Written Answers of 9 November 1989

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Rudolf Hess
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 7 November to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Jones report on the circumstances of the death of Rudolf Hess.

  The Attorney-General
  No. The document which the hon. Member refers to as the Jones report is a report submitted by the Metropolitan police to the Director of Public Prosecutions setting out the result of a police investigation into an alleged criminal offence. Such reports are confidential.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from Members.

  Mr. Ridley
  The majority of letters from hon. Members should receive a substantive reply within three weeks. Exceptionally, replies to some letters about matters receiving considerable public attention at the time of writing may be delayed until a substantive reply can be sent.

  European Trade Mark
  Mr. Iain Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on current negotiations on the establishment of a common European trade mark and the location of the proposed European trade mark office.

  Mr. Forth
  There has been no progress on either issue in recent months. Earlier this year the European Community devoted its efforts to negotiations with other countries on the international registration of marks. These were successfully concluded at a diplomatic conference in June. Indications are that negotiations on the European Community trade mark system will resume next year.

  Chocolate Eggs (Safety)
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the light of the death of Jennifer Ashton aged three on 6 November, he will consider the safety aspects of Kinder chocolate eggs and their contents; and if he will urge their withdrawal from sale pending any recommendations for their improved safety.

  Mr. Forth
  I was saddened to learn of the death of baby Jennifer Ashton. My Department is seeking full information on all the circumstances and this will of course 712
  include the findings of the coroner's inquest which is to be held on 10 November. When all the facts are available I will give the matter my urgent attention. I hope that the considerable media attention which this tragic accident has attracted will alert parents to the dangers which can be associated with small toys and their parts.

  Common Air Interface
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the common air interface; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The common air interface has been issued by my Department as a standard, with the reference MPT 1375. It has been notified as a United Kingdom national standard to the European Commission under the procedure laid down in directive 83/189/EEC. My Department is currently preparing to issue an accompanying test specification schedule. A number of other European countries are considering adopting this standard.

  CT2
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any proposals to specify technical standards for CT2 following the grant of licences to four consortia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The technical standards for CT2 have for the most part already been specified. Equipment has to satisfy the requirements of the standards BS6833 and MPT 1334. It is intended that by the end of next year the Telepoint operators will be obliged by conditions of their licences to install the common air interface in their base stations. Equipment using this interface will have to satisfy the standard MPT1375. A test specification schedule to this standard is in preparation. At some future time, after consulting the industry and taking advice from the Director General of Telecommunications, consideration will be given to the general adoption of the common air interface for Telepoint equipment. It is not expected that the adoption of this interface will be mandatory for CT2 equipment which is not capable of being used for Telepoint.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy at the next European Council of Industry Ministers on 14 November in Brussels, to introduce initiatives on(a) recycling of materials, including paper, packaging, metals and chemicals, (b) environmental protection for industrial plants, in regard to potential trans-frontier pollution and (c) energy policies in industry to reduce carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbon release to help mitigate the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. Forth
  Environmental issues such as those cited by the hon. Gentleman have important implications for business and it may be expected that these will in due course be considered by the Council of Industry Ministers. However, there are no plans to raise them at the meeting on 14 November.

  The agenda for Council of Ministers meetings is determined by the presidency which is currently held by France.
  713
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has been invited to participate in the seminar on waste incineration and the environment, to be held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in London on 13 December.

  Mr. Forth
  Two members of the pollution abatement division of Warren Spring laboratory will be attending this conference.

ENVIRONMENT

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current level of support provided to local authorities through the rate support grant for the supply of wheelchairs.

  Mr. Chope
  The Disablement Services Authority which is a centrally funded special health authority provides wheelchairs free to all those with a clinical need, generally on the recommendation of a general practitioner, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. There is therefore no need for support to local authorities through rate support grant.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what protection there will be for private sector tenants who at the moment pay contractual rental inclusive of rates upon the introduction of the community charge; and how tenants will be protected where landlords do not wish to settle on the basis of individual contracts.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon) on 9 May at column 386. We are preparing an explanatory booklet for tenants about rent and rates, and reference to this will be included in the prescribed notes attached to community charge bills.

  Mobility Back-up
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make provision for a statutory back-up to mobility across all tenures and providers.

  Mr. Chope
  I have received the report of the mobility working party and will make an announcement soon.

  Aerials
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish his consultative document on aerials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We hope to be able to issue a consultation paper on planning controls over satellite television antennas and other telecommunications development within the next two or three months.

  Environmental Policies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the reasons for his decision not to meet representatives from Greenpeace (United Kingdom) to discuss environmental policies and environmental protection.
  714
  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has made no such decision. He expects to meet representatives of Greenpeace in the next few weeks.

  Radioactive Waste Disposal
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in establishing an agency responsible for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is too early to consider whether an agency will be required to be responsible for the final disposal of heat generating or high level radioactive waste. This waste is being stored at British Nuclear Fuels' site at Sellafield for at least 50 years to enable a reduction in the heat and radioactivity to take place before disposal.

  Sunderland Enterprise Zone
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has as to the number of full-time equivalent jobs that will arise within(a) the Hylton colliery area and (b) the Southwick shipyard area of the Sunderland enterprise zone by the end of each year from 1990 to 1994, inclusive, listing the estimated numbers separately for each of the areas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is estimated that, when fully developed, these and the other parts of the proposed Sunderland enterprise zone may together give rise to some 3,000 to 4,000 jobs. It is not practicable to break this down further, as the timing and location will depend inter alia on the progress of reclamation and development and the decisions of individual firms.

  Rutland Water
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information is available to the National Rivers Authority about(a) the specific extent of the toxicity of the blue-green algae at Rutland Water in early September; and whether that toxic level was a normal seasonal phenomenon and (b) whether any animals died as a result of toxic blue-green algae poisoning at any other reservoirs under the scrutiny of the National Rivers Authority during the period in question;

  (2) whether he will place in the Library and make available to Rutland district council and Leicestershire country council (a) the scientific findings relating to the death of animals at Rutland Water carried out by the National Rivers Authority, (b) the similar investigations and reports by Dundee university on behalf of Anglian Water and (c) information made available to the National Rivers Authority as a result of post-mortems by veterinary surgeons following the death of dogs and sheep.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 6 November 1989]: I understand that the NRA has results of mammalian toxicity tests performed in September which showed the blue-green algae in Rutland Water to be highly toxic. It is not possible to determie whether or not the level of toxicity at Rutland Water was a normal seasonal phenomenon, although blooms of blue-green algae in later summer are a common occurrence in many waters of the United Kingdom. Apart from Rutland Water, the NRA has no knowledge of animal deaths elsewhere which can be attributed to toxic blue-green algae.
  715
  Data from monitoring the algae at Rutland Water have been made available to the appropriate local authority environmental health officers and this, together with the results of the toxicological work commissioned from Dundee university, is also included on the public register maintained by the NRA. Studies and post mortems on animal deaths at Rutland Water connected with the algae have been carried out by the veterinary service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I understand that final results are not yet available.

TRANSPORT

  M20 (Improvements)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if the proposed improvements to the M20 between junctions 5 and 8 will be completed before the opening of the Channel tunnel;

  (2) what is the estimated completion date for the improvement of the M20 between junctions 5 and 8;

  (3) when he expects to let the contracts for improvement of the M20 between junctions 5 and 8.

  Mr. Atkins
  The timing of contract letting will depend on the outcome of the statutory procedures, but subject to that it is our aim to complete the improvement before the Channel tunnel opens.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest available traffic flow figures on each link of the M20 motorway from junction 5 to junction 8.

  Mr. Atkins
  The figures based on 24-hour annual average daily two-way traffic flows in 1987 are as follows:

  Numbers

  Between junctions 5 and 6

  61,000

  Between junctions 6 and 7

  46,000

  Between junctions 7 and 8

  24,000

  Intermodal Transport
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department had any representation at, or presented any papers to, the conference on intermodal transport and the single European market in Paris on 9 and 10 November.

  Mr. Atkins
  No.

  Humber Bridge
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate what would be the impact on local poll tax payers if the whole of the outstanding debt on the Humber bridge was carried by people(a) within the city of Hull boundary and (b) within the county of Humberside boundary.

  Mr. Atkins
  Current discussion with the Humber Bridge Board will lead to the production of estimates of the effect of the recent toll increase on their debts. Although the Humber bridge legislation provides that deficiencies in toll revenue should be met by local taxpayers none of the estimates to be made will assume that the whole debt is met by them. In agreeing to treat the 716
  Humber bridge as a special case for assistance, the Government have accepted that they will have a part to play.

  Traffic Information Broadcasts
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department received about the closing of the north and southbound carriageways of the A1 near Welwyn Garden City on Friday 27 October, due to an accident; when the BBC were informed; and what information he has on the timing of broadcasts by the BBC to warn motorists of the traffic chaos.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department's agent, Hertfordshire county council, was notified of this incident by the police as soon as it was evident that its assistance would be required.

  The BBC learnt of the accident from Hertfordshire police at 14.35 and broadcast the first bulletin on Radios 1 and 2 during the next 10 to 15 minutes. This was updated regularly throughout the afternoon.

  Fare Increases (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he received from London Regional Transport for proposed percentage fare increases in 1990; what increases he agreed to; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend has discussions with LRT covering the whole range of LRT finances, as part of the annual public expenditure survey. Final decisions on fares rest with the LRT board.

  Rat-running
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safeguards are being considered to prevent rat running arising from the introduction of the autoguide system in London.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 gives the Secretary of State power, in licensing driver information systems, to impose conditions about the roads on which systems can direct traffic. The need for such conditions in relation to a commercial Autoguide scheme will be considered in the light of the results of the proposed London pilot scheme. The local authority associations and the police will be closely involved in monitoring such a scheme.

  Drowning Incident
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek the publication of the taped telephone and radio calls between callers to the Barnstaple 999 centre, Her Majesty's Coastguard and the emergency services relating to the accidental drowning of Mark Woodward on 16 August.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Her Majesty's Coastguard tapes relating to this incident were kept and were available at the coroner's inquest. Following the inquest they were cleaned and put back into service. I understand that British Telecom plc has a similar arrangement for the recording of 999 calls. Any request for access to BT tapes should be made directly to BT.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Tapajos Project
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy considerations lie behind British support for the Tapajos project.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have not agreed to provide support to this project from the aid programme, but only to explore the possibility of doing so. I understand that the aim of the project is to promote sustainable forest management and to provide demonstration areas in which to develop such management practices; these are relevant to the needs of Brazil and other countries.

DEFENCE

  Halons and CFCs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent halons and chlorofluorocarbons are used for defence applications in the United Kingdom and by British forces abroad.

  Mr. Neubert
  Halons are widely used in fire-fighting systems. Chlorofluorocarbons are used for air conditioning/refrigeration equipment, aerosol propellants, and cleaning purposes (solvents) and are present in manufactured items such as insulation material.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist for reducing the use of halons and chlorofluorocarbons for defence applications, as a contribution to protecting the ozone layer.

  Mr. Neubert
  The testing and demonstration of fire-fighting systems based on the use of halons has already been curtailed. Plans exist to replace chlorofluorocarbons unfriendly to the ozone layer by alternative, ozone-friendly, substances as they become available. Steps have already been taken to reduce the emissions of CFC's in certain areas.

  Electromagnetic Interference
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest precautions his Department is taking to reduce the potential hazard arising from electromagnetic interference to(a) ground based, (b) airborne and (c) seaborne nuclear weapon systems.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All nuclear weapon systems are designed to minimise their vulnerability to hazards such as electromagnetic interference. Standard safety procedures ensure that nuclear weapons are only handled, maintained or transported under conditions where the possibility of hazards is extremely remote. These procedures are kept constantly under review.

  Microwave Transmission (Soviet Union)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the purpose of the powerful microwave transmission from the Soviet Union beamed at the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have no information on powerful microwave transmissions from the Soviet Union beamed at the United Kingdom.
  718
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any change in the past five years in the microwave transmission intensity radiated to the United Kingdom from the Soviet Union and known as the woodpecker signal.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have no information on microwave transmissions radiated to the United Kingdom from the Soviet Union. "Woodpecker" is a high frequency over-the-horizon radar transmission to which there has been no change over the last five years.

  Dunkirk Evacuation (Anniversary)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are in train to mark the 50th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation; and what facilities are to be provided to enable members of the Dunkirk Veterans Association(a) from the United Kingdom and (b) from Commonwealth countries to participate in any planned commemorations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are considering requests for meservice participation in events in France to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation. We have no plans to provide official facilities to enable members of the Dunkirk Veterans Association from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to participate in any of the planned commemorations.

  RAF Jets (Cameras)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for replacing the 16mm cine cameras on Royal Air Force fast jets and jet-trainer aircraft with video cameras.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As a general rule, it is our intention that all new fast jet aircraft should be fitted with video cameras. Cine cameras on older aircraft are being replaced by video cameras where this is deemed cost effective.

  RAF Jets
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards equipping all crews of Royal Air Force fast jets and jet-trainer aircraft with self-inflating life jackets and dinghies.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We intended to equip all fast jet and jet trainer aircrew with automatically inflating life-saving jackets. These have already been issued to Phantom aircrew, though the automatic inflation capability is not yet operational. The contract to equip the rest of the fast jet force has recently been awarded and it hoped that all the RAF's needs will be met by the end of 1991. All appropriate aircrew are already equipped with dinghies; these are easily inflatable manually and studies do not suggest that provision of a self-inflating variety would improve aircrew survival.

  Electronic Warfare
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action his Department is taking to prepare for defensive and offensive electronic warfare;

  (2) what plans he has to counteract the effects of electronic warfare signals beamed at the United Kingdom.
  719
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to comment on operational matters of this kind.

  War Widows
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of applying the Ministry of Defence occupational pension to all war widows widowed prior to 1973; how many extra widows would then become entitled; and what would be the estimated average increase in pension per widow that they would then receive.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Separate figures relating to those war widows whose husbands died before 31 March 1973 are not available. The attributable forces family pension introduced into the armed forces occupational scheme in 1973 is payable only to those war widows whose husbands gave service on or after 31 March 1973. The cost of paying such a pension to all war widows whose husbands' service ended before that date, at current rates, is estimated to be around £200 million a year. About 52,000 war widows would benefit and the average increase in pension received per widow, on that basis, would he approximately £74 per week.

THE ARTS

  European Literary Prize
  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he is yet in a position to respond to the request from the hon. Member for Paisley, South that the proposed European literary prize should be launched in 1990 in Glasgow as the European City of Culture.

  Mr. Luce
  I am grateful to the hon. Member for having made the suggestion that the new European literary prize should be launched in Glasgow in 1990. I am pleased to say that at their informal meeting on 2 November 1989, EC Ministers responsible for cultural affairs welcomed this proposal on my recommendation.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Centre for Policy Studies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service under what circumstances, and on whose authority, civil servants are permitted to participate in the deliberations of the Centre for Policy Studies; whether they are allowed to advise that body; and whether that body makes any payment for the professional expertise provided by such civil servants.

  Mr. Luce
  Guidance on the circumstances in which civil servants may attend or participate in activities organised by outside bodies such as the Centre for Policy Studies is set out in chapter 6 of the personnel management handbook, which also covers the question of payment. Copies of the handbook are available in the House Libraries.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of current personal sector debt is accounted for by consumer credit; what percentage of the consumer debt is in the form of credit card borrowing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  At the end of 1988 consumer credit formed 14 per cent. of personal sector borrowing. At that time bank credit card lending formed 16 per cent. of consumer credit. More recent but less complete figures indicate that there has been no change since then in the proportion of consumer credit represented by credit card borrowing.

  Building Societies Act
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has regarding the interpretation placed upon section 100 of the Building Societies Act 1986 by the Building Societies Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have nothing to add to the guidance issued by the Building Societies Commission on 20 October, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. This sets out the Building Societies Commission's interpretation of section 100. Nothing in the guidance calls into question the validity of schemes along the lines of that adopted by Abbey National.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend section 100 of the Building Societies Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have no such plans.

  Credit Unions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit unions have been established in each of the past 20 years; what is the approximate size of membership of each of these credit unions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The number of credit unions registered since the coming into operation of the Credit Unions Act 1979, which provided the first statutory framework for credit unions in Great Britain, has been:

  Number

  1979

  2

  1980

  55

  1981

  16

  1982

  8

  1983

  2

  1984

  3

  1985

  2

  1986

  13

  1987

  16

  1988

  45

  11989

  44

  1 To 7 November.

  According to the most recent annual returns received by the registrar of friendly societies from each credit union registered in Great Britain, the average membership of all

  721
  credit unions is 141. However, there is considerable variation in membership levels, as the following table shows:

  Number of members

  Number of credit unions

  Less than 100

  109

  100 to 250

  44

  250 to 500

  23

  500 to 1,000

  8

  More than 1,000

  6

  Workplace Nurseries
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to change the tax treatment of the receipt of workplace nursery provision by employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 3 November 1989 at column 361.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Refuseniks
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Mark and Veronika Proekt and their sons, Alexander and Simon, of Leningrad.

  Mr. Maude
  We have not previously raised this particular case with the Soviet authorities, but we shall be happy to do so if my hon. Friend will provide the necessary details about this case.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Boris Tsirelson, and his parents, Simon and Esther, of Leningrad.

  Mr. Maude
  We take every opportunity to press the Soviet authorities on individual refusenik cases such as that of the Tsirelson family. This case was last raised when my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We shall maintain our pressure until the Tsirelson family is allowed to emigrate.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Emmanuel and Judith Lurie, of Moscow.

  Mr. Maude
  We take every opportunity to press the Soviet authorities on individual refusenik cases such as Emmanuel and Judith Lurie. My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised this case when he met Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We have recently heard the very welcome news that Emmanuel and Judith Lurie have at last received permission to emigrate from the USSR.
  722
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Boris and Anna Klemberg, of Kiev.

  Mr. Maude
  Boris Klemberg recently received permission to emigrate and is now in Israel with his daughter. We shall now include Anna Klemberg among those refusenik cases on which we press the Soviet authorities.

  Israel-South Africa (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the United Kingdom ambassadors to South Africa, Israel and the United Nations on the allegation made by the United States security services that the Israelis and South Africans are jointly developing a nuclear-capable launch vehicle and a compatible atomic warhead.

  Mr. Maude
  We are aware of the recent reports in the press to which the question refers. Any collaboration between Israel and South Africa in nuclear weapon or ballistic missile research would be a matter for serious concern. It is not our policy to comment on the substance of confidential diplomatic correspondence.

  Microwave Transmission
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protection has been provided to embassy staff and buildings in Moscow and elsewhere to counteract the effects of microwave radiation.

  Mr. Maude
  For security reasons, we do not divulge details of measures taken to protect Her Majesty's overseas missions and their staff.

PRIME MINISTER

  Homelessness
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will visit the homeless people sleeping on the South Bank.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Central and Eastern Europe
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received concerning Her Majesty's Government's response to political events in central and eastern Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received many representations on this subject, from hon. Members, the public and interested organisations. The Government greatly welcome current developments in Poland and in Hungary which are moving towards democracy, freedom and market-based economic systems. We are taking many practical steps to aid this process and we are prepared to do more. We hope that other countries in the region will evolve in the same way and that current changes in the GDR will continue.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will visit Stevenage.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  European Council
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the proposals made by the president of the Council on monetary union and other matters on 25 October.

  The Prime Minister
  The issue of economic and monetary union will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the European council in Strasbourg on 8 and 9 December. The President of the Council will no doubt present any proposals he wishes to make at that meeting.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will visit Edmonton.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Port Glasgow
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Port Glasgow in the near future.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  South Hams
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will visit South Hams.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister what representatives she has received from organisations representing the fishing boat building industry regarding the state of the industry; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry received a delegation from the Shipbuilders and Ship Repairers Association on 2 November at which the current problems of the fishing boat building industry were discussed.

  The Commission has imposed a ban on state aid to fund boat building, but there are support measures available for the industry to help it to develop new products and export services to help in identifying and developing new markets.

  Ministers (Financial Affairs)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what safeguards are in place to ensure that Ministers or former Ministers do not allow stockholding companies or financial intermediaries handling their personal affairs to trade in stocks where price-sensitive information has been made available;

  (2) what safeguards are in place to ensure that former Ministers do not give price-sensitive information to stock market traders; whether any breaches have occurred in the period 1982 to 1988; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  For any individual knowingly to deal on the basis of unpublished price-sensitive information obtained (directly or indirectly) from an insider is a criminal offence under the insider dealing legislation. As has been the practice under successive 724
  Governments, Ministers are given advice, on taking up office, on steps which should be taken and action from which they should refrain in respect of any investments they may hold or acquire so as to avoid a conflict of interest. This includes the advice that Ministers should scrupulously avoid speculative investments in securities about which they have, or may be thought to have, early or confidential information likely to affect the price of those securities. I am unaware of any breaches of the legislation by Ministers or former Ministers having occurred in the period 1982–88.

  Aging
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she takes to co-ordinate Government policy on aging and related issues.

  The Prime Minister
  Elderly people, like all other groups in society, are affected by the policies of many different Government Departments. Consequently there are many occasions when policies cannot be made in isolation and Ministers and officials in different Government Departments consult each other as necessary. I am satisfied that these consultations permit issues to be dealt with speedily and effectively.

  Cabinet Secretary
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her practice on the attendance of the Cabinet Secretary at Commonwealth heads of government conferences.

  The Prime Minister
  With my agreement, it is the practice of the present Secretary of the Cabinet not to accompany me to Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, or on other overseas visits, in order to permit him to use these opportunities to visit Civil Service locations outside London in his capacity as head of the home Civil Service.

  Engagements
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 November.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 November.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 November.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 November.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 November.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 November.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

WALES

  Community Charge
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the average cost per family in Newport that will be demanded by the community charge.

  Mr. Grist
  If Welsh local authorities spend in line with standard spending assessments for 1990–91 the average community charge in Wales will be £175. However, until relevant population figures from community charge registers are available it would be misleading and unhelpful to produce illustrative figures for individual authorities for 1990–91. Ultimately it will be for local authorities themselves to set their budgets and fix actual community charge levels in spring 1990.

  Hospital Ward Closures
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) against what criteria he expects health authorities in Wales to have taken decisions on possible ward closures during the Christmas period;

  (2) how many beds will be involved in ward closures during the Christmas period in each health authority in Wales;

  (3) if he will give, for each health authority in Wales, the average number of days per bed that will be involved in ward closures during the Christmas period;

  (4) if he will list the ward closures during the Christmas period planned by each health authority in Wales;

  (5) what arrangements have been made by each health authority in Wales to guarantee the comfort and wellbeing of any patients affected by ward closures during the Christmas period;

  (6) what categories of speciality are involved in possible hospital ward closures during the Christmas period in each health authority area in Wales;

  (7) what guidance he has offered to health authorities in Wales in regard to meeting the personal needs of patients affected by ward closures during the Christmas period.

  Mr. Grist
  Arrangements for the provision of hospital services over the Christmas period are operational matters for the district health authorities concerned.

  Announcements
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria he employs in deciding whether to make an announcement by oral statement in the House, by written answer, by depositing papers in the Library or by press notice; and how these criteria were applied to his announcement of the proposed system of Welsh revenue support grant on 6 November.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on Monday 6 November.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current or most recent salary level for the administrator post in respect of each of the family practitioner committees in Wales.
  726
  Mr. Grist
  The current salary bands which apply to each of the FPC administrator posts in Wales are shown in the table:

  Salary

  FPC

  Minimum £

  Maximum £

  Clwyd

  22,404

  27,258

  Dyfed

  22,404

  26,210

  Gwent

  22,404

  27,258

  Gwynedd

  20,714

  24,233

  Mid Glamorgan

  22,404

  27,258

  Powys

  20,714

  23,301

  South Glamorgan

  22,404

  27,258

  West Glamorgan

  22,404

  27,258

  The maximum salary figures for all the posts except that of Powys FPC reflect an element of salary protection consequent upon assimilation onto the new pay scale for NHS administrative and clerical staff applicable from 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what salary level has been set for the chief executive's post in respect of each family practitioner committee in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The flat rate salaries currently proposed for the FPC general manager posts in Wales are shown in the table:

  FPC

  Salary £

  Clwyd

  29,300

  Dyfed

  28,300

  Gwent

  29,300

  Gwynedd

  28,300

  Mid Glamorgan

  30,400

  Powys

  25,500

  South Glamorgan

  29,300

  West Glamorgan

  29,300

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of advertising the posts of chief executive for each of the family practitioner committees in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The new general manager posts for the family practitioner committees in Wales were advertised by means of a comprehensive advertisement in the national and specialist health service press. The cost of this was £13,257.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of appointing chief executives to the family practitioner committees in Wales, including advertisers, costs of interviews, travel and meetings for everyone involved, and the costs of staff time involved.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not yet available as the appointment exercise is only now being completed and several final accounts have still to be presented.

  A55 Expressway
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to protect the environment of North Wales consequent upon the completion of the A55 Expressway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am confident that planning authorities will in discharging their responsibilities continue to take full account of the need for balance between conservation and new development.
  727
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received a copy of the Institute of Welsh Affairs report entitled "Prospects for North Wales: the New A55 Expressway;" and if he will make a statement on his response to its recommendations.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The chairman of the institute forwarded a copy of the report to me on 11 October. I attach a copy of my response which I am also placing in the Library.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a task force to respond to the effects of the A55 Expressway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I expect to make an announcement before the end of the year in response to the views which my hon. Friend the Minister of State has sought on how the opportunities presented by the A55 improvements can best be used to the advantage of north Wales.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the annual increase in inward migration in Wales consequent upon the completion of the A55 Expressway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The mid-year estimates of population for Gwynedd and Clwyd indicate an increasing net inward migration since 1981 into both counties. I would expect this trend to continue as the A55 improvements bring forward further opportunities for industrial and economic development.

  BP Plant (Balan Bay)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ask Her Majesty's chief inspector of pollution to investigate the potential dangers to the local population in South Wales from the incident on 6 July at the British Petroleum Balan Bay plant.

  Mr. Grist
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has already investigated this incident and are satisfied that there was no danger to the local population on account of atmospheric emissions from the plant.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  NATO Exercises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the extent of involvement by his Department in NATO exercise Wintex/Cimex 1987 and exercise Wintex/Cimex 1989; what is the number of staff engaged in the exercise planning process and in the exercises themselves; and what are the posts, ranks and responsibilities of the staff involved.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department plays its part in testing those procedures in which it has an interest. Staff participate as required; it would not be appropriate for me to supply the detail requested.

  Registered Unemployed
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes in social security on the number of registered unemployed.
  728
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We expect the changes will result in a reduction of some 50,000.

  Local Office, Norcross
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time it takes his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool to reply to letters from(a) claimants and (b) hon. Members; and what steps are being taken to speed up the process.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on the average time taken to reply to letters from claimants is not available, but the quality of service provided by the Department's offices at Norcross is currently being monitored. The average time taken to reply to letters from hon. and right hon. Members is between five and six days.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current level of support for the provision of wheelchairs for disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  This is a matter for the Disablement Services Authority to which my hon. Friend may wish to address his question.

  Hostel Board and Lodging Charges
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements will be made, following the recent changes to hostel board and lodging charges, to cover charges for ineligible services once the present transitional arrangement period ends; and what is the position for the payment of ineligible services payments for new hostels.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Hostel dwellers are expected to meet their normal, day-to-day service charges from income support, in the same way as other income support recipients. As explained in the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 16 March (Official Report, column 546), from April 1991 the money expended by the central unit to maintain hostel income will be transferred to existing funding sources. We would expect hostels to take this into account when setting their charges. The Department of Social Security has transferred a total of over £2 million in a full year to the Department of the Environment, Scottish and Welsh Offices to help certain new hostels.

  Income Support
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the overall cost of(a) increasing the rate of income support for all single people under 25 years to the same rate as those over 25 years and (b) extending entitlement to full income support to all those under 18 years in receipt of bridging allowance, special hardship allowance and those registered as waiting for a YTS place with no other income; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total social security budget.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The overall estimate cost of(a) increasing the rate of income support (and aligned income-related benefits) for all single people under 25 years is £205 million, or 0·4 per cent. of the total social

  729
  security budget, and (b) extending entitlement and giving the full income support personal allowance to all under 18 years in receipt of bridging allowance and "severe hardship" allowance is £12·5 million, or 0·025 per cent. of the total social security budget.

  Information about those registered as waiting for a YTS place is not available.

  Community Charge Rebate
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the numbers of adult residents of(a) each London borough and (b) each district council likely to be entitled to the maximum rebate, during the first year of operation of the community charge in England and Wales; and if he will express these figures as a proportion of the estimated population of each local authority liable to community charge.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is not possible to estimate the number of adult residents in each local authority area who will be entitled to maximum community charge benefit in 1990–91. Current estimates suggest that, in Great Britain as a whole, between one quarter and one third of those liable to pay the full community charge will be entitled to community charge benefit.

  Tax Benefit Model Tables
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretry of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the 1989 edition of the tax benefit model tables.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Copies will be placed in the Library today.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the Agricultural and Food Research Council's research and development budget.

  Mr. Jackson
  Grant-in-aid to the agricultural and food research Council in 1989–90 is expected to be £74·563 million. The figure for 1990–91 will be decided by my right hon. Friend after he has considered the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils later this year. The council will also receive in 1989–90 approximately £45·6 million in commissioned research from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and a further £16 million from other sources.

  Youth Service
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) central Government and (b) local government expenditure on the youth service in (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1984–85, (iii) 1985–86, (iv) 1986–87, (v) 1987–88 and (vi) 1988–89 in 1989 prices.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is given in the table.730

  Expenditure on the Youth Service—England (1988–89 Real Terms)

  Financial Year

  Central Government £ million

  Local Government £ million

  1979–80

  14

  132

  1984–85

  11

  159

  1985–86

  12

  159

  1986–87

  13

  171

  1987–88

  14

  197

  1988–89

  13

  1171

  1Estimated

  Notes

  (1) The figures given for central Government expenditure reflect direct expenditure by the Department to voluntary organisations and specific grant payments to local authorities in support of youth service activities as recorded by local authorities in their annual returns.

  (2) The figures given for local government expenditure reflect outturn as recorded by local authorities in their annual returns. This expenditure will not only have been supported by central Government specific grant payments, but also by unhypothecated rate support grant.

  (3) The cash figures for the earlier years have been repriced to 1988–89 prices using the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator. They include recurrent and capital expenditure on the youth service.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by local education authority(a) 1988–1989 expenditure on the youth service and (b) the related grant-related expenditure allocation for each local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Figures for the expenditure of local authorities in 1988–89 are not yet available. Table 1 shows the actual recurrent expenditure of each local education authority on youth and community services in 1987–88, with the exception of four authorities which failed to make a return. Table 2 shows the grant related expenditure assessment for the youth and related services for each local education authority in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Table 1

  Expenditure by local authorities on the youth service1

  LEA

  £ million

  Barking

  0·6277

  Barnet

  0·9704

  Bexley

  0·7829

  Brent

  3·6245

  Bromley

  0·8248

  Croydon

  0·8399

  Ealing

  n.a.

  Enfield

  0·6866

  Haringey

  n.a.

  Harrow

  0·6207

  Havering

  0·7041

  Hillingdon

  0·7136

  Hounslow

  0·7270

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  0·5724

  Merton

  0·3763

  Newham

  0·9110

  Redbridge

  0·8766

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0·3872

  Sutton

  0·4786

  Waltham Forest

  1·2862

  ILEA

  30·5352

  Birmingham

  4·1965

  Coventry

  0·9061

  Dudley

  0·8359

  Sandwell

  0·6573

  Solihull

  0·3864

  Walsall

  1·9555

  Wolverhampton

  0·8758

  Knowsley

  0·4879

  Liverpool

  2·1011

  731

  LEA

  £ million

  St. Helens

  Nil

  Sefton

  0·6090

  Wirral

  1·0252

  Bolton

  0·9214

  Bury

  0·8718

  Manchester

  2·2352

  Oldham

  0·6295

  Rochdale

  1·3196

  Salford

  0·5164

  Stockport

  0·7861

  Tameside

  1·0388

  Trafford

  0·5685

  Wigan

  0·8193

  Barnsley

  0·5193

  Doncaster

  1·3659

  Rotherham

  0·8892

  Sheffield

  n.a.

  Bradford

  2·8268

  Calderdale

  0·9297

  Kirklees

  1·3253

  Leeds

  2·5921

  Wakefield

  0·6777

  Gateshead

  0·7946

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1·1552

  North Tyneside

  0·5115

  South Tyneside

  1·5489

  Sunderland

  0·7333

  Isles of Scilly

  0·0014

  Avon

  4·0172

  Bedfordshire

  1·0577

  Berkshire

  n.a.

  Buckinghamshire

  2·1876

  Cambridgeshire

  1·6258

  Cheshire

  1·7389

  Cleveland

  2·3472

  Cornwall

  0·5328

  Cumbria

  1·2557

  Derbyshire

  4·5220

  Devon

  2·6109

  Dorset

  1·4586

  Durham

  1·1045

  East Sussex

  0·9809

  Essex

  3·3893

  Gloucestershire

  1·6986

  Hampshire

  2·8567

  Hereford and Worcester

  1·1929

  Hertfordshire

  2·4412

  Humberside

  3·1777

  Isle of Wight

  0·4175

  Kent

  2·2912

  Lancashire

  4·0522

  Leicestershire

  2·6153

  Lincolnshire

  1·0138

  Norfolk

  1·6031

  North Yorkshire

  1·4100

  Northamptonshire

  1·6093

  Northumberland

  0·6983

  Nottinghamshire

  4·6301

  Oxfordshire

  1·1005

  Shropshire

  1·5869

  Somerset

  1·9266

  Staffordshire

  2·4209

  Suffolk

  1·9660

  Surrey

  2·0726

  Warwickshire

  1·4359

  West Sussex

  1·3936

  Wiltshire

  1·4994

  Note:

  (1) The figures are based in LEA Expenditure Returns to the Department of the Environment.
  732

  Table 2

  Grant related expenditure assessment for the Youth Service

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Barking

  0·6466

  0·7247

  Barnet

  1·3569

  1·5983

  Bexley

  0·7781

  0·8854

  Brent

  1·704

  1·9525

  Bromley

  1·0066

  1·1557

  Croydon

  1·4463

  1·6359

  Ealing

  1·7228

  2·0186

  Enfield

  1·1923

  1·3698

  Haringey

  1·3051

  1·4829

  Harrow

  0·8502

  0·9768

  Havering

  0·8152

  0·9217

  Hillingdon

  0·8795

  1·0217

  Hounslow

  0·9910

  1·1627

  Kingston

  0·4396

  0·5051

  Merton

  0·664

  0·7675

  Newham

  1·5136

  1·7016

  Redbridge

  0·9299

  1·0807

  Richmond

  0·5254

  0·6010

  Sutton

  0·5622

  0·6358

  Waltham Forest

  1·1910

  1·3575

  ILEA

  13·5539

  15·7985

  Birmingham

  6·2099

  7·0554

  Coventry

  1·6513

  1·8607

  Dudley

  1·1429

  1·2853

  Sandwell

  1·6993

  1·9088

  Solihull

  0·7872

  0·8916

  Walsall

  1·2700

  1·4426

  Wolverhampton

  1·5820

  1·7882

  Knowsley

  0·9341

  1·0535

  Liverpool

  2·3518

  2·6738

  St. Helens

  0·7321

  0·8300

  Sefton

  1·1197

  1·2468

  Wirall

  1·3205

  1·5001

  Bolton

  1·2094

  1·3808

  Bury

  0·6528

  0·7389

  Manchester

  2·5769

  2·9052

  Oldham

  1·0371

  1·1889

  Rochdale

  0·9877

  1·1241

  Salford

  1·0763

  1·2145

  Stockport

  0·9997

  1·1194

  Tameside

  0·8632

  0·9825

  Trafford

  0·8517

  0·9529

  Wigan

  1·1906

  1·3396

  Barnsley

  0·8553

  0·9632

  Doncaster

  1·169

  1·3386

  Rotherham

  1·0344

  1·1806

  Sheffield

  2·1371

  2·4256

  Bradford

  2·6083

  2·998

  Calderdale

  0·8201

  0·9244

  Kirklees

  1·8524

  2·1149

  Leeds

  2·9679

  3·3513

  Wakefield

  1·1943

  1·3342

  Gateshead

  0·7803

  0·8785

  Newcastle

  1·1234

  1·2864

  North Tyne

  0·6706

  0·7416

  South Tyne

  0·6393

  0·7045

  Sunderland

  1·2265

  1·3969

  Isle of Scilly

  0·0082

  0·0086

  Avon

  3·2428

  3·7704

  Bedfordshire

  2·2661

  2·5803

  Berkshire

  2·9080

  3·3858

  Bucks

  2·3102

  2·6987

  Cambridge

  2·3576

  2·7287

  Cheshire

  3·5269

  4·0092

  Cleveland

  2·5817

  2·9118

  Cornwall

  1·4396

  1·6487

  Cumbria

  1·6178

  1·8312

  Derbyshire

  3·3976

  3·9118

  Devon

  3·1875

  3·6755

  Dorset

  1·9263

  2·2293

  Durham

  2·2334

  2·5561

  East Sussex

  2·0816

  2·4702

  Essex

  5·0704

  5·8156

  Gloucestershire

  1·8349

  2·0656

  Hampshire

  5·5135

  6·3066

  733

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  2·3375

  2·6699

  Hertfordshire

  3·4851

  3·9546

  Humberside

  3·4163

  3·8735

  Isle of Wight

  0·3722

  0·4282

  Kent

  5·4128

  6·1952

  Lancashire

  5·6399

  6·4836

  Leicester

  3·7412

  4·2788

  Lincolnshire

  1·9696

  2·3038

  Norfolk

  2·4064

  2·7636

  North Yorkshire

  2·2754

  2·6432

  Northants

  2·1373

  2·4591

  Northumberland

  0·9865

  1·1280

  Nottinghamshire

  4·0506

  4·6292

  Oxfordshire

  2·1233

  2·4258

  Shropshire

  1·5405

  1·7807

  Somerset

  1·5133

  1·7320

  Staffordshire

  3·6713

  4·1617

  Suffolk

  2·1397

  2·4045

  Surrey

  3·3897

  3·8675

  Warwickshire

  1·8544

  2·0837

  West Sussex

  2·0874

  2·4099

  Wiltshire

  2·0462

  2·3429

  PE Teachers
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, in the latest available figures, the number and percentage of vacancies for physical education teachers.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  LEA returns to the Department's regular collection of vacancy data showed 162 vacancies for teachers of physical education in England in January 1989. This suggests a vacancy rate of 1·2 per cent.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce a working party on physical education under the provisions of the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 7 November at columns 579–80.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals to reverse the decline in the number of researchers employed by(a) the agricultural and food research council, (b) the natural environment research council and (c) other research councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to suggest to the councils how many researchers they should employ. The numbers of researchers employed by the agricultural and food research council, natural environment research council and the three other research councils are matters for the councils themselves to determine within the resources available to them.

  School Governors
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had about the deselection of school governors by the Isle of Wight county council; and what advice he has given London education authorities about deselection of school governors on political grounds.
  734
  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have received a number of representations concerning the removal from office of school governors appointed by local education authorities, including the Isle of Wight. These matters are currently being investigated.

  We have not issued advice to local education authorities generally on this subject. We are considering whether it would be appropriate to do so, following the recent judgment of the House of Lords in the case involving the Haberdashers' Aske's schools.

  Civil Service Dispersal
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to relocate his Department's offices to the north-east of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Not at present. My Department is proposing to relocate a further 50 posts from London to its Darlington office during 1990. In addition, a senior official of the Department is about to undertake a study of the long-term location requirements of the Department in the light of the Government's policy on relocation. The study will consider various possibilities, including the handling of some functions regionally.

  Student Rents (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average student rent in London; and how much the average student in London will receive in housing benefit during term time.

  Mr. Jackson
  Data from a survey of undergraduate income and expenditure conducted by Research Services Limited in 1988–89 indicate that average rent payments for single students living in privately rented accommodation in London totalled £1,531 per student over the 1988–89 academic year. The average amount of housing benefit received by such students in the same period was £324.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the comparable average teachers' pay in 1979 and 1988.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The average salary of teachers in primary and secondary schools in April 1988 was £13,670. The equivalent figure in 1979 (at 1988 prices) was £10,493.

  State Schools (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last visited a state school in Nottingham.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend has not yet visited a state school in Nottingham.

  Church Aided and Voluntary Schools
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce the allocation of funds for capital projects for church aided and voluntary schools for 1990.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend expects to be able to announce the 1990–91 allocation for capital projects for voluntary aided and special agreement schools shortly before Christmas.

  Hampshire (Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will allocate additional resources to Hampshire's county education budget for the capital expenditure programme outlined in its 1989 strategic planning document; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend is currently considering submissions from all local education authorities, including Hampshire, covering their planned capital expenditure programmes for 1990–91. He expects to announce each authority's annual capital guidelines for that year shortly before Christmas.

  Japan (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what lessons were learnt for the research work of British universities from the recent official visit to Japan of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson).

  Mr. Jackson
  My recent visit to Japan, accompanied by the biological secretary to the Royal Society, was extremely valuable. Comparisons between the United Kingdom and Japanese systems for support of university research and for science were fascinating. My view was reinforced that British public funding of university research has sustained high quality and creative work. Our system, with autonomous universities and a Universities Funding Council separate from the Government, delivers a high quality and quantity of research. Equally interesting is the way in which Japanese business is succeeding in the development of "strategic" science and in harnessing scientific insights to the production of commercial products.

  School Visits
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the schools which he has visited in his official capacity since becoming Secretary of State, with dates, the purpose of each visit and whether the school is private or maintained.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I visited three LEA maintained schools in Norfolk to meet local teachers—Costessey high (19 September), Redenhall Dove first (25 September), and St. Augustine's county primary (3 November). I accompanied my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the opening of the Djanogly city technology college in Nottingham on 29 September, and met teachers at Hinchingbrooke school, Huntingdon on 2 October.

  I have also had many other meetings with teachers and shall be visiting further LEA and grant-maintained schools in Manchester, Kent, Norfolk and London shortly.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table for each local education authority with a total for England of the amount of the bid made to him for capital allocation for(a) county and voluntary-controlled schools, (b) voluntary-aided schools and (c) all maintained schools for the financial year 1990–91.
  736
  Mr. MacGregor
  It is not possible to provide the information sought, since not all LEAs have yet submitted their bids.

  Teaching Posts
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all the local education authorities in England showing(a) the established teaching posts and (b) the current vacancies for such posts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The numbers of full-time teachers employed by each local education authority in England, together with the number of vacancies, are given in the table.

  The figures relate to January 1989, the last date for which complete information for all authorities is available.

  Full-Time Permanent Teacher Vacancies and Teachers in Post in maintained Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools—England

  January 1989

  Number of Vacancies

  Teachers in Post

  Gateshead

  31

  1,709

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  50

  2,199

  North Tyneside

  0

  1,817

  South Tyneside

  0

  1,452

  Sunderland

  13

  2,686

  Cleveland

  12

  5,119

  Cumbria

  22

  3,846

  Durham

  15

  4,706

  Northumberland

  11

  2,494

  North

  154

  26,028

  Barnsley

  5

  1,837

  Doncaster

  22

  2,635

  Rotherham

  32

  2,274

  Sheffield

  12

  3,795

  Bradford

  28

  4,578

  Calderdale

  20

  1,689

  Kirklees

  30

  3,429

  Leeds

  61

  6,110

  Wakefield

  70

  2,643

  Humberside

  29

  7,031

  North Yorks

  46

  5,106

  York & Humberside

  355

  41,127

  Knowsley

  10

  1,543

  Liverpool

  20

  4,464

  St Helens

  9

  1,727

  Sefton

  3

  2,254

  Wirral

  19

  2,748

  Bolton

  11

  2,398

  Bury

  14

  1,406

  Manchester

  55

  3,971

  Oldham

  7

  2,076

  Rochdale

  33

  1,995

  Salford

  58

  2,086

  Stockport

  14

  2,239

  Thameside

  38

  1,811

  Trafford

  9

  1,508

  Wigan

  9

  2,869

  Cheshire

  24

  7,562

  Lancashire

  193

  10,679

  North West

  526

  53,336

  Derbyshire

  76

  7,685

  Leicestershire

  44

  7,046

  Lincolnshire

  52

  4,232

  Northamptonshire

  10

  4,668

  Nottinghamshire

  108

  8,168

  East Midlands

  290

  31,799

  Birmingham

  188

  8,615

  Coventry

  24

  2,594

  737

  Number of Vacancies

  Teachers in Post

  Dudley

  48

  2,559

  Sandwell

  25

  2,810

  Solihull

  27

  1,686

  Walsall

  4

  2,637

  Wolverhampton

  24

  2,438

  Hereford & Worcester

  50

  4,886

  Shropshire

  13

  3,214

  Staffordshire

  50

  8,044

  Warwickshire

  31

  3,677

  West Midlands

  484

  43,160

  Cambridgeshire

  39

  4,830

  Norfolk

  31

  5,218

  Suffolk

  36

  4,585

  East Anglia

  106

  14,633

  Barking

  51

  1,264

  Barnet

  85

  2,197

  Bexley

  31

  1,610

  Brent

  32

  2,011

  Bromley

  10

  1,805

  Croydon

  39

  2,290

  Ealing

  116

  2,119

  Enfield

  72

  2,001

  Haringey

  128

  1,509

  Harrow

  16

  1,321

  Havering

  51

  1,885

  Hillingdon

  58

  1,665

  Hounslow

  24

  1,639

  Kingston

  9

  966

  Merton

  47

  1,159

  Newham

  194

  2,365

  Redbridge

  36

  1,558

  Richmond

  1

  872

  Sutton

  21

  1,110

  Waltham Forest

  75

  1,790

  Ilea

  1,028

  15,703

  S E Greater London

  2,124

  48,839

  Bedfordshire

  117

  4,247

  Berkshire

  91

  5,231

  Buckinghamshire

  73

  4,531

  East Sussex

  74

  3,907

  Essex

  123

  10,969

  Hampshire

  134

  10,569

  Hertfordshire

  109

  7,664

  Isle of Wight

  0

  890

  Kent

  224

  10,840

  Oxfordshire

  9

  3,565

  Surrey

  131

  6,001

  West Sussex

  74

  4,476

  Other South East

  1,159

  72,890

  Avon

  21

  6,405

  Cornwall

  47

  3,464

  Devon

  122

  6,429

  Dorset

  11

  4,182

  Gloucestershire

  0

  3,797

  Somerset

  73

  3,095

  Wiltshire

  68

  4,017

  South West

  342

  31,389

  Total England

  5,540

  363,201

  GCSE changes
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the necessary changes to be made to GCSE in order to meet the requirements of the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The future development of the GCSE examination was the subject to a report from the School Examinations and Assessment Council sent to my right 738
  hon. Friend on 13 July. Copies of the report, together with my right hon. Friend's reply, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Long-serving Teachers
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment his Department has made of the availability of special allowances to long-serving teachers in small special needs schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions has been asked to advise on what further increase should be made in the number of incentive allowances, and in their value relative to the main professional grade. All teachers in special schools, other than heads and deputies, receive at least a B incentive allowance. The Department's present plans assume that the proportion of special schools teachers receiving higher value allowances will progressively increase until 1990.

  Supply Teachers
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to encourage an increase in the number of supply teachers.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Our education support grant programme to assist teacher recruitment urges local education authorities to encourage flexible working practices, including part-time working. This should stimulate the employment of supply teachers. However, the employment and deployment of teachers is a matter for local education authorities and schools. It is for them to decide how many supply teachers to appoint. They also have discretion to pay teacher on short-notice contracts at rates they consider appropriate in order to recruit and retain the teachers they need.

SCOTLAND

  Fish Farms
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect of(a) deliberate release of fish from fish farms and (b) accidental escape of fish from fish farms on the habits and genetic coding of North Atlantic salmon.

  Mr. Lang
  A study of "genetic protein variation in farmed Atlantic salmon in Scotland: comparison of farmed strains with their wild source of populations" was published in August in "Scottish Fisheries Research Report No. 42". Further studies on both wild and farmed populations of salmon have been completed or are in progress.

  At this stage it is too early to predict what scientific conclusions might emerge. The recently published work does show that there are genetic differences between farmed strains of salmon and the wild populations from which they are drawn. The genetic consequences of interaction between farmed fish and a wild stock are unknown but are thought likely to be complex. So far there is no direct evidence of adverse effects of actual damage to any wild stocks in Scotland.

  A Report "The Genetic Impact of Farmed Atlantic Salmon on Wild Populations" was published by the

  739
  Nature Conservancy Council in August. This made a number of recommendations about further research and about mangement of wild and farmed stocks of salmon. We support the view that further studies are required and that great care is needed to ensure that deliberate restocking of rivers is carried out in the right way and that releases of farmed fish are prevented or reduced as far as possible.

  Land Acidity
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence his Department has about deterioration in terms of acidity of Scottish agricultural land over the past 10 years; and whether he will re-introduce a lime subsidy for Scottish agriculture.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The farming industry is well aware that regular liming is an essential and cost-effective element of land husbandry and I understand that lime usage is currently at about the same level as it was when a general lime subsidy was available. We have no plans to reintroduce a lime subsidy, but grant assistance is available for the application of lime for certain grassland improvement operations under the farm and conservation grant scheme (EC).

  Oilseed Rape
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of oilseed rape were harvested in 1989; what tonnage was produced; what was the value of the crop; and what subsidy was paid from public funds for its production or processing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Latest estimates show that in 1989 some 36,000 hectares of oilseed rape were harvested in Scotland producing some 122,600 tonnes. The value of the 1989 crop in the United Kingdom as a whole is still being assessed. An estimate of the value will be included in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" due to be published early in 1990. Production aid for oilseed rape under the EC oilseeds scheme is being paid on the 1989 crop; final estimates of the total amount will not be known until at least the end of the 1989–90 marketing year.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the presence of pollen and other airborne material derived from flowering crops of oilseed rape giving the concentration in the atmosphere above the crop and the maximum extent of detectable contamination; and if he will give comparable information for other agricultural crops.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no information on concentrations of airborne material from oilseed rape in the atmosphere above the crop nor comparable information on other crops. I am aware that some experiments have been carried out by individuals to detect the presence of oilseed rape pollen in the atmosphere in the vicinity of crops.

  Legal Profession
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce a separate Scottish Bill dealing with proposed reforms to the legal profession; and if he will make a statement.
  740
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend is currently considering what legislative provision may be necessary to implement the conclusions to his review of the legal profession which were set out in "The Scottish Legal Profession—The Way Forward" which he issued on 10 October.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress in site evaluation in terms of geology, transportation routes and effects on local economies, of prospective sites for the disposal of(a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level radioactive wastes in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In relation to low and intermediate-level wastes it is for the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive (Nirex) to evaluate these factors in relation to sites in the United Kingdom which it wishes to investigate. As regards possible geological investigations at Dounreay, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 6 November, at column 495. If Nirex were subsequently to propose the construction of a repository it would be required to present a full safety case and environmental impact assessment, and a public inquiry would he held.

  It is Government policy to store high-level radioactive wastes at the sites where they arise for at least 50 years. No current site evaluation is taking place for the disposal of this category of waste.

  Health Service (Contracts)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to Lothian health board about awarding Health Service catering contracts to outside contractors.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None in relation to any specific contract.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards sending in auditors to examine the workings of health boards which have awarded in-house contracts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As with any area of health board expenditure, the procedures governing the award of contracts may be the subject of examination at any time by the statutory auditor.

  Housing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report, by district council area, the average time taken by each district council in processing applications by sitting tenants for purchasing their council houses; and if he will also list for each district council their total housing stock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  741

  Average processing time for houses sold in the quarter ended 30 June 1989 and Local Authority stock at 31 March 1989

  Average processing time (months)

  Stock at 31 March 1989

  Local authorities

  9·6

  797,315

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  6·0

  2,379

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  7·4

  3,956

  Roxburgh

  6·0

  5,179

  Tweeddale1

  9·8

  1,479

  Central

  Clackmannan

  7·0

  8,442

  Falkirk

  7·6

  28,787

  Stirling1

  9·2

  11,825

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  8·9

  4,718

  Nithsdale

  6·8

  7,074

  Stewartry

  5·1

  2,263

  Wigtown

  7·9

  4,216

  Fife

  Dunfermline2

  7·8

  18,793

  Kirkcaldy

  9·3

  22,767

  North East Fife

  9·3

  6,522

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  10·8

  37,088

  Banff and Buchan2

  9·3

  11,370

  Gordon

  8·5

  5,432

  Kincardine and Deeside

  7·1

  3,547

  Moray

  6·1

  9,881

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  5·3

  1,028

  Caithness

  5·2

  3,746

  Inverness

  9·0

  6,357

  Lochaber

  7·7

  2,844

  Nairn

  5·0

  1,051

  Ross and Cromarty

  5·0

  6,034

  Skye and Lochalsh

  7·0

  775

  Sutherland

  11·0

  1,725

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  8·3

  13,649

  Edinburgh

  11·8

  45,931

  Midlothian

  9·9

  10,516

  West Lothian

  10·9

  19,636

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  12·1

  7,840

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  11·5

  1,714

  Clydebank

  11·0

  10,787

  Clydesdale

  10·3

  8,890

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  10·1

  3,907

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  8·9

  9,263

  Cunninghame2

  9·2

  20,876

  Dumbarton

  11·3

  11,621

  East Kilbride

  6·7

  1,268

  Eastwood

  8·4

  1,728

  Glasgow

  12·7

  161,019

  Hamilton

  7·0

  21,041

  Inverclyde2

  9·6

  17,832

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  9·0

  15,687

  Kyle and Carrick1

  9·0

  16,011

  Monklands2

  10·4

  26,741

  Motherwell2

  9·0

  36,511

  Renfrew

  9·7

  35,000

  Strathkelvin

  6·1

  9,224

  Tayside

  Angus

  6·7

  12,490

  Dundee

  13·3

  36,845

  Perth and Kinross

  9·2

  14,073

  Orkney Islands1

  5·6

  1,406

  742

  Average processing time (months)

  Stock at 31 March 1989

  Shetland Islands

  10·8

  2,601

  Western Isles1

  7·6

  2,411

  1Latest stock figure available 30 September 1988.

  2 Average processing time for quarter 1 1989.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which local authorities will benefit from the Bellwin scheme invoked after the severe storms in February of the current year; and by how much.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The claims have now been assessed and I can announce that a quarter of a million pounds in grant will be made available for those authorities which, in terms of the scheme of special financial assistance which I announced on 27 April, suffered an undue financial burden in responding to the storms and floods of February.

  The details of the grant are:

  £

  Highland Regional Council

  207,975

  Inverness District Council

  29,250

  Western Isles Islands Council

  14,058

  251,283

  Subject to parliamentary approval of a supplementary estimate which will be presented shortly payments will be issued to those authorities as soon as possible.

  Roads
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number and location of proposed improvements to the A96 which require SDD funding.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1989]: The following programme of improvements on the A96, to be funded by the Scottish Development Department, has been developed in line with the strategic six-point plan for the route which I announced last December:—

  1. Major Schemes (over £1 million)

  There are 7 major schemes programmed.

  Bucksburn Diversion

  Blackburn Bypass

  Kintore Bypass

  Inveramsey-Waterside

  Keith Bypass

  Lhanbryde Bypass

  Nairn Railway Bridge

  In addition, the Scottish Development Department is considering the justification and possible options for bypassing Fochabers. If a satisfactory scheme can be worked out it will be added to the trunk road programme.

  2. Minor Schemes (less than £1 million)

  Three improvement schemes are planned to start this financial year. These are the Dramlachs climbing lane at Fochabers, the Tearie junction at Brodie and the Drumine to Gollanfield scheme. In addition, a report has been commissioned from Grampian regional council which is expected to identify at least another 5 minor schemes for early implementation which will provide overtaking opportunities along the route. In parallel with this, a specialist consultant

  743
  has been appointed to develop a computer based simulation model for the whole of the A96 to assist in the identification of the optimum locations for further overtaking opportunity schemes.

  Accident Remedial Schemes

  Good progress has already been made on accident remedial schemes on the A96, and Grampian and Highland regional councils will in the near future be recommending a further programme of schemes for the next financial year. These schemes will be implemented quickly in line with departmental policy.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number and location of SDD funded improvements which are currently being undertaken on the A96.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1989]: One major scheme, the Inverurie bypass, is currently under construction. In addition, seven accident remedial schemes involving measures such as signing and surface dressing are under way or recently completed at a number of locations along the route. This work has also included a thorough overhaul of all road markings on the route with highly reflective, long-lasting materials to the most recent specification.

EMPLOYMENT

  Agricultural Equipment (Safety)
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives to improve safety of agricultural equipment are currently being funded by his Department.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission are currently funding seven research projects in the area of safety of agricultural equipment:—

  (1) Seat belts in agricultural tractors;

  (2) Interlocking devices for component guards on agricultural machinery;

  (3) Tractor driven equipment—noise test procedures;

  (4) Practical application of noise reduction methods in agriculture;

  (5) Power take-off shafts—alternative power supply systems;

  (6) Integrity of safety cabs fitted to tractors;

  (7) Dynamic and static test methods for tractor mechanical coupling components.

  Factory Inspectors
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many extra factory inspectors will be employed in January 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A recent recruitment campaign has resulted in 27 extra inspectors being appointed since August. The increase will be partly offset by January by retirements and resignations. A further campaign is now under way to ensure that the figure planned in the Health and Safety Commission's plan for 1 April next is met; the inspectorate will continue to grow thereafter.

  Health and Safety at Work
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take on the issue of the level of fines for health and safety at work offences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Following representations from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission and the 744
  director general of the Health and Safety Executive about the low level of fines for health and safety offences, my right hon. Friend is considering them in conjunction with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  Noise at Work
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he has made to monitor the effectiveness of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Inspectors appointed under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 will enforce the regulations as they do other regulations made under the Act. In addition inspectors will be carrying out a special programme of visits during 1991 and 1992 to obtain information on the extent to which employers and employees together with the makers and suppliers of machinery understand and meet their obligations under the regulations.

  Council for Social Aid, Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide(a) details of the destinations of all the employment training trainees who were on the Council for Social Aid scheme in Greater Manchester at the time of the scheme's closure in May of the current year and (b) give the numbers of those who were unable, or refused to join another scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table lists the latest known destinations of the trainees who were on the Council for Social Aid's scheme at the time of the closure.

  Number

  Transferred to other Training Managers

  818

  Known to have found permanent employment through Employment Training

  23

  Not known

  170

  All trainees were offered a place with another training manager.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide details of the additional cost incurred by the Training Agency to date as a result of the closure of the Council for Social Aid's employment training scheme in Greater Manchester.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Additional costs of £12,270 have been incurred in payment of start fees to the training managers who took over the training of Council for Social Aid's former trainees.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the present employment of the staff formerly employed on the Council for Social Aid scheme in Greater Manchester.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no information on the present employed/unemployed status of the former employees of the Council for Social Aid.

  Employment Training, Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the most recent details of the ethnic origin, sex and disability of employment training trainees for each scheme in the Greater Manchester area.
  745
  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary stationed at Kells Royal Ulster Constabulary station during the period 1 June 1988 to 1 March 1989 were transferred to other duties in other parts of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable has informed me that three members of the RUC serving at Kells RUC station were transferred during the period in question.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who were stationed at Kells Royal Ulster Constabulary station from 1 January 1988 and 1 March 1989 resigned from the police service during that period or subsequent to it.

  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable has informed me that two members of the RUC serving at Kells RUC station have resigned from the force since 1 January 1988.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary authorised and carried out a search for arms and ammunition at Kells Royal Ulster Constabulary station during the period 1 January 1988 to 1 March 1989.

  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable has informed me that a search of the RUC station at Kells was carried out on 12 October 1988. No unauthorised firearms or ammunition were discovered.

  Nurses
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by health district(a) the current nursing staff establishment, (b) the number in post at the latest available date and (c) the number who had left the National Health Service in the preceeding year.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: The information requested in respect of the current nursing staff establishment and the number in post at the latest available date is as follows:—

  Nursing staff1—current funded establishment at March 1989

  Number

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board

  9,330·20

  Northern Health and Social Services Board

  2,680·79

  Southern Health and Social Services Board

  2,443·92

  Western Health and Social Services Board

  2,799·44

  Northern Ireland Total

  17,254·35

  1 'Nursing staff' includes staff employed in the personal social services.

  746

  Nursing staff1 in post at March 1989

  Number

  Whole time equivalent

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board

  11,013

  9,368·71

  Northern Health and Social Services Board

  3,179

  2,786·49

  Southern Health and Social Services Board

  3,246

  2,781·18

  Western Health and Social Services Board

  3,053

  2,856·21

  Northern Ireland Total

  20,491

  17,792·59

  1 'Nursing staff' includes staff employed in the personal social services.

  The number of nursing staff who have left the Health Service is not known.

  EC Border Area Programme
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount received by each Northern Ireland Government Department, from the European Community's border areas programme, in each of the years since 1980.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 6 November 1989]: The total amounts received by Northern Ireland Government Departments and Government-sponsored agencies from the Europen Community's border areas programme since 1980 are as follows:

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  Department of the Environment

  600,000

  —

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  450,053

  75,569

  Further payments will fall due to these bodies as the programme progresses. Resources available from the start of the programme in 1980 were used in the early years to finance district council schemes.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list all those projects and initiatives in Northern Ireland which have received financial aid from the European Community's border areas programme.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 6 November 1989]: A total of 99 tourism and communications projects have been approved for financial support from the European regional development fund under the border areas programme. A number of initiatives benefiting small and medium-sized companies have also received financial aid from the programme.

  I will write to the hon. Gentleman enclosing a full list of projects and initiatives assisted under the programme.

  Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the entire stock of advance and refurbished factories for new investment, held by the Industrial Development Board, giving details by district council areas.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 6 November 1989]: The information is as follows:
  747

  District council

  Advance and refurbished factories now available

  Vacant factories not refurbished

  Factories awaiting surrender

  Under construction

  Antrim

  1

  1

  1

  4

  Ards

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Armagh

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Ballymena

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Ballymoney

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Belfast

  —

  4

  —

  1

  Carrickfergus

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Coleraine

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Craigavon

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Derry

  1

  3

  —

  1

  Down

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Dungannon

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Larne

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Newry and Mourne

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Omagh

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Strabane

  —

  6

  2

  —

  Police
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to ensure further effective development of the policy of ensuring that there should be a police presence in operations which involve direct contact between the armed forces and the community; and whether additional police are being recruited for this purpose.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 6 November 1989]: As agreed between the British and Irish Governments at the last Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting on 18 October 1989 a working group has been established on the subject. The results of this work will be considered when they are available.

  Industrial Development
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all those parcels of land held by the Department of Economic Development, LEDU or the Industrial Development Board and zoned for industrial development by the planning authorities, giving details by district council area.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 8 November 1989]: The IDB's land holdings for future industrial development are as follows. Neither the DOE nor LEDU owns land for industrial development purposes.

  Industrial zoned land available for letting

  District Council

  (Acres)

  Antrim

  84

  Ards

  22

  Armagh

  9

  Balleymena

  79

  Ballymoney

  nil

  Banbridge

  3

  Belfast

  50·3

  Carrickfergus

  23

  Castlereagh

  2

  Coleraine

  75·3

  Cookstown

  10

  Craigavon

  206·5

  Derry

  218

  Down

  43·8

  Dungannon

  22·1

  Fermanagh

  24·4

  Larne

  29·8

  Limavady

  17

  Lisburn

  183·5

  748

  District Council

  (Acres)

  Magherafelt

  5·5

  Moyle

  1·1

  Newry and Mourne

  56·6

  Newtownabbey

  262·5

  North Down

  68

  Omagh

  14·5

  Strabane

  9

  Funding (North Down and Ards)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the level of funding for the home help service in the North Down and Ards unit of management of the Eastern health and social services boards in each of the past three years; how many persons received the assistance of home helps in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the future development of the home help service within the North Down and Ards unit of management.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Expenditure £

  Recipients

  1986–87

  962,744

  1,354

  1987–88

  1,187,434

  1,378

  1988–89

  1,255,714

  1,320

  Responsibility for the management and delivery of the home help service in the North Down and Ards unit of management is primarily a matter for the Eastern health and social services board. The initial allocation of funds to health and social services boards in Northern Ireland in 1989–90 amounted to £696 million. This provides for an 8–4 per cent. increase over 1988–89 and affords boards the scope to increase expenditure on the provision of particular services, including the home help service, in the light of their view of priorities.

HEALTH

  District Medical Officers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current notional national complement of district medical officers; how many are currently in post; and what steps he is taking to increase levels of recruitment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We accepted the recommendations of the report "Public Health in England" (published December 1988) that each health authority should designate a director of public health (formerly district medical officers). Regional health authorities are to submit manpower plans to meet the report's recommendations by December 1989.

  As at 30 September 1988 there were 136 district medical officers in post and 18 vacancies.

  We have funded 40 additional training posts to aid future recruitment to the specialty.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now support an out of court compensation scheme to alleviate the physical and financial distress of families of haemophiliacs who have contracted AIDS through National Health Service treatment.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have already provided an ex gratia payment of £10 million to set up the Macfarlane Trust to meet the special needs of haemophiliacs infected with HIV and their dependants. Claims for compensation are now being pursued through the courts and I am advised these matters are sub judice.

  Hospices
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to introduce financial support for hospices similar to the pound-for-pound scheme introduced by the Scottish Office.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Arrangements for financial support for hospices in England have been under careful consideration for some time. It is hoped to bring forward plans in due course.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be giving the budget figures for hospitals wishing to opt out.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  NHS trusts will remain an integral part of the NHS. In common with other NHS units, they will derive the majority of their revenue income from contracts with health authorities and GP practice budget holders to provide services for NHS patients. In addition they will be able to borrow money both from the Government and private sector, subject to an external financing limit which will be set for each trust and reviewed annually. Each trust will be expected to frame its budget so as to remain within its external financing limit.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total sum spent in securing the implementation of the health services Bill to date; and what is his estimate of the sum which will be spent for this purpose before this measure is enacted.
  750
  Mr. Freeman
  The Government announced on 11 May 1989 that £82 million has been allocated in 1989–90 for implementing the proposals contained in the White Paper "Working for Patients". By no means all of the proposals will require legislation, but for those that do we shall seek a Bill at the earliest opportunity. Future levels of support will be announced shortly.

  Salmonella
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were(a) the number of outbreaks of food poisoning, connected with salmonella for each month of the current year to date, (b) the corresponding figures for 1988 and (c) the source of the information.

  Mr. Freeman
  There were 712 outbreaks of salmonellosis in humans reported in England and Wales in the period January to September 1989. The corresponding figure for 1988 was 332. Figures are not routinely collated on a monthly basis. The dates are based on formal reports to the communicable disease surveillance centre by public health laboratory service and other laboratories and by local authorities, and were published on 30 October in the "Update on salmonella infection" produced jointly by the public health laboratory service and the state veterinary service.

  Artificial Insemination
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those women who received artificial insemination by donor in the latest year for which figures are available were(a) married, (b) unmarried, (c) fertile and (d) infertile.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that artificial insemination by donor is available only as a treatment for married, infertile women; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The White Paper "Human Fertilisation and Embryology: A Framework for Legislation" explains that it is Government policy to introduce legislation in this Parliament to license the provision of specified infertility services including those provided through artificial insemination by donor (AID). The statutory licensing authority's licensing structure and code of practice will cover arrangements for counselling, assessment and screening; these will need to take into account the position of the donor, the recipient, the individual clinician and the interests of the child or children who may result from AID.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the numbers of women who have received artificial insemination by donor in each year for which figures are available from each of the clinics which currently provide such a service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Polkinghorne Report
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the letter with which he circulated copies of the Polkinghorne report to health authorities made it clear that the contents of the report and its recommended code of practice had no statutory authority;

  (2) why he decided to circulate to health authorities copies of the Polkinghorne report before the House had fully debated its conclusions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) on 23 October 1989 at column 315. Health circular (89) 23, issued in July 1989, informed health authorities of the Government's acceptance of the Polkinghorne committee's main recommendations and asked authorities to ensure that the new Polkinghorne code of practice on the use of foetuses and foetal material in research and treatment is adhered to.

  Medical Research
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to require medical research in non-National Health Service establishments to be supervised by medical ethical committees.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no plans to introduce legislation. The general principles governing research in human subjects are contained in the declaration of Helsinki. The General Medical Council, whose powers derive from the medical Acts, is responsible for enforcing professional standards.

  Tobacco (Marketing)
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to sign the voluntary agreement between Her Majesty's Government and United States Tobacco International on the marketing of oral tobacco in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been seeking to conclude a revised voluntary agreement with United States Tobacco International, without prejudice to my decision on whether to ban oral snuff, for some considerable time. On 6 October I wrote to Jack Africk the President of United States Tobacco, enclosing a copy of a new agreement which I had signed, for his signature. So far I have received no reply.

  Leeds General Infirmary
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will call for a report from the chairman of Leeds Western health authority on the proposal for Leeds general infirmary to opt out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. The decision on whether or not to prepare a formal application for NHS trust status is a matter for the sponsors of the expression of interest in the unit concerned. There is no question of any hospital "opting-out" of the NHS.

  Measles Vaccination
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department is taking any measures to examine what limitations of the vaccine used against measles there may be; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department continues to monitor adverse events and reactions to all vaccines using the yellow card reporting system. The incidence of measles is also monitored and it is a notifiable disease.

  The Medical Research Council continues its long-term (25-year) study of 10,000 recipients of measles vaccine.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there are any proposals to modify immunisation strategies for the measles virus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no current plans to modify the present measles immunisation strategy. This strategy aims to continue to improve the uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to achieve the elimination of measles as an indigenous disease by the year 2000, in accordance with the World Health Organisation's objective for its European region.

  Uptake of measles-only vaccine in England in 1987–88 reached 76 per cent. and the incidence of measles in the first three quarters of 1989 is lower than that in any comparable previous period.

  Ambulance Service (Pay)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average pay increase for ambulance men in each year since 1978–79.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Increases were as follows:

  Per cent.

  1979–80

  123·0

  113·0

  1980–81

  7·3

  1981–82

  6·0

  1982–83

  4·5

  1983–84

  4·5

  1984–85

  210·0

  1985–86

  6·0

  1986–87

  5·0

  1987–88

  35·4

  1988–89

  46·5

  1 Staged Clegg award paid 1 August 1979 and 1 April 1980.

  2 Introduction of new salaried structure—average increases more than 10 per cent.

  3 In addition the standard working week was reduced by one hour.

  4 Current offer from 1 April 1989—additional 2·8 per cent, for qualified staff in the London ambulance service.

  Cervical Cytology
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the median, (b) the longest and (c) the shortest time in each district health authority between a woman having a cervical smear for screening and when she is notified of the results.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by(a) regional health authority and (b) area health authority, the number of cervical cytology screening call-recall systems in operation; and what is the average waiting time for processing of cervical smears in each category.
  753
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 June 1989]: All 190 district health authorities in England introduced computerised call and recall system for cervical cancer screening by April 1988. Information on laboratory processing times is not available in the form requested. In September over 75 per cent. of districts were achieving the Department's target for laboratories of returning results of smear tests to the doctor who took them within one month. We do not collect figures on processing times in these districts. The average processing time of districts failing to meet the one month target is 6·5 weeks.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Illegal Weapons
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for the illegal carrying of knives since this section of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 was implemented.

  Mr. John Patten
  Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which relates to the possession of knives in public places came into force on 29 September 1988. In 1988 in England and Wales, 150 persons were prosecuted for the offence of which 130 were found guilty.

  Drugs
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the recent allocation of Government funds for an anti-crack campaign; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received a number of representations about the drug prevention initiative which was announced on 11 October. These representations will be taken into account in developing our plans for a central drug prevention unit and the initial nine local drug prevention teams to be located in areas where the misuse of drugs, particularly of cocaine and crack, presents a serious problem.

  Joy Riding
  Mr. David Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of fatalities involved with joy riding and on the measures he recommends local police forces to take when giving chase to those who steal cars.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The police service faces a genuine dilemma between the apprehension of offenders and the safety of the public. On many occasions when a driver fails to stop, the police do not know whether they are dealing with a joy rider or a more serious crime. The police manual "Roadcraft", which is used as the basis for police driver training, states that no emergency is so urgent as to justify an accident. This is emphasised in the more detailed guidance which chief officers give members of their forces.

  Broadcasting (Deaf People)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provisions he proposes to include in the proposed Broadcasting Bill to ensure that the Broadcasting Standards Council or the Independent 754
  Television Commission have adequate powers to enforce representation of deaf people and to monitor and enforce standards for hard of hearing and deaf people;

  (2) what provisions he will include in his proposed Broadcasting Bill to ensure access to television viewing for deaf viewers through subtitling or sign language and for the monitoring of sound quality.

  Mr. Mellor
  The arrangements we propose in relation to subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing were set out in a reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir C. Morrison) on 26 July. The Independent Television Commission (ITC) will be empowered to require Channel 3 and 5 licensees and Channel 4 to provide services of a high technical standard, including high sound quality.

  The ITC will act as a licensing and regulatory body. Its members will be chosen on the basis of their experience and knowledge but will not represent specific interest groups. The Broadcasting Standards Council was set up to deal with matters of taste and decency on television and radio. Since these issues affect all viewers and listeners, it would not be appropriate to appoint a member solely concerned with the needs of people who are deaf.

  Magistrates Clerks
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the magistrates courts in England and Wales showing(a) the established posts for clerks and (b) the number of vacancies for the posts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Manpower returns received from 88 of the 105 magistrates courts committees in England and Wales indicated that there were 149 vacancies for court clerks out of an establishment of 1,249 at 30 June 1989 the latest date for which information is available, as shown in the table.

  Full-time staff only

  Magistrates courts committee

  Authorised complement

  Staff in post

  +/-

  Avon

  22

  19

  -3

  Barking

  6

  3

  -3

  Barnet

  7

  6

  -1

  Barnsley

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bedfordshire

  21

  17

  -4

  Berkshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bexley

  6

  5

  -1

  Birmingham

  36

  36

  0

  Bolton

  8

  8

  0

  Bradford

  16

  16

  0

  Brent

  9

  7

  -2

  Bromley

  7

  7

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  10

  10

  0

  Bury

  6

  6

  0

  Calderdale

  8

  8

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  7

  5

  -2

  Cheshire

  27

  25

  -2

  Cleveland

  19

  19

  0

  Cornwall

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Coventry

  11

  10

  -1

  Croydon

  11

  11

  0

  Cumbria

  9

  8

  -1

  Derbyshire

  24

  16

  -8

  Devon

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Doncaster

  11

  8

  -3

  Dorset

  16

  16

  0

  Dudley

  9

  9

  0

  Durham

  10

  9

  -1

  755

  Full-time staff only

  Magistrates courts committee

  Authorised complement

  Staff in post

  +/-

  Ealing

  11

  10

  -1

  East Sussex

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Enfield

  5

  5

  0

  Essex

  27

  24

  -3

  Gateshead

  6

  6

  0

  Gloucestershire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Hampshire

  41

  40

  -1

  Haringey

  9

  7

  -2

  Harrow

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Havering

  6

  6

  0

  Hereford and Worcester

  19

  17

  -2

  Hertfordshire

  22

  17

  -5

  Hillingdon

  8

  8

  0

  Hounslow

  14

  12

  -2

  Humberside

  23

  22

  -1

  Isle of Wight

  3

  2

  -1

  Kent

  46

  32

  -14

  Kingston

  3

  3

  0

  Kirklees

  12

  11

  -1

  Knowsley

  6

  5

  -1

  Lancashire

  43

  39

  -4

  Leeds

  31

  31

  0

  Leicestershire

  15

  11

  -4

  Lincolnshire

  10

  9

  -1

  Liverpool

  22

  17

  -5

  London (City of)

  5

  5

  0

  London (inner)1

  36

  29

  -7

  Manchester

  26

  23

  -3

  Merton

  8

  7

  -1

  Newcastle

  11

  11

  0

  Newham

  10

  10

  0

  Norfolk

  19

  14

  -5

  North Tyneside

  3

  1

  -2

  North Yorkshire

  16

  15

  -1

  Northamptonshire

  17

  16

  -1

  Northumberland

  n/a

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  39

  31

  -8

  Oldham

  9

  8

  -1

  Oxfordshire

  n/a

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  n/a

  —

  —

  Richmond

  6

  6

  0

  Rochdale

  10

  9

  -1

  Rotherham

  7

  7

  0

  Salford

  10

  10

  0

  Sandwell

  n/a

  —

  —

  Sefton

  n/a

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  16

  16

  0

  Shropshire

  5

  5

  0

  Solihull

  6

  5

  -1

  Somerset

  11

  8

  -3

  South Tyneside

  6

  5

  -1

  St. Helens

  n/a

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  25

  21

  -4

  Stockport

  14

  12

  -2

  Suffolk

  n/a

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  9

  8

  -1

  Surrey

  27

  25

  -2

  Sutton

  n/a

  —

  —

  Tameside

  8

  9

  1

  Trafford

  7

  6

  -1

  Wakefield

  13

  12

  -1

  Walsall

  9

  9

  0

  Waltham Forest

  7

  6

  -1

  Warwickshire

  23

  11

  -12

  West Sussex

  28

  27

  -1

  Wigan

  11

  10

  -1

  Wiltshire

  11

  10

  -1

  Wirral

  n/a

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  7

  4

  -3

  Clwyd

  11

  9

  -2

  Dyfed

  11

  8

  -3

  Gwent

  10

  10

  0

  Gwynedd

  n/a

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  17

  17

  0

  Powys

  1

  1

  0

  South Glamorgan

  14

  14

  0

  756

  Full-time staff only

  Magistrates courts committee

  Authorised complement

  Staff in post

  +/-

  West Glamorgan

  12

  12

  0

  Total

  1,249

  1,100

  -149

  1 Comparable grade

  The staff in post figure includes trainees occupying court clerk posts, but information on their number is not readily available.

  The problems of recruitment and retention of court clerks, especially those qualified as solicitors or barristers, were addressed in the pay settlement for magistrates courts staff which I have recently approved for grant purposes.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by open prison(a) the percentage of inmates convicted of sexual offences and serving life sentences and (b) the number of inmates who have absconded during the last 12 months; and if he will show, in his answer, which of these figures concern female inmates.

  Mr. Mellor
  According to the information held centrally, which is approximate, there were seven males on 30 June 1989 serving life sentences for sexual offences in open prisons in England and Wales. All were held at Leyhill accounting for 2 per cent. of its population. Information on absconds from open prisons is given in the table.

  Absconds from open prisons in England and Wales: by establishment, October 1988 to September 1989

  Establishment

  Absconds2

  Male open prisons

  Ford

  65

  Highpoint

  3

  Kirkham

  125

  Leyhill

  26

  Morton Hall

  27

  North Sea Camp

  28

  Rudgate

  117

  Spring Hill

  26

  Standford Hill

  71

  Sudbury1

  68

  All male open prisons

  556

  Female open prisons

  Askham Grange

  8

  Drake Hall

  49

  East Sutton Park

  14

  All female open prisons

  71

  1 Includes Foston Hall

  2 During October 1988 to September 1989

  Burglary (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the most recent figures for burglary in South Yorkshire; and what is the national figure.

  Mr. John Patten
  The latest information relates to the 12 months to the end of June 1989; for England and Wales the information is published in table 4 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 29/89 and for South Yorkshire in a separate table, copies of both are available in the Library.

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from overseas students seeking extensions to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom were outstanding at the latest convenient date; and what was the comparable figure for each of the previous five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The estimated number of student applications outstanding in July this year was 14,000. Comparable figures for the previous five years are not available.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances overseas students are currently being granted extensions to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom despite their applications being submitted out of time.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Any application from an overseas student who has overstayed his or her last leave to remain is considered on its individual merits, taking account, for example, of the time since leave expired and the reasons for overstaying.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what relaxations in immigration procedures have recently been introduced to reduce the backlog of applications from overseas students seeking extensions to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  An exercise was mounted recently to clear applications from students where most of the period of leave applied for had already passed. It did not involve any relaxation of the immigration rules. In addition improved working procedures have been introduced to reduce the time taken to process after-entry cases, including applications from overseas students.

  Community Issues (Leicester)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations or reports from the Chief Constable of Leicestershire concerning the Divali celebrations in Leicestershire on 29 and 30 October.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Leicestershire, Mr. Michael Hirst, as to the criteria he applies in deciding whether to meet the hon. Member for Leicester, East to discuss community issues.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. This is a matter for the chief constable to decide in the exercise of his responsibilities. We fully support the chief constable's continuing efforts to ensure good relations between the police and all sections of the community in Leicestershire.

  Police and Fire Services (Pay)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average pay increase for(a) firemen and (b) police in each year since 1978–79.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is as follows:758

  1. Fire Service (5th year qualified firefighter)

  Per cent.

  1978

  22·15

  1979

  20·45

  1980

  18·8

  1981

  10·1

  1982

  7·5

  1983

  7·8

  1984

  7·2

  1985

  7·2

  1986

  7·3

  1987

  7·3

  1988

  8·6

  1989

  8·6

  2. Police (officers below the rank of superintendent)

  Per cent.

  1978

  13·9

  1979

  13·5

  1980

  21·3

  1981

  13·2

  1982

  10·3

  1983

  8·4

  1984

  5·13

  1985

  7·5

  1986

  7·5

  1987

  7·75

  1988

  8·5

  1989

  9·25

  1 Implemented in two phases.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently at Heathrow airport; and how many are in accommodation provided by the immigration service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information centrally available relates to passengers who are detained under the Immigration Act 1971 having claimed asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom, and in respect of whom an asylum questionnaire has been completed. On 8 November the number in detention was 21. The immigration service does not provide accommodation for passengers given temporary admission although hotel accommodation is occasionally arranged in cases of exceptional need.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are made available at major ports of entry for asylum seekers arriving in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Asylum seekers without means of support in the United Kingdom will, if they meet the relevant criteria, qualify for social security benefits and emergency housing. In addition a number of voluntary organisations assist asylum seekers.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the plight of asylum seekers at ports of entry into the United Kingdom; and what resources are provided by his Department to voluntary organisations providing assistance for asylum seekers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A number of organisations concerned with the welfare of refugees and asylum seekers have made representations concerning the need for better reception facilities for asylum seekers who arrive at ports of entry
  759
  and who have no means of support in the United Kingdom. An element of the Home Office grant to the British Refugee Council goes to assist asylum seekers arriving at Gatwick airport. We have agreed in principle to grant being made available to strengthen the reception arrangements which are made by the voluntary sector, and officials are in discussion with the refugee agencies about specific proposals.

  Probation and Magistrates Services
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to cash limit the specific grants to the probation and magistrates courts services.

  Mr. Waddington
  Under the new capital finance system for local authority services, capital grant for probation and magistrates courts will be cash limited from April 1990. Following our consultations with the local authority associations and relevant service organisations about the specific grants payable in respect of these services, I propose to introduce cash limits on their current grants. I shall he seeking a suitable opportunity for the necessary legislative provision with a view to implementing the new arrangements in April 1992. We shall be discussing further with the relevant bodies possible mechanisms for the allocation of cash-limited grant.

  Citizenship Applications
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the income and expenditure account for the administration of citizenship applications for 1988–89.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the nationality fees income and expenditure account for the 12 months ended 31 March 1989.

  Experimental Reparation Schemes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the research report on experimental reparation schemes which was submitted to his Department in April 1988 and which according to the Green Paper, "Punishment, Custody and the Community" was to be published by the end of 1988.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: Assessment of the four experimental reparation schemes is part of a wider study of reparation and mediation. Some results have been published but the main report has taken longer to prepare for publication than we expected. We hope to publish it in the next few months.

  Drugs
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women and from which country of origin, are currently serving prison sentences for attempting to bring drugs into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: The latest readily available information is given in the table. The recording of nationality for citizens of Commonwealth countries, Pakistan and the Irish Republic is not always reliable.
  760

  Population of females sentenced for all drugs offences in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 1989: by nationality

  Nationality (name of country)

  Number1

  Colombia

  14

  Ghana

  15

  Guyana

  5

  India

  6

  Jamaica

  16

  Nigeria

  76

  United States of America

  6

  United Kingdom

  150

  Other nationalities2

  25

  Not recorded

  10

  All nationalities

  323

  1 Provisional. The figures are those recorded centrally which are approximate: detailed checking would involve disproportionate cost.

  2 Nationalities with less than five persons recorded.

ENERGY

  Coal Supplies
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will examine the prices of imported coal within the Community to establish any variations which may exist or be developing.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department receives regular information on the price of imported coal in European Community countries. The average price of coal imports into the United Kingdom is currently higher than that of imports into other Community countries as a high proportion of United Kingdom imports are of premium quality coking rather than steam coal. In addition, United Kingdom imports of steam coal usually have to be transshipped from deep water ports on the Continent and this adds to their cost.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, in planning the future arrangements to secure British energy supplies, he has taken into account the likelihood of changes in the value of sterling.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government seek to ensure that the United Kingdom has adequate, diverse and secure supplies of energy in the forms that people want at the lowest realistic prices. We aim to achieve this wherever possible by ensuring that energy prices reflect their true economic costs and by subjecting as much of energy supply to market forces as is feasible. We believe that this approach provides the flexibility to bring about any necessary adjustment of the energy economy in response to outside influences, of which the value of sterling would be one.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what advice he has given to the electricity industry in regard to any development of dependency upon imported coal.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  None. Coal purchases are a commercial matter for the CEGB.

  Nuclear Safeguards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have taken place between his Department and the officials of(a) the Euratom

  761
  Safeguards Agency and (b)the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Division, on the subject of the fungibility of nuclear materials under safeguards controls.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The international requirements covering fungibility of materials are contained in article 20 of the Official Journal of the European Communities, Commission regulation 3227/76 of 19 October 1976. No recent discussions have taken place on these requirements with Euratom. The IAEA is concerned solely with the total amounts of nuclear material not its origin.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provisions have existed(a) since May 1979 and (b) since June 1986, to ensure that plutonium originating in safeguarded electricity board reactors in the United Kingdom has never been put into the military unsafeguarded stockpile following reprocessing of Magnox spent fuel at Sellafield.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Pursuant to the requirements of article 14 of INFCIRC 263 the Department of Energy must approve all withdrawals of nuclear material from safeguards. It is Government policy that plutonium originating from the electricity board reactors will not be used for defence purposes.

  Natural Uranium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average spot market price in 1988 for commercial natural uranium traded(a)within Euratom member states and (b)to Euratom member states from outside the European Community.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Euratom Supply Agency's report for 1988 shows that the average price of natural uranium deliveries made during the year to the electricity utilities of the European Community under spot contracts was 35·5 ecu per kilogramme of uranium.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many flue gas desulphurisation plants have been installed in coal-fired and oil-fired power stations.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Work is currently under way on the first of the flue gas desulphurisation retrofits: the 4,000 MW Drax power station.

  Electrical Accidents
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many people have been(a) killed and (b) injured in electrical accidents in each year since 1978–79, distinguishing between domestic and other users and electricity industry staff.

  Coal Imports

  Thousand tonnes

  Country of origin1

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Total 1979–88

  Australia

  2,164

  2,847

  1,791

  1,143

  1,987

  1,859

  5,456

  3,822

  3,459

  3,536

  28,064

  United States of America

  1,031

  3,653

  1,954

  2,053

  1,142

  3,344

  3,145

  3,560

  2,890

  4,261

  27,033

  Poland

  658

  446

  142

  320

  509

  1,359

  1,418

  1,217

  1,083

  1,270

  8,422

  Federal Republic of Germany

  229

  80

  132

  334

  482

  959

  746

  439

  256

  182

  3,839

  South Africa

  38

  66

  80

  67

  58

  257

  725

  312

  188

  276

  2,067

  1 This list shows the five principal exporting sources over the whole of the 10-year period requested. For 1988 the principal exporters to this country were:

  762
  Mr. Wakeham
  The following figures are applicable:

  Domestic fatalities1

  Electric shock2

  1978

  52

  n/a

  1979

  59

  64

  1980

  58

  82

  1981

  54

  102

  1982

  66

  88

  1983

  42

  99

  1984

  31

  72

  1985

  40

  108

  1986

  40

  89

  1987

  46

  79

  1988

  28

  n/a

  1 Domestic fatalities reported by the electricity boards.

  2 Electric shock injuries reported to Department of Trade and Industry by 20 hospitals strategically situated.

  Fatalities and Injuries to Electricity Board Employees:

  Fatalities

  Major injuries

  Over three day injuries

  1978

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  1

  11

  61

  1982

  2

  12

  64

  1983

  1

  15

  n/a

  1984

  3

  10

  n/a

  1985

  nil

  7

  n/a

  1986–87

  3

  53

  63

  1987–88

  5

  41

  56

  Fatalities and injuries to employees involved in contact with electricity in all industries

  Fatalities

  Major injuries

  Over three day injuries

  1978

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  13

  92

  557

  1982

  23

  126

  565

  1983

  18

  136

  n/a

  1984

  19

  151

  n/a

  1985

  12

  148

  n/a

  1986–87

  23

  328

  532

  1987–88

  20

  308

  552

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list for each year since 1979 the tonnage and country of origin of the five principal sources of coal imported into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information is as follows:
  763

  Thousand tonnes in 1988

  United States of America

  4,261

  Australia

  3,536

  Poland

  1,270

  Colombia

  574

  Canada

  553

  Source: Customs and Excise. Overseas Trade Statistics as published in D. Energy, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics.

  Electricity Boards
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the names of the board members of electricity boards in England and Wales, giving the date of their appointment, salaries and, where full time, their previous job and, where part time, their other jobs.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information is as follows:

  Board membership of the electricity boards of England and Wales as at 8 November 1989.

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appointment

  Central Electricity Generating Board

  Lord Marshall of Goring, Kt, CBE

  Chairman

  1 July 1982

  G. A. W. Blackman, CBE

  Deputy Chairman

  16 April 1986

  J. W. Baker

  Full-time Member

  5 September 1980

  D. A. Davis

  Full-time Member

  5 June 1984

  F. Ledger, OBE

  Full-time Member

  16 April 1986

  R. V. Giordano

  Non-executive Member

  1 July 1982

  Sir Terence Beckett, KBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 January 1987

  D. A. Walker

  Non-executive Member

  1 May 1987

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appointment

  London Electricity Board

  J. J. Wilson

  Chairman

  10 March 1986

  C. A. Prendergast, CBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 August 1983

  L. W. G. Priestley

  Non-executive Member

  1 October 1983

  R. B. Yearsley

  Non-executive Member

  1 September 1984

  The Right Hon. Baroness Gardner of Parkes, JP

  Non-executive Member

  19 November 1984

  M. Young

  Non-executive Member

  26 January 1987

  G. M. W. Owen

  Non-executive Member

  1 May 1989

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  South Eastern Electricity Board

  G. A. Squair

  Chairman

  1 June 1983

  D. A. Lovesey

  Deputy Chairman

  29 April 1987

  Dame Margaret Weston, DBE

  Non-executive Member

  23 February 1981

  R. A. Cox, CBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 June 1983

  Sir Ian McLeod, JP

  Non-executive member

  1 August 1983

  M. J. Calvert, JP

  Non-executive Member

  14 January 1985

  A. Ferry, MBE

  Non-executive member

  6 April 1987

  Sir Keith Stuart

  Non-executive Member

  2 October 1989

  764

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  Southern Electricity Board

  D. A. Ross

  Chairman

  1 April 1984

  H. R. Casley

  Deputy Chairman

  1 October 1986

  A. G. Stoughton-Harris

  Non-executive Member

  1 February 1981

  R. J. Cowley

  Non-executive Member

  1 December 1986

  N. G. L. Timpson

  Non-executive Member

  1 January 1987

  G. H. Wilson

  Non-executive Member

  30 May 1989

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appointment

  South Western Electricity Board

  A. W. Nicol

  Chairman

  29 April 1987

  J. J. Seed

  Deputy Chairman

  1 June 1986

  J. O. Gough, MBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 October 1980

  J. R. W. R. Carew Pole

  Non-executive member

  1 June 1981

  A. P. Hichens

  Non-executive member

  3 July 1989

  A. N. Thatcher

  Non-executive member

  3 July 1989

  C. M. Fisher

  Non-executive member

  10 July 1989

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appointment

  Eastern Electricity Board

  J. C. Smith, CBE

  Chairman

  1 October 1982

  W. Waring

  Deputy Chairman

  18 July 1983

  I. D. Coutts, CBE

  Non-Executive Member

  26 May 1982

  R. C. G. Chesterman, OBE

  Non-Executive Member

  1 September 1984

  Professor R. J. Eden, OBE

  Non-Executive Member

  1 June 1985

  J. N. Duncan

  Non-Executive Member

  15 September 1989

  M. S. Schreiber

  Non-Executive Member

  15 September 1989

  Sir Graham Wilkins

  Non-Executive Member

  15 September 1989

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  East Midlands Electricity Board

  J. F. Harris

  Chairman

  1 October 1982

  D. W. Cowe

  Deputy Chairman

  1 November 1985

  G. H. Boyle

  Non-executive Member

  1 June 1981

  Mrs. D. J. Parker

  Non-executive Member

  1 July 1983

  G. N. Corah

  Non-executive Member

  12 March 1984

  A. G. Schroeder

  Non-executive Member

  3 March 1986

  765

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  R. N. Gunn

  Non-executive Member

  1 August 1989

  A. N. R. Rudd

  Non-executive Member

  1 August 1989

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appointment

  Midlands Electricity Board

  B. S. Townsend

  Chairman

  1 April 1986

  R. K. Young

  Deputy Chairman

  1 July 1987

  F. C. Graves, OBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 October 1980

  Dr. M. D. Skillicorn

  Non-executive Member

  23 March 1981

  Dr. B. E. Marsh, JP

  Non-executive Member

  1 January 1984

  P. B. G. Williams

  Non-executive Member

  1 January 1984

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  South Wales Electricity Board

  J. W. Evans

  Chairman

  1 April 1984

  D. H. Jones

  Deputy Chairman

  10 October 1988

  J. Foley, MBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 January 1984

  P. J. Phillips, OBE

  Non-executive Member

  11 June 1984

  Mrs. V. Pollard

  Non-executive Member

  1 January 1988

  D. J. Prosser

  Non-executive Member

  3 April 1989

  P. W. L. Morgan

  Non-executive Member

  1 August 1989

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Board

  B. H. Weston

  Chairman

  3 September 1985

  R. T. Gales

  Deputy Chairman

  1 March 1978

  Dr. R. H. Cummings, OBE

  Non-executive Member

  7 January 1980

  J. M. Griffiths, OBE, JP

  Non-executive Member

  8 January 1981

  Mrs. S. M. N. Garston

  Non-executive Member

  9 March 1981

  R. B. de Zouche, OBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 April 1984

  J. A. Hooson

  Non-executive Member

  1 August 1984

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appointment

  Yorkshire Electricity Board

  J. Porteous

  Chairman

  1 November 1984

  J. S. Tysoe

  Deputy Chairman

  3 September 1985

  D. B. Clark, CBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 November 1980

  P. A. Smith

  Non-executive Member

  1 June 1981

  J. P. M. Denny

  Non-executive Member

  19 March 1984

  J. A. Rigg, CBE

  Non-executive Member

  1 May 1989

  J. N. Hardman

  Non-executive Member

  1 May 1989

  Mrs. D. C. Eccles

  Non-executive Member

  1 September 1989

  766

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  North Eastern Electricity Board

  D. R. Morris

  Chairman

  5 June 1989

  J. A. Harmsworth

  Deputy Chairman

  1 January 1978

  J. R. Holdsworth

  Non-executive Member

  1 April 1989

  Professor J. L. J. Machin

  Non-executive Member

  1 June 1984

  P. D. Nicholson

  Non-executive Member

  16 December 1985

  Name

  Status

  Date of Appoinment

  North Western Electricity Board

  K. G. Harvey

  Chairman

  6 November 1989

  A. Crowder

  Deputy Chairman

  24 January 1983

  J. V. Parsons

  Non-executive Member

  16 January 1984

  J. Brown, MBE, JP

  Non-executive Member

  3 February 1984

  N. D. Root

  Non-executive Member

  18 April 1984

  Mrs. J. M. Wilson

  Non-executive Member

  1 February 1988

  All the dates of appointment listed are first dates of appointment. Some members have been reappointed since those dates.

  The list does not include the area electricity consultative council chairmen who are members of the area electricity boards but are appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  The following salaries are paid to board members:

  (i) Salaries for CEGB chairman and deputy chairman:

  The chairman is paid £111,000 per annum. The deputy chairman is paid in the salary range £75,000–£80,000.

  (ii) Salaries for CEGB full-time members:

  Full-time members are paid in the salary range £60,000–£70,000 per annum.

  (iii) Salaries for CEGB non-executive members:

  Two members are paid under £8,000 per annum; One member is unpaid.

  (iv)Salaries for area electricity board chairmen:

  The chairmen are paid in the salary range £45,000–80,000 per annum.

  (v) Salaries for area electricity board deputy chairmen:

  The deputy chairmen are paid in the salary range £45,000–£50,000 per annum.

  (vi) Salaries for area electricity board non-executive members:

  Non-executive members receive under £5,000 per annum.

  It is not possible without disproportionate cost to provide details of each appointee's background.

  Coal Prices
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the basis of his Department's assumption that the price of coal at delivered pence per therm will remain stable between now and 1999.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Relatively little weight can be attached to assumptions about coal prices as far ahead as 1999. The delivered price of coal will depend on commercial negotiations between coal suppliers and their customers.

  Fuel Exports and Imports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the total of coal exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74(a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

  (2) what was the total of coal imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

  (3) what was the total of oil and gas exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

  (4) what was the total of oil and gas imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information for exports and imports for each year since 1973 is shown in table 1 (volumes) and table 2 (values at constant 1985 prices). Gas is natural gas (there are no exports), and oil is the sum of crude oil and refined petroleum products:—

  Table 1

  Thousand tonnes

  Exports (f.o.b.)

  Imports (c.i.f.)

  Coal

  Oil

  Coal

  Gas (coal equivalent)

  Oil

  1973

  2,693

  19,882

  1,675

  1,200

  135,862

  1974

  1,865

  16,183

  3,541

  1,000

  129,164

  1975

  2,182

  15,079

  5,083

  1,300

  103,174

  1976

  1,436

  19,907

  2,837

  1,600

  102,994

  1977

  1,941

  30,483

  2,439

  2,100

  84,832

  1978

  2,266

  37,415

  2,352

  6,700

  80,139

  1979

  2,339

  53,172

  4,375

  12,600

  73,890

  1980

  4,042

  54,517

  7,334

  15,400

  58,890

  1981

  9,513

  66,740

  4,290

  16,400

  47,437

  1982

  7,387

  74,812

  4,062

  15,600

  45,456

  1983

  6,340

  84,157

  4,456

  16,600

  40,120

  1984

  2,440

  92,236

  8,894

  20,200

  53,480

  1985

  2,558

  98,511

  12,732

  20,100

  51,877

  1986

  2,748

  102,309

  10,554

  18,800

  55,471

  1987

  2,342

  99,165

  9,781

  17,300

  53,590

  1988

  1,737

  89,078

  11,993

  15,500

  53,995

  Source: Customs and Excise, Overseas Trade Statistics as published in D. Energy, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics. (The 1988 oil exports figure reflects subsequent revisions.)

  Table 2

  £ million at 1985 prices1

  Exports (f.o.b.)

  Imports (c.i.f.)

  Coal

  Oil

  Coal

  Gas

  Oil

  1973

  104

  3,682

  90

  90

  21,917

  1974

  72

  3,031

  189

  75

  20,837

  1975

  84

  2,826

  272

  98

  16,644

  1976

  55

  3,673

  152

  120

  16,615

  1977

  75

  5,367

  130

  158

  13,684

  1978

  87

  6,475

  126

  504

  12,927

  1979

  90

  9,053

  234

  947

  11,918

  1980

  156

  9,315

  392

  1,158

  9,498

  1981

  366

  11,265

  229

  1,233

  7,650

  1982

  284

  12,591

  217

  1,173

  7,329

  1983

  244

  14,154

  238

  1,248

  6,468

  1984

  94

  15,486

  475

  1,519

  8,620

  1985

  98

  16,576

  681

  1,511

  8,363

  1986

  106

  17,229

  564

  1,413

  8,944

  1987

  90

  16,673

  523

  1,301

  8,641

  1988

  67

  15,026

  641

  1,165

  8,706

  Source: Volumes from table 1 revalued at 1985 prices.

  1 Figures at 1985 constant prices have been derived by applying the unit value for exports and imports in 1985 to the relevant published volumes in each of the years 1973 to 1988.

  PCBs (Continental Shell)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf have equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls.

  Mr. Wakeham
  There are no significant quantities of polychlorinated biphenyls on any offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  Nuclear Safety Research
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what guidance he has given to the Health and Safety Commission on the exercise of the responsibilities for nuclear safety research which it is to take over from his Department.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I wrote to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission in August enclosing a set of guidelines within which I wish the commission to work when it takes over these responsibilities on 1 April next year. The guidelines describe the objectives which I wish the commission to pursue; the area and nature of the research for which it is to become responsible; and the principles by which the commission should define the programmes which it sponsors, and by which the executive should recover the costs of these programmes from the nuclear power industry. A copy of the guidelines has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Gas Explosions
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been(a) killed and (b) injured in accidents involving gas explosions in each year since 1978–79, distinguishing between domestic and other users and gas industry staff.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available information for injuries involving domestic and other users, and gas industry employees is show in the tables.

  Table 1

  Injuries caused by gas explosions involving domestic and other users of piped flammable gas in Great Britain reported1 to enforcing authorities

  Fatal2

  Non-fatal3

  1981–82

  37

  168

  1982–83

  28

  116

  1983–84

  27

  124

  1984–85

  41

  181

  1985–86

  27

  166

  1986–87

  12

  58

  1987–88

  12

  72

  1 Injuries arising from incidents reported under the 1972 Gas Act for the years 1981–82 to 1985–86 and under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR) for later years.

  2 Under the Gas Act initially non-fatal injuries which later became fatal were updated and reclassified. Under RIDDOR, the supplier/fitter is only required to notify HSE upon the receipt of an injury notification and may not be aware of the subsequent death of an injured person.

  3 Under RIDDOR figures relate to injuries causing hospitalisation for more than 24 hours. Under the previous legislation, overnight stays in hospital were the basis of the reporting requirement.

  769

  Table 2

  Injuries to employees involving gas explosions in the gas production and distribution sector1 reported2 to enforcing authorities

  1986–875

  1987–885

  Fatal

  —

  —

  Major3

  3

  —

  Over 3 day4

  4

  1

  1 The production and distribution of gas sector is defined as Standard Industrial Classification 1968 Minimum List Heading 601.

  2 Injuries reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR). Under the reporting regulations applying to earlier years it is not possible to distinguish injuries from explosions from other injuries.

  3 As defined under RIDDOR.

  4 Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than 3 days.

  5 Year beginning 1 April.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress of the set-aside programme.

  Mr. Maclean
  This year we have received applications from about 1,400 United Kingdom farmers to set-aside more than 55,000 hectares of land. This encouraging further response brings the total amount of land set aside under the scheme to 110,000 hectares.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much land has now been set aside.

  Mr. Maclean
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham).

  Livestock (Slaughter)
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what codes of practice the Government propose to issue in response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of livestock at slaughter.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am proposing to issue codes covering the welfare of livestock at slaughter, the construction and layout of slaughtering premises and the use of electrical stunning equipment. These will give effect to recommendations made by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

  Sheep (Hill Farms)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about levels of support for sheep which are to be used for breeding on hill farms, which are not put to the ram until they are 18 months old, under the new sheep regime.

  Mr. Curry
  The special concession will continue under which these sheep will be able to receive premium at the same special rate which applies to goats. This will be set at 80 per cent. of the rate for ewes in 1990 and 70 per cent. thereafter.

  Sheepmeat Regime
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he plans to hold regarding the future of the sheep meat regime.

  Mr. Curry
  We will continue to consult the industry on the implementation of the revised sheepmeat regime.

  Chemical Fertilisers
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Ministry is offering to farmers about reducing the quantity of chemical fertilisers they are using to prevent high nitrate build-ups in the soil.

  Mr. Maclean
  ADAS advises farmers on the avoidance of excessive or untimely fertiliser usage, particularly autumn nitrogen applications. We are also introducing a pilot scheme to limit nitrate leaching in sensitive areas.

  Countryside
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what policies his Department will be developing to help maintain the present character of Britain's countryside.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his Ministry's plans to further conservation of the countryside.

  Mr. Gummer
  A number of important measures have been introduced by my Department in the last few years aimed at maintaining and improving the character of our countryside. The effectiveness of these measures is being monitored and the assessments will help in the determination of future policies having the same objectives.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department has taken in the last three months further to safeguard egg supplies from the effects of salmonella.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have introduced two amending orders on the testing of poultry laying and breeding flocks and hatcheries, and five codes of practice on the control of salmonella in protein and feedingstuffs.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to improve the effectiveness of his Department's policies on minimising the harmful effects of pesticide spray drift.

  Mr. Gummer
  Users of pesticides must avoid the harmful effects of spray drifts, and we have published a draft code of practice to help farmers and growers comply with their legal obligations.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the operation of the advisory committee on pesticides.
  771
  Mr. Maclean
  Yes.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what publications his Department has recently produced on pesticides.

  Mr. Maclean
  During 1989 my Department has produced, or collaborated in the production of:"The Pesticide Register" a monthly list of new approvals;
  "Pesticides 1989" an annual list of approved products;
  "Pesticides and Food: A Balanced View" a free booklet which answers the questions most often asked by consumers;
  "Report of the Working Party on Pesticides Residues 1985–1988";
  "Wildlife Poisoning Incidents Report 1987"; plus evaluations by the advisory committee on pesticides of five new active ingredients and various ad hoc surveys.

  Untreated Milk
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be introducing regulations to control the sale of untreated milk in England and Wales.

  Mr. Curry
  The sale of untreated milk is already controlled under the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1988. I expect to lay new regulations before the House shortly, which will require untreated milk to be labelled more fully and to be subject to more sophisticated testing.

  Horticultural Research
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his planned reforms for the organisation of horticultural research will take effect.

  Mr. Gummer
  The aim is for the new organisation to be in place by 1 April 1990.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from organisations representing the fishing boat building industry regarding the state of the industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I have received one representation from the fishing boat building industry.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he is making towards publishing proposals which will reduce capacity of the fishing fleet in line with the target set under the multiannual guidance programme.

  Mr. Curry
  Fisheries Ministers hope to be able to announce before the end of the year what additional measures, if any, are considered necessary to achieve the target reductions.

  Milk Products (Labelling)
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will reconsider introducing a scheme to label milk products when hormone treatment has been used on the cattle.
  772
  Mr. Curry
  I have no plans at present to introduce a mandatory requirement to this effect, but it is open to the industry to introduce voluntary arrangements if they wish.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what matters were discussed at the last meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25 October to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) at column 507.

  Pigmeat
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to oppose European Council proposals to change the formula used to calculate pigmeat sluicegate prices and import levies.

  Mr. Curry
  At the Agriculture Council on 23 and 24 October, I argued that the pig industry needed a chance to recover their 1988 losses and now was not the time to be reducing levies in the way the Commission had proposed.

  Hormone Growth Promoters
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will re-examine the law relating to the prosecution of farmers who implant hormone growth promoters in cattle.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Animals and Fresh Meat (Hormonal Substances) Regulations 1988 already provide for substantial penalties for farmers convicted of using hormone implants in their animals. Additional controls will be the subject of an announcement shortly.

  Microwave Ovens
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the makers of microwave ovens on the subject of improved user instructions.

  Mr. Maclean
  My officials regularly meet relevant organisations, including representatives of the oven manufacturers, to discuss all matters relevant to the safe, use of microwave ovens. I attended one such meeting in July at which I stressed the importance the Government attach to this issue.

  Butter
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of butter exported by the European Economic Community over the past 12 months; and what was the range of prices at which it was disposed of.

  Mr. Curry
  The most recent 12-month period for which final figures are available is from July 1988 to June 1989 inclusive. Some 483,000 tonnes of butter were exported by the European Community, at prices ranging from about £150 per tonne for old intervention stock sold to the USSR, to around £1,100 per tonne for fresh product exported on to the world market.

  Food From Britain
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what overseas trade fairs Food From Britain has participated in during the last six months.

  Mr. Curry
  Food From Britain has participated in the following nine overseas events since 1 April 1989;

  Date

  Event

  Place

  12 to 13 April

  Foodex '89

  Dublin

  7 to 10 May

  FMI

  Chicago

  6 to 10 May

  MIAD

  Milan

  23 to 24 May

  PLMA

  Brussels

  28 to 30 May

  Fine Food Show

  Toronto

  25 to 28 June

  Fancy Food Show

  Atlanta

  3 to 6 September

  Fine Food Show

  Sydney

  14 to 19 October

  ANUGA

  Cologne

  20 to 24 October

  Expo CT

  Milan

  5 to 8 November

  Gulf Food Exhibition

  Dubai

  Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss fisheries policy.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss fisheries policy.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss fisheries policy.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 9 November 1989.

  Pigs
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the pig sector of the agricultural industry.

  Mr. Curry
  We remain in close touch with the representatives of the pig industry and trade about matters of concern to them.

  Food White Paper
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received from the food industry since his White Paper was published.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since publication of the White Paper "Food Safety—Protecting the Consumer" in July this year I have received numerous comments from a wide range of food industry interests, including those of food manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

  Eggs
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on health standards of imports of eggs into the United Kingdom.
  774
  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 1 November at column 210.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will institute a review of the overall effectiveness of recent legislation affecting the egg producing industry.

  Mr. Gummer
  We are continuing to monitor the effects of the measures introduced to tackle the problem of salmonella in eggs.

  Horticulture (Gas Prices)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the effect on horticultural gas prices of the response by British Gas to the seven-point plan put forward by Ofgas.

  Mr. Curry
  I have received no representations specifically on the seven-point plan. I am, however, keeping in touch with the horticultural industry on the question of gas supplies in general and know that producers are currently evaluating the proposals. This subject was discussed at a recent meeting between Baroness Trumpington and NFU representatives.

  National Fruit Collection
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his current plans for the maintenance and development of the national fruit collection; where he intends that it should, in the future, be located; who he intends to manage it; how it will be funded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have made clear their intention to continue to fund the national fruit collection. My Department is in active discussion with three organisations interested in taking over responsibility for the management of the national fruit collection in the event of the closure of Brogdale as a Ministry experimental horticultural station. The East Mailing Trust and Wye college would transfer it to their sites whilst Swale borough council is co-ordinating local initiatives to retain it under the direction of a trust at Brogdale. Whichever option may be taken up, the collection will be maintained to a high standard as a living, growing collection.

  Hormone Implants
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on stockpiles of hormone implants held within the European Community.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 31 October 1989 to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) at column 212.

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the agricultural and food research council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have received a number of letters about the council's plans for restructuring its research institutes,
  775
  particularly in relation to the Langford laboratory of the Institute of Food Research. These are matters for the council itself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  Organic Agriculture and Horticulture
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to encourage the development in the United Kingdom of organic agriculture and horticulture.

  Mr. Curry
  A major step taken by my Department was to initiate the setting up by Food From Britain of the United Kingdom register of organic food standards (UKROFS) which on 2 May launched production and processing standards for organic produce and an independent certification and inspection system.

  But the development of organic agriculture and horiculture is being helped in a number of other ways. I recently announced that we are introducing a comprehensive economic survey of organic farming, the results of which should provide organic farmers and growers with a better understanding of the economics of production. The fallow option of the set-aside scheme enables farmers wishing to switch to organic farming to prepare their land without forgoing income entirely. We are considering an organic option under the forthcoming extensification scheme. Organic farmers are able to benefit from the farm and conservation grant scheme and from assistance towards the establishment of co-operatives. A sizeable part of our R and D programme is of interest to the organic sector and we are receiving advice from the organic sector, co-ordinated by UKROFS, or specific R and D requirements. Finally ADAS is offering a specialised countrywide service to organic farmers and growers.

  Council of Fisheries Ministers
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Fisheries Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  On 27 November. The draft agenda is not yet available but I will seek to ensure that the United Kingdom's concerns are properly met.

  Fishing Ports
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to visit fishing ports before the next meeting of the European Community's Council of Fisheries Ministers.

  Mr. Curry
  I have already visited Fleetwood, Grimsby and Lowestoft and will be going to Hull, Brixham and Newlyn before the next Fisheries Council.

  Overseas Food Fairs
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which overseas food fairs his Department has visited in the last three months.

  Mr. Curry
  Together with two of my officials I attended the A NUGA food fair in Cologne on 16 October, when I visited a number of stands in the British pavilion. I must 776
  congratulate the British companies exhibiting there for their marketing effort which I felt compared favourably with that of other countries.

  Poultry (Testing)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce amendments to the Testing of Poultry Flocks Order to assist small egg producers.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the written reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 3 November 1989 at column 397.

  National Consumer Council
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Consumer Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Maclean
  I last met representatives of the National Consumer Council on 14 August when we had a broad discussion on various food law and food safety issues.

  Egg Imports
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the levels of imports of foreign eggs.

  Mr. Curry
  Confirmed data are only available to the end of September.

  In the first nine months of this year imports of eggs were about 30 per cent. up on those in the comparable months of 1988. But, as imports from such a small proportion of total United Kingdom supply, it is likely that these will represent no more than around 3 per cent. of United Kingdom output in 1989. Over the same nine-month period exports in 1989 increased by about 100 per cent. over 1988 levels and, to the end of September, exports exceeded imports by over 200,000 cases (each of 360 eggs).

  Research and Seed Certification
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support is given by the food and agricultural industries to agricultural research and seed certification.

  Mr. Gummer
  Our best estimates are that the private sector spends around £320 million on research and development on agriculture and food. No direct support is given by the agriculture and food industries to seed certification. The costs incurred by the Agriculture Departments in connections with statutory certification schemes are recovered in full from the seed industry through fees currently prescribed in the Seeds Fees (Amendment) Regulations 1987.

  Food Safety
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his priorities for food safety.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's priorities for food safety were set out in the recent White Paper "Food Safety
  777
  —Protecting The Consumer" (CM. 732). The Bill to be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits is a major priority.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his role in protecting food from contamination by radioactivity.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department plays a key role and takes whatever means are necessary to protect food from contamination by radioactivity.

  Food Advisory Committee
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his food advisory committee last met; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Maclean
  The agendas of food advisory committee meetings are published in advance. The committee last met on 19 October 1989 and I have sent the hon. Member the press release of 28 September 1989 which listed the main agenda items.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 2 November,Official Report, column 317, if he will list the organisations to which he writes prior to a food advisory committee meeting requesting comments on agenda items; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  As I indicated in my earlier reply, the agendas are published in a press notice so that it is open to any organisation or individual to comment to the secretary of the food advisory committee on matters currently before the committee. Approximately 900 persons or organisations are also sent copies of food press notices. I will write in due course to the hon. Member giving the list of names.

  Battery Fowls
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of battery fowls suffer broken limbs on the way to slaughter.

  Mr. Maclean
  Recent MAFF-funded research has indicated that about 30 per cent. of end of lay hens from battery units suffer from broken bones. Most of these are thought to occur when the birds are removed from the cages. The problem is not confined to battery units as further research indicates that birds from other systems—percheries and free range—have more old breaks than birds kept in cages.

  Both MAFF and the industry are funding more research into the problem. The Government are supporting action by the industry to reduce the incidence of broken bones and plans to introduce legislation designed to improve cage design in order to minimise injury when the birds are removed.

  Dairy Sector
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessments his Department has recently undertaken on the present profitability of the dairy sector.
  778
  Mr. Curry
  My Department carries out annual assessments of profitability in the dairy and other farming sectors, the results of which are published in February each year in reports entitled "Agriculture in the United Kingdom". The most recent report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, shows the net income from dairy farming in 1988–89 rose in real terms to its highest level since 1982–83.

  Scottish Fishermen's Federation
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Gummer
  Since taking up my post in July, I have not yet met the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, but I know my Scottish colleagues, with whom I am in close touch, are in frequent contact.

  Farm Visits
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last made an on-farm visit; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Gummer
  Since my appointment in July, I have made a number of tours in the regions, including on farm visits. During the most recent such visit, on 3 November, a range of countryside matters were discussed, including in particular the maintenance of wildlife habitat.

  Animal Products (Licensing)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to consider socio-economic criteria in assessing whether to grant licences to animal products under the Medicines Act 1968.

  Mr. Maclean
  The purpose of licensing under the Medicines Act is to protect public and animal health and I do not believe that socio-economic or other additional criteria contribute to this purpose.

  Pigmeat Prices
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what improvements in pigmeat prices his Department has recorded during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Curry
  Over the past 12 months the monthly average of the all pigs price, as calculated by the Meat and Livestock Commission, has been as follows:

  Price

  1988

  October

  93·07

  November

  97·54

  December

  101–23

  1989

  January

  99·08

  February

  100·62

  779

  Price

  March

  102·56

  April

  105·83

  May

  109·43

  June

  113·44

  July

  115·85

  August

  116·94

  September

  127·41

  October1

  133·21

  1 To week ending 21 October 1989.

  Fish (Drugs)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what drugs he has licensed for use with fish in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Curry
  In the last 12 months licences have been issued for Aquaguard, an ectoparasiticide for use against infestations of sea lice, and for furogen immersion vaccine and furogen injection vaccine for use against certain strains of Aeromonas salmonicida.

  Farm and Conservation Grants
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contributions to pollution control have resulted from grants made under the farm and conservation grants scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the farm and conservation grant scheme grants of 50 per cent. are available throughout the country for the installation, replacement and improvement of facilities for handling, storing and treating slurry and silage effluent. This is the highest rate of grant available in Europe. It underlines the Government's determination to assist farmers in the vital task of preventing pollution of water courses by farm waste. The industry have reacted very positively and uptake of new grants is high.

  Nitrate Fertilisation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average level of nitrate fertilisation of United Kingdom farmland for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Curry
  Data in the precise form requested is not available, but average total inorganic nitrogen usage on all crops and grass in England anti Wales has been as follows (expressed in kg/ha):

  Year

  kg/ha

  1979

  114

  1980

  120

  1981

  130

  1982

  132

  1983

  139

  1984

  147

  1985

  146

  1986

  146

  1987

  147

  1988

  133

  Whaling
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a continuation after 1990 of the moratorium on commercial whaling.
  780
  Mr. Curry
  We played a leading role within the International Whaling Commission in the achievement of the moratorium on commercial whaling. We have worked hard to ensure that IWC members adhere to it. It is to be reviewed next year on the basis of major scientific work on whale stocks and appropriate management procedures. We shall consider these results very carefully. If we are not satisfied we shall press for the continuation of the moratorium.

  Salmon Fishing
  Mr. French
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what policies his Department is pursuing in order to improve the prospects for the United Kingdom salmon fishing industry.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are pursuing a wide range of policies for the conservation and management of salmon stocks which are beneficial to the United Kingdom salmon fishing industry, whether recreational or commercial. In England and Wales, the National Rivers Authority, established in September 1989, has the duty of maintaining, improving and developing salmon fisheries. In Scotland, district salmon fishery boards have similar powers and duties within their district. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Foyle Fisheries Commission are responsible for the conservation and protection of salmon.

  There are substantial programmes of research and development on salmon which contribute to these aims. Finally, the United Kingdom—through the Commission of the European Communities which is a contracting party—plays an active role in the work of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation.

  Food Irradiation
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about his plans for the introduction of food irradiation.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have nothing to add to my reply given on 27 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim) at column 947.

  Skilled Labour
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure an improvement in the current shortage of skilled labour within the agriculture industry.

  Mr. Curry
  It is for the industry to respond to changing circumstances and to assess the levels of skilled labour required to sustain viable enterprises. In so doing full advantage should be taken of the excellent skills training facilities available from the agricultural training board and the agricultural colleges.

  Farmland Sales
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy towards the practice of dividing farmland in the south of England into small plots and selling them off separately.
  781
  Mr. Maclean
  This is not a matter for Government intervention. Owners have a fundamental right to dispose of their property as they see fit.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on his policy regarding research and development in agriculture.

  Mr. Curry
  I remain firmly committed to supporting work directed at public good issues such as food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare, and to the underpinning of industry's commercial research base through support for far market strategic research.

  Monetary Compensatory Amounts
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in the Official Report a timetable indicating the anticipated progress, for the various commodities, towards the eventual removal of monetary compensatory amounts arising from green currencies.

  Mr. Curry
  Following pressure from the United Kingdom Government the Council and the Commission have agreed that monetary gaps, and therefore monetary compensatory amounts, should be removed by the end of 1992. The devaluations that were agreed at the last two price settlements represented steps towards this objective. The Commission is to report shortly on ways of completing the process of dismantlement.

  Papain
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce guidelines on the administration of the meat tenderising enzyme papain.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1 November to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) at column 211.

  Oilseed Rape
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the presence of pollen and other airborne material derived from flowering crops of oilseed rape giving the concentration in the atmosphere above the crop and the maximum extent of detectable contamination; and if he will give comparable information for other agricultural crops.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department has no information on the concentration of airborne material from oilseed rape in the atmosphere above the crop, nor comparable information on other crops. I am aware that some experiments have been carried out by individuals to detect the presence of oilseed rape pollen in the atmosphere in the vicinity of the crop and further afield.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take any steps to encourage the breeding and production of varieties of oilseed rape which minimise the dispersal of pollen and other airborne material into the atmosphere.
  782
  Mr. Curry
  If it were shown conclusively that existing varieties of oilseed rape caused serious problems for human health we would consider what measures were necessary to tackle the problem. The breeding of varieties with specific properties could be one such measure.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of oilseed rape were harvested in 1989; what tonnage was produced; what was the value of the crop; and what subsidy was paid from public funds for its production or processing.

  Mr. Curry
  The 1989 oilseed rape production survey of England published a 25 October estimated production at 821,000 tonnes from 284,000 hectares. The value of the 1989 crop in the United Kingdom as a whole is still being assessed. Value estimates will be included in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" due to be published early in 1990. Production aid under the EC oilseeds scheme is being paid on the 1989 crop; final estimates of the amount paid will not be known until at least the end of the 1989–90 marketing year.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the countries in the European Community where evidence of cattle contracting the disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been discovered.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Republic of Ireland.

  Cattle Offal
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations with which he consulted about his proposed ban on the use of cattle offal for human consumption.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following organisations were consulted:

  Agricultural Research Council—Meat Research Institute

  Agriculture and Food Research Council

  Animal Health Distributors (UK) Ltd

  Association of British Abattoir Owners

  Association of County Councils

  Association of District Councils

  Association of London Authorities

  Association of Meat Inspectors (GB) Ltd

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Association of Sea and Airport Health Authorities

  Bacon and Meat Manufacturers' Association

  British Association of Canned and Preserved Food Importers and Distributors

  British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association

  British Hotels and Restaurants Association

  British Medical Association

  British Multiple Retailers Association

  British Ports Association

  British Retail Association

  British Veterinary Association

  Butterworths Law of Food and Drugs

  Caterers Association of Great Britain

  Chemical Industries Association

  College for the Distributive Trades

  Consumers Association

  Consumers in the European Community Group (UK)

  Co-operative Meat Trade Technical Panel

  Co-operative Union Ltd

  Customs and Excise

  Dairy Trade Federation

  EC Commission

  783

  Environmental Health Briefing

  Faculty of Community Medicines

  Farm and Food Society

  Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives

  Federation of Freshmeat Wholesalers

  FMC (Meat) Limited

  Food and Drink Industry Council

  Food Manufacturers' Association

  Grain and Feed Trade Association

  Greyhound Racing Association

  Hide and Allied Trades Improvement Society

  Infant and Dietetic Food Association

  Institute of Food Science and Technology (UK)

  Institute of Meat

  Institute of Trading Standards Authorities

  Institution of Environmental Health Officers

  International Meat Trade Association

  Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce

  Joint Animal By-Products Parliamentary and Advisory Committee

  Joint Consultative Council for the Meat Trade in the UK

  Joint Industrial Council for the Slaughterhouse Industry

  JS Engineering (Norfolk) Ltd.

  Lard Association

  Licensed Animal Slaughterers and Salvage Association

  Livestock Auctioneers Market Committee for England and Wales

  Livestock Traders Association of Great Britain

  Local Authorities Committee on Trading Standards

  Local Authority Conditions and Services Advisory Board

  Master of Bassetthounds Association

  Master of Deerhounds Association

  Master of Draghounds Association

  Master of Foxhounds Association

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Meat Industry Liaison Group

  Meat Manufacturers' Association

  Meat Trade Journal

  Meat Trades Annual

  National Animal Health Panel

  National Association of Tripe Dressers

  National and Local Government Officers Association

  National Cold Storage Federation

  National Committee of the Wholesale Provision Trade

  National Consumer Council

  National Council of Freshmeat Wholesalers

  National Farmers Union

  National Federation of Consumer Groups

  National Federation of Meat Traders

  National Federation of Wholesale Grocers and Provision Merchants Association

  National Greyhound Racing Club

  National Office of Animal Health

  National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers

  Natural Sausage Casing Association

  Non-UK Provision Trade Association

  Parliamentary Committee Co-operative Union Limited

  Pet Food Manufacturers' Association

  Port of London Health Authority

  Retail Consortium

  Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

  Royal Society for the Promotion of Health

  Smithfield Market Tenants' Association

  United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association

  United Kingdom Provision Trade Federation

  United Kingdom Renderers' Association

  United Kingdom Association of Frozen Food Producers

  United Kingdom Fellmongers Association

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to introduce his ban on the use of cattle offal for human consumption; and if he will make a statement.
  784
  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 9 November 1989 to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell).

  Food Safety Directorate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the money allocated for his food safety directorate in(a) 1989–90 and (b) 1990–91.

  Mr. Gummer
  Not all the areas of the Ministry's work that constitute the new food safety directorate are currently subject to decentralised budgetary control for running costs and capital expenditure. Accordingly, there is no readily available estimate of the budgeted costs for this work in 1989–90. For 1990–91, the directorate as a whole will be subject to decentralised budgetary control for running costs and capital expenditure. Budget allocations for 1990–91 remain to be decided. Subject to the outcome of the current public expenditure survey we are planning significant increases in staffing for a number of areas of the directorate's work.

  Dr. David Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he expects his food safety directorate to start operating.

  Mr. Gummer
  The new food safety directorate will be in full operation by 20 November. I am proceeding to establish the new consumer panel as quickly as possible.

  EEC Foods
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the foods and the tonnage of surplus EEC foods that have been distributed to pensioners in the United Kingdom during the current year.

  Mr. Curry
  The information sought by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested. However, under the EC surplus food scheme the United Kingdom has some 3,000 tonnes of butter and 3,000 tonnes of beef available for distribution. All this produce has been released from intervention stores, and I have no reason to believe that most of it will not be distributed before the end of 1989. The timing of distribution is a matter for the designated organisations to decide according to local needs and their own capacity. Those who qualify for assistance under this Scheme are people in receipt of income support or family credit and those of no fixed abode or living in welfare hostels. Pensioners falling into one or other of these categories are, of course, eligible to receive produce.

  Landlord and Tenant Survey
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the Country Landowners Association landlord and tenant survey.

  Mr. Curry
  The Country Landowners Association has, of course, informed my right hon. Friend the Minister and me about the results of its survey but no further representations have been received.

WALES

  Health Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report for each year since 1978 the number of (a) private beds in non-National Health Service hospitals by hospital, (b) private beds in National Health Service hospitals by health authority and hospital and (c) amenity beds in National Health Service hospitals by health authority and hospitals.

  TABLE A

  Number of beds in non NHS hospitals

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  11989

  St. Josephs, Gwent

  56

  56

  56

  56

  56

  56

  50

  North Wales Medical Centre, Gwynedd

  61

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  BUPA, South Glamorgan

  48

  48

  48

  48

  64

  74

  74

  St. Winifreds, South Glamorgan

  50

  50

  50

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Sancta Maria, West Glamorgan

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  33

  33

  The Yale Hospital, Clwyd

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19

  Total

  255

  246

  246

  246

  212

  215

  228

  1 Figures are for 31 December each year up to and including 1987. The next available figures subsequent to 31 December 1987 are for 31 March 1989.

  Table B

  Authorisations of private in-patient facilities in NHS hospitals in Wales

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  Clwyd

  Royal Alexandra (a)

  4

  9(r)

  4

  7(r)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Prince Edward WM (b)

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  HM Stanley

  3

  3

  3

  5(r)

  3

  5(r)

  3

  5(r)

  3

  5(r)

  Colwyn Bay and West Denbigh (c)

  4

  4

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Abergele

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Ysybyty Glan Clwyd

  —

  —

  3

  3

  4

  4

  Wrexham and East Denbigh WM (d)

  5

  7(r)

  5

  7(r)

  5

  7(r)

  5

  7(r)

  5

  7(r)

  5

  7(r)

  Maelor

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  East Dyfed

  West Wales General

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Pembrokeshire Cwm (e)

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bronglais

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Llanelli

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  Withybush

  —

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Gwent

  Mount Pleasent

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  St. Woolos

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Royal Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neville Hall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd

  Tywyn and District WM

  1

  10(r)

  1

  10(r)

  1

  8(r)

  1

  8(r)

  1

  8(r)

  1

  8(r)

  Eryri (f)

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  St. Davids

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Llandudno

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Caernarfon Eye and Cottage (g)

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Caernarfon and Anglesey (h)

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Ysbyty Gwynedd (i)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  Mountain Ash

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  East Glamorgan

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Prince Charles

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Bridgend

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Princess of Wales (j)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  Nil

  786
  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: The information requested is given in the following tables in respect of:

  (a) the number of private beds in non National Health Service Hospitals (1982 onwards)—table A;

  (b) the number of private beds in National Health Service hospitals by health authority and hospital—table B;

  (c) the number of amenity beds in the National Health Service by health authority, (1980 onwards)-table C.

  A table showing the distribution of amenity beds in NHS hospitals by hospital could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  787

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  South Glamorgan

  Prince of Wales (Rhydlafar)

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  UHW

  —

  —

  —

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  Llandough

  —

  —

  —

  5

  5

  5

  CRI

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  4

  Velindre

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sully

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rookwood

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Glamorgan

  Singleton (m)

  2

  2(r)

  2

  2(r)

  2

  2(r)

  2

  2(r)

  2

  2(r)

  2

  2(r)

  Morriston

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Neath (m)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989 (p)

  Clwyd

  Royal Alexandra (a)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Prince Edward WM (b)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  HM Stanley

  3

  5(r)

  3

  5(r)

  1,0951

  (s)

  1,0951

  (s)

  1,0951

  (s)

  1,0951

  (s)

  Colwyn Bay and West Denbigh (c)

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Abergele

  1

  1

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  Ysybyty Glan Clwyd

  4

  4

  1,4601

  1,4601

  1,4601

  1,4601

  Wrexham and East Denbigh WM (d)

  5

  7(r)

  5

  7(r)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Maelor

  4

  4

  2,5551

  2,5551

  2,5551

  2,5551

  East Dyfed

  West Wales General

  3

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  Pembrokeshire Cwm (e)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bronglais

  3

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  Llanelli

  1

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  Pembrokeshire

  Withybush

  3

  3

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  1,0951

  Gwent

  Mount Pleasent

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  St. Woolos

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  3

  Royal Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neville Hall

  —

  —

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Gwynedd

  Tywyn and District WM

  1

  5(r)

  3651

  (t)

  3651

  (t)

  3651

  (t)

  3651

  (t)

  3651

  (t)

  Eryri (f)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  St. Davids

  2

  7301

  7301

  7301

  7301

  7301

  Llandudno

  4

  1,4601

  1,4601

  1,4601

  1,4601

  1,4601

  Caernarfon Eye and Cottage (g)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Caernarfon and Anglesey (h)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ysybty Gwynedd (i)

  3

  2,1901

  2,1901

  2,1901

  2,1901

  2,1901

  Mid Glamorgan

  Mountain Ash

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Glamorgan

  1

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  Prince Charles

  1

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  Bridgend

  1

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  Princess of Wales (j)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  Nil

  South Glamorgan

  Prince of Wales (Rhydlafar)

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  UHW

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  7

  (k)

  Llandough

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  CRI

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Velindre

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Sully

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Rookwood

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  West Glamorgan

  Singleton (m)

  3

  3(r)

  1,0951

  (n)

  1,0951

  (n)

  1,0951

  (n)

  1,0951

  (n)

  1,0951

  (n)

  Morriston

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neath (m)

  1

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  3651

  Notes:

  (a) Change of use to long-stay psychiatric hospital.

  (b) Closed 1980.

  (c) Maternity hospital as of 1986.

  (d) Closed 1986.
  788 789
  (e) Closed 1987.

  (f) Hospital for the elderly as of 1984.

  (g) GP beds only.

  (h) Closed 1984.

  (i) Opened 1984.

  (j) Opened 1985.

  (k) Two beds to be used solely for emergency admission and only when the basic number of 10 beds is already occupied.

  (m) One emergency bed for flexible use (at either hospital but not at both).

  (n) Maximum of 1,095 bed days with no more than 365 bed days at Morriston.

  (p) All figures are as at 31 December except for 1989 which are as at 30 September.

  (r) Total number of beds/bed days allocated to health authorities which must not be exceeded at any given time.

  (s) 1,825 bed days (see (r)).

  (t) 2,920 bed days (see (r)).

  1 Authorisations in terms of bed days (1 bed=365 bed days).

  Table C

  Number of amenity beds at financial year end (March)

  1978

  1979

  11980

  11981

  1982

  1983

  21984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Clwyd

  n/a

  n/a

  24

  16

  27

  18

  15

  15

  17

  12

  12

  12

  East Dyfed

  n/a

  n/a

  18

  18

  12

  18

  17

  17

  17

  21

  21

  21

  Gwent

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd

  n/a

  n/a

  17

  15

  15

  15

  15

  13

  12

  17

  17

  17

  Mid Glamorgan

  n/a

  n/a

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  6

  Powys

  n/a

  n/a

  11

  12

  10

  12

  6

  10

  10

  8

  8

  8

  South Glamorgan

  n/a

  n/a

  3

  3

  0

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  West Glamorgan

  n/a

  n/a

  11

  11

  11

  11

  11

  11

  11

  9

  5

  —

  Pembrokeshire

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  5

  6

  6

  6

  6

  5

  6

  5

  Wales

  n/a

  n/a

  95

  86

  91

  93

  83

  85

  86

  85

  82

  72

  1 East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire recorded under East Dyfed.

  2 at 31 December 1983.

  790

  EAST TIMOR
  EAST TIMOR
  ARMS PRODUCTION
  ARMS PRODUCTION
  C GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT: POLICY
  C GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT: POLICY
  NATIONALITY FEES: 1988–89 ACCOUNTS
  NATIONALITY FEES: 1988–89 ACCOUNTS