Written Answers of 24 November 1989

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Subsidised Rents
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding, excluding housing benefits, has been allocated to subsidise the rents of Northern Ireland Housing Executive private dwellings in the next financial year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The amount of housing grant payable in the current financial year is estimated at £112 million. The grant payable in 1990–91 will be calculated after my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State makes his public expenditure statement. The arrangements for financing the Northern Ireland Housing Executive include payment of an annual housing grant based on the difference between the executive's approved revenue expenditure and its revenue income, mainly from rents.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  A-levels
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the staying on rates for those studying for A-levels in(a) 11-to-18 schools, (b) sixth form colleges, (c) tertiary, (d) and further education colleges, following 11-to-16 schooling.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The estimated proportion of 16-year-olds studying for A-levels in England in 1987–88 was as follows:

  per cent.

  Schools1 2

  18·0

  Sixth form colleges2

  3·6

  Tertiary and further education3 4

  2·9

  1 All schools (including the private sector) excluding sixth form colleges and tertiary colleges.

  2 Students on first year of an 'A' level course.

  3 Maintained and direct grant colleges.

  4 Full-time and sandwich students only.

  Pupil Numbers
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) by local education authorities and (b) nationally the proportions of children attending (i) grammar, (ii) comprehensive and (iii) secondary modern schools.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is given as at January 1989 in the following table.
  22

  Proportion of children attending Grammar,1 Comprehensive and Secondary Modern schools January 1989

  Grammar

  Comprehensive1

  Secondary Modern

  Barking

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Barnet

  6·8

  93·2

  0·0

  Bexley

  13·2

  68·8

  18·0

  Brent

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Bromley

  8·0

  92·0

  0·0

  Croydon

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Ealing

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Enfield

  7·8

  92·2

  0·0

  Haringey

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Harrow

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Havering

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Hillingdon

  0·0

  98·5

  1·5

  Hounslow

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Kingston upon Thames

  21·7

  0·0

  78·3

  Merton

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Newham

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Redbridge

  9·5

  90·5

  0·0

  Richmond upon Thames

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Sutton

  27·0

  32·9

  40·1

  Waltham Forest

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Inner London

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Birmingham

  8·6

  91·4

  0·0

  Coventry

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Dudley

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Sandwell

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Solihull

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Walsall

  6·6

  93·4

  0·0

  Wolverhampton

  3·3

  96·7

  0·0

  Knowsley

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Liverpool

  0·0

  99·7

  0·3

  St. Helens

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Sefton

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Wirral

  180

  62·7

  19·4

  Bolton

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Bury

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Manchester

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Oldham

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Rochdale

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Salford

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Stockport

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Tameside

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Trafford

  34·0

  4·4

  61·6

  Wigan

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Barnsley

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Doncaster

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Rotherham

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Sheffield

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Bradford

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Calderdale

  11·9

  68·0

  20·1

  Kirklees

  2·1

  94·6

  3·3

  Leeds

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Wakefield

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Gateshead

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  North Tyneside

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  South Tyneside

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Sunderland

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Isles of Scilly

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Avon

  2·7

  97·3

  0·0

  Bedfordshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Berkshire

  7·9

  84·3

  7·7

  Buckinghamshire

  32·5

  29·4

  38·1

  Cambridgeshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  23

  Grammar

  Comprehensive1

  Secondary Modern

  Cheshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Cleveland

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Cornwall

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Cumbria

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Derbyshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Devon

  8·0

  79·6

  12·4

  Dorset

  8·4

  81·4

  10·2

  Durham

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  East Sussex

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Essex

  5·8

  94·2

  0·0

  Gloucestershire

  13·1

  83·0

  3·9

  Hampshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Hertfordshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Humberside

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Isle of Wight

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Kent

  19·8

  47·8

  32·4

  Lancashire

  3·5

  90·8

  5·7

  Leicestershire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Lincolnshire

  22·0

  43·3

  34·6

  Norfolk

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  North Yorkshire

  3·6

  93·5

  2·9

  Northamptonshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Northumberland

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Nottinghamshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Oxfordshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Shropshire

  2·4

  94·9

  2·7

  Somerset

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Staffordshire

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Suffolk

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Surrey

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Warwickshire

  8·9

  66·6

  24·5

  West Sussex

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  Wiltshire

  3·7

  91·6

  4·7

  England

  3·4

  92·7

  3·9

  1 Comprehensive includes middle deemed secondary schools and technical schools.

  Non-designated Courses
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will list the categories of courses that are still listed as non-designated courses.

  Mr. Jackson
  Higher education courses which are designated for mandatory student awards purposes are those which fall within the terms of regulation 10 of the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1458), a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. No central list is kept of courses which are not designated.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount spent by local education authorities on non-designated advance course grants.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not available in the precise form requested.

  In 1987–88, the latest academic year for which figures are available, local education authorities in England and Wales paid a total of £158·3 million in discretionary awards made under section 2 of the Education Act 1962, as amended, to students attending non-designated courses of either higher or further education.

  In-service Training
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes he has made in the method of funding of training grants to local education authorities in the financial year 1990–91; and what effects he expects these changes to have on the availability of in-service training courses.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The LEA training grants scheme in 1990–91 will support LEA expenditure of £122 million on national priority areas at a 65 per cent. rate of grant-an increase of £38 million over 1989–90. Adjustments have been made to the national priority rate of grant-from 70 per cent. to 65 per cent.-and to the amount of support given to expenditure on local priorities. Overall the effect will be that local education authorities will be able to spend more on training on national priorities, particularly the national curriculum. My right hon. Friend therefore expects more training to be available for national priorities, especially the implementation of the national curriculum and other provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  School Sport Forum
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Government intend to respond to the School Sport Forum report.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and I will be publishing the Government's response to the School Sport Forum report on Monday 27 November. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses on that day. As our response emphasises, the Government fully recognise the importance of sport for young people and the value of close co-operation between providers.

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the annual report of the Agricultural and Food Research Council for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The annual report of the Agricultural and Food Research Council has been submitted to me under the requirements of the Science and Technology Act 1965, and a copy is being laid before the House today.

  I was most interested to read about the council's achievements during what has clearly been another challenging year. I was particularly impressed by and interested in:

  (a) the initiation of a new programme of plant molecular biology to be undertaken in universities and Agricultural and Food Research Council institute-based research groups throughout the United Kingdom. This programme will help to maintain the United Kingdom lead in an area of work of great importance for United Kingdom science and industry;

  (b) the creation of a research unit at the university of Oxford on agriculture and the environment. This will bring a new focus to such questions as the enrichment of the agricultural environment, sensitive agricultural practices and the conservation of plants and animals;

  (c) work on animal health including the identification of the seal plague virus;

  25

  (d) work on food safety: the improvement of techniques for the rapid and precise detection of bacteria; and the development of methods of modelling and thus predicting the likely growth of bacteria on foods;

  (e) the studies of the molecular genetics of the Streptomyces bacteria which could lead to the production of modern designer antibiotics; and

  (f) the implementation of new programmes in studentship and fellowship allocations which will help to train the high-quality manpower required to ensure the United Kingdom's progress in plant and animal biotechnology.

  I congratulate the council on these and its many other achievements and look forward to reading about further progress in next year's report.

TRANSPORT

  "Trade Routes to the Future"
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is planning to take with reference to the recent Confederation of British Industry report "Trade Routes to the Future".

  Mr. Atkins
  The CBI report urges a more ambitious and urgent approach to investment in transport infrastructure. That is exactly what the Government are doing. The road programme has been doubled and so will the roads vote by 1992–93. British Rail's investment is at its highest level for a quarter of a century and will increase further particularly on rail freight and London commuter services. It is also investing heavily for the Channel tunnel. London Regional Transport's investment is at record levels and is set for a further large increase. The Jubilee line extension alone will be the first major addition to the underground network for 25 years. The Civil Aviation Authority plans major additions to airspace capacity and Manchester airport is to increase its terminal capacity by 50 per cent.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he proposes to introduce to lessen the congestion of road traffic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The expanded programme of trunk road widening and new construction announced in "Roads for Prosperity" will relieve congestion on major roads between cities and towns. In urban areas road improvements, traffic management and public transport have valuable contributions to make.

  London Assessment Studies
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available copies of the final east London assessment study, free of charge, to people living in the study area; and if he will make a statement on consultation.

  Mr. Atkins
  Free copies of the reports will be available for members of the public to consult in borough libraries throughout the study area. Free summaries will also be readily available. Details of the arrangements for obtaining public comment will be given when the consultant's report is published next month.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the east London 26
  assessment study phase 11A study; and what is the estimated cost of the east London assessment study 11B study.

  Mr. Atkins
  Stage 2 of east London assessment study is expected to cost about £1·75 million, but that sum is not readily apportionable between stages 2A and 2B.

  Cost-Benefit Analysis
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value is put on open space in cost-benefit analyses relating to proposals to build new roads.

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

  Freight
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's estimates of the proportion and value of freight carried in the United Kingdom by(a) rail, (b) road and (c) water for each year since 1979; and what are his estimates for the next five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The proportions of goods lifted and moved by transport mode in Great Britain between 1978 and 1988 are published in table 1.13 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1978–1988", a copy of which is in the Library. Information is not available on the value of freight or of estimates by all modes for future years. However, forecasts of goods moved by heavy goods road vehicles are given in table 2.45 of the publication referred to above and in "National Road Traffic Forecasts (Great Britain) 1989" which is also in the Library.

  M1/A1 Link
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the M1 to A1 link road to be completed to the west of Kettering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Work is now completed on the contract for the A605 interchange and is in hand on two more of the 11 contracts for the link road. We expect to let four more contracts this financial year—for the Catthorpe interchange, the section from Rothwell to Kettering, the Kettering southern bypass and an advance railway bridge on the Kettering northern bypass.

  With statutory procedures still outstanding, including public inquiries, on the Catthorpe to Rothwell section we cannot give a firm forecast for its completion or for completion of the remainder of the link road. We shall let the remaining contracts as quickly as possible.

  Road Building Programme
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the proposed increase in the road building programme.

  Mr. Atkins
  We have received a large number of representations from organisations and individuals about the proposed increase in the trunk road building programme in England. Many have been supportive of our plans.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements in service to its customers and the general public have followed the establishment of the vehicle inspectorate as an executive agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am pleased to say that the agency has already introduced a number of worthwhile improvements aimed at improving its service to customers and furthering road safety. The most recent initiative is to offer operators of heavy goods and public service vehicles the option of requesting an annual test or retest on a Saturday. This extension to the normal working week will operate first on a trial basis to test the demand at the Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Kidderminster, Northampton and Ipswich heavy goods vehicle testing stations.

  Following a successful trial at selected locations, a brake performance check service will be made available from next January on a national basis. The service is mainly intended for operators and repairers of heavy goods and public service vehicles.

  The inspectorate has also opened its training centre in Bristol to the private sector and has run a number of courses on brake testing and the inspection of public service and heavy goods vehicles. Training courses are also being run at operators' own premises where this is preferred.

  The manuals for the inspection of heavy goods and public service vehicles, cars and motorcycles are now available from the inspectorate's operations centre, Swansea, in addition to the normal HMSO outlets. A motorcycle test guide aimed at owners who undertake their own servicing and repairs will be available in the new year. This is being published by HMSO and sponsored by the Norwich Union Insurance Company. It will be sold through high street bookshops, as well as those of HMSO.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  E1 Salvador
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what humanitarian aid Her Majesty's Government have sent to E1 Salvador to assist the victims of the civil war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have provided £100,000 through the International Committee of the Red Cross for its emergency relief programme in E1 Salvador. This is in addition to Britain's share of the European Community's 300,000 ecu emergency assistance.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. France Monien
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the reasons for the refusal of a certificate of naturalisation to Mr. France Monien, a Crown servant in Mauritius.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Section 44(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 relieves the Home Secretary of the obligation to assign any reason for the grant or refusal of any application under this Act where the decision is at his discretion. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to make an exception in this case.

  Referral of Legal Cases
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all cases since 1964 which the Home Secretary has referred to(a) the Court of Appeal and (b) for re-examination by the Director of Public Prosecutions, where all the normal legal processes have been exhausted.

  Mr. John Patten
  Under the provisions of section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (which replaced section 19 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1907) my right hon. and learned Friend will normally refer to the Court of Appeal the case of someone who has been convicted on indictment, if there is some new evidence or other consideration of substance which has not been before the courts and which appears to cast doubt on the safety of the conviction. He is also prepared to refer cases under this section, where there is doubt about the validity of a sentence. It is not our practice to refer such cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions, although the director's advice may be sought from time to time in individual cases.

  Since 1964, the following cases have been referred to the Court of Appeal under section 19 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1907, or section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968:

  Year

  Conviction

  Sentence

  1964

  Scudder, Henry

  Lennon, Gordon Leslie

  Cheesman, Alan

  O'Connor, John Augustus

  Ford, John

  Ryan, Thomas John

  Fraser, James

  Fitzsimmons, Dennis James

  Oliva, Joseph

  Pedrini, Ricardo

  Cohen, David Julian

  1965

  Irvine, William Patrick

  Brookes, Maurice Joseph

  Wharton, Raymond

  Hall, Thomas

  Hinds, Alfred George

  1966

  Brett, Terence David

  Emmins, John

  Norman, Richard

  1967

  Griffin, Daniel John

  1968

  Forbes, Ralph Khar

  Witt, David Arthur

  Hobbs, John Patrick

  Jones, Lee Anthony

  McKenna, Kenneth

  Snowden, Robert Knight

  1969

  Brandon, James Prentice

  Bardoe, James Noble

  Tourick, Ronald Michael

  Coleman, Barry

  Hunter, Michael Stephen Bell, Henry

  29

  Year

  Conviction

  Sentence

  1970

  Trevarthen, Peter

  Lucas, Raymond Joseph

  Cunliffe, Francis

  King, Victor Herbert

  Devers, John Thomas

  Curbishley, William George

  Stupple, William John

  1971

  Dickens Arthur Thomas

  Hulme, William Ernest

  Dickens, David Leslie

  Locker, John Victor

  Szulimowski, Derek Sidney

  1972

  Banjo, Ade

  Gunnee, John Roger

  Luvaglio, Michael

  Stafford, Dennis

  Goodwin, Matthew

  Murphy, Patrick Colin

  1973

  Saunders, John Frederick

  Turner, John Eric

  Dougherty, Luke Clement

  Eastelow, John Arthur

  1974

  Najar, Munthar

  Whitehead, Keith

  Cooper, David

  McMahon, Michael Graham

  1975

  O'Connor, Michael Kevin

  Johnston, Harry

  Anderson, Kenneth

  Wilkinson, Edward John

  Lattimore, Colin George

  Leighton, Ronald William

  Salih, Ahmet

  Shilhan, Peter Charles

  1976

  Singh, Bedi, Randip

  Hurst, William Michael

  Singh, Gurmeet

  Daniel, Eric George

  Singh, Bakshi

  Cook, Phyliss May

  Singh, Charan

  Khan, Shenshi

  Benhamin, Donald Sylvester

  Mitchell, Thomas

  Doughty, John

  Cooper, David

  McMahon, Michael Graham

  Leeman, Peter Elias

  Murphy, Patrick Colin

  Davis, William Albert

  Shields, David Trevor

  Patrick, Steven Hugh

  Telfer, Fabian Augustus

  Naughton, Thomas Anthony

  1977

  Hands, Simon

  Adams, Harry Thomas

  Adair, Roger

  1978

  Brown, David

  Cowley, Alan

  Morgan, William

  Bennett, Henry Albert

  Winter, Cameron James

  Taylor, Albert Edward

  1979

  Winston, Anne

  Davey, Michael Joseph

  Harper, David

  Kitchen, Kenneth Harry

  Stocks, David Stanley

  Jones, Robert

  Essauah, Benjamin Yau

  Underhill, Gareth Paul

  Durrani, Ijaz Ahmed

  1980

  McDonagh, Richard

  —

  Casey, Richard

  Davies, David William

  1981

  Chard, Alan John

  Tate, Robert David

  Maan, Gurmail Singh

  30

  Year

  Conviction

  Sentence

  1982

  Saltman, Bernard Brian

  Moore, Peter Damien John

  Tarrant, Edward Charles

  Wakefield, Ian Ferguson

  Watts, Richard David

  Neal, John Stephen

  Woods, Bernard John

  Cousins, Alverstone Edmond

  Todd, Percival George

  1983

  Bhaskar, Vinod Kumar

  Cooper, Leonard William

  Russell, Mervyn John Scott

  Abrol, Kewal Krishan

  1984

  McDonagh, Michael

  Harper, Andrew

  McDonagh, Patrick

  Bown, Paul John

  Harrison, Melvyn

  Butler, James Edward

  Copeland, William Ian

  Mycock, Geoffrey

  Gilfellan, Ian Charles

  Hartley, Hugo

  North, Norman Berry

  Sample, Alan John

  Szpythma, Michael

  Gordon, Keith

  Schnepel, Dieter

  Asquith, Adrian

  Harold, Roy

  1985

  Fellows, Keith Noel

  Lunnon, Khaliq Hossain

  Clarke, Ernest Adolphus

  James, Irene Ingrid

  Mycock, Anthony

  Showell, John Joseph

  Willis, Alan Anthony

  McKenna, Dean Robert

  1986

  Jarrom, Rodney Robert

  Jenkinson, Karl

  Mapstone, Kerry Andrew

  Lawrence, Roy

  Livesey, Margaret

  Fountain, Peter

  Edwards, Derek Goronwy

  Bovis, John Edward

  Celisse, Paul Arthur

  Buck, Kevin John

  Cain, Douglas Roy

  Critchlow, Janine Patricia

  Phelan, Michael

  Chamberlaine, Sharal

  Limb, Martin Ernest

  Meah, Farouk

  Creary, Shirley Elaine

  1987

  Andrews, Aurilius Benedict

  Price, Gareth David

  Hickey, Michael Joseph

  Valentine, Jason Richard

  Hickey, Vincent

  Clayton, Shane Stanley

  Robinson, James

  Lyons, James

  Cahill, Michael Peter

  Teal, Graham

  Devaney, Phillip

  Kite, Christopher Joseph

  Callaghan, Hugh

  Jones, Frederick

  Hill, Patrick

  Curtis, Mark Lawrence

  Hunter, Robert

  Whitworth, George Edward

  McIlkenny, Noel

  Buswell, David

  Power, William

  Lincoln, Timothy William

  Walker, John

  Parsons, Royston Michael

  Bargh, Patrick Joseph

  Tourie, Albert Saidu

  Curtis, Anthony Dean

  Gibbon, Christopher

  Cade, Gary Michael

  Blanco, Leopoldo

  Findlay, Raymond

  Hayden, Darren Earl

  Heal, Kevin John

  Sheehan, Michael

  Wlodarczyk, Jan

  Wood, Jeffrey

  Walker, Gerald Francis

  Camponi, Christina

  Ellington, Clare

  Hardie, John James

  Coaten, Glynn

  31

  Year

  Conviction

  Sentence

  1988

  O'Callaghan, Daniel

  Rowley, David Alan

  Lacy, Gerard Francis

  Rathbone, Gary Michael

  Lynas, Gerrard

  Demicol, John

  Seafield, Susan Elizabeth

  Patrick, Robert John

  Hart, Lesley Jane

  Hudd, Nigel Paul

  Prince, Michael

  Brumwell, Michael

  Seager, Jeremy Hugh

  Morrison, Everton

  Brown, Ivan Michael

  Baker, Norman Russell

  McGrath, Marie Ann

  McDonald, Scott William

  McRea, Angus

  Benham, Robert Steven

  Grant, Alan Adam

  Beevers, William

  Stevens, Susanagh Marie

  Clayton, Andrew Albert

  Ward, Darren Ernest

  1989

  Howard, Mark William

  Tolladay, Vincent James

  Oliwiecki, Ronald

  Steed, Gareth

  Armstrong, Patrick

  Atkinson, John Peter

  Conlon, Gerard Patrick

  Smith, Robert Brian

  Hill, Paul Michael

  Buttimer, Michael

  Richardson, Carole

  Anthony

  Margaret

  Franklin, John Francis

  Birmingham Six
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new representations he has received concerning the case of the Birmingham Six; and what consideration he has given to referral of their case to the Court of Appeal.

  Mr. John Patten
  Since my reply of 16 November 1989 to the hon. Member at column 449, we have continued to receive representations from Members of both Houses of Parliament and from members of the public, proposing that the case be referred again to the Court of Appeal.

  Careful consideration is given to all representations received about the safety of the convictions, but at present, my right hon. and learned Friend can find no grounds to justify his referring this case back to the Court of Appeal. He is, however, always ready to consider new evidence or other considerations of substance which have not been before the courts and which appear to cast doubt upon the safety of any conviction.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress with nutritional labelling.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are taking an active part in negotiation of the European Commission's nutrition labelling proposals and hope that a common position will be reached soon. The proposals are similar to the Ministry's nutrition labelling guidelines and provide for a voluntary system of nutrition labelling with a mandatory format so that consumers can compare products more easily. Nutrition labelling would be compulsory only when 32
  a nutrition claim was made. There is no provision for a three-year lead-in period to allow labels to be changed and, given the close resemblance of the guidelines to the Commission proposals. I hope that manufacturers and retailers will be encouraged to provide as much nutrition information as possible within their resources according to the guideline, until Community legislation is in place. I also refer the hon. Member to the debate on nutritional labelling in Standing Committee on 1 November 1989.

  Pelagic Drift Net Fishing
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any British fishers or registered ships are currently employing large-scale pelagic drift net fishing.

  Mr. Curry
  It is not the practice of British fishers or British registered ships to employ large-scale pelagic drift nets.

  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 in respect of large scale pelagic drift net fishing.

  Mr. Curry
  Where appropriate, the Government support the introduction of suitable management procedures so that fisheries are conducted on a rational and sustainable basis, with due regard also to the conservation of the wider marine environment. Should large-scale pelagic drift net fishing be found to impact adversely on marine resources, we would support appropriate measures being taken.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the impact on marine resources of large-scale pelagic drift net fishing.

  Mr. Curry
  For the south Pacific, there is information which suggests that the current extent and practices in the large-scale pelagic drift net fisheries are likely to affect marine resources adversely.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether large-scale pelagic drift net fishing takes place in waters over which Her Majesty's Government exercises jurisdiction.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Advisers
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he has any plans to introduce new contracts for special advisers.

  Mr. Luce
  There are no such plans.

THE ARTS

  Museums
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his policy towards encouraging the national museums to raise their own funds.
  33
  Mr. Luce
  I continue to attach high importance to encouraging national museums and galleries to develop self-reliance and diversification of funding. I congratulate the institutions on their achievements to date, and on becoming more professional in their management in recent years. I was delighted to announce on 23 November that MEPC plc is donating £1 million over five years to Sir John Soane's museum towards the repair of the fabric of the building. I am pleased to have been able to match this generous offer.

  Indemnity Scheme
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether there has been any change in the forecast of liabilities under the Government indemnity scheme.

  Mr. Luce
  The forecast total liability in 1989–90 for indemnities under section 16 (2) of the National Heritage Act 1980 was £350 million, to cover objects on loan to non-national museums, galleries and other institutions in the United Kingdom, as shown in paragraph 6(c) of the introduction to the estimate class XIII, vote 1. The Government will now be giving further indemnities in respect of loans to non-national institutions which will increase the total outstanding liability for the period from 25 November 1989 to 30 June 1990 to £600 million.

  Expected expenditure by the Department of Energy on research and development

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  Total

  174·6

  144·9

  140·2

  Renewable energy

  18·6

  10·7

  21·1

  14·6

  22·6

  16·1

  Nuclear energy

  135·3

  77·5

  101·7

  70·2

  94·9

  67·7

  Source:

  "R & D 1989—Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development", HMSO October 1989, page 143.

  Notes:

  1. With effect from 1 April 1990, responsibility for expenditure on nuclear safety research will be transferred to the Health and Safety Commission, with a consequent reduction in Department of Energy expenditure in 1990–91 of £22·7 million.

  2. The figures for nuclear energy research and development include expected contributions to United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority restructuring costs of the order of £25 million in 1989–90, £25 million in 1990–91 and £10 million in 1991–92.

DEFENCE

  Ambulance Dispute
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military ambulances are available for use by a civilian power in the west midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A total of 54 service ambulances have been allocated for deployment in the west midlands if required to assist in the maintenance of essential accident and emergency services for the civilian population.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ambulances from(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force have been deployed on civilian duties in the current ambulance dispute.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  To date, 54 Army ambulances, six Royal Air Force ambulances and no Royal Navy ambulances have been deployed on civilian duties in the current ambulance dispute.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Legislation
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will consider publishing a Green Paper on the subject of drafting of legislation, its scrutiny and subsequent interpretation, following the rejection by the Lord Chancellor of the proposal for the scrutiny of selected Bills by High Court judges, contained in the petition to this House of 17 April by George Bednar.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have no plans to do so.

ENERGY

  Nuclear and Renewable Energy
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the percentage and amount of his Department's research and development budget now allocated to nuclear and renewable energy projects; and if he has any plans to review the priorities with a view to adjusting the present balance, consequential to his statement on the future nuclear power station construction programme.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Department's plans for expenditure on nuclear and renewable energy research and development in the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 are set out in the table. The Department's expenditure on research arid development is kept under review.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel from(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force have been deployed on civilian duties in the current ambulance dispute.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  To date, 228 Army personnel, 54 Royal Air Force personnel and no Royal Navy personnel have been deployed on civilian duties in the current ambulance dispute.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the use of Army vehicles during the ambulance staffs' dispute.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is too early to provide an estimate of the cost of the use of Army vehicles since the calculation is dependent, among other things, both on the length of the dispute and the number of vehicles finally involved. The Department of Health has undertaken to meet all the extra costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence.

  Incident (Stornoway)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about an incident involving a fishing vessel Scotia and a Royal Naval submarine off Stornoway on 13 November; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  At 2156 hours on Monday 13 November, some 8·5 nm east south east of the Butt of Lewis, the fishing vessel Scotia was towed astern for a short distance by a Royal Navy submarine, which was on exercise in the area and which had snagged the fishing vessel's gear. The submarine, on becoming aware of the incident, conducted a full visual search to confirm that neither the fishing vessel involved nor any other vessel in the area was in any difficulty, then proceeded with her exercise. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

  Biological and Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what manufacturing capacity the United Kingdom proposes for biological and chemical weapons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

PRIME MINISTER

  Billericay
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Billericay.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kurdish People
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings with Kurdish groups and visits to Kurdish-speaking areas have been undertaken by Her Majesty's embassy staff in Ankara; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The staff of Her Majesty's embassy in Ankara undertake visits to all parts of Turkey, including Kurdish-speaking areas, during the course of their duties, and maintain contact with groups representing a wide range of opinion.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings with Kurdish organisations and visits to Kurdish-speaking areas of Iraq have been undertaken by staff of Her Majesty's embassy in Baghdad since January 1988.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The British embassy maintains contact with a wide range of groups and individuals in Iraq including some of Kurdish origin.

  Since January 1988, diplomatic staff from the embassy have travelled frequently to Kurdish-speaking areas of Iraq.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have 36
  been received for the Kurdish people to be given observer status at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Embassy (Iraq)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the commercial staffing section of Her Majesty's embassy in Iraq for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Before the February 1987 inspection, the commercial section of the British embassy comprised four United Kingdom-based and six locally-engaged staff. In 1987 the number was reduced to three and five respectively.

  Pelagic Drift Net Fishing
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if Her Majesty's Government will agree to a moratorium on all high seas drift net fishing by 30 June 1992; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on an immediate ban on the practice of drift net fishing in the South Pacific; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are concerned at the effects of large-scale pelagic drift net fishing and are playing a constructive role in discussions on this issue. The European Community has competence in high seas fisheries policy.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the governments of Japan and Taiwan in respect of drift net fishing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have made clear to the Japanese Government our concern at the effects of large-scale pelagic drift net fishing in the South Pacific, on both fish stocks and marine mammals and sea birds. We have no dealings with the authorities in Taiwan.

  COCOM
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the United Kingdom representatives who sit on the COCOM commission; and when it last met.

  Mr. Maude
  The COCOM regular committee meets in continuous session. The head of the United Kingdom delegation is Mr. H. Freeman, counsellor at the British embassy in Paris. The United Kingdom permanent, deputy and assistant delegates are Mr. M. Hentley, Mr. S. Shelly and Mr. S. Morgan.

HEALTH

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff of the registrar general and at what grade are engaged in providing population estimates to the Department of the Environment in respect of standard spending assessments and the population report relating to the introduction of the poll tax.
  37
  Mr. Freeman
  The registrar general has no staff engaged primarily to provide a service to the Department of the Environment in respect of the community charge as such. However, the OPCS population estimates unit, which provides population estimates to all central Government Departments and to local and health authorities, has seven staff, with the following grade structure:

  1 Grade 7 statistician.

  1 Senior executive officer.

  1 Assistant statistician.

  2 Excutive officers.

  3 Administrative officers.

  Abortion
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will seek to obtain from the United States Government the number of abortions per state performed on girls aged 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 years, according to gestation, in each year since 1985;

  (2) if he will seek to obtain from the United States Government the number of abortions per state performed on women aged 18 to 24 years, 25 to 30 years, 30 to 35 years and 35 years and over, according to each gestational week, in each year since 1985.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I understand that the most recent federal abortion statistics for the United States were published in September 1989 for the years 1984–85. The data are collected and published by the centres for disease control (CDC), United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Some more recent abortion statistics were published in the CDC's morbidity and mortality weekly report on 29 September 1989 but not in the form requested.

  Ambulance Dispute
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance staff in each region outside London have been suspended during the period of the current dispute; for what period; and how many have been reinstated.

  Mr. Freeman
  These statistics are not collected centrally and the situation fluctuates on a day by day basis. I advise the hon. Member to make inquiries to the region direct.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of London ambulance service personnel who have been suspended from duty in the last month; how many received written warnings; and how many have been reinstated.

  Mr. Freeman
  The management of the London ambulance service is the responsibility of the South West Thames regional health authority, to which I refer the hon. Member.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with representatives of ambulance workers in the last month.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health met representatives of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel on 14 November. The chief executive of the NHS has met national officers of the trade unions represented on the staff side of the ambulance Whitley councils on three occasions in an attempt to find a basis upon which negotiations might be resumed in the Whitley councils.

  Asthma
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to extend to asthmatics the same arrangements for free regular prescriptions that now apply to diabetics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. The Government's policy is to direct help with prescription charges to those who are likely to have difficulty in paying charges on financial grounds. More than 75 per cent. of prescriptions are now dispensed free of charge. To extend the small list of medical conditions which confer exemption from charges to include asthma would benefit only those whose income is above the qualifying threshold for low income exemption. This would not be making the best use of NHS resources.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that a sufficient amount of the health services' resources to meet the increasing need are directed to the health care of the elderly.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for each health authority to develop detailed plans for the services that it will provide, and to decide the division of its resources between those services. The Department regularly scrutinises each regional health authority's plans, which include details of resource allocation, to ensure that all services, including those for elderly people, are developed with the guidelines which the Government have given to health authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received representations concerning the working relationship between British Telecom plc and Mercury plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I receive numerous representations on telecommunications. Some refer to the working relationship between British Telecom and Mercury Communications, but this is essentially a matter for the companies.

  Design Initiative
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what allocation of funds there is in the design initiative for(a) administration, (b) projects and (c) marketing and advertising.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is no specific budget provision for the design initiative; which is one of six demand-led consultancy options within the enterprise initiative.

  Grants
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the annual figures in cash and real terms nationally and per region from 1978 to date for grants under each of(a) AMT Project Planning and

  39
  Implementation, (b) Aid and Trade Provision, (c) Alvey Research Programme, (d) BTAS: Productivity Element, (e) BTAS: Quality Element, (f) BTAS: Support for Design, (g) BTAS: Support for Marketing, (h) Better Business Services (Scotland: Strathclyde; Tayside), (i) Better Technical Services (Scotland: Strathclyde; Tayside), (j) Business Improvement Services (England), (k) Business Improvement Services (Wales), (l) Exchange Risk Guarantee Scheme, (m) Feasibility Studies: Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) (n) Feasibility Studies: Biotechnology Technical Advice (o) Feasibility Studies: Microelectronics and Integrated Circuits, (p) General Investment support for Major Projects (Industrial Development Act 1982: section 8),(q) Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme,(r) Investment Support for Biotechnology, (s) Investment Support for Fibre Optics and Opto-Electronics, (t) Investment Support for Microelectronics, (u) Iron and Steel Employees Readaptation Benefits Scheme, (v) Joint Appraisal Scheme, (w) Joint Opto-Electronics Research Scheme, (x) Overseas Projects Fund, (y) Quality Assurance Support Scheme, (z) Regional Development Grant, (aa) Regional Selective Assistance (Industrial Development Act 1982: section 7), (bb) Shipbuilding Intervention Fund, (cc) Support for Electronics Manufacture, (dd) Support for Innovation, (ee) Support for Microelectronices Distance Learning Video Courses, (ff) Support for Software Products, (gg) Support for Training in Microelectronics Applications, (hh) Teaching Company Scheme and (ii) Training in Support of RSA.

  Mr. Forth
  The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mergers
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to give general consents for share dealings following a merger reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission by way of exception from the prohibition in section 75(4A) of the Fair Trading Act, inserted by the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Ridley
  Yes. I shall today be giving a general consent to cover intra-group transactions and a copy of the consent will be placed in the Library of each House.

  Mergers
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the negotiations on European Community merger control regulation.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I attended the internal market Council on 23 November 1989. Major progress was made on a number of important issues. It appears that member states are now happy with the question of criteria for reference. There has been general agreement about the threshold levels of 5 billion ECU world-wide turnover, 250 million ECU and 66 per cent. Community-wide turnover. The UK also received assurance that there would be no Council statement concerning any downward presumption about the nature of the review of thresholds in four years' time. It is the United Kingdom Government's view that this review should be conducted in four years' time in the light of the experience of EC merger jurisdiction and in the light 40
  of evidence about whether there are a larger number of mergers below the current threshold for EC jurisdiction which entail a significant EC-wide merger problem.

  There was active discussion about when and if there should ever be parallel jurisdiction for both the EC and the member states. There was general agreement that there should be exits from EC jurisdiction to cover prudential controls in the financial sector, public security interests and media issues. In response to a request from Germany there was a long discussion about whether there should also be a parallel authority for a member state to pursue competition issues within its own territory at the same time that the EC was considering the merger for European competition questions.

  The United Kingdom put forward a compromise proposal which may form the basis for a conclusion on the whole subject, but this awaits a considered response from Germany. If a satisfactory conclusion is reached on this vital question of the single-stop shop, the United Kingdom and the other countries are likely to remove all their remaining reserves on other items of the package and agreement should then follow swiftly.

  The United Kingdom managed to persuade the Council that the reciprocity clause should include unanimous voting in the event of any action or measure being contemplated under it, as the United Kingdom was naturally worried about any signals that might point in the direction of a fortress Europe.

  There will be a discussion at the internal market Council on 21 December 1989 which may produce a result following the long-running debate on this very important measure.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water (Disconnections)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of domestic disconnections in the North-West Water region in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested by the hon. Member is shown in the table.

  Household disconnections for non-payment

  North West

  1984–85

  110

  1985–86

  238

  1986–87

  457

  1987–88

  448

  1988–89

  457

  Reservoirs
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to direct water companies to permit public inspection of reports concerning the safety of reservoirs, especially in those cases where water companies are required to submit such reports to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  No. Under the Reservoirs Act 1975 county and metropolitan district councils are required as part of their enforcement role to keep public registers containing prescribed information about large raised
  41
  reservoirs in their areas. The information includes a summary of the contents of all reports made under the Act. The registers provide the means by which members of the public can satisfy themselves that the requirements of the Act are being met and any safety recommendations made by inspecting engineers implemented.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a civil engineer last inspected Horton Bank Top reservoir in Bradford; when their draft report was passed to Yorkshire Water; when Yorkshire Water expects the completed report to be passed to Bradford metropolitan district council; whether the public will be entitled to inspect the report lodged with Bradford council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  These are matters for Yorkshire Water as the owner of Horton Bank Top reservoir and for Bradford metropolitan district council as enforcement authority under the Reservoirs Act 1975. The register which the council is required to maintain will show when the reservoir was last inspected and give a summary of the engineer's report.

  Councils (Privatisation of Functions)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations exist to prevent local government officers having the opportunity to draw salaries from privatised companies established by the West Wiltshire district council in addition to their district council salaries.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Under section 112 of the Local Government Act 1972, local authority officers are to be appointed on such reasonable terms and conditions, including conditions as to remuneration, as their appointing authority thinks fit.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what regulations exist which prevent a district council from privatising parts of its function and then allowing a former chief executive from procuring it;

  (2) what regulations prevent a district council from disposing of part of its assets to former officers and bypassing tendering procedures.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  All local authorities are subject to a general fiduciary duty to their ratepayers in managing, and disposing of, their assets. There are no special rules on sales to former officers.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from residents of west Wiltshire on the conduct of the former chief executive of West Wiltshire district council.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has had discussions with West Wiltshire district council regarding the circumstances under which West Wiltshire Holdings has been wound up.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has identified the legislative loopholes which were exploited by the West 42
  Wiltshire district council in order to set up private companies which are now being investigated by the district auditor.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 makes new provision for the regulation of local authority interests in companies.

  Water Privatisation
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what payment has been agreed to firms acting as underwriters for the privatisation of water.

  Mr. Howard
  The aggregate commission rate on shares underwritten in the United Kingdom is 0·1731 per cent. An additional 0·625 per cent. commission is paid on such shares under the sub-underwriting arrangements. The composite commission rate on the United Kingdorn underwriting is thus 0.7981 per cent., which is the second lowest rate on any Government privatisation. The commission rate on shares underwritten for the overseas offers is 1·2356 per cent. Full details of the underwriting are set out in the "Prospectus for the Water Offers", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many days for the latest year for which figures are available, air at each site where air pollution levels are monitored failed to meet the World Health Organisation safety level for(a) carbon monoxide, (b) nitrogen oxides and (c) ozone.

  Mr. Trippier
  World Health Organisation air pollution guidelines are meant to provide background information and offer guidance, and are not intended to set limit values or standards.

  Data are not available on daily exceedances of WHO guidelines for carbon monoxide and ozone since these guidelines are expressed in terms of exceedances of concentration levels averaged over shorter periods of time —one hour and eight hours. Data for these pollutants is therefore presented under these criteria.

  The following data were obtained from the pollution monitoring network operated on behalf of the Department by Warren Spring laboratory, and covers the period January to July 1989.

  Carbon monoxide (CO)
  CO is monitored at two central London sites. One of these sites recorded 25 exceedances of the one-hour limit (25ppm) and two exceedances of the eight-hour limit (10ppm).

  Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
  NO2 is monitored at six urban and rural sites. Four of these sites recorded a total of 17 exceedances of the 24-hour limit (80ppb).

  Ozone (O3)
  O3 is monitored at 11 urban and rural sites. Exceedances were recorded at all sites; a total of 669 for the one-hour limit of 76–100ppb and 3092 for the eight-hour limit of 50–60 ppb.

WALES

  Chromic Acid Leak
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the watercourses between the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment and the sea which are affected when there is any discharge from that
  43
  establishment (a) similar to the one which took place on Friday 17 November or (b) in the event of a more serious incident;

  (2) what action has been taken by the Welsh region of the NRA following the discharge of chromic acid from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Cardiff on Friday 17 November;

  (3) what acutal contamination was identified in each of the watercourses between the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Cardiff and the sea following the discharge of chromic acid on Friday 17 November;

  (4) what information he has about the discharge of chromic acid to the interceptor which discharges into Llanishen brook from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Cardiff on Friday 17 November.

  Mr. Grist
  There is only one receiving water course system from Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff. The immediate receiving water is the Llanishen brook which enters Roath Park lake. The outlet from the lake forms the Roath brook which discharges into the tidal reach of the River Rhymney.

  Prompt action by the National Rivers Authority and AWE staff on Friday 17 November resulted in containment of the chromic acid spill in the on-site surface water oil interceptor. The interceptor's contents were tankered off site during the early hours of Saturday morning. Slight seepage from the interceptor into the adjacent watercourse occurred. Samples taken showed the maximum concentration in the immediate watercourse to be 2 milligrammes per litre (mgl). This was not regarded by the National Rivers Authority as significant and did not affect Roath Park lake. However, as a precaution, NRA staff also took samples of the inlet stream to Roath Park lake which contained the following levels of chromium.

  0·1 mg1 at 2015 hrs. on 17 November 1989.

  0·04 mg1 at 1900 hrs. on 18 November 1989.

  These concentrations are not regarded as significant.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the health and safety implications of any discharge of chromic acid into a watercourse; and what is his assessment of the maximum safe level for(a) humans and (b) fish.

  Mr. Grist
  Chromic acid is an industrial chemical used in metal finishing and is in no way unusual. When diluted in a watercourse, the acid's corrosive properties would be greatly reduced, but it is the chromium content of chromic acid that would normally be of concern. National environmental quality standards (reflecting EC directives) have been set for chromium and are shown in the following table:

  Quality Objective

  Fresh Water

  Class of River

  Direct

  A1

  50PT

  Abstraction to potable supply

  A2

  75MT

  Total hardness of water (as mg/1 CaCo3)

  Protection of

  0–50

  5AD

  sensitive aquatic

  50–100

  10AD

  life (eg salmonid fish)

  100–150

  20AD

  150–200

  20AD

  200–250

  50AD

  44

  Total hardness of water (as mg/1 CaCo3)

  250+

  50AD

  Protection of

  0–50

  150AD

  other aquatic life

  50–100

  175AD

  (eg cyprinid fish)

  100–150

  200AD

  150–200

  200AD

  200–250

  250AD

  250+

  Salt Water

  Protection of salt water life

  15AD

  All values given as microgrammes per litre.

  A = Annual average.

  P = 95 per cent. of samples.

  M = Maximum Allowable Concentration.

  D = Dissolved.

  T = Total.

  In line with the EC directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption, the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989 No. 1147) set a maximum concentration of 50 microgrammes of chromium per litre in drinking water.

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

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 10 November.

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

  Mr. Grist
  None.

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

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

  WTW

  Estimated population served

  Location

  Trecastell

  1,500

  Clwyd

  Note:—The population figure has been derived by Dwr Cymru from the average daily output of the works when in use and therefore represents the potential number of customers.

  Schools
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each Welsh local education authority the number of primary schools which have been closed or amalgamated in each of the past 15 years which had(a) under 10 pupils, (b) 11 to 20 pupils, (c) 21 to 30

  Local Education Authority

  Net change per year

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1974–75

  -1

  -2

  -1

  -2

  —

  +1

  —

  +1

  1975–76

  +6

  -1

  +3

  -1

  -1

  -3

  +2

  —

  1976-77

  -2

  -5

  -6

  -1

  —

  -1

  +2

  —

  1977–78

  +4

  -3

  -3

  -3

  +1

  -1

  -1

  -2

  1978–79

  —

  -1

  -5

  -2

  —

  -4

  +2

  -2

  1979–80

  -2

  +1

  -7

  —

  +2

  —

  +4

  -3

  1980–81

  -1

  -2

  -3

  —

  -4

  -2

  -3

  -2

  1981–82

  -3

  -6

  -10

  -1

  -2

  -4

  -4

  -5

  1982–83

  -2

  -5

  -1

  -1

  +2

  -3

  -7

  -12

  1983–84

  -5

  -4

  -3

  —

  -3

  -1

  -3

  -4

  1984–85

  -1

  -3

  -8

  —

  -5

  -2

  -3

  -3

  1985–86

  -1

  -6

  -14

  —

  +3

  -2

  -2

  —

  1986–87

  —

  -6

  -1

  —

  —

  -2

  —

  -3

  1987–88

  +1

  —

  -6

  -2

  —

  -1

  —

  -1

  1988–89

  —

  -2

  -4

  -2

  —

  —

  —

  -1

  Pembroke Bypass
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for a bypass for Pembroke; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This is a matter for Dyfed county council as the local highway authority.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Irish Citizens
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the privileges enjoyed by Irish citizens resident in the United Kingdom which are not enjoyed by citizens of other European Economic Community countries.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no benefits provided by the Department which are available to Irish citizens resident in the United Kingdom which are not available to citizens of other EC member states also resident in this country.

  Winter Heating Premium
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for a winter heating premium for pensioners payable during the winter months without a means test.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The provision of cold weather payments from the social fund, at times of very cold weather, provides help to those in greatest need. To extend this provision to all pensioners would not represent the best use of available resources.
  46
  pupils, (d) 31 to 40 pupils, (e) 41 to 50 pupils, (f) 51 to 60 pupils, (g) 61 to 100 pupils, (h) 101 to 150 pupils, and (i) 151 to 200 pupils.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Information in the form requested is not available. The table shows the net changes in the number of primary schools by local education authority for the period 1974–89. Many closures occur as part of wider schemes of reorganisation or amalgamation which can incorporate the establishment of new schools.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to raise the basic level for the retirement pension to half of average earnings for a couple and a third of average earnings for a single pensioner.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no plans to do so. The key factor in improving pensioners' incomes is their total income. Between 1979 and 1986 pensioners' average total net income increased by 23 per cent. in real terms, compared with a 3 per cent. increase between 1974 and 1979.

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

  Family Incomes
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest average length of time taken to process applications for family credit, income support and housing benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  During October 1989, family credit claims were cleared on average in 17·6 working days, of which only 4·3 days were for work within the family credit unit. The remaining 13·3 days were taken up awaiting replies to inquiries mainly from employers. During September 1989, income support claims were dealt with on average in 5·2 working days. For housing benefit, which is processed by local authorities, information is not collected in the form requested. Information for the financial year 1988–89 is not yet complete, but the figures available indicate that three out of four claims were processed in 14 days.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest figure for the administrative cost of(a) child benefit and (b) family credit, in cash terms and as a proportion of overall expenditure on each benefit.
  47
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest child benefit figures available—for the year to April 1988—are estimated as:

  Administrative expenditure

  £103 million

  Proportion of total benefit expenditure

  2·2 per cent.

  No figures are yet available for family credit which was introduced only from April 1988 but the figures for its preceding benefit—family income supplement—for 1987–88 are:

  Administrative expenditure

  £8 million

  Proportion of total benefit expenditure

  4·4 per cent.

  Figures for the year ending April 1989 will be available shortly.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the attendance allowance board will reconsider the claim of Mrs. Lilian Margaret Redfern, following the Social Security Commissioner's decision in her favour dated 29 June.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The attendance allowance board is reviewing Mrs. Redfern's case in the light of the Social Security Commissioner's decision that the determination made by its delegate was erroneous in point of law, and it has asked for an up-to-date report of her disabilities and attendance needs.