)
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the British Standards Institute's recommendations with regard to revising relevant furniture standards to specify the use of toughened or safety glass in low-level locations and methods of fixing glass panels in furniture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  A Committee of the British Standards Institution is preparing a specification for testing glass used in furniture and it is expected that a draft standard will be issued for consultation by mid-1990.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in response to proposed changes in the conduct of business rules at the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received a number of representations about proposals by the Securities and Investments Board to amend its rules. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the questions raised in these representations are, however, a matter for the board.
  256
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings he or the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) has had since 31 July with(a) the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board, (b) the chairmen of each of the self-regulating organisations recognised by the Securities and Investments Board and (c) the chairman or president of each of the professional bodies recognised by the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since 31 July I have met the chairmen of the Securities and Investments Board and four of the five self-regulating organisations. I shall meet the chairmen of other bodies as and when necessary. My right hon. Friend will meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board shortly.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies announced inward investment projects in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and which regions benefited the most.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  According to the latest figures readily available to the Invest in Britain Bureau, on a regional basis as distinct from a national total, 330 inward investment decisions were made during 1988 to locate in the United Kingdom. These include the establishment of a new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in joint venture. The projects were expected to create about 27,500 new jobs and to have safeguarded a further 18,000. The figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and do not take into account subsequent developments. The table lists the details of the number of projects and jobs on a regional basis:

  Region

  Projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Scotland

  58

  5,392

  1,978

  Wales

  55

  5,856

  2,085

  Northern Ireland

  22

  2,610

  916

  North East

  22

  2,041

  31

  North West

  24

  1,604

  3,169

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  14

  1,507

  250

  East Midlands

  16

  836

  880

  West Midlands

  66

  3,656

  7,824

  South East

  45

  2,240

  983

  South West

  5

  479

  0

  Knitwear and Textile Industries
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next proposes to meet representatives of the knitwear and textile industries to discuss current difficulties facing the industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no immediate plans to meet representatives of the industry although I take a close interest in matters of concern in the textile, clothing and knitwear sectors.

  However, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Trade met with the Apparel, Knitting and Textile Alliance on 4 October to discuss in some depth the difficulties faced by the three industries. He is also meeting a delegation from the TUC to discuss trade in textiles this afternoon.

  Business Confidence
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has commissioned any research into the current level of business confidence and the implications for manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on business confidence is regularly collected by a number of private organisations, and the results are among the economic indicators available to the Government. I have no plans to duplicate the work of these independent organisations.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he is able to report regarding repayments to investors affected by the Barlow Clowes collapse; what steps he has taken and will take to ensure fair treatment to both those who invested in the United Kingdom-based funds and those who invested in the Gibraltar-based funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The matter of payments to investors in Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Ltd. and Barlow Clowes International Ltd. is one for the joint receivers and joint liquidators, Cork Gully and Ernst and Young respectively. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my letters of 16 August and 30 October to all Members, copies of which I have placed in the Library.

  Import Penetration
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the delay in publishing his Department's figures for import penetration.

  Mr. McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the delay in publishing his Department's figures for import penetration.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1988 a new commodity coding system was introduced by Customs and Excise resulting in a complete revision and renumbering of the existing tariff codes.

  Each of these new codes had to be allocated, whole or in part, to industries of the standard industrial classification before import penetration figures could be derived. The size and complexity of this task has resulted in an interruption to the normal publication timetable.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the rise in import penetration in manufactured goods for 1979 until the first quarter of the current year.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the rise in import penetration in manufactured goods from 1979 until the first quarter of the current year.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the rise in import penetration in manufactured goods from 1979 until the first quarter of the current year.

  Mr. Redwood
  Import penetration in manufacturing industry rose from 27 per cent. in 1979 to 36 per cent. in the year ending March 1989.

  Ferranti
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with representatives of Ferranti; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The company has informed my Department of its financial difficulties. However, it is for the company to explore the various solutions that may be open to it.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he or his officials has met representatives of Ferranti International Signal plc to discuss the company's current financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  My hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Trade has listened to the views of Ferranti and senior management of the company have met officials of my Department.

  However, it is for the company to explore the various solutions that may be open to it.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had concerning the recent difficulties of Ferranti Limited; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  A number of hon. Members have expressed concern about the position of Ferranti. However, it is for the company to explore the various options that appear open to it.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department is giving to export industries regarding the exchange rate of pound sterling.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 17 May,Official Report, column 233.

  Takeovers and Mergers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made among European Community partners in agreeing a takeover and mergers regulation.

  Mr. Redwood
  Significant progress was made in discussions on the draft EC merger control regulation at the most recent Council of Internal Market Ministers on 10 October. However, a number of important issues remain to be resolved, including the turnover thresholds, the criteria for assessing mergers and the review mechanism for the EC system. These and other issues will be the subject of further discussions at the next Internal Market Council on 23 November.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of British Shipbuilders; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I met the Chairman of British Shipbuilders on 16 October1989 to discuss the disposal of
  259
  the assets of North East Shipbuilders Ltd. We also both gave evidence at the Trade and Industry Select Committee hearing on British Shipbuilders on 18 October.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the most recent information he has as to the level of outstanding British Shipbuilders' commercial borrowing.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: Government funding of British Shipbuilders is designed to keep the Corporation's commercial borrowing requirements to a minimum. As at 13 October, actual commercial loans amounted to £3 million. On a year on year basis, however, total net aid provided over the course of the year is subject to the terms of the European Community's sixth directive on aid to shipbuilding. Limitations on Government funding under this Directive necessitated British Shipbuilders borrowing some £90 million in the market in December 1988. By December 1989, it is estimated that this level of borrowing liability will have fallen to about £65 million against the sixth directive's parameters.

  Estate Agents
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to bring forward his proposals designed to regulate the activities of those estate agents engaging in undesirable practices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My proposals to underpin a code of practice for estate agents by an order under section 3 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 were announced to the House of Commons and published in the report of my review of estate agency on 21 June. I have asked the Director General of Fair Trading to develop the code of practice with the industry, consider the scope of the proposed order under section 3 of the Act and report back to me early next year. When I have considered his advice I shall circulate for consultation proposals for an order, as is required under section 30 of the Act.

  Japanese Market
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding British access to the Japanese market.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 19 July. In the first nine months of this year our exports to Japan increased in value by 28 per cent.

  Sub-post Offices
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the chairman of the Post Office to discuss the future of small rural sub-post offices.

  Mr. Forth
  I meet the chairman of the Post Office regularly to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern.

  CBI
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I met the Confederation of British Industry on 24 October 1989 when the main topic of discussion was the preparation by British business for the European single market.

  Counterfeit Electrical Products
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to investigate the production of counterfeit electrical products being produced by Taiwan and sold under English company names to Third-world countries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the absence of diplomatic relations between the UK and Taiwan, formal representations cannot be made there. UK companies experiencing difficulties with counterfeit products from Taiwan are referred to the Anglo-Taiwanese Trade Committee, which will give advice. Nevertheless, the UK Government regularly make representations to countries where counterfeits are known to be sold and will continue to do so.

  I would be pleased to receive more information, particularly about the volume and destination of counterfeit products, in order that the most effective representaions can be made.

  Business Development Consultancy Initiative
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give(a) the total number of applications for the business development consultancy initiative received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved. (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, in cash and constant prices, for each of the standard Department of Trade and Industry regions, Wales and Scotland.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: In the period from 1 April 1988 to 30 September 1989, 31,415 applications were received for the business development consultancy initiatives. In the same period 24,081 applications were approved for assisted consultancy. The Department's contribution to the cost of completed consultancies totalled £27·1 million. It is estimated that those consultancies not completed by 30 September 1989 will cost the Department a further £29·3 million. A breakdown of numbers and cost of consultancy projects for each DTI region and for Scotland and Wales is as follows:
  261

  (a)

  (b)

  (ci)

  (cii)

  DTI region/country

  Number of applications received

  Number of applications approved for assisted consultancy

  DTI expenditure on completed consultancies (£'000)

  Estimated expenditure on outstanding consultancies (£'000)

  North East

  1,590

  1,225

  1,300

  1,404

  North West

  4,453

  3,780

  4,945

  5,032

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,878

  2,254

  2,932

  3,042

  West Midlands

  3,325

  2,427

  2,966

  3,218

  East Midlands

  1,957

  1,530

  1,839

  2,048

  South West

  2,990

  1,995

  1,820

  2,136

  East

  2,568

  1,725

  1,398

  1,726

  South East:

  London

  3,818

  2,871

  2,669

  2,867

  Reading

  1,861

  1,486

  1,427

  1,726

  Reigate

  1,910

  1,487

  1,349

  1,580

  Scotland

  2,293

  1,976

  2,860

  2,779

  Wales

  1,772

  1,325

  1,585

  1,697

  Total

  31,415

  24,081

  27,090

  29,255

  The total amount of expenditure on the business development consultancy initiatives in 1988–89 was £43·1 millions. The Estimates provision for 1989·90 is £80 millions. Plans for future years will be reflected in the 1990 Public Expenditure White Paper. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of total expenditure or provision on the consultancy initiatives for each DTI region or for Scotland or Wales.

  Rain Forest Timber
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines he has laid down for the import of timber from tropical rain forests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Guidelines for sustainable forest management would need to be established at the international level. The United Kingdom itself and the EC as a whole are promoting work on this issue at the International Tropical Timber Organisation's current meeting in Japan.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the effect of high interest rate levels on manufacturing industries in the north-west.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  North West industry is very diverse which means that the impact of present interest rates may vary. My Department's assessment is that the current policy is having its desired effect in the region. Industry is performing well, profits are satisfactory and essential investment by companies intended to secure their position in the market is being maintained. The region's manufacturing companies recognise the importance of defeating inflation and are responding well to the present situation.

  Co-operation Initiatives
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives have been taken to encourage firms to work together, particularly on new technologies; how many projects have been supported; and at what cost.
  262
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The research and technology initiative was launched in January 1988 to provide support for research and development in collaborative projects under four main schemes:

  —LINK, which encourages firms to collaborate with universities and polytechnics in pre-competitive research.

  —EUREKA, which encourages firms to enter collaborative ventures with firms in other European countries.

  —Advanced technology programmes (ATP), which assist companies to collaborate in selected fields of new technology.

  —General industrial collaborative programmes, which provide support for projects at research and technology organisations and for other collaborative projects not covered under the above headings.

  These schemes build on previous experience of supporting collaborative research and development: on the LINK scheme was a wholly new initiative.

  Both the LINK and the ATP schemes seek to promote advanced technology. Under these schemes 29 programmes have been initiated. The areas of technology that will benefit are:

  LINK

  Electronics and IT

  Molecular electronics

  Advanced semiconductors

  Personal communications

  Opto-electronics

  Power electronic devices

  Biosciences and Food

  Eukaryotic genetics

  Biotransformations

  Food Processing

  Protein engineering

  Plant metabolism

  Selective drug delivery

  Engineering and measurement

  Industrial measurement

  Nanotechnoloty

  Ventilation, airconditioning and refrigeration

  High speed machinery

  Molecular sensors

  Analytical and physical measurement

  Construction and refurbishment

  Biochemical engineering

  Materials and chemicals

  Structural composites

  Catalytic processes

  263
  ATP

  High temperature superconductivity

  Gallium arsenide

  Information engineering

  Electronics

  Systems technology and integration

  Computer aided engineering

  Advanced robotics

  Wealth from the oceans

  The number of collaborative projects that have started since January 1988 and the expected contribution to those projects by the DTI are set out in the table:

  Scheme

  Number of projects

  DTI support (£m)

  LINK

  40

  112·0

  ATP

  80

  19·7

  EUREKA

  43

  17·5

  General industrial

  187

  27·6

  Total

  350

  76.8

  1Contributions by DTI and other Departments.

  In addition there are over 600 collaborative projects under discussion between the Department and industry. Strong growth is expected in particular in numbers of new LINK projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises are well represented, particularly in the general industrial collaborative category.

  It is expected that DTI expenditure in support of collaborative industrial research and development in 1990–91 will be about £85 million.

  Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has of the costs involved in implementing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations for(a) industry and (b) small businesses and what steps is he taking in the current year to promote or publicise these regulations for those sectors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  Where substances hazardous to health were adequately and reliably controlled and where there was full compliance with existing legislation, the costs of implementing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations should be marginal; they will arise mainly from reviewing and formalising existing arrangements. The Health and Safety Executive estimated in its cost/benefit analysis for the COSHH proposals that for a typical small firm the additional costs arising would amount to no more than about one quarter of a percentage point of the firm's net output. This estimate included the costs of monitoring of exposure and health surveillance which apply to only a minority of firms. For most larger firms, the costs will be substantially smaller in relation to net output.

  The Health and Safety Executive has promoted and publicised the regulations by a variety of means, including national and trade advertising and the distribution of some 3·5 million introductory leaflets. Many activities have been particularly geared to the need to reach small firms, including the provision of information to the principal small firms advisory organisations.

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