Written Answers of 26 October 1989

CIVIL SERVICE

  Race Relations
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many Civil Service appointments have been made since 1979 under section 5(2) of the Race Relations Act 1976; and how many posts within the Civil Service are designated under section 5(2) of the Act.

  Mr. Luce
  No appointments to the Civil Service have been made under section 5(2) of the Race Relations Act 1976; there are no posts within the Civil Service designated under section 5(2) of the Act.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters were received from and sent to hon. Members by his Department in(a) January of the current year and (b) the present Session up to July.

  Mr. Lawson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 28 July 1989 at columns 1114–15.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lawson
  I regret that the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1 Civil Service non-industrial elected union representatives estimates of numbers with paid time off for industrial relations duties and trade union activities (as at 31 March 1989)

  Departments

  5 per cent. and less

  6–10 per cent.

  11–20 per cent.

  21–30 per cent.

  31–40 per cent.

  41–50 per cent.

  51–60 per cent.

  61–70 per cent.

  71–80 per cent.

  81–90 per cent.

  91–99 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  Total

  Full time equivalent

  1. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  513

  35

  12

  4

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  5

  573

  19

  2. Customs and Excise

  632

  83

  50

  12

  13

  13

  8

  6

  4

  12

  6

  0

  839

  67

  3. Ministry of Defence

  938

  147

  55

  17

  14

  7

  4

  2

  1

  0

  0

  24

  1,209

  82

  4. Department of Employment group

  1,502

  313

  117

  38

  16

  10

  11

  4

  3

  2

  5

  18

  2,039

  107

  5. Department of Environment/ Transport Excluding PSA

  390

  66

  32

  2

  4

  7

  0

  0

  2

  3

  0

  19

  525

  41

  6. Foreign and Commonwealth Office including Overseas Development Administration

  84

  11

  10

  1

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  115

  13

  7. Department of Health and Social Security

  1,254

  309

  132

  36

  19

  16

  26

  25

  18

  29

  7

  20

  1,891

  231

  8. Home Office including Prison Department

  1,043

  165

  82

  14

  13

  3

  11

  2

  2

  2

  8

  14

  1,359

  89

  9. Department of Trade and Industry

  364

  28

  16

  7

  3

  3

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  434

  24

  10. Inland Revenue

  1,326

  244

  124

  44

  22

  15

  7

  5

  8

  6

  1

  8

  1,810

  120

  11. Lord Chancellor's Department

  73

  12

  21

  11

  7

  2

  2

  3

  3

  2

  2

  6

  144

  32

  12. Department for National Savings

  75

  22

  13

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1

  1

  0

  14

  129

  22

  13. PSA—including Crown Suppliers

  331

  41

  13

  3

  2

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  6

  399

  18

  14. Scottish Office

  141

  15

  10

  3

  0

  3

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  7

  180

  14

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Office of Information cash limit for 1989–90; and whether he is proposing any changes to the services provided on an allied basis by the Central Office of Information for 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XIX vote I will be increased by £92,000 from £1,181,000 to £1,273,000. The additional expenditure is needed to cover an increase of £92,000 in the cost of existing services provided by the Central Office of Information on an allied service basis to the royal household. The increase in the cash limit will be charged to the reserve and therefore, will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  In addition, following the transfer of responsibility for the information officer management unit to the Cabinet Office, Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, the running costs limit for the Central Office of Information will be reduced by £186,000 from £22,036,000 to £21,850,000.

  Civil Service Trade Unions
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest estimates of the numbers of elected representatives of Civil Service trade unions in each of the main Government Departments and of the cost of providing paid time off.

  Mr. Ryder
  The details for 1988–89 are given in the tables which show that the total cost of facility time was £12·67 million. Compared with the position as at 31 March 1988, the total amount of paid time off for union business shows a reduction of 64 man years (6·1 per cent.), with a consequential saving of £0·41 million. This marks the seventh successive year in which facilities costs have been reduced.
  513

  Departments

  5 per cent, and less

  6–10 per cent.

  11–20 per cent.

  21–30 per cent.

  31–40 per cent.

  41–50 per cent.

  51–60 per cent.

  61–70 per cent.

  71–80 per cent.

  81–90 per cent.

  91–99 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  Total

  Full time equivalent

  15. Other Government Departments

  1,043

  100

  60

  20

  5

  21

  3

  2

  2

  3

  0

  17

  1,274

  101

  Total

  9,709

  1,591

  747

  212

  120

  104

  18

  52

  44

  59

  29

  169

  12,920

  980

  Table 2: Costs of non-industrial union elected representatives

  Department

  Total number expressed as whole time equivalent

  Cost in salaries, wages and direct benefit (£ million)

  Costs as percentage of wage bill

  Total number of non-industrial staff at 31 March 1989

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  19

  0·30

  0·196

  9,572

  Customs and Excise

  67

  0·99

  0·260

  26,416

  Ministry of Defence

  82

  1·17

  0·095

  88,709

  Department of Employment Group

  107

  1·23

  0·181

  54,462

  Department of Environment/ Transport (excluding PSA)

  41

  0·59

  0·198

  19,733

  Foreign & Commonwealth Office (including Overseas Development Administration)

  13

  0·12

  0·191

  9,443

  DHSS

  231

  2·70

  0·250

  92,082

  Home Office (including Prison Department)

  89

  1·28

  0·206

  37,691

  Department of Trade and Industry

  24

  0·35

  0·180

  12,365

  Inland Revenue

  120

  1·76

  0·196

  67,035

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  32

  0·22

  0·198

  10,895

  Department for National Savings

  22

  0·23

  0·302

  7,242

  PSA (including Crown Suppliers)

  18

  0·28

  0·124

  13,763

  Scottish Office

  14

  0·16

  0·146

  6,079

  Other Government Departments

  101

  1·29

  0·193

  42,809

  Total

  980

  12·67

  0·186

  498,296

  National Accounts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the figures for table 2–2, chapters 12–14 in the current years's edition of the United Kingdom National Accounts have not been updated for 1988; and if he will now publish the figures in the Official Report.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: Table 2–2: The analysis of gross domestic product by the manufacturing industries will, following the usual practice and reflecting the availability of data, be updated to cover 1988 in next year's edition.

  Chapter 12: Estimates of tangible and intangible non-financial assets for the national and sector balance sheets will be updated when resources permit, and depending on the contribution they can make to assessments of economic developments. The personal sector balance sheet estimates for 1988 will appear, as usual, in the February 1990 edition of the CSO's "Financial Statistics".

  Chapter 13: Estimates of fixed capital formation by certain industries in 1988 were not thought to be of an acceptable quality to permit publication. Such reliable estimates as can be made will appear in the quarterly national income and expenditure articles in the CSO's "Economic Trends.

  Chapter 14: The estimates of capital consumption and capital stock are derived from the full range of fixed capital
  514
  formation statistics. Some of the estimates for 1988 have not been produced because of quality problems with the fixed investment statistics.

  Output
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of(a) world industrial output and (b) United Kingdom industrial output each year since 1960; what has been the percentage demand growth in each case; and what levels are predicted to be reached by the year 2000.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 October 1989]: Levels of industrial production of the industrialised countries for each year since 1960 are published in the IMF publication "International Financial Statistics, 1989 Yearbook". A series of United Kingdom industrial production from 1948 to 1987 is published in "Economic Trends Annual Supplement, 1989", and the latest estimates for recent years are published in the latest Economic Trends. The OECD's latest forecasts of industrial production in its member countries are published in "OECD Economic Outlook", June 1989. The United Kingdom Government do not publish forecasts of industrial production. Forecasts of the growth of manufacturing output, the largest component of industrial production, are published in the FSBR and Autumn Statement.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Blue Arrow
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an up-date of his Department's inquiry into the National Westminster bank and the Blue Arrow affair.

  Mr. Redwood
  The inspectors' inquiries into County NatWest are at an end. Their report was published on 20 July 1989 and copies were passed to the serious fraud office which is carrying out inquiries with the City of London police. Copies were also passed to regulatory authorities to enable them to take such action as they consider appropriate.

  Post Office Counters Ltd.
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to privatise Post Office Counters Ltd.

  Mr. Forth
  The great majority of post offices is already run by subpostmasters operating in the private sector and this number is increasing with the conversion of Crown post offices to agency or sub-office status. We have no further plans for privatisation of Post Office Counters.

  Hotol Project
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to promote further European collaboration on the Hotol project.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This is now a matter for the companies directly concerned. The Government remain ready to facilitate such contracts with other countries as the companies request.

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

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

  Plain English
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to promote plain English in the credit industry in expressing terms and conditions for loans.

  Mr. Forth
  The codes of practice of a number of consumer credit trade associations require the use of plain English in all communications with the consumer. In addition, regulations under the Consumer Credit Act which will come into force on 1 February 1990 require that certain consumer credit advertisements contain prescribed statements. These statements are in plain English.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Ridley
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Design Services (Balance of Trade)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the balance of trade in design services.

  Mr. Redwood
  Statistics relating to the balance of trade in design services are not available.

  EC Discussions
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  I intend to maintain close contact with all my EC counterparts. I have recently met my German opposite number and some of his ministerial colleagues. The agenda for such meetings depends on issues current at the time.

  Balance of Trade Statistics
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was(a) the trade surplus/deficit and (b) the ratio of imports to total trade in each of the EEC countries, Japan and the United States of America for the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is in the table:

  Trade Balance and Ratio of Imports to Total Trade 12 months to March 1989

  Country

  Crude balance ECU billion

  Import ratio per cent.

  Greece1

  -7·8

  77

  Portugal

  -5·4

  61

  Spain

  -13·9

  58

  United States of America

  -99·4

  57

  United Kingdom

  -44·4

  57

  France

  -12·8

  52

  Italy

  -10·4

  52

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  -2·1

  51

  Netherlands

  1·8

  50

  Denmark

  0·8

  49

  Ireland

  2·8

  45

  Germany

  66·0

  43

  Japan

  68·3

  42

  1 12 months to June 1988.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Arms Sales (South Africa)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, further to his reply of 18 October,Official Report, column 120, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, Her Majesty's Government are investigating the alleged arms deals between Ferranti ISC subsidiaries and shell companies in South Africa.
  517
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: Any evidence of alleged breaches of United Kingdom export controls is carefully investigated. It is not our practice to comment on individual cases.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Reciprocal Enforcement Agreements
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Attorney-General what further steps are being taken to achieve reciprocal enforcement agreements in matters of family law and child custody.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government consider that the best way forward is to encourage countries to ratify the Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction and the European convention on recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children and on restoration of custody of children rather than to promote a proliferation of different bilateral agreements. The Government take every opportunity to make their views known to those states that have still to accede to these conventions or to put them into effect. In relation to child maintenance orders, the United Kingdom is participating in the early stages of discussions aimed at producing an EC agreement.

  Representation at Tribunals
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Attorney-General what action the Lord Chancellor proposes to take following the recommendations of the report "The Effectiveness of Representation at Tribunals," published in July.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department is currently considering the report's contents in consultation with other Departments.

  Reckless Driving
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the Crown prosecution service initially refused to support a reckless driving charge against Peter Sumner and Mark Hill-Trevor subsequently given custodial sentences by the Court of Appeal following a private prosecution.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown prosecution service initially declined to prosecute Peter Sumner for the offence of causing death by reckless driving because it appeared that the evidence against Peter Sumner was insufficient to afford a realistic prospect of securing a conviction for that offence. In reaching that decision it applied the criteria set out in the code for Crown prosecutors. But the making of such assessments, particularly in this category of case, is not an exact science, as the conviction itself has shown. The Crown prosecution service assumed responsibility for a prosecution for the offence once the matter had been committed for trial by the magistrates court.

  In the case of Mark Hill-Trevor there was no refusal to prosecute for the offence for which the defendant was convicted. The proceedings were at all stages conducted by the Crown prosecution service.

  Dr. Kalim Siddiqui
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will meet the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss possible legal action regarding the remarks made in 518
  Manchester on Saturday 21 October by Dr. Kalim Siddiqui calling for the murder of a United Kingdom citizen; if it is intended to issue any public statement about incitement to murder; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I have no plans to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss Dr. Siddiqui's remarks, but may do so if the results of any police investigation are submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. I will not make any public statement about incitement to murder; the constituents of the offence are clearly understood.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will prosecute Dr. Siddiqui for incitement to murder; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  A decision whether or not to prosecute Dr. Siddiqui for any criminal offences can only be made after an investigation into his activities has been conducted by the police. The Crown Prosecution Service has not been supplied with the results of any such investigation.

  "One Girl's War"
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General what current legal action the Government are taking on the book "One Girl's War"; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Interim injunctions obtained in November 1986 against the distributor and two booksellers, restraining them from distributing or selling the book, remain in force.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  South Africa
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the details of aid being provided to Mozambican refugees in South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Out of a total commitment of £127,000, we have already spent so far this financial year £95,000 on Operation Hunger, a project which helps Mozambican refugees on the South African side of the border. This is in addition to more than £100,000 provided for emergency relief supplies since January 1988.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which South African organisations were consulted on Her Majesty's Government's policy for contributing to the Urban Foundation scheme for low-cost housing.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Urban Foundation consulted widely among black community leaders. The British embassy in Pretoria took independent soundings from black community leaders inside South Africa; all encouraged us to contribute to the scheme.

ENERGY

  Radioactive Waste Disposal
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the outcome of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors
  519
  meeting on safety principles for radioactive waste disposal, held on 20 September; and if he will make available copies of the safety principles document.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors approved for publication a draft report on safety principles and technical criteria for the underground disposal of high-level radioactive wastes during its September meeting. The International Atomic Energy Agency plans to publish the report in its "Safety Series" of documents before the end of the year. A copy of the published report will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Oil Exploration (Wiltshire)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on oil exploration in Wiltshire.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  In the past three years two seismic survey programmes have been conducted in the county by petroleum licences, the results of which are being evaluated. No exploration wells have been drilled in the county since the well at Urchfont near Devizes was drilled in July 1986.

  Gas Leakages
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what figures he has for 1987 and 1988 for gas leakages from the low-pressure distribution system; and what measures he takes to check the validity of figures provided by British Gas.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  British Gas estimates that current leakage from the low-pressure distribution system is less than I per cent. of throughput. It is difficult to estimate such figures accurately and my Department is discussing with British Gas how the estimates may be improved.

WALES

  Coastal Waters
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people took advantage of the Government's offer of a free meal and expenses if they would swim in Welsh coastal waters to see if they would become ill; and what results have been obtained to date.

  Mr. Grist
  No such offer has been made. If the hon. Gentleman is referring to the epidemiological study, announced by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, on 17 May, 264 people took part in the controlled cohort study at Langland Bay near Swansea on 2 September. Of these 134 were bathers and 130 non-bathers.

  Farmers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers were employed in each county in Wales in(a) June 1988 and (b) June 1989.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information for June 1989 is not yet available. That for June 1988 is shown in the table:
  520

  Farmers, by county June 1988

  Whole-lime

  Part-time

  Total

  Clwyd

  3,148

  1,309

  4,457

  Dyfed

  8,839

  3,301

  12,140

  Gwent

  1,617

  784

  2,401

  Gwynedd

  3,563

  1,517

  5,080

  Mid Glamorgan

  717

  374

  1,091

  Powys

  4,911

  1,490

  6,401

  South Glamorgan

  418

  165

  583

  West Glamorgan

  621

  393

  1,014

  Wales

  23,834

  9,333

  33,167

  Note:

  These figures are for main holdings only, and include partners arid directors where they too are engaged in farm work. Wives/husbands of farmers, partners and directors are excluded, even though the wives/husbands themselves may be partners or directors.

  Radioactive Material (Curran Embankment)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will outline the actions taken by his Department, by the emergency services and by the local authorities following the discovery of a drum of radioactive material outside Unit 8, Curran embankment, on 19 October.

  Mr. Grist
  The national arrangements involving radioactivity (NAIR) were activated by the police who co-ordinated the activities of the organisations concerned. The Welsh Office advised the police of suitable temporary storage locations and made arrangements for the National Radiological Protection Board to collect and dispose of the source.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what actions he has taken, following the discovery of a drum of radioactive material dating from 1979 outside Unit 8, Curran embankment, to identify whether there are any other such deposits and to protect the public from any possible effects.

  Mr. Grist
  An Inspector from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, acting on behalf of the Department, visited the site with the radiation protection adviser who had carried out monitoring and provided advice to the police as part of the NAIR arrangements. Further monitoring was undertaken which revealed no evidence of any remaining radioactive sources.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the seriousness and potential seriousness of the discovery of a drum of radioactive material outside Unit 8, Curran embankment, on 19 October; what level of radioactivity it contained; and how this relates to safety levels.

  Mr. Grist
  It appears that the source in its container may have been abandoned when the premises were vacated by a company which ceased trading in 1984. The container in question is of the type used for radiography sources. It is believed to hold a radioactive iridium-192 source, of activity 8 curies in 1980. Since this radionuclide has a half life of 74 days, only a negligible fraction of the original activity will have remained when the company ceased trading. No significant radiation exposure would have resulted from the discovery of the source after that period had elapsed, and I am advised by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution that on-site monitoring supports
  521
  this conclusion. Nevertheless, I view any such abandonment of a radioactive source as being a potentially serious radiation incident which could cause public concern, and a highly irresponsible act.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the operation of the emergency plan implemented following the discovery of a drum of radioactive material outside Unit 8, Curran embankment, on 19 October.

  Farm Workers, by County: June 1988

  Regular family workers

  Regular hired workers

  Total regular workers

  Seasonal casual workers

  Total workers

  Clwyd

  718

  985

  1,703

  1,143

  2,846

  Dyfed

  1,772

  1,527

  3,299

  3,318

  6,617

  Gwent

  414

  459

  873

  660

  1,533

  Gwynedd

  702

  700

  1,402

  1,006

  2,408

  Mid Glamorgan

  160

  153

  313

  351

  664

  Powys

  999

  936

  1,935

  1,472

  3,407

  South Glamorgan

  282

  361

  643

  543

  560

  West Glamorgan

  626

  Wales

  5,047

  5,121

  10,168

  8,493

  18,661

  Notes:

  1. Figures relate to main holdings only.

  2. Regular workers include those working full-time and part-time.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to seek a meeting with the producers and researchers of the Thames Television "This Week" programme on toxic waste dumps, to ascertain the full list of locations of forgotten and hidden toxic waste tips in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  No. The Department has already carried out a survey of contaminated land in Wales which lists abandoned toxic waste sites. Two reports of the survey which was carried out in 1982–83 and updated in 1987–88 have been made available to local authorities and other interested parties. I have placed a copy of the later report in the Library of the House.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the water supplies(a) which will meet the European Community directive on tap water quality, 80/778/EEC by 1992, (b) which will not, stating the criteria each water supply fails to meet, the number of people affected and the planned date for compliance and (c) to what extent the position will have improved by 1995.
  522
  Mr. Grist
  Yes

  Farm Workers
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farm workers were employed in each county in Wales in(a) June 1988 and (b) June 1989.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information for June 1989 is not yet available. That for June 1988 is shown in the table:

  Mr. Grist
  Copies of the undertakings accepted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989 and of the relaxations he has granted under regulation 4(1)(c) and 4(2) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those beaches which will comply with the European Community bathing water quality directive, 76/160/EEC, by 1992, and those which will not.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the information placed in the Library by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 20 October.

  Radioactive Incidents
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to inform an hon. Member immediately when an incident involving radioactivity occurs in his constituency.

  Mr. Grist
  The police are responsible for implementing the national arrangements involving radioactivity (NAIR) and a decision whether or not to notify a Member of Parliament is for them.

  Milford Haven
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total expenditure on Welsh Office funded projects in Milford Haven; and if he will list the projects.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: The total estimated expenditure by the Welsh Office and public bodies funded by the Department on projects under way in Milford Haven in 1989–90 is £5,643,341.

  The projects are shown in the table:

  Project

  Total estimated expenditure by WO

  £

  Welsh Office

  Milford Haven Enterprise Zone

  4,668,440

  Housing improvement grants

  645,180

  Repair and improvement of local authority housing

  76,000

  Pembrokeshire Community Drug Scheme

  32,850

  Regional Selective Assistance

  25,000

  Sports Council for Wales

  Milford Haven Comprehensive School—Multipurpose Hall

  40,000

  Milford Haven Bowling Club

  7,500

  Wales Tourist Board

  Millmoor Farm

  40,000

  Welsh Development Agency

  Environmental Enhancement Schemes:—

  Hamilton Terrace

  57,163

  Memorial Gardens

  11,208

  Town and Waterfront

  40,000

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parking (Disabled People)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what are the current parking arrangements for staff of the House who are disabled and are orange badge scheme holders.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  There are no places specifically set aside for orange badge scheme holders, but there are 12 parking spaces in Star Chamber Court and two parking spaces in the Norman Shaw car park reserved for the use of vehicles driven by or used by photo-identity pass holders who are disabled. At present eight hon. Members, four Members' secretaries and eight staff of the House have been authorised by the Serjeant at Arms to use these spaces on a first-come first-served basis. In addition, authority for their use is given from time to time to disabled visitors and to photo-identity pass holders suffering from a temporary period of incapacity. These arrangements were confirmed by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee in January 1988, as a result of a survey carried out into the use of the disabled spaces in Star Chamber Court.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Redundant Vicarages
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he intends discussing with the Commissioners the proposal that wherever possible redundant vicarages are sold on long leases.

  Mr. Alison
  I will discuss the matter with my fellow Commissioners. It is, however, for the incumbent and the diocese concerned to make an initial judgment as to the best method of disposal of a redundant parsonage house. The Commissioners, as a consenting party, then consider each proposal on its merits. Leasehold sales are not ruled out, but they may reduce the price or prejudice disposal and thus produce less for the support of the Church's ministry.

TRANSPORT

  Bus Doors
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will summarise the response to his draft regulations which include provisions relating to the risk of people being trapped in power-operated bus doors; what action he now proposes to take, including provision of finance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  In my reply to the hon. Member on 27 July I said that I was consulting on whether the proposed new measures for centre doors should be applied to buses already in service. I now propose that they should so apply and will lay the appropriate order shortly. No special provision for funding will be made.

  Radioactive Material
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the last 10 years how many tonnes of radioactive material were imported via the ports of(a) Barrow, (b) Dover, (c) Felixstowe, (d) Harwich, (e) Liverpool, (f) Portsmouth, (g) Southampton and (h) Workington; how many tones were exported through these ports; where were (i) the sources and (ii) the destinations of material imported and exported; and what method of transport was used to convey the material to and from the ports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department does not collect this information, and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 4 May,Official Report, column 188, whether one of the columns, "UF 6 imported" should read, "exported"; if he will show the source and destination of material travelling through the Humber ports, and what is included in the column, "Natural exported", where this material originated and what was its destination.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The middle four column headings of the answer are "Natural UF6 exports" and "imports" and "Enriched UF6 exports" and "imports". The additional detailed information requested on sources and destinations can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Railways (Noise)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he had with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds prior to his determination of future statutory limits on noise from railway trains; and if he will tabulate their limits in the Official Report stating whether they apply to machinery or to cumulative levels of noise over a given period of time and whether they are based on existing or projected line speeds.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 10 April 1989 at column 409. What the Government intend to establish is a standard for the purposes of noise insulation of properties affected by new railway lines, equivalent to that which already exists for new roads. The Government's conclusion will be published. There is no intention to establish an absolute statutory limit on noise from trains. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has not been consulted.

  Road Signs
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the standard of signs on motorways and other trunk roads.

  Mr. Atkins
  As well as those of the hon. Member, four representations about shortcomings in maintenance standards for signs on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads have been received in the last year. In addition, members of the public bring specific cases to the Department's attention from time to time.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Atkins
  This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost, but the requirement to answer correspondence from hon. Members as promptly as possible is a priority of the Department.

  A47 Rutland
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on progress since July 1985 in preparing proposals for a bypass on the A47 trunk road around Glaston, Rutland, Leicestershire; and when draft lines of route will be published.

  Mr. Atkins
  Earlier investigations suggested that a bypass of Glaston could not be justified. We are now reassessing the case for a bypass in the light of the revised national road traffic forecasts announced in May. It is too early to say whether a scheme can be added to the trunk road programme, or when details of any routes would be made known.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the accident record in and around Glaston, Rutland, on the 526
  A47 trunk road; and what proposals he has for traffic management to reduce accidents, following the meeting in Glaston involving his officials on 5 October.

  Mr. Atkins
  The accident record for the A47 trunk road in and around Glaston is close to the national average for this type of road. The Department is now investigating road safety measures including those discussed at the meeting in Glaston on 5 October. Any worthwhile improvements will be carried out.

  A2 (Road Works)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the number of weeks that the A2 between the Danson interchange and the Swanscombe cutting, has been under road works from 1 January 1984 to date.

  Mr. Atkins
  I shall write to my hon. Friend with the details as soon as possible.

  King's Cross Railway Lands
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury of 20 October,Official Report, column 257, his Department expects to provide the comments referred to, to the London borough of Camden, in relation to the planning application for the King's Cross railway lands.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department has been asked to submit its comments on the latest planning application by 14 November 1989.

  Scottish Lowland Airports Policy
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to consider the evidence to be given at the Civil Aviation Authority public hearing on 14 and 15 December when making his decision on Scottish lowland airports policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend's decision will be based on the responses received to the consultation document issued on 27 September, for which the closing date is Wednesday 29 November.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to seek the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority in determining whether there is sufficient evidence to justify licensing additional flights to the United States of America from Scotland, in his consultation exercise on Scottish lowland airports policy.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Air transport route licensing is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority's decisions are made in accordance with its statutory duties and are subject to any traffic distribution rules that may be in force.

  Air Deregulation
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of air deregulation in Europe on Edinburgh and Glasgow airports; and if he will make a statement on air traffic movements expected at these airports following deregulation.
  527
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The United Kingdom's liberal agreements with several countries mean that the benefits of liberalisation have already been achieved in several major markets.

  In its consultation document on traffic distribution policy for the London area and strategic options for the long term (CAP 548), the Civil Aviation Authority noted this; it did not attempt to forecast demand against a range of liberalisation options but assumed that further liberalisation would give a mild stimulus to traffic. Growth in passenger demand will continue to be largely determined by the rate of economic growth. The Department's forecasts of United Kingdom air traffic demand in the period to 2005 are not disaggregated to airport level.

  Road Improvements, Banbury
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to give financial clearance for improvements to the Ruscote Avenue-Orchard Way junction in Banbury.

  Mr. Atkins
  Financial approval was given on 17 October 1989.

  M40 Extension
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the construction of the M40 extension.

  Mr. Atkins
  Excellent progress is being made. Subject to reasonable weather conditions over the next two months I expect the Warwick section of M40 to open to traffic around the turn of the year. I hope that the whole of the M40 extension will be open to traffic by spring 1991.

  A20, Dover
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the route of the eastern section of the A20 extension into Dover; and when he expects the project to be completed.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is hoped to announce the decision on the route shortly. The aim remains to complete the project in time for opening of the Channel tunnel in 1993 subject to the satisfactory completion of the outstanding statutory procedure.

  Road Safety Code of Good Practice
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received a copy of the road safety code of good practice published on 5 October by the local authority associations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I congratulate the associations on having produced such an excellent publication. It is attractively presented, well written and contains much sound practical advice. I commend it to all local authorities. It represents a major contribution to the national effort to reduce road casualties by a third by the year 2000. Its recommendation that individual authorities should identify local targets for casualty reduction and develop road safety plans, to be reviewed and published on an annual basis, by which to achieve them is particularly welcome, as complementing our action in setting national and regional targets.
  528
  I shall be considering with local authorities at the regional annual consultative committees over the coming weeks the future arrangements for reconciling local and regional targets and for monitoring progress.

  The enthusiastic and committed implementation by local authorities of the code's recommendations is essential if we are to achieve the dramatic reduction in casualties which we know to be possible.

HEALTH

  Cochlear Implant Operations
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to make a statement regarding the funding of cochlear implant operations.

  Mr. Mellor
  As soon as possible.

  Health Authorities (Capital Allocations)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the annual capital allocations to(a) North East Thames region and (b) Waltham Forest area in each of the past 10 years; and if he will show these figures adjusted with the National Health Service's deflator.

  Mr. Freeman
  Initial capital allocations over the past 10 years to North East Thames regional health authority are as follows:

  Allocations (at cash)

  Allocations revalued at 1989–90 prices

  £ million

  £ million

  1980–81

  37·700

  63·104

  1981–82

  45·800

  69·852

  1982–83

  43·182

  61·505

  1983–84

  45·452

  61·873

  1984–85

  48·933

  63·476

  1985–86

  48·617

  59·778

  1986–87

  53·610

  63·867

  1987–88

  54·143

  61·290

  1988–89

  57·923

  61·109

  1989–90

  73·076

  73·076

  Figures have been inflated to the current price level by use of the gross domestic product deflator and exclude in-year additions to the regional health authority's initial capital allocation through land sales and virement from revenue. The allocation of funds to districts is a matter for regional health authorities and this information is not held centrally.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters were received from and sent to hon. Members by his Department in(a) January of the current year and (b) the present Session up to 1 July.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  Letters received

  Replies issued

  (a) January 1989

  1,165

  1,176

  (b) Current Session up to and including 30 June 1989

  14,337

  10,615

  RU 486
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the drug RU 486, produced by Roussel, is to be made freely available in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  RU 486, like other medicinal products, may not be marketed in the United Kingdom without a product licence. At the present time there is no such licence in respect of this product.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the drug RU486; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  In the past 12 months we have received 10 representations about the drug RU486. Four were in favour of its introduction, three against and three sought information.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the indication of anal reflex and dilatation accompanied by additional symptoms is standard practice for diagnosing child abuse.

  Mr. Mellor
  The diagnosis of child sexual abuse is a matter for medical practitioners to reach based on the history of the case as well as any symptoms and physical signs that might be present. Recent guidance to doctors from the standing medical advisory committee makes it clear that no physical sign (of which reflex anal dilatation is an example) can at present be regarded as being uniquely diagnostic of child sexual abuse.

  Kidney Transplants
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many kidney transplants there have been in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  According to information provided by the United Kingdom transplant service, the number of cadaveric kidney transplants performed within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom is as follows:

  Number

  1984

  1,443

  1985

  1,336

  1986

  1,493

  1987

  1,485

  1988

  1,575

  Coronary Heart Disease
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest available estimates of the cost for(a) hospital in-patient care, (b) hospital out-patients care and (c) general practitioner consultations, resulting from coronary heart disease.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is estimated that the total cost of hospital in-patient treatment related to coronary heart disease in England is £175·5 million per year (1987–88 prices). I regret that information is not collected centrally 530
  on either the cost of out-patient care or on general practitioner consultations resulting from coronary heart disease.

  Drug Trials
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are known to have died or suffered adverse reactions following their participation in drug trials.

  Mr. Freeman
  Adverse reactions, including deaths, are reported to the Medicines Control Agency. It is not possible to say how many of these are related to a particular drug being trialed.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will introduce legislation to impose controls and monitoring on the use of volunteers in pharmaceutical drug trials;

  (2) if he will take steps to require companies which recruit human volunteers for drug trials to register with his Department; if he will institute controls on the use and payment of volunteers; and if he will take steps to monitor the effects on health of participation in drug trials;

  (3) what information his Department has regarding the circumstances, financial position and health of those who voluntarily take part in pharmaceutical drug trials

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no plans to introduce monitoring or legislation in this area. Within the NHS all clinical research investigations involving human subjects, including healthy volunteer studies, must be approved by a local research ethics committee. Draft revised guidance on the role, scope and function of these committees is currently available for consultation and a copy is available in the Library. This guidance will be drawn to the attention of those outside the NHS sponsoring such studies.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action is being taken following the finding that the National Health Service is being overcharged for some hearing aids;

  (2) what is the estimated cost to the National Health Service of the overcharging by some hearing aid manufacturers;

  (3) when there was last an investigation of the charges made to the National Health Service by hearing aid manufacturers relative to those made to the private sector;

  (4) which hearing aid manufacturers have been charging the National Health Service more for their aids than they charge private suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Responsibility for the procurement, storage and distribution of goods required for the NHS national hearing aid service passed from the Department to the Mersey regional health authority on 1 April 1985.

  An in-house study was undertaken by the Mersey RHA during January and February 1989, during which the prices charged to the NHS by all the major suppliers of commercial hearing aids were reviewed. The results of the review suggest that considerable savings could be made if suppliers were to charge the same prices to the NHS as those charged to private dispensers.
  531
  All the main suppliers have now offered to supply commercial equipment to the NHS at reduced prices and the Mersey RHA is actively pursuing these matters with the companies concerned.

  Drug Prices
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Health Service ever pays a higher price for pharmaceutical drugs than that charged by manufacturers to other customers; and what procedure there is for routinely comparing prices.

  Mr. Mellor
  The prices of branded medicines supplied to the National Health Service are controlled through the operation of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme under which an overall limit is set on the profit which a company can make from such sales. Manufacturers' list prices apply to the home market generally; they do not distinguish between supply for use by NHS or private patients. There are no arrangements for individual price comparisons.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to replace or modify the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme due to come to an end in October 1992, in light of his plans for the National Health Service, outlined in the White Paper and accompanying documents.

  Mr. Mellor
  When the changes in "Working for Patients" have been implemented they will place a greater emphasis for prescribers on the price of drugs, and it may be sensible to modify the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme to reflect the fact. Paragraph 2.1 of the scheme, a copy of which is in the Library, provides the flexibility required to facilitate this.

  National Health Service (Prices)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who negotiates prices charged to the National Health Service for supplies; and what monitoring there is to ensure reasonable charges and that the prices are not higher than those used in the private sector.

  Mr. Freeman
  Negotiation of prices charged for NHS supplies is a matter for individual health authorities acting under the strategic guidance of the NHS procurement directorate. The level of contracting depends on many strategic, technical and commercial factors that need to be considered by the directorate working closely with health authorities. The procurement directorate is charged by the NHS Management Executive to ensure that all health authorities operate an effective and efficient procurement service.

  Handicapped Children
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many handicapped children are in long-term hospitals, local authority and voluntary sector care.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information is, not available in the precise form requested. There are 14 children under 16 identified by regional health authorities in July 1989 as receiving longer-term care in large mental handicap hospitals. In addition there were, at 31 December 1986 (the latest year for which figures are available) 350 children resident in NHS community units for mentally handicapped children.
  532
  The number of children in care in accommodation for children with special educational needs at 31 March 1987 was 1,651. Many of these children will have physical and mental handicaps.

  Infertility
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest statistics on infertility.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department makes for the provision of IVF treatment for patients residing within the Wakefield constituency.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: We believe that decisions about the priority and resources to be given to infertility services should be left to individual health authorities rather than the Department of Health. This is the case with nearly all NHS services, since health authorities are in the best position to determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  Clinical Research Centre
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the future use of the clinical research centre in Harrow following closure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has asked the Advisory Board for the Research Councils for further advice by next spring on their proposals to reallocate support currently given to units at the clinical research centre to ensure a more effective use of scientific resources. This report will also cover the implications for NHS provision, and officials from this Department will be kept fully informed as the proposals develop.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how frequently his Department will be monitoring the number of non-National Health Service sight tests; from what sources the statistics will be derived; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  A survey of sight test numbers will be commissioned later this year. On present plans, the survey will be conducted by an independent market research company and a representative sample of people will be asked if they have had an NHS or private sight test since 1 April 1989. The results will be compared with information for previous years already held by the Department.

  Ambulance Service (Paramedics)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing for each ambulance authority the number of trained paramedics among its crews.

  Mr. Freeman
  Figures in the form requested are not available centrally.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what element of cost benefit analysis will be included in the indicative drug budgets proposed in "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Mellor
  The main purpose of indicative prescribing budgets is to encourage more cost-effective prescribing through more critical analysis of prescribed patterns. In consequence I expect cost benefit studies in this area to become more commonplace following the introduction of the scheme and that the results will be disseminated to general medical practitioners to help them to decide what is the most cost-effective form of treatment for each patient.

  Post-operative Infections
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest figure per year for the number of hospital admissions that are due to post-operative infections.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that the information requested is not available. The latest available data on hospital infections are for 1985, when the total number of cases of post-operative infection was estimated at 15,540. However it is not possible to identify the proportion of those that resulted in readmissions, or the number of readmissions after surgery which were due solely to post operative infection.

  Children's Cancer
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the figures for each of the health authorities in England and Wales, of children's cancer treatment postponements this year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Leeds Western Health Authority (Chairman)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Leeds, West of 14 September about the business activities of the chairman of Leeds western health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  My hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health has now written to the hon. Member.

  Erythropoietin
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects erythropoietin to be licensed for general use by the medical profession.

  Mr. Mellor
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not usual practice to disclose information about whether or not an application for a product licence has been received or the progress of any such application. However in this case I am able to say that a few technical queries remain and are being urgently pursued; if they are satisfactorily resolved a licence should then be issued shortly.

  General Practitioners (Staff Recruitment)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will seek additional advice from general practitioners' representatives as to the practicality of 534
  practices recruiting qualified practice staff when subjected to a 10-week delay between submission of applications and receipt of NHS response, pursuant to draft No. 5 of NHS document Ref. 4237A/4311/m/4615/HT/ 1.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 19 October 1989]: The detailed arrangements for handling applications for staff have yet to be finalised and are currently the subject of consultation with the GPs' representatives, the general medical services committee. But I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no question of a 10-week delay in dealing with such applications.

  Prescription Costs
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the prescription costs per patient for the 10 highest spending and the 10 lowest spending family practitioner committees in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: The average net ingredient cost per person in 1987–88 for the 10 family practitioner committees in England with the highest spending per person and the 10 family practioner committees in England with the lowest spending per person is listed in the table.

  Family Practitioner Committee

  £

  North Tyneside

  45·94

  Salford

  45·67

  Bury

  42·88

  Sunderland

  42·71

  Barnsley

  42·49

  Trafford

  42·12

  Lancashire

  42·06

  Isle of Wight

  41·91

  Wirral

  41·63

  Liverpool

  41·48

  Cambridgeshire

  31·91

  Berkshire

  31·82

  Barnet

  31·78

  Bromley

  31·33

  Buckinghamshire

  31·14

  Gloucestershire

  30·94

  Bexley and Greenwich

  30·93

  Enfield and Haringey

  30·85

  Croydon

  30·70

  Oxfordshire

  30·01

  Notes:

  1. OPCS family practitioner committees population data has been used in this table.

  2. Data includes prescriptions dispensed by pharmacy and appliance contractors and dispensing doctors.

  3. The Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) is the basic cost of drugs before any discounts and does not include pharmacy costs or fees.

  Contaminated Food
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications for United Kingdom policy of the guideline levels drawn up for radioactivity-contaminated food in transfrontier trade, drawn up by the Codex alimentarius Commission under the auspices of the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisations.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the event of a future nuclear accident, the United Kingdom would be bound by the maximum levels of

  535
  radioactive contamination established by the European Community. These are set out in Regulation (Euratom) 3954/87, as amended by Regulation (Euratom) 2218/89, and Regulation (EEC) 219/89.

  The levels established by the Community are entirely consistent with the advisory, de minimis levels recently promulgated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, below which no food control restrictions need apply.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers (Working Parties)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers trained to teach the three to seven year age range are currently serving on working parties set up by the National Curriculum Council and the Schools Examination and Assessment Council.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not readily available. Twenty-nine primary teachers and other primary specialists are currently serving on working parties set up by the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council.

  Soviet and East European Studies
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the report of the working committee on Soviet and East European studies, delivered to him on 10 August, will be published; when he expects to give his view on it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Universities Funding Council, the successor body to the University Grants Committee which commissioned the report on Soviet and East European studies, will be issuing the report to universities soon. The report contains recommendations which also relate to other Government Departments and organisations which I shall consult.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will provide more funds to colleges and universities so that they can respond to a community charge registration officer in a way that allows them only

  Research council budgets 1980–81 to 1989–90

  £ million

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  AFRC

  37·477

  41·934

  43·624

  45·773

  46·680

  52·725

  57·149

  54·896

  61·115

  74·565

  ESRC

  20·219

  20·656

  20·651

  22·893

  21·979

  23·587

  23·820

  24·845

  27·657

  32·018

  MRC

  72·737

  101·524

  107·502

  113·717

  117·152

  122·310

  128·340

  139·768

  149·612

  176·343

  NERC

  46·730

  54·291

  58·035

  61·612

  65·303

  67·880

  70·325

  73·315

  91·859

  114·962

  SERC

  201·446

  216·755

  234·402

  254·278

  278·827

  298·388

  316·187

  357·462

  369·334

  404·906

  Ambleside Infant School
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the head teacher of Ambleside infant school about inadequate school buildings; and what reply he has made.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend received a letter on 23 October 1989, from Dorothy Marshall, the head teacher at Ambleside infants school, Aspley, about, among other topics, inadequate buildings at her school. A response will be sent as soon as possible.
  536
  to disclose information about students resident in a particular charging authority area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  No. The information needs of community charges registration officers are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Nutrition Departments
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many departments of nutrition there are within medical schools in the United Kingdom undertaking full teaching and research.

  Mr. Jackson
  Four, though the subject is taught and researched elsewhere in other university departments. The 27 medical schools follow the recommendations of the General Medical Council which provide for nutrition to be included in the undergraduate curriculum.

  Nutrition
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of its budget the Medical Research Council is devoting to research specifically on nutrition in the prevention of cancer and cardio-vascular disease.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that in the financial year 1988–89, the Medical Research Council devoted about 0·9 per cent. of its overall budget (some £1,250,000) to research projects which were directly related to the study of nutrition as regards the aetiology and prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

  Many other projects supported by the council in the general area of nutrition research, on which the council's total expenditure is about £6 million annually, may in the longer term also prove to be relevant to the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total budgets of the five research councils for the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jackson
  The details are as follows:

  Children (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the percentage of children from each of the major ethnic minorities in(a) primary and (b) secondary education in England and Wales.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is not available centrally, but my right hon. Friend has announced in circular 16/89 that statistics will be collected
  537
  by local education authorities from September 1990 and that aggregate returns will be made to the Department in the summer of 1991.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ministers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nights each of the Ministers of the Northern Ireland Office spent in Northern Ireland during the months of May, June, July and August.

  Mr. Cope
  The information requested is as follows:

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Mr. King

  5

  9

  6

  —

  Mr. Brooke

  —

  —

  —

  7

  Mr. Stewart

  11

  5

  8

  —

  Mr. Cope

  —

  —

  2

  6

  Lord Lyell

  5

  11

  3

  —

  Mr. Bottomley

  —

  —

  2

  10

  Dr. Mawhinney

  10

  8

  8

  10

  Lord Skelmersdale

  —

  —

  4

  6

  Mr. Needham

  12

  8

  8

  7

  Mr. Viggers

  10

  9

  9

  —

  Accident Statistics
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in each of the past three years for which figures are available, how many persons were(a) killed and (b) injured as a result of (i) road accidents, (ii) accidents in the home and (iii) terrorist attacks.

  Mr. Cope
  The three most recent years for which information is available is as follows:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Number of deaths by road accident

  236

  214

  178

  Number of injuries by road accident

  9,206

  9,722

  10,789

  Number of deaths by terrorist attacks

  61

  93

  93

  Number of injuries by terrorist attacks

  1,450

  1,130

  1,047

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Number of deaths by accidents in the home

  172

  163

  138

  Number of injuries by accidents in the home

  4,183

  4,389

  4,236

  Republic of Ireland (Discussions)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects he expects to discuss at his next meeting with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  It is anticipated that the next conference will discuss a full range of subjects including cross-border security co-operation, the confidence of the community in the security forces and cross-border social and economic co-operation.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what compensation has been paid to those who were the victims of abuse during residence at the Kincora boys' home; and if he will make a statement.
  538
  Mr. Needham
  A number of claims for compensation have been received by health and social services boards from former residents of Kincora boys' home. To date settlements in respect of five of these claims, amounting to £31,000 plus costs, have been agreed between the parties, and payment in each case has been made. The question of compensation is entirely a matter for settlement between the parties concerned.

  UDR
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decisions he has made in connection with the Ulster Defence Regiment arising from the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Conference on Wednesday 5 October.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 19 October 1989]: Questions relating to the Ulster Defence Regiment are primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, but I refer the right hon. Gentleman to references to the Ulster Defence Regiment in the joint statement issued after the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Conference on Wednesday 18 October, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of the introduction of student loans.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  An estimate was included in annex E of Cm. 520. An estimate of administrative costs, not calculated there, was provided in my right hon. Friend's statement on 19 June at columns 21–22. Work is continuing to refine those estimates; the results will be published in due course.

  Allotments
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to bring the Northern Ireland Allotment Act 1932 into line with the legislation for other parts of the United Kingdom on allotments.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I am aware of a recent request from the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd. for the Northern Ireland legislation to be brought into line with Great Britain. I understand this arose as a result of the concern expressed by one allotment holder about the possible loss of allotment sites in the Belfast city council area. The council has confirmed that it has no plans to dispose of any of its sites. There have been no other complaints about the legislation.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons aged 16 and 17 years have(a) applied for and (b) been refused incomes support for each month on grounds of extreme hardship since 12 September 1988.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is in the table.
  539

  Applications for Income Support of grounds of "Severe Hardship"

  Period Ending

  Applications received

  Directions refused

  30 September 1988

  341

  107

  28 October 1988

  494

  183

  25 November 1988

  625

  190

  30 December 1988

  940

  293

  27 January 1989

  1,092

  387

  24 February 1989

  1,278

  518

  31 March 1989

  1,566

  554

  28 April 1989

  1,561

  562

  26 May 1989

  1,379

  427

  30 June 1989

  1,799

  666

  28 July 1989

  1,742

  569

  25 August 1989

  1,821

  571

  29 September 1989

  1,849

  558

  Total

  16,487

  5,585

  Notes:

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

  DSS administrative region

  Cumulative totals period ending

  London North

  London South

  Midlands

  North-East

  North- West

  Wales and South- West

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  8 September 1989

  Applications received

  1,088

  1,033

  1,546

  3,234

  2,061

  1,154

  5,315

  15,431

  Directions given

  673

  661

  1,026

  2,158

  1,229

  732

  3,623

  10,172

  6 October 1989

  Applications received

  1,196

  1,127

  1,696

  3,558

  2,261

  1,238

  5,740

  16,816

  Directions given

  742

  722

  1,137

  2,371

  1,430

  789

  3,937

  11,128

  Notes:

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

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

  Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the number of appeals heard by social security appeal tribunals and the number decided in the claimant's favour, the number decided in favour of the adjudication officer and the number adjourned in each quarter from the third quarter of 1988.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest national administrative statistics available on social security appeal tribunals relate to appeals heard in the first quarter of 1989. Information is provided in the table for the quarter ending September 1988, December 1988 and March 1989.

  Social security appeal tribunals Great Britain

  Quarter ending:

  30 September 1988

  31 December 1988

  31 March 1989

  Appeals heard and decided

  47,318

  30,978

  25,370

  Decided in favour of claimant

  14,492

  9,684

  8,411

  Decided in favour of Adjudication Officer

  32,826

  21,826

  16,959

  Adjournments

  10,470

  7,270

  6,368

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will show the number of appeals against disqualification from unemployment benefit for all reasons(a) heard and decided (b) decided in claimants'
  540
  (2) Information relates to the number of applications received rather than to the number of individual young people involved. Some individuals may have applied more than once

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by region, how many persons aged 16 and 17 years have made applications for income support on the ground of extreme hardship; how many had been granted at 8 September and 6 October; and how many at the same dates had been granted income support on the ground of being within exempted categories, shown by category.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The number of applications for income support from 16 and 17-year-olds on grounds of "severe hardship", and the number of directions given to enable benefit to be paid at 8 September and 6 October, are in the table.

  The number of 16 and 17-year-olds granted income support because they fall within one of the exempted categories ceased to be collected after October 1988 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  favour, broken down for Great Britain, England, Wales and Scotland and by Department of Social Security region for the last four quarters.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest national administrative available on social security appeal heard in the quarter ending 31 March 1989.Information about the number of appeals against disqualification from unemployment benefit is not readily available in the form requested. The figures supplied in the table are based on the total number of unemployment benefit appeals for the quarters ending 30 June 1988, 30 September 1988, 31 December 1988 and 31 March 1989.

  Social Security Appeal Tribunals Unemployment Benefit

  Appeals heard and decided

  Appeals decided in favour of claimant

  Quarter ending

  30 Jun 88

  Great Britain

  5,754

  2,010

  England

  4,475

  1,519

  Wales

  367

  159

  Scotland

  912

  332

  Region

  North East

  898

  271

  London North

  828

  293

  London South

  639

  237

  Midlands

  643

  209

  North West

  981

  326

  Wales/South West

  853

  342

  Scotland

  912

  332

  Quarter ending

  30 September 1988

  Great Britain

  5,254

  1,805

  541

  Appeals heard and decided

  Appeals decided in favour of claimant

  England

  4,113

  1,400

  Wales

  358

  130

  Scotland

  783

  275

  Region

  North East

  912

  237

  London North

  557

  198

  London South

  763

  278

  Midlands

  670

  234

  North West

  801

  304

  Wales/South West

  768

  279

  Scotland

  783

  275

  Social security Appeal Tribunals Unemployment Benefit

  Appeals heard and decided

  Appeals decided in favour of claimant

  Quarter ending 31 December 1988

  Great Britain

  4,732

  1,754

  England

  3,613

  1,297

  Wales

  284

  141

  Scotland

  835

  316

  Region

  North East

  890

  248

  London North

  594

  234

  London South

  530

  159

  Midlands

  489

  183

  North West

  750

  320

  Wales/South West

  644

  294

  Scotland

  835

  316

  Quarter ending 31 March 1989

  Great Britain

  4,500

  1,795

  England

  3,461

  1,332

  Wales

  291

  128

  Scotland

  748

  335

  Region

  North East

  901

  257

  London North

  518

  215

  London South

  505

  196

  Midlands

  525

  197

  North West

  643

  304

  Wales/South West

  660

  291

  Scotland

  748

  335

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the number of claims referred to adjudication officers by employment service staff because they neglected to avail themselves of or refused suitable employment; and how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on grounds of neglecting to avail themselves of or refusing suitable employment for the whole year 1988 and to June of the current year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is available in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Annual and Quarterly Analyses of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the number of people referred to adjudication officers by employment service staff because of doubts about their availability for work; how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on the grounds of non-availability for the whole year of 1988 and to June of 542
  the current year; how many were so referred because of restrictions they placed on their availability; and how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on grounds of non-availability for work for the whole year 1988 and to June of the current year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Details of the number of decisions on claims to unemployment benefit given by adjudication officers relating to questions on availability are contained in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Annual and Quarterly Analyses of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are held in the Library.

  Earnings Rule (Abolition)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners he anticipates will benefit by the abolition of the earnings rule; and what he estimates will be the annual average financial benefit to those pensioners.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is expected that approximately 400,000 pensioners will benefit from the abolition of the pension earnings rule from 1 October: those who deferred their entitlement and continued working, those whose entitlement was reduced by earnings over £75 per week and those who earned less than £75. In addition, all future pensioners will have the freedom to choose to continue working and claim their pension. It is not possible to estimate the average financial benefit as this will vary according to each individuals circumstances.

  Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the criteria by which the Government decided which occupations should be covered for disablement benefit purposes in relation to prescribed industrial disease ALO.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government have decided the occupations to be covered on the advice of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. Reflecting its concern about the implications for National Health Service audiological services, the council has considered it necessary to recommend that coverage be restricted to those considered to be most at risk of having suffered substantial hearing losses as a result of their work.

  Benefits (Barnsley)
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of recipients in Barnsley metropolitan district for each year from 1979 to date of(a) supplementary benefit/income support, (b) supplementary pensions and (c) claimants required to be available for work.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 20 October 1989]: The metropolitan district of Barnsley is served by the local offices at Barnsley (East), Barnsley (West) and Wath-on-Dearne, but the boundaries are not conterminous. The information is as follows:
  543

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support live load

  Barnsley (East)

  Barnsley (West)

  Wath-on-Dearne

  1A

  B

  C

  A

  B

  C

  A

  B

  C

  1979–80

  5,525

  2,464

  1,445

  4,473

  2,666

  817

  4,284

  1,900

  1,151

  1980–81

  6,136

  2,464

  2,082

  4,851

  2,650

  1,235

  4,804

  1,872

  1,721

  1981–82

  7,556

  2,541

  3,263

  5,706

  2,772

  1,928

  5,782

  1,916

  2,492

  1982–83

  8,767

  2,682

  3,978

  6,558

  2,883

  2,437

  6,639

  2,007

  3,032

  1983–84

  9,140

  2,563

  4,194

  6,989

  2,708

  2,823

  7,245

  2,040

  3,290

  1984–85

  10,492

  2,731

  4,794

  7,817

  2,839

  3,174

  7,898

  2,039

  3,504

  1985–86

  10,926

  2,800

  4,997

  8,192

  2,830

  3,391

  8,147

  1,994

  3,760

  1986–87

  11,218

  2,718

  5,179

  8,354

  2,809

  3,467

  8,291

  1,987

  3,762

  1987–88

  10,900

  2,746

  4,662

  8,244

  2,819

  3,203

  8,041

  2,016

  3,398

  21988–89

  9,584

  2,626

  3,760

  7,441

  2,683

  2,734

  7,274

  1,826

  2,986

  31989–90

  9,725

  2,511

  3,845

  7,792

  2,658

  2,945

  7,609

  1,879

  3,075

  1 A = all claimants, B = pensioners, C = claimants required to be available for work.

  2 Data for years 1988–89 and 1989–90 are provisional and subject to amendment.

  3 Year 1989–90 is based on data collected to August 1989 only.

  Source of data: 100 per cent. count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where benefit has ceased but other action is continuing.

  Benefits
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of(a) child benefit, and (b) invalidity benefit for a married couple as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and all manually employed males for each year between November 1978 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: The information on child benefit is given in the table from April 1979 when the benefit was fully phased in. I regret that information is not available from which to calculate the average value of total invalidity benefit (including additional pension and invalidity allowance) received by married men. The table therefore relates only to basic invalidity pension with an increase for an adult dependant. It takes no account of additional pension or invalidity allowance.

  Value of Child Benefit (One Child)

  Uprating Dates

  Child Benefit (One Child) as percentage of net average earnings (1)

  All Adult Males

  All Male Manuals

  April 1979

  5·5

  6·0

  November 1980

  4·9

  5·4

  November 1981

  5·0

  5·6

  November 1982

  5·2

  5·9

  November 1983

  5·4

  6·1

  November 1984

  5·2

  5·9

  November 1985

  4·9

  5·7

  July 1986

  4·7

  5·5

  April 1987

  4·4

  5·2

  April 1988 (2)

  4·0

  4·8

  April 1989(2)

  3·73

  4·43

  Value of Basic Invalidity Pension

  Uprating Dates

  Invalidity Pension (With Adult Dependant) no children as percentage of net average earnings (1)

  All Adult Males

  Are Male Manuals

  November 1978

  45·3

  48·9

  April 1979

  —

  —

  November 1979

  44·6

  48·4

  November 1980

  42·5

  47·6

  November 1981

  43·0

  48·8

  November 1982

  44·7

  50·9

  November 1983

  43·0

  49·1

  November 1984

  41·4

  47·4

  November 1985

  43·3

  49·9

  July 1986

  41·1

  47·8

  April 1987

  38·8

  45·7

  April 1988

  36·2

  43·3

  April 1989

  335·2

  342·2

  544
  1. Net average earnings are the estimated gross weekly earnings less tax and national insurance contributions at the non contracted-out rate.

  2. Child benefit rate unchanged.

  3. Provisional.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visas
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to improve the present arrangements for processing applications for visitors' visas in the high commissions and embassies concerned.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The vast majority of visit visa applications received by our posts overseas are processed within 24 hours. We are nevertheless constantly seeking to improve the processing of visit visa applications, particularly where this can be achieved without an increase in overall resources.

  Punjab
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Indian Government on the refusal to issue visas to members of Amnesty International to investigate the human rights situation in the Punjab.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have in the past made it clear to the Indian authorities that we regard Amnesty International as a serious and responsible organisation. But the issuing of visas is a matter for the Indian Government.

  Somalia
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of renewed civil conflict in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia during the summer on Her Majesty's Government's policies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We regret the deterioration of the situation in Somalia since mid-July which has led us to make further adjustments to our aid programme.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking, directly and in conjunction with other countries, to encourage an end to the internal conflict in Somalia.
  545
  Mr. Waldegrave
  Together with our partners and allies, we continue to urge reconciliation in Somalia and to support efforts to bring about a peaceful solution.

  Bulgaria (Ethnic Turks)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to disassociate Her Majesty's Government from the conclusions in the Council of Europe document 6106 on the departure of some ethnic Turks from Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We agree with the authors of the document mentioned by my hon. Friend that the treatment of the ethnic Turkish minority in Bulgaria is cause for grave concern. We have long been critical of Bulgaria's poor human rights record, in particular the campaign of assimilation which has denied fundamental freedoms to the Turkish and other minorities in Bulgaria. We have repeatedly urged the Bulgarian Government to adopt more tolerant policies. I raised this with the Bulgarian ambassador in September.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to meet his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts to consider the historical basis of the departure of some ethnic Turks from Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have, on many occasions, urged the Bulgarian authorities to cease their campaign of assimilation of the ethnic Turkish minority, which is the root cause of the mass departure from Bulgaria earlier this year. Many of our partners and allies share our views. We will discuss the issue with them from time to time, as long as the problem persists.

  Human Rights (Commonwealth)
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on human rights violations in Commonwealth countries; and if he will list those Commonwealth countries in which elections have not been held in the past five years on the basis of universal adult suffrage with a secret ballot and opposition parties being allowed to participate.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We receive representations about human rights in many countries, including some Commonwealth members. Where Commonwealth countries' practice on human rights give cause for concern, we make representations as necessary. Such representations are sometimes more productive if undertaken without publicity, and it would not always be helpful to disclose full details.

  Details of the second part of the question are not readily available. I shall reply to my hon. Friend on this part in due course.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries whose Governments have indicated to Her Majesty's Government since May 1979 that they consider the United Kingdom's purchase of the Trident nuclear weapons 546
  system from the United States of America is compatible with United Kingdom obligations under article VI of the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The purchase by the United Kingdom of Trident missiles from the United States is fully compatible with our obligations under the nonproliferation treaty. We have received no representations from any other Government on the subject.

  Namibia
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's attitude to the composition of the United Nations resolution 435 package setting the conditions for the elections in Namibia as it affects the necessity for a two thirds majority decision on the type of constitution to be set up by the elected assembly.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We see the principles concerning the constituent assembly and the constitution, which were agreed in 1982, as an essential part of the United Nations plan for Namibian independence. We are working to ensure that these principles are respected.

  South Africa
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement defining Her Majesty's Government's position as to what will constitute a clear and irreversible change in South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We believe the first step is for the South African Government to implement the concept developed by the Commonwealth eminent persons group, to open the way for serious negotiations to start about the future of South Africa.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of Her Majesty's Government on the five-year plan of the South African Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is not for us to comment on the plan. We have made clear to the South African Government repeatedly that we seek early progress on the creation of a non-racial South Africa with a government acceptable to all South Africans.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to call upon the South African Government to lift the restrictions which currently prohibit South African citizens and organisations from advocating sanctions.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Yes.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now call upon the Government of South Africa to cease all executions of opponents of apartheid to meet the preconditions proposed by the Organisation of African Unity to create a climate for negotiations in South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We will continue to make representations in cases that are clearly political and where there are extenuating circumstances or grounds to doubt the fairness of the judicial process.

  Thabo Mbeki
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received a request to meet Thabo Mbeki, head of the international department of the African National Congress; and what reply he has sent.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A representative of the ANC asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in Kuala Lumpur on 22 October if he would meet Mr. Mbeki. He indicated that he was prepared to do so if Mr. Mbeki was willing to agree to the suspension of violence on the basis set out in the negotiating concept of the Commonwealth eminent persons group.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what improvements have been made for the conveyance of passengers and freight between RMS St. Helena and the quayside at Jamestown, St. Helena.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No quayside improvements have been made, but we are providing, through the aid programme, a harbour launch which will ease the transfer of passengers and baggage between the RMS St. Helena and the quayside at Jamestown, St. Helena.

  Diplomatic Missions (Parking Fines)
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish up-to-date figures recording the number of unpaid parking fines incurred by each diplomatic mission in the first six months of the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested by my hon. Friend is given in the table, which also includes those international organisations which have incurred unpaid fines. The figures may be reduced by late payment.

  The total of 4,292 for the first six months of 1989 indicates a 26 per cent. reduction over the same period of 1988. It compares with nearly 67,000 in the first six months of 1984 before publication of the 1985 White Paper (Cmnd. 9497). We welcome this further reduction in unpaid parking fines and appreciate the co-operation of diplomatic missions since the introduction of the parking policy. We shall continue to monitor carefully the level of unpaid fines and bring pressure to bear on diplomatic missions to reduce this still further.

  Unpaid Parking Fines

  Diplomatic mission

  January to June 1989

  January to June 1988

  Soviet Union

  335

  324

  Saudi Arabia

  251

  157

  Côte d'Ivoire

  195

  146

  Sudan

  190

  190

  Cameroon

  173

  154

  Egypt

  132

  368

  Greece

  126

  141

  Pakistan

  120

  120

  United Arab Emirates

  113

  165

  Spain

  109

  158

  Qatar

  102

  104

  Korea

  99

  78

  Poland

  99

  213

  548

  Diplomatic mission

  January to June 1989

  January to June 1988

  Bulgaria

  94

  47

  German (Federal Republic)

  82

  66

  Israel

  81

  116

  Malaysia

  81

  138

  Thailand

  72

  93

  Morocco

  71

  100

  Iraq

  67

  173

  France

  64

  69

  Portugal

  63

  62

  Brunei

  62

  130

  Turkey

  62

  123

  Ghana

  53

  52

  Kuwait

  52

  11

  Cyprus

  46

  32

  Brazil

  43

  42

  Germany (Democratic Republic)

  42

  56

  Bangladesh

  41

  40

  Gambia

  40

  28

  Tanzania

  40

  51

  India

  38

  40

  China

  36

  130

  Algeria

  35

  57

  Jordan

  35

  85

  Norway

  35

  36

  Venezuela

  32

  57

  Canada

  32

  33

  Yugoslavia

  31

  49

  Angola

  29

  13

  Belgium

  29

  25

  Japan

  29

  84

  Tunisia

  29

  113

  Uruguay

  29

  21

  Barbados

  28

  28

  Finland

  27

  38

  Nicaragua

  26

  10

  Oman

  25

  19

  Sierra Leone

  23

  101

  Sweden

  22

  38

  Hungary

  21

  22

  Mauritius

  21

  16

  Cuba

  20

  23

  Ethiopia

  20

  49

  PDRY

  20

  26

  Czechoslovakia

  19

  16

  Ireland

  19

  21

  Burma

  16

  21

  Romania

  16

  30

  Yemen AR

  16

  13

  Liberia

  15

  26

  Italy

  14

  53

  Zaire

  14

  82

  Zambia

  14

  24

  Fiji

  13

  20

  Jamaica

  13

  29

  Guyana

  11

  16

  Senegal

  11

  39

  Somalia

  11

  17

  Trinidad

  10

  7

  Ecuador

  9

  27

  Lebanon

  9

  23

  Philippines

  9

  9

  Mexico

  8

  12

  Mongolia

  8

  2

  Nigeria

  8

  67

  Paraguay

  8

  14

  Uganda

  8

  10

  Austria

  7

  6

  Chile

  7

  7

  Iran

  7

  24

  Kenya

  7

  36

  Honduras

  6

  7

  Zimbabwe

  6

  20

  Gabon

  5

  16

  Iceland

  5

  11

  Lesotho

  5

  9

  Malawi

  5

  17

  549

  Diplomatic mission

  January to June 1989

  January to June 1988

  Peru

  5

  59

  Seychelles

  5

  8

  United States of America

  5

  15

  Bahrain

  4

  2

  Guatemala

  4

  5

  Nepal

  4

  5

  Panama

  4

  7

  Denmark

  3

  1

  Indonesia

  3

  18

  Vietnam

  3

  2

  Bolivia

  2

  1

  Botswana

  2

  7

  Dominica

  2

  3

  Netherlands

  2

  6

  Singapore

  2

  0

  Switzerland

  2

  3

  Togo

  2

  4

  Australia

  1

  2

  Colombia

  1

  8

  Luxembourg

  1

  3

  Malta

  1

  0

  Mozambique

  1

  0

  Papua New Guinea

  1

  0

  Sri Lanka

  1

  6

  Swaziland

  1

  0

  Afghanistan

  0

  6

  Antigua and Barbuda

  0

  9

  Bahamas

  0

  2

  Belize

  0

  0

  Costa Rica

  0

  3

  Eastern Caribbean States

  0

  2

  El Salvador

  0

  1

  Grenada

  0

  0

  Holy See

  0

  0

  New Zealand

  0

  0

  South Africa

  0

  1

  Tonga

  0

  0

  International organisations

  Commonwealth Secretariat

  10

  15

  Cocoa

  3

  9

  IMO

  3

  2

  Inmarsat

  3

  0

  WEU

  0

  32

  UN

  0

  0

  EEC

  0

  0

  Coffee

  0

  0

  Sugar

  0

  0

  Totals

  4,292

  5,838

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Quality Assessors
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appointments he intends to make to technical assessors for water quality within his Department.

  Mr. Patten
  The matter is still under consideration.

  Sewage Bacteria (Drax Power Station)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on sewage bacteria contamination from the Drax power station and its impact on surrounding areas and give details of any action to be taken by his Department.

  Mr. Patten
  Low river levels have caused abnormal amounts of silt to enter the cooling system at Drax and to be emitted from it. Her Majesty's inspectorate of 550
  pollution, in conjunction with other agencies, is investigating the position urgently. They will take whatever action may be needed to protect the public, if a health hazard is found to exist.

  Oil Slick (Mersey)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many tons of chemicals were used to deal with the Shell oil slick in the Mersey in the summer;

  (2) how many tons of crude oil escaped from the Shell oil terminal into the Mersey in the summer;

  (3) how many tons of crude oil were recovered following the leakage into the Mersey in the summer.

  Mr. Trippier
  Aircraft from the Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit made two spraying sorties and sprayed a total of 6·4 tonnes of dispersant. In addition a vessel, commissioned and under the direction of the metropolitan borough of Wirral, sprayed a total of 12·6 tonnes of dispersant obtained from MPCU stockpiles.

  It is estimated that up to 150 tonnes of oil escaped into the river. Once a leak was identified a vacuum tanker was deployed to act on oil at the leak site and more than 50 tonnes was recovered in this way and returned to the refinery. Much of the oil that landed on beaches was mixed with sand and removed. It is not possible to estimate how much of the oil was dealt with in this manner. Most of the oil lying on mud flats and salt marshes has, after consideration of expert advice, been left to weather naturally to avoid causing further damage through disturbance of these sensitive sites.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends setting up a public inquiry to investigate the oil spillage into the River Mersey on 19 August.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. The hon. Member will be aware of the ongoing investigations of the Department of Energy's pipelines inspectorate and the prosecution proceedings being undertaken by the National Rivers Authority. Our assessment is that these, when taken with the work of the independent expert advisory committee, which is to look at the longer-term environmental effects under the chairmanship of Professor Bradshaw of the university of Liverpool, should adequately cover the public interest in this matter.

  Rents into Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in favour of introducing a rents into mortgages scheme in England similar to those announced for Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Chope
  My hon. Friend and 12 members of the public have made such representations.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will conduct a survey into the potential popularity of a rents into mortgages scheme in England.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department commissions research from time to time into the factors which influence tenants' decisions on buying their homes, and will study the outcome of the experimental schemes in Scotland and Wales.
  551
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will visit the Coney Hill and Matson estates in Gloucester to discuss a rents into mortgages scheme with tenants.

  Mr. Chope
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which foreign countries a rents into mortgages scheme(a) is operating or (b) has operated.

  Mr. Chope
  I am not aware of any such schemes.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of right-to-buy discounts for sales in(a) Corby and (b) east Northamptonshire for each year since 1980–81.

  Mr. Chope
  Information on the discounts given on right-to-buy sales is not reported separately. The reported figures of total discounts on all sales are as follows:

  Discounts on all council house sales

  Corby

  East Northamptonshire

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  1980–81

  256

  634

  1981–82

  12,807

  2,155

  1982–83

  3,616

  799

  1983–84

  2,846

  791

  1984–85

  2,278

  686

  1985–86

  2,870

  873

  1986–87

  2,488

  1,470

  1987–88

  4,241

  2,372

  1988–89

  8183

  3,699

  1989–90

  22,039

  31,169

  1 April-December 1981 only reported.

  2 April-June 1989, latest information available.

  3 April-September 1989, latest information available.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the advice contained within community charge practice note 23, paragraph 4.8, suggests that the names and addresses of all students should be disclosed to the community charges registration officer; what steps he is taking to safeguard the privacy of students not resident in the requesting CCRO's charging authority area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The guidance given in paragraph 4.8 of community charge practice note 23 reflects regulation 5 of the Personal Community Charge (Students) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/443) which were laid before Parliament on 17 March 1989. Paragraph 4.8 of the practice note also outlines the steps to be taken by educational establishments to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984. It is the responsibility of these establishments to ensure that they do so.

  Long Leaseholds
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from, or on behalf of, house owners with long-term leaseholds regarding difficulties created by the freehold owners.

  Mr. Chope
  We have received a number of representations from hon. Members and a few from leaseholders themselves.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the level of council house rent arrears for each district in England and Wales at April 1986 and 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities in England report their rent arrears on their housing subsidy claim forms. I am arranging for details of the rent arrears at April 1986 to be placed in the Library of the House. A table was placed in the Library on 1 March this year showing rent arrears reported at April 1988 and those arrears as a percentage of rent roll. Corresponding information on the position at April 1989 is not yet available. For corresponding information about Welsh local authorities I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  PCBs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to assess the potential dangers to the public of the polychlorinated biphenyls waste disposed of by the Purle Waste Company in quarries in south Wales; and if he will assess the danger to local housing from PCBs dumped at the Brofisken site.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is the responsibility of the district councils in Wales to ensure that waste disposal operations do not give rise to risk to public health. Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is able to provide guidance or advice if required.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to instruct Her Majesty's pollution inspectorate to make a site evaluation of the Ty Llwyd quarry in the Sirhowy valley; to assess the danger to local public health from the polychlorinated biphenyl wastes tipped at the quarry.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is the responsibility of the local district council, the waste disposal authority, to ensure that waste disposal operations do not pose a threat to public health. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is able to provide guidance and advice if required.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to instruct Her Majesty's pollution inspectorate to assess the potential dangers from the dumping of polychlorinated biphenyls waste at Alvanley on Merseyside.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is aware of the potential problems that may arise from the former landfill at Alvanley and is liaising closely with the relevant waste disposal and local authorities that have responsibility for the disposal of toxic wastes.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions sections 65 and 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 have been applied to clean up contaminated land; and how much money has been recovered from each polluting party in each case to pay for the clean-up.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Section 65 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 contains discretionary powers
  553
  exercised by local authorities. There is no requirement to notify the Government when these powers are used and therefore this information is not readily available. Section 197 of the Act does not contain appropriate powers for dealing with contamination.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions sections 9 and 16 of the Control of Pollution Act have been applied to clean up contaminated land; and how much money has been recovered from the polluting party or parties in each case to pay for the clean-up.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No such information is available centrally, and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to evaluate the necessity to use section 115 of the Water Act 1989 to recover costs for the clean-up of contaminated land.

  Mr. Howard
  Section 115 of the Water Act enables the National Rivers Authority to carry out anti-pollution works, including to prevent polluting matter from entering watercourses where it considers this is likely to occur, and to recover the costs it has reasonably incurred from any person responsible. It would therefore be for the authority to consider, in any particular case, the extent to which the use of these powers might be appropriate in dealing with problems of water pollution associated with contaminated land.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions sections 92 to 100 of the Public Health Act 1936 have been applied to clean up contaminated land; and what financial resources have been recovered from the polluting party, or parties in each case to pay for the clean-up.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information about the use of sections 92 to 100 of the Public Health Act 1936 by local authorities is not held centrally. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Problems of contamination are dealt with by landowners and local authorities depending on the circumstances of each case; Government Departments are not normally consulted.

  Environmental Assessments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the effect of community charge capping upon the ability of local planning authorities fully to evaluate environmental assessment statements submitted in planning applications under the new European Community directive.

  Mr. Chope
  If any local authorities were selected for capping, the limits on the budgets proposed would take account of the individual circumstances of the authorities concerned.

  Tap Water
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each water authority area the water supplies(a) which will meet the European Community directive on tap water quality, 80/778/EEC by 1992, (b) which will not, stating the criteria each water
  554
  supply fails to meet, the number of people affected and the planned date for compliance and (c) to what extent the position will have improved by 1995.

  Mr. Howard
  I will place copies of the undertakings accepted by my right hon. Friend under Section 20 of the Water Act 1989 and relaxations granted under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 in the Library.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those beaches which will comply with the European Community bathing water quality directive, 76/160/EEC, by 1992, and those which will not.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the information I placed in the Library on 20 October at columns 261–62 about improvement programmes.

  Water Standards
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of his agreements regarding the drinking water standards according to EC directives with the new water companies.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 26 October.

  Methane
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring of methane in the atmosphere has been conducted since 1985; and what plans he has to extend this.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Mace Head monitoring station, which monitors atmospheric methane, as a part of the global atmosphere gases experiment is funded by the Department. The Harwell laboratory has made a study of methane emissions from landfill waste disposal sites. Both these activities are expected to continue, together with an important new study of advanced measuring techniques by the national physical laboratory.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future of the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State announced on 25 May 1988 that the Property Services Agency should operate on business lines. Since then, good progress has been made and as a result the Government have decided that it will be in the long-term interest of the PSA and its staff to privatise its commercial activities as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made, which include the introduction of commercial accounts and the restructuring of its organisation. The earliest practicable date is likely to be in the second half of 1992.

  The PSA's customers will be fully untied from 1 April 1990 and I will be giving the PSA some immediate freedom to compete for work in new markets so that it has an opportunity to establish itself in them in advance of privatisation.
  555
  The bulk of the PSA's activities relate to project management, design services, maintenance of property and estate management services and these will be the core of the new private organisation. Those of the PSA's current activities that are essentially governmental will be retained within the Department. These activities include management of the Government's common user estate, for which executive agency status will be considered.

  Water plcs
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the capital structures proposed for the water plcs.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government have announced their intention to restructure the finances of the 10 water plcs, by writing off all their debt to the Exchequer and providing a substantial injection of cash. The restructuring will enable them, among other things, to fund major new capital investment in England and Wales.

  In order to achieve this, I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales intend to take the following steps. We propose by orders under section 86(1) of the Water Act 1989 to extinguish all the liabilities to the Exhequer of the 10 water plcs. Debts amounting to £5 billion will be written off on 15 November, as follows:

  Water plc

  £ million

  Anglian Water plc

  859

  Northumbrian Water Group plc

  450

  North West Water Group plc

  1,055

  Severn Trent plc

  831

  Southern Water plc

  276

  South West Water plc

  129

  Thames Water plc

  121

  Wessex Water plc

  315

  Yorkshire Water plc

  559

  Total English plcs

  4,595

  Welsh Water plc

  433

  Total

  5,028

  Two of the companies, Anglian Water plc and Thames Water plc will be required to pay to the Government the sums of £61 million and £11·9 million respectively. In order to achieve this I propose to make directions under section 83(2) of the Water Act to Anglian Water plc and to Thames Water plc to issue debentures to the Treasury, also on 15 November, for these amounts. These debentures are expected to mature on 29 December.

  We also propose to enter into agreements on 20 November, under section 87(1) of the Water Act, to subscribe for shares in each of the other eight water plcs, paying a total of £1·57 billion as follows.

  Water Plc

  £ million

  Northumbrian Water Group Plc

  122·6

  North West Water Group Plc

  329·7

  Severn Trent Plc

  361·0

  Southern Water Plc

  46·3

  South West Water Plc

  265·9

  Wessex Water Plc

  81·3

  Yorkshire Water Plc

  89·4

  Total English Plcs

  1,296·2

  Welsh Water Plc

  276·0

  Total

  1,572·2

  556
  These sums are expected to be paid on 29 December. The shares so subscribed will be included in the offers for sale of shares in the water plcs in November.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 9 will be increased by £1,296,200,000 from £1,000 to £1,296,201,000. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. A separate cash limit increase in respect of class XVII, vote 13 will be announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales.

  The capital restructuring described above—the write-off of debt, issues of debentures and subscriptions of shares—is designed to give effect to the proposals announced by the Government on 2 August. The figures in those announcements related to estimates at that time of the cash in balance sheets at 31 March 1990 resulting from the restructuring of the 10 water plcs. These estimates have now been modified to reflect updated information. The price ceilings are as announced on 2 August.

  Ministerial Cars (Catalytic Converters)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce cars fitted with catalytic converters into the ministerial car fleet.

  Mr. Chope
  Three cars fitted with catalytic converters have already been obtained for use by Ministers and a further one is on order. It is our intention to purchase only vehicles equipped with catalytic converters to meet the Government car service fleet replacement programme.

  Road Salting
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any research has been undertaken into the effects of winter salting of roads on the quality of river water and on the breeding capability of brown trout and other fish; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 17 October 1989]: I am not aware of any research which has been undertaken into the effects of the winter salting of roads on the quality of river water. However, I am advised that past research shows that limited amounts of salt in freshwater has negligible effects on the breeding capability of brown trout and other fish.

  Sewers (Maintenance)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the likely range of total liability carried by the new water undertakings for repair or renewal of the sewers now in their ownership.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 17 October 1989]: My Department and the water service companies are in the process of finalising estimates of their future investment programmes including on sewerage and I will send details to the hon. Member as soon as I can.

  Reservoirs
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library any material submitted, requested or commissioned by him concerning any matters relating to Horton Bank top reservoir in Bradford, since 1979;

  (2) what powers he has to ensure the safety of any reservoir; and what powers he has to direct or request a water authority or a water company to retain a reservoir, emptied on safety grounds, to be refilled and kept for recreational purposes;

  (3) what representations he has received concerning the future of Horton Bank top reservoir in Bradford; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will list the statutory provisions that govern the sale by water companies of land owned by them close to reservoirs;

  (5) if he will list the statutory provisions which relate to the imposition of right and obligation on public agencies to make inquiries into the safety of any reservoir owned by a water authority or water company.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: The Secretary of State appoints panels of independent civil engineers, under the Reservoirs Act 1975, to ensure the safety of all reservoirs with a capacity of more than 25,000 cu. m. County councils and metropolitan district councils are responsible for securing that owners comply with the requirements of the Act, which include having their reservoirs inspected and supervised by panel engineers and carrying out any safety measures they recommend. The Secretary of State requires reports from the local authorities every two years on any enforcement action they have had to take and he may, in the case of default, direct an authority to carry out any of its enforcement functions.

  Under section 8 of the Water Act 1989, water undertakers have a general duty to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to make water or associated land available for recreation. And in considering proposals in relation to their functions they are subject to various environmental duties, including a duty to take into account any effect which the proposals would have on the beauty or amenity of a rural or urban area.

  The Secretary of State is required by section 20 of the 1989 Act to enforce these general environmental and recreational duties. In taking enforcement action he could require a reservoir to be refilled once it had been made safe. But he would not take such action where the breach of duties was of a trivial nature, or where enforcement would be precluded by his general duties, for example, to secure that water and sewerage services are provided properly, to ensure that the interests of customers are protected, and to promote economy and efficiency on the part of the undertaker.

  Under section 152 of the Act, water service companies are prevented from disposing of land transferred to them from water authorities unless they have the consent of the Secretary of State, or if that disposal is in accordance with a general authorisation given by the Secretary of State. The Act, the conditions of appointment and the general authorisation together ensure that no land is disposed of which is still required for water supply purposes. Special arrangements apply to the disposal of land which is in a national park, in an area of outstanding natural beauty or a site of special scientific interest.

  As regards the Horton Bank top reservoir, the
  558
  Secretary of State has received two letters asking for copies of the report on an inspection of the reservoir carried out earlier this year. The report was made to the Yorkshire water authority, the owner of the reservoir, and a copy was sent to Bradford metropolitan district council. It is for Yorkshire Water, as successor to the water authority, to decide on the future of the reservoir in the light of the report and of its duties under both the 1975 and 1989 Acts. The Department has no material relating to the reservoir.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental protection measures deriving from European Community directives and regulations, apply to currently established enterprise zones; how environmental assessment measures apply to enterprise zones; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of implementation of environmental impact assessment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. David Hunt
  European Community directive 85/337/EEC deals with environmental protection measures and directly affects enterprise zones. It has been fully implemented in Great Britain, in England and Wales through the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988. DOE circular 24/88 and Welsh Office circular 48/88 explain that provision should be included in planning schemes for enterprise zones designated since the directive, for the environmental assessment of projects within the scope of annexes I and II to the directive. I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that similar arrangements are in force in Scotland. The indications from the first year of operation are that these implementation measures are fully effective, but my Department is commissioning research to monitor the position in Great Britain.

  I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, that, so far as Northern Ireland is concerned, the main regulations required by the European directive on environmental assessment have been made and others are in the process of being made. The regulations that have been made are fully implemented.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Submarines (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about his Department's plans for the decommissioning of nuclear submarines.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 24 October at column 646.

  Clyde Lee Conrad
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has consulted his counterparts and the Justice Minister in the Federal Republic of Germany, to ascertain whether United States Army Sergeant Clyde Lee Conrad divulged to the Governments of Hungary and Czechoslovakia details of deployments of United Kingdom Lance missiles by the British Army of the Rhine.
  559
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our policy to comment on such matters.

  Greenpeace Book
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the Greenpeace book of the nuclear age, published in October.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence library has ordered a copy of this publication.

  Middle East (Arms Sales)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which countries in the middle east the United Kingdom has sold(a) short-range fighter aircraft, (b) aircraft with long-range bomber capacity and (c) chemicals capable of being used to produce chemical warfare agents, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the consistent policy of successive Administrations not to provide details of defence exports to specific countries.

  Trident
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the awarding of the contract for the third Trident class submarine (SSBN 07); and what is the percentage break clause provision;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the construction of HMS Vanguard and HMS Victorious;

  (3) if his Department has any estimate of the additional costs to the Trident programme incurred by the strike at VSEL in 1988, which will be borne by his Department;

  (4) in which years it is now expected that each of the four Trident class submarines will become operational;

  (5) what are the currently projected programme acceptance and contract acceptance dates for the fourth Trident class submarine (SSBN 08), and the projected percentage break clause provision for this contract.

  Mr. Neubert
  Construction of SSBNs 05 (Vanguard) and 06 (Victorious) continues to progress well. We remain on course to achieve the initial deployment of Trident in the mid-1990s.

  The additional cost to the Trident programme of last year's strike at VSEL is not expected to exceed £10 million. Revised terms are being sought for future contracts, under which such additional costs will be no longer fall to the Ministry of Defence.

  We intend to place the order for SSBN 07 by the end of this year. The tender for SSBN 08 will be invited in due course following the SSBN 07 order. I anticipate that the contracts for both SSBN 07 and 08 will include standard break clauses which provide for reimbursement to the contractor of properly incurred costs up to 100 per cent. of the contract value.

  For reasons of security, I am not able to comment on specific acceptance dates or to give the planned in-service dates for individual submarines.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if there has been any cost escalation in the Trident programme, subsequent to the submarine-launched development testing of the Trident D5 missile;
  560
  (2) if there have been any changes to the expected first delivery or in-service dates of the Trident programme, due to the submarine-launched development testing of the Trident D5 missile;

  (3) if there have been any major changes in specification, in terms of launch ability, accuracy, range and so on, to the envisaged capability of the Trident programme, subsequent to the submarine-launched development testing of the Trident D5 missile.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The submarine-launched development testing of the Trident D5 missile has not resulted in any changes to the timetable for the missile's planned introduction into service with the Royal Navy, nor has it resulted in any major changes to the missiles's specification. The United Kingdom pays a fixed development charge for Trident and is not liable for the development costs of rectifying the cause of the recent missile failures.

  Experimental ELF Transmitter
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department is still considering alternative sites to the Glengarry Forest site for the placement of an experimental ELF transmitter.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Maple Flag Exercises
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what types of Royal Air Force aircraft participated in Exercise Maple Flag 21; over what period the exercise was held; and how many work-up training sorties for this exercise were conducted over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information on Exercise Maple Flag was provided to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 10 May 1989 at column 472. Only the minimum essential amount of work-up training was conducted in the United Kingdom in preparation for these exercises.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on planned Royal Air Force participation in Maple Flag exercises in the coming year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is planned that nine Royal Air Force Jaguar aircraft will participate in Exercise Maple Flag at Canadian Forces base Cold Lake, Alberta in 1990.

  Nuclear Weapons (Verification Research)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if her Majesty's Government will take steps actively to co-operate in verification research relating to nuclear weapons at sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom is not involved in negotiations relating to nuclear weapons at sea. However, we follow developments in this field of verification research closely, and consult our allies on such matters as and when appropriate.

  Public House, Knightsbridge (Assault)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken in respect of the assault on 6 September on a black soldier by two members of the Household Cavalry at a public house in Knightsbridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The incident is being investigated by the special investigation branch of the Royal Military Police. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member once our investigation is complete.

  Departmental Stocks and Supplies
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of his Department's stocks and supplies stolen or vandalised; what progress has been made to introduce bar coding and other improved security measures; and if he will make a statement.

  England, Northern Ireland and Wales Crime Return 1988

  Property

  General crime type

  Offences

  Percentage detected

  Employee

  Forces

  Other

  At gate

  Value

  Recovered

  Crown:

  Life threatening1

  11

  46

  2

  1

  261,044·91

  MOD, PSA,

  Assaults non-police

  8

  88

  6

  1

  DOT, DHSS,

  Assaults on police

  3

  67

  2

  1

  C and E,

  Sexual offences

  3

  100

  2

  United States

  State offences

  1

  100

  1

  1

  0·50

  0·50

  forces. Visiting

  Public order offences

  68

  27

  9

  1

  4

  4

  forces

  Criminal damage2

  969

  37

  190

  90

  125

  6

  200,171,994·52

  1,009·24

  Burglary

  395

  31

  103

  7

  4

  1

  282,924·03

  10,861·63

  Fraud

  1,321

  83

  575

  335

  32,840,141·13

  103,560·94

  Other theft act

  1,999

  51

  845

  211

  7

  170

  1,223,678·11

  254,232·77

  Forgery

  125

  73

  54

  25

  4

  585·55

  Drugs offences

  3

  33

  1

  Customs offences

  320

  100

  157

  142

  4

  210

  5,152·62

  4,630·46

  Traffic offences

  597

  98

  332

  209

  6

  133

  39,397·50

  36,165·00

  Other offences

  547

  95

  231

  35

  283

  22

  32,562·23

  32,062·23

  Totals

  6,370

  65

  2,506

  1,060

  435

  551

  234,857,481·10

  442,522·77

  Non-Crown:

  Life threatening

  16

  44

  6

  1

  3,528·00

  2,419·00

  Service

  Assaults non-police

  221

  85

  89

  88

  8

  1

  personnel,

  Assaults on police

  15

  100

  12

  2

  1

  3

  MOD

  Other child offences

  2

  0

  employee,

  Child sexual offences

  23

  78

  11

  4

  Other civilian,

  Sexual offences

  58

  72

  30

  10

  Dockyard

  Public order offences

  66

  73

  27

  21

  8

  2

  10·00

  management.

  Criminal damage

  662

  18

  60

  53

  3

  3

  79,581·87

  228·60

  Commercial

  Burglary

  544

  23

  133

  10

  175,299·20

  14,625·26

  company,

  Fraud

  456

  71

  178

  101

  3

  59,431·15

  11,094·24

  Royal

  Other theft act

  3,857

  23

  506

  264

  11

  53

  785,845·93

  193,585·99

  Ordnance

  Forgery

  116

  64

  16

  53

  3

  1,303·10

  275·40

  factory, Royal

  Drugs offences

  33

  88

  24

  7

  41·00

  31·00

  Mint

  Customs offences

  39

  100

  20

  14

  20

  472·32

  472·32

  Traffic offences

  340

  87

  195

  94

  1

  64

  12,882·05

  7,025·00

  Other offences

  390

  45

  87

  56

  21

  17

  220·68

  188·56

  Totals

  6,838

  35

  1,394

  778

  53

  169

  1,118,615·30

  229,945·37

  Total Crown and non-Crown

  13,208

  49·6

  3,900

  1,838

  488

  720

  235,976,096·40

  672,468·14

  Total No Crime = 1,049.

  1 Includes arson endangering life at Waltham Abbey.

  2 Includes arson at COD Donnington.

  562
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested. In the case of crimes reported to the Ministry of Defence police, statistics are published in annex E to the annual report to the chief constable, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. However, similar information is not available in respect of those crimes reported to and investigated by Home Department police forces or the Services police.

  Bar coding is being gradually introduced into the Ministry of Defence as a means of obtaining data but is not a security measure in itself. The Department is mindful of the need for adequate security measures and these are regularly appraised and updated as necessary. It is not, however, our policy to publicise these measures.
  563

  Scottish Crime Return 1988

  Property

  General crime type

  Offences

  Percentage detected

  Employee

  Forces

  Other

  At gate

  Value

  Recovered

  Crown:

  Life threatening

  2

  100

  2

  9·60

  9·60

  MOD, PSA,

  Assaults non-police

  7

  100

  3

  4

  DOT, DHSS,

  Sexual offences

  1

  100

  1

  1

  380·00

  380·00

  C and E,

  State offences

  1

  100

  4

  13,041·81

  United States

  Public order offences

  15

  67

  3

  2

  5

  2

  forces, Visiting

  Malicious mischief

  185

  27

  20

  37

  23

  632,282·00

  558·49

  forces

  Theft by opening

  lock-fast places

  39

  10

  2

  3,889·98

  789·50

  Fraud

  560

  20

  26

  33

  2

  37,019·78

  5,461·87

  Other theft act

  797

  25

  57

  138

  7

  123

  135,862·03

  52,589·06

  Forgery

  435

  1

  6

  13,205·71

  Drugs offences

  1

  100

  1

  7·00

  Customs offences

  527

  18

  19

  80

  1

  90

  23,686·97

  959·61

  Traffic offences

  218

  100

  82

  140

  37

  144

  10,538·79

  3,890·00

  Other offences

  84

  83

  33

  32

  29

  9

  1,053·64

  501·00

  Bomb hoaxes

  17

  24

  1

  9

  1

  15·00

  Totals

  2,889

  27

  258

  477

  102

  372

  870,992·31

  65,139·13

  Non-Crown:

  Assaults non-police

  31

  94

  16

  16

  1

  1

  Service

  Sexual offences

  7

  57

  4

  personnel,

  Public order offences

  125

  57

  41

  31

  4

  3

  14,000·00

  14,000·00

  Other civilian.

  Malicious mischief

  70

  13

  2

  12

  7,985·38

  Dockyard

  Theft by opening

  management,

  lock-fast places

  84

  21

  9

  3

  5,258·76

  752·71

  Commercial

  Fraud

  62

  87

  18

  43

  2

  5,332·48

  1,026·56

  company,

  Other theft act

  540

  36

  41

  136

  1

  111

  68,153·01

  26,908·92

  Royal

  Forgery

  10

  100

  10

  602·00

  Ordnance

  Drugs offences

  3

  100

  0

  2

  2

  25·00

  25·00

  factory, Royal

  Customs offences

  2

  100

  2

  2

  16·50

  16·50

  Mint

  Traffic offences

  76

  96

  20

  64

  39

  1,535·70

  Other offences

  63

  68

  37

  11

  4

  8

  2,062·36

  842·70

  Totals

  1,073

  47

  194

  324

  10

  168

  104,971·19

  43,572·39

  Total Crown and non-Crown

  3,962

  32·4

  452

  801

  112

  540

  975,963·50

  108,711·52

  Total No Crime = 150.

  Advanced Avionics Architecture and Packaging Development
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose and estimated cost of the advanced avionics architecture and packaging development.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The advanced avionics architecture and packaging programme will consider the potential for modular avionics architecture in order to enhance operational capability and to reduce costs of ownership. Some minor studies are being undertaken but it is too early to give an estimate for any follow on work.

  Anthorn Military Establishment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the military establishment at Anthorn.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is a NATO naval communications installation at Anthorn.

  Aircraft Tail Fins
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the tail fins of Royal Air Force aircraft are in bright colours; what proportion of front-line fast jet squadrons have these colours applied; which other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air force has adopted this policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Many RAF squadrons paint the tail fins (and other parts) of their aircraft with the insignia of their squadron or their squadron numbers. This helps to create an esprit de corps, and facilitates identification in 564
  peacetime. Although the RAF does not have a formal policy to identify aircraft in this way, all markings used have official approval. No record is kept of the number of front-line fast jet aircraft or squadrons with such insignia.

  The policy of other NATO Governments and air forces on such markings is a matter for them, but I understand that it is normal practice for squadrons to identify aircraft with their own insignia.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farmers
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of the number of working farmers in England who derive more than half of their income from occupations outside agriculture or forestry; and what estimates he has of the recent trend in these figures.

  Mr. Curry
  No estimates are available.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of the proportion of the total number of working farmers in England who are aged(a) over 60 years, (b) over 50 years and (c) under 40 years; and what estimates he has of the proportions for (a), (b) and (c) for: (i) the south-west region, and (ii) Somerset.

  Mr. Curry
  The nearest available information is as follows. It is taken from the results of a sample inquiry conducted for the EC farm structure survey 1985. The percentages are based on the number of holdings farmed by persons, excluding those farmed by firms and institutions. Information is not available at county level.
  565

  Percentage distribution of farmers by age group: 1985

  Age group

  England

  South west region

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Under 35 years

  6·9

  6·6

  35 to 44 years

  20·5

  20·7

  45 to 54 years

  26·5

  26·6

  55 to 64 years

  27·4

  27·4

  65 years and over

  18·8

  18·7

  All ages

  100·0

  100·0

  Butter Fat
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being undertaken, or is proposed to be undertaken by his Department into alternative uses for excess butter fat.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department does not undertake any such research and has no plans to do so. However, European Community funds for market research into dairy products are available to industry from the milk co-responsibility levy receipts and, in 1988–89, some £849,000 was allocated for this purpose. Of this, about £186,000 was earmarked for research projects concerned with the use of cream in products other than butter and another £186,000 for market research into certain cheeses.

  Alar
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's current policy towards use of the apple spray Alar following the decision by Uniroyal to withdraw it from sale for food use, after the disclosure in tests of(a) lung tumours in mice and (b) liver tumours in rats.

  Mr. Gummer
  The current approvals for Alar have been under review since February this year. The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides in April considered all available data on daminozide, the active ingredient of Alar, and its breakdown product UDMH. It concluded these did not show a health risk, but asked the manufacturers to provide as quickly as possible the results of further tests being carried out on UDMH. A summary of the interim results arrived in September and was reported to the ACP; the supporting data have just become available and are being studied urgently. The doses of UDMH given to both rats and mice were massive compared to any amounts likely to be encountered by humans. Animals dosed with significant amounts showed no more tumours than the control group but very large doses produced some effects and the ACP is now considering whether or not these indicate any change in its assessment of risk. Its recommendation to Ministers will be made public.

  These tests were reported in September to a group of international experts on pesticide residues working jointly to the Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation. It recommended that an acceptable daily intake of 0·5mg/kg body weight/day could safely be set for daminozide.

  The decision of the manufacturers to withdraw Alar was taken on commercial grounds since they have stated publicly that they do not believe its use on food crop poses a significant risk to public health. However, they have also
  566
  stated that even if continued registration of their product is successful they believe that growers and the food industry would be reluctant to return to their product.

  Mr. David Clark: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recommendations were made at its last meeting by his advisory committee on pesticides with regard to the use of Alar.

  Mr. Gummer
  The advisory committee did not make any recommendations at its last meeting on the use of the product Alar.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will re-examine the procedures whereby the apple spray Alar was given clearance by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides in the light of the withdrawal of the product by its makers Uniroyal.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond). I see no reason to re-examine the procedure of the ACP.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stocks of the apple spray Alar exist in this country; whether users will be permitted to exhaust these; and what plans he has to order their withdrawal.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no quantitative information about stocks of Alar in this country.

  I have no plans to order withdrawal of Alar stocks from growers. Continued usage of their stocks will depend on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides during its review of daminozide.

  Salmonella
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his replies of 17 May,Official Report, columns 212–13, and of 19 June, Official Report, column 44, whether those provisions awaiting implementation on 19 June have now been implemented.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. New orders come into force today which extend compulsory testing for salmonella to include hatcheries and include registration requirements which will apply from 2 April 1990, for breeding and laying flocks and hatcheries. Codes of practice on the production of final feed for livestock and animal protein were introduced on 7 August. The adoption of these measures reflects the Government's determination to tackle the salmonella problem at each point along the chain from poultry feeding stuffs, through the breeding flocks and hatcheries to the laying houses and then on to the home.

  Farm Workers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farmers were employed in each county in England in(a) June 1988 and (b) June 1989;

  (2) how many farm workers were employed in each county in England in (a) June 1988 and (b) June 1989.

  Mr. Gummer
  The figures for 1988 have recently become available and are shown in the tables. The processing of the June 1989 census is continuing and will be published as soon as possible.
  567

  Numbers of Farmers, Partners and Directors on Agricultural holdings. England, June 1988.

  Farmers, partners and directors

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  County by Standard Statistical Region

  Principal Farmers and Partners

  Other Partners and Directors

  Total

  Principal Farmers and Partners

  Other Partners and Directors

  Total

  Total Farmers Partners and Directors

  Cleveland

  303

  116

  419

  81

  56

  137

  556

  Cumbria

  4,485

  1,590

  6,075

  985

  644

  1,629

  7,704

  Durham

  1,502

  496

  1,998

  396

  268

  664

  2,662

  Northumberland

  1,659

  624

  2,283

  384

  319

  703

  2,986

  Tyne and Wear

  191

  59

  250

  43

  31

  74

  324

  North Region

  8,140

  2,885

  11,025

  1,889

  1,318

  3,207

  14,232

  Humberside

  2,398

  1,091

  3,489

  664

  489

  1,153

  4,662

  North Yorkshire

  6,009

  2,246

  8,255

  1,444

  1,049

  2,493

  10,748

  South Yorkshire

  916

  342

  1,258

  308

  198

  506

  1,764

  West Yorkshire

  1,681

  521

  2,202

  1,025

  412

  1,437

  3,639

  Yorks & Humberside

  11,004

  4,200

  15,204

  3,441

  2,148

  5,589

  20,793

  Derbyshire

  2,387

  734

  3,121

  808

  468

  1,276

  4,397

  Leicestershire

  1,758

  645

  2,403

  557

  39

  896

  3,299

  Lincolnshire

  3,954

  1,595

  5,549

  1,134

  925

  2,059

  7,608

  Northamptonshire

  1,178

  450

  1,628

  417

  297

  714

  2,342

  Nottinghamshire

  1,280

  538

  1,818

  367

  300

  667

  2,485

  East Midlands Region

  10,557

  3,962

  14,519

  3,283

  2,329

  5,612

  20,131

  Cambridgeshire

  2,439

  883

  3,322

  710

  512

  1,222

  4,544

  Norfolk

  3,131

  1,066

  4,197

  1,111

  685

  1,796

  5,993

  Suffolk

  2,174

  818

  2,992

  760

  540

  1,300

  4,292

  East Anglia Region

  7,744

  2,767

  10,511

  2,581

  1,737

  4,318

  14,829

  Bedfordshire

  819

  337

  1,156

  239

  164

  403

  1,559

  Berkshire

  443

  121

  564

  256

  119

  373

  937

  Buckinghamshire

  1,049

  327

  1,376

  524

  251

  775

  2,151

  East Sussex

  1,169

  305

  1,474

  700

  324

  1,026

  2,498

  Essex

  2,107

  855

  2,962

  757

  607

  1,364

  4,326

  Greater London

  252

  96

  348

  106

  53

  159

  507

  Hampshire

  1,629

  517

  2,146

  804

  411

  1,215

  3,361

  Hertfordshire

  721

  265

  986

  269

  161

  430

  1,416

  Isle of Wight

  307

  72

  379

  128

  76

  204

  583

  Kent

  2,311

  685

  2,996

  1,316

  747

  2,063

  5,059

  Oxfordshire

  1,239

  413

  1,652

  469

  302

  771

  2,423

  Surrey

  816

  194

  1,010

  555

  222

  777

  1,787

  West Sussex

  1,181

  326

  1,507

  563

  280

  843

  2,350

  South East Region

  14,043

  4,513

  18,556

  6,684

  3,717

  10,401

  28,957

  Avon

  1,279

  349

  1,628

  445

  206

  651

  2,279

  Cornwall (Incl Isle of Stilly)

  4,400

  1,107

  5,507

  1,703

  762

  2,465

  7,972

  Devon

  7,193

  1,811

  9,004

  2,097

  1,094

  3,191

  12,195

  Dorset

  1,784

  520

  2,304

  724

  440

  1,164

  3,468

  Gloucesterhire

  1,874

  507

  2,381

  846

  428

  1,274

  3,655

  Somerset

  3,612

  977

  4,589

  1,262

  681

  1,943

  6,532

  Wiltshire

  1,768

  579

  2,347

  635

  378

  1,103

  3,360

  South West Region

  21,910

  5,850

  27,760

  7,712

  3,989

  11,701

  39,461

  Hereford & Worcester

  4,059

  1,297

  5,356

  1,629

  856

  2,485

  7,841

  Shropshire

  3,290

  973

  4,263

  929

  599

  1,528

  5,791

  Staffordshire

  2,853

  853

  3,706

  963

  498

  1,461

  5,167

  Warwickshire

  1,433

  480

  1,913

  550

  295

  845

  2,758

  West Midlands

  285

  79

  364

  118

  73

  191

  555

  West Midlands Region

  11,920

  3,682

  15,602

  4,189

  2,321

  6,510

  22,112

  Cheshire

  2,804

  883

  3,687

  836

  435

  1,271

  4,958

  Greater Manchester

  893

  292

  1,185

  374

  184

  558

  1,743

  Lancashire

  3,732

  1,302

  5,034

  1,093

  652

  1,745

  6,779

  Merseyside

  344

  108

  452

  90

  70

  160

  612

  North West Region

  7,773

  2,585

  10,358

  2,393

  1,341

  3,734

  14,092

  England

  93,091

  30,444

  123,535

  32,172

  18,900

  51,072

  174,607

  568 569
  Source: June census.

  Note: Figures exclude minor holdings not included in June census.

  Numbers of workers and salaried managers engaged on agricultural holdings. England. June 1989

  County by Standard Statistical Region

  All workers (excluding salaried managers)

  Salaried managers

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Cleveland

  450

  112

  562

  27

  Cumbria

  4,192

  670

  4,862

  81

  Durham

  1,687

  483

  2,170

  30

  Northumberland

  2,540

  487

  3,027

  86

  Tyne and Wear

  312

  97

  409

  9

  North Region

  9,181

  1,849

  11,030

  233

  Humberside

  5,196

  1,779

  6,975

  237

  North Yorkshire

  8,159

  3,331

  11,690

  298

  South Yorkshire

  1,287

  474

  1,761

  34

  West Yorkshire

  2,353

  782

  3,135

  71

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  16,995

  6,366

  23,361

  640

  Derbyshire

  2,563

  739

  3,302

  48

  Leicestershire

  2,543

  816

  3,359

  97

  Lincolnshire

  9,183

  4,127

  13,310

  437

  Northamptonshire

  2,062

  476

  2,538

  114

  Nottinghamshire

  2,526

  1,068

  3,594

  121

  East Midlands Region

  18,877

  7,226

  26,103

  817

  Cambridgeshire

  5,085

  2,983

  8,068

  256

  Norfolk

  8,646

  4,901

  13,547

  396

  Suffolk

  5,351

  2,528

  7,879

  325

  East Anglia Region

  19,082

  10,412

  29,494

  977

  Bedfordshire

  1,550

  662

  2,212

  86

  Berkshire

  1,201

  433

  1,634

  109

  Buckinghamshire

  2,025

  760

  2,785

  153

  East Sussex

  2,150

  1,347

  3,497

  127

  Essex

  4,731

  2,694

  7,425

  281

  Greater London

  676

  521

  1,197

  51

  Hampshire

  4,565

  2,436

  7,001

  362

  Hertfordshire

  1,732

  567

  2,299

  116

  Isle of Wight

  550

  297

  847

  23

  Kent

  7,064

  8,202

  15,266

  385

  Oxfordshire

  2,863

  923

  3,786

  193

  Surrey

  2,306

  1,751

  4,057

  193

  West Sussex

  3,548

  2,800

  6,348

  288

  South East Region

  34,961

  23,393

  58,354

  2,367

  Avon

  1,923

  1,445

  3,368

  99

  Cornwall (including Isles of Scilly)

  4,306

  1,349

  5,655

  70

  Devon

  7,411

  1,763

  9,174

  157

  Dorset

  3,297

  853

  4,150

  149

  Gloucestershire

  3,092

  1,274

  4,366

  167

  Somerset

  5,087

  1,731

  6,818

  152

  Wiltshire

  3,770

  876

  4,646

  230

  South West Region

  28,886

  9,291

  38,177

  1,024

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,454

  3,763

  10,217

  251

  Shropshire

  4,594

  1,541

  6,135

  125

  Staffordshire

  3,788

  1,027

  4,815

  83

  Warwickshire

  2,292

  845

  3,137

  113

  West Midlands

  462

  304

  766

  15

  West Midlands Region

  17,590

  7,480

  25,070

  587

  Cheshire

  4,141

  974

  5,115

  164

  Greater Manchester

  1,111

  488

  1,599

  23

  Lancashire

  4,855

  1,860

  6,715

  155

  Merseyside

  649

  283

  932

  15

  North West Region

  10,756

  3,605

  14,361

  357

  England

  156,328

  69,622

  225,950

  7,002

  570 571
  Source: June census.

  Note: Figures exclude minor holdings not included in June census.

  Deer (Tuberculosis)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the measures he(a) has taken or (b) plans to take to control the spread of tuberculosis from farmed deer, indicating whether the Government or the farmers bear the cost of each measure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Legislation making tuberculosis in deer a notifiable disease and giving power to require the testing of deer (which will be used in known infected herds) came into force on 1 June 1989. Marking and movement record requirements came into force on 1 September 1989. The cost of administering these schemes falls to the Government, but the cost of testing, marking and keeping of movement records falls to individual farmers. A compulsory slaughter with compensation scheme was introduced also on 1 September 1989 with the Ministry paying compensation at 50 per cent. of the value of the slaughtered animal subject to a ceiling of £600 per animal.

  Several meetings of the deer health scheme advisory group have been held and agreement has been reached to introduce a deer health scheme within the next few weeks. Details of charges under the scheme are still being discussed.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research projects he is carrying out or funding to look into the level of tuberculosis in wild and farmed deer and methods of controlling the spread of the disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Research on the development of diagnostic tests for detecting tuberculosis in deer is currently being carried out at my Department's central veterinary laboratory. This forms part of a wider programme, designed to safeguard human health by reducing the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle and wildlife through improved diagnostic tests and the development of a vaccine for badgers.

  My Department has recently invited proposals to begin in 1990–91 under the open contracting fund on the following topics:

  the ecology of deer as it relates to domestic animal husbandry and the possible spread of tuberculosis and pathogenic mycobacteria;

  Number of cases confirmed in 4 week periods ending:

  County

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  16 July

  16 August

  16 September

  16 October

  Avon

  10

  9

  13

  11

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Berkshire

  —

  3

  1

  4

  Buckinghamshire

  3

  —

  1

  6

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Cheshire

  4

  1

  13

  16

  Clwyd

  1

  —

  2

  11

  Cornwall

  38

  31

  42

  32

  Cumbria

  9

  11

  11

  1

  Derbyshire

  4

  2

  10

  7

  Devon

  10

  61

  63

  70

  Dorset

  40

  39

  41

  59

  Durham

  4

  1

  1

  1

  Dyfed

  4

  9

  21

  20

  Essex

  1

  —

  3

  1

  Glamorgan Mid

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Glamorgan South

  2

  —

  3

  2

  572
  further work on improving the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for deer.

  Food Safety Directorate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his plans to set up a food safety directorate, including the date for its introduction and the powers it will have.

  Mr. Gummer
  I shall make a further announcement shortly.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 22 June,Official Report, column 249, if he will publish the results of his first quarterly survey into the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy at EEC approved arid non-EEC approved slaughterhouses.

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 3 July 1989]: In the period April to June 1989, 17 suspected cases of BSE were reported at EC approved slaughterhouses, of which 16 were confirmed, and nine at non-EC approved slaughterhouses of which five were confirmed.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many confirmed cases of BSE have been reported to him to date in cattle first identified as infected by BSE by veterinary inspection at(a) fatstock markets and (b) slaughterhouses.

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 19 October 1989]: Since BSE became notifiable on 21 June 1988 up to 30 June 1989, a total of 58 suspect cases of BSE were identified at markets, of which 39 were confirmed, and 85 cases were identified at slaughterhouses, of which 62 were confirmed.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of confirmed cases of BSE for each county of England and Wales for the four-week periods ended (a) 16 July, (b) 16 August, (c) 16 September and (d) 16 October.

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 19 October 1989]: The information is as follows:
  573

  County

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  16 July

  16 August

  16 September

  16 October

  Glamorgan West

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Gloucestershire

  20

  17

  18

  17

  Gwent

  3

  3

  3

  6

  Gwynedd

  2

  1

  2

  3

  Hampshire

  21

  12

  22

  23

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  8

  3

  7

  10

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  7

  2

  Humberside

  1

  3

  1

  —

  Isle of Wight

  3

  4

  2

  1

  Kent

  4

  3

  7

  13

  Lancashire

  6

  7

  7

  3

  Leicestershire

  5

  5

  14

  14

  Lincolnshire

  2

  3

  4

  5

  London

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Norfolk

  9

  8

  6

  7

  Northamptonshire

  6

  4

  1

  5

  Northumberland

  1

  2

  3

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  —

  5

  2

  Oxfordshire

  6

  4

  6

  3

  Powys

  1

  3

  9

  8

  Shropshire

  14

  —

  20

  27

  Somerset

  25

  35

  53

  38

  Staffordshire

  7

  3

  13

  7

  Suffolk

  3

  2

  3

  8

  Surrey

  1

  3

  2

  7

  Sussex East

  5

  4

  8

  9

  Sussex West

  5

  13

  16

  10

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  2

  —

  Warwickshire

  1

  —

  8

  4

  Wiltshire

  36

  28

  43

  26

  Yorkshire North

  14

  19

  16

  16

  Yorkshire South

  2

  1

  1

  —

  Yorkshire West

  2

  1

  —

  3

  376

  360

  540

  522

SCOTLAND

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings he has held with(a) the Scottish Business Group and (b) the Scottish TUC in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has attended four meetings of the Scottish Business Group since October 1988. He is due to meet the general council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on 10 November.

  Hospital Redundancies
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each hospital board the total number of redundancies following the award of private contracts to the nearest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of staff of health boards who have become redundant as a result of contracts awarded to private contractors in the period to 1 October 1989 is shown in the table. There have been no redundancies for this reason in other health boards. The vast majority of those made redundant were offered posts by the successful private contractors and a substantial proportion of those took up the offer of employment.

  Health Board

  Number of staff made redundant

  Argyll and Clyde

  98

  Ayrshire and Arran

  35

  Fife

  20

  574

  Health Board

  Number of staff made redundant

  Grampian

  243

  Greater Glasgow

  1,840

  Lothian

  666

  Tayside

  236

  Housing
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing(a) for all Scotland and (b) for each district council a breakdown per 1,000 of the population of public spending on housing from 1977–78 to 1988–89 at constant prices.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested at(a) is set out in the table.

  Public spending on housing per 1,000 of the Scottish population (at 1988–89 constant prices)

  £000

  1977–78

  275

  1978–79

  266

  1979–80

  279

  1980–81

  261

  1981–82

  257

  1982–83

  227

  1983–84

  241

  1984–85

  213

  1985–86

  188

  1986–87

  185

  1987–88

  205

  1988–89

  202

  The data required to provide the information requested at (b) are not available centrally.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from the Scottish Business Group about the effect of high interest rates on the Scottish economy.

  Mr. Lang
  Subjects discussed at meetings of the Scottish Business Group are normally confidential and it would not be appropriate for me to divulge them.

  Historic Buildings
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government propose to take to preserve the textile mills of Scotland, which are listed buildings regarded as being architecturally important, from dereliction and neglect.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Listed status affords a building statutory protection. The maintenance of a listed building, as of any other building, is the responsibility of its owner. Listed building consent procedures ensure that any changes to a listed building will, as far as possible, preserve its character.

  I give historic building grants for buildings which are of outstanding architectural or historic interest. Since 1985, repairs to former textile mills at Forfar, Dundee and New Lanark have been grant assisted.

  Council Housing (Rent Arrears)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the level of council house rent arrears for each Scottish district and islands authority at(a) April 1986 and (b) April 1989.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the accumulated rent arrears owed to Scottish local authorities is collected annually on the basis of arrears outstanding at 30 September. The amounts outstanding at 30 September 1985 and 30 September 1988 are as follows:

  Rent arrears of District and Islands Councils at 30 September

  1985

  1988

  £

  £

  SCOTLAND

  17,698,066

  30,067,921

  Berwickshire1

  43,397

  54,638

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  28,780

  40,664

  Roxburgh

  162,267

  100,708

  Tweeddale

  19,568

  15,813

  Clackmannan

  169,583

  800,903

  Falkirk

  604,830

  667,830

  Stirling

  362,592

  635,700

  Annandale and Eskdale

  89,947

  121,708

  Nithsdale

  138,123

  322,710

  Stewartry

  16,908

  31,137

  Wigtown

  67,272

  173,229

  Dunfermline

  466,974

  669,523

  Kirkcaldy

  381,896

  698,990

  North East Fife

  63,600

  117,675

  Aberdeen

  568,992

  1,144,379

  Banff and Buchan

  194,557

  277,064

  Gordon

  38,498

  76,225

  Kincardine and Deeside

  25,599

  48,878

  Moray

  41,825

  105,555

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  11,981

  17,900

  Caithness

  26,307

  109,666

  Inverness

  137,154

  2

  Lochaber

  97,700

  53,259

  Nairn

  5,170

  2

  Ross and Cromarty

  214,453

  268,364

  576

  1985

  1988

  £

  £

  Skye and Lochalsh

  24,687

  27,400

  Sutherland

  14,254

  29,279

  East Lothian

  213,935

  416,583

  Edinburgh

  993,270

  1,709,041

  Midlothian

  244,054

  279,632

  West Lothian

  150,568

  239,049

  Argyll and Bute

  65,299

  167,810

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  30,484

  126,374

  Clydebank

  516,541

  1,567,976

  Clydesdale

  73,984

  191,031

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  394,358

  446,934

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  269,013

  391,219

  Cunninghame

  170,000

  304,415

  Dumbarton1

  486,136

  445,232

  East Kilbride

  35,536

  40,059

  Eastwood

  25,392

  38,237

  Glasgow

  5,814,000

  10,241,488

  Hamilton

  537,661

  487,120

  Inverclyde

  254,159

  318,000

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  113,144

  214,026

  Kyle and Carrick

  189,839

  333,026

  Monklands

  594,509

  958,767

  Motherwell

  743,287

  1,063,807

  Renfrew

  463,214

  1,226,984

  Strathkelvin

  468,721

  459,718

  Angus

  94,055

  117,843

  Dundee

  488,398

  1,019,368

  Perth and Kinross

  132,890

  188,615

  Orkney Islands

  34,091

  57,583

  Shetland Islands

  94,614

  111,934

  Western Isles

  2

  296,853

  1 Figures include rate arrears.

  2 Not available.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to assess the current annual revenue cost of providing nursery education.

  Mr. Lang
  In 1987–88, the latest year for which figures are available, 39,290 children attended local authority nursery schools at a revenue cost of £30·7 million.

  Lead Water Pipes
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is able to estimate the number of public sector properties in Scotland which require replacement of domestic lead piping; and if he is able to estimate the position affecting private sector properties;

  (2) if he is able to estimate the total cost of eliminating lead piping from all of Scotland's domestic and private water supplies;

  (3) what is his estimate of the total numbers of persons currently served by lead water piping in domestic property.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information on which to base such estimates is not held centrally.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to estimate the total cost of eliminating lead piping from all of Scotland's water supplies to property.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of properties that still have lead pipes connecting them to public water supply mains is not know accurately. However, the cost of replacing such pipes has been broadly estimated at £300 million. There are no lead water mains in public water supply systems.

  Information on private supplies is not held centrally.

  Farming
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the measures being taken by his Department to encourage diversification into organic farming.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have already set the framework for organic production by establishing under the auspices of Food From Britain the United Kingdom register of organic food standards which sets standards for the production and processing of organic produce and serves as a quality assurance mark for consumers.

  The set-aside scheme offers farmers an opportunity to switch to organic methods: land may be put to fallow either for the full five year set-aside period or in rotation with cropping, thus allowing land to be taken out of intensive production and cleared of chemical residues. We are also considering whether the European Community arable extensification scheme, which is due to be implemented shortly, might include provision to assist a switch to organic production methods.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the sums of money paid by his Department to organic farmers in Scotland in the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to the farming industry is generally available to both organic and other farmers on the same basis and it is not possible to identify separately the sums paid to organic farmers. Assistance aimed specifically at promoting the development of organic farming includes the funding of research and development work carried out by the Scottish agricultural colleges. The recently-launched joint pilot project to be carried out by the Edinburgh university centre for human ecology and the Edinburgh school of agriculture to demonstrate the viability of organic farming has also attracted public funding from the Scottish Development Agency as well as support from the European Community and Safeway plc. Part of the Scottish Development Agency contribution will assist the Scottish Organic Producers' Association with market development work and will help to meet the cost of providing training and marketing advice to organic producers.

  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers were employed in each county in Scotland in June 1989.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish counties ceased to be used for agricultural statistics purposes after 1975 following local government reform. When regional results for June 1989 become available my noble Friend the Minister of State will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm workers were employed in each county in Scotland in June 1989.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish counties ceased to be used for agricultural statistics purposes after 1975 following local government reform. When regional results for June 1989 become available my noble Friend the Minister of State will write to the hon. Member.

  Schools Inspectors
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of Her Majesty's inspectors' reports were prepared for(a) education authority schools and (b) independent schools in each of the years 1979–80 to 1988–89, inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  Publication of Her Majesty's inspectors' reports on schools was instituted from the beginning of the 1983–84 session. The number of reports produced for education authority schools and independent schools in each of the years since then are:

  Education authority

  Independent

  1983–84

  143

  3

  1984–85

  152

  5

  1985–86

  158

  2

  1986–87

  158

  4

  1987–88

  146

  3

  1988–89

  121

  3

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total expenditure on research undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in each of the years 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89 inclusive, (b) the number of staff involved in research undertaken by the inspectorate in each of those years, and (c) the number of reports prepared by the inspectorate in each of those years.

  Mr. Lang
  Her Majesty's inspectors of schools do not undertake educational research projects.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many targeted inspections were undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in 1988–89.

  Mr. Lang
  All inspections conducted by Her Majesty's inspectorate are targeted to meet agreed objectives, which are notified to the establishments concerned at the outset of inspection.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.

  Mr. Lang
  No.

  Technology Academies
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many(a) pupils (b) teachers and (c) non-teaching staff are being considered for the first technology academy;

  (2) if he will give the total estimated expenditure for technology academies in each of the years 1989–90 and 1990–91 for capital and current expenditure;

  (3) if he will give the total estimated expenditure likely to be contributed from the private sector for setting up the first technology academy including (a) the amount of capital expenditure for the construction or refurbishment costs and (b) the organising revenue costs;

  (4) when he will announce the location of the first technology academy in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  No decisions have been made by the Glasgow Technology Academy Company regarding the
  579
  location or size of the first academy. It is therefore too early to give an indication of pupil and staff numbers or estimated expenditure. Trusthouse Forte have already announced its decision to contribute £1·5 million towards the cost of establishing a technology academy.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has consulted(a) Glasgow district council, (b) Eastwood district council, (c) Strathclyde regional council and (d) Greater Glasgow health board about a site for a technology academy in Glasgow;

  (2) if he will list the education authorities which have expressed an interest in hosting the first technology academy;

  (3) if he will list the sites in Glasgow which have been consulted by his Department for the first technology academy.

  Mr. Lang
  The identification of a site for a technology academy and any relevant consultation are matters for the Glasgow Technology Academy Company. Earlier this year my right hon. and learned Friend held discussions with Strathclyde regional council about the possibility of its participating in the establishment of an academy in Glasgow. Unfortunately the regional council was unable to pursue this proposal.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many technology academies he will establish in Scotland in the period 1989–90 to 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  A firm and generous offer of sponsorship has been made for the first technology academy. Progress with others will depend on the availability of further sponsorship.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if any meetings have taken place with the teaching unions and professional associations about technology academies;

  (2) if he will list the organisations which have been consulted about technology academies.

  Mr. Lang
  A policy paper about the establishment of technology academies in Scotland was issued on 12 October 1988. A copy of this paper and a list of recipients has been placed in the Library.

  Schools (Advertising)
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to(a) use public expenditure for publicity and advertising for self-governing schools and (b) set up a similar body to the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust to promote opting out.

  Mr. Lang
  In line with normal practice I intend to make available to school boards and others information and advice on the operation of new legislation giving Scottish parents the right to seek self-governing status for a school. Setting up a body on similar lines to the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust would not be a matter for Government.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for school boards(a) the total expenditure on publicity and advertising and (b) the total estimated expenditure in each of the years 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures for expenditure on information about School Boards are as follows:580

  Total expenditure to date—£790,000

  Expenditure in financial year 1988–89—£48,000

  No expenditure on information about school boards was incurred in financial year 1987–88.

  Employment Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give in each of the months September 1988 to September 1989(a) the total number of applications from single parents on employment training for financial assistance with child care, (b) the numbers approved and (c) the total expenditure.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not collected by the Training Agency and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total number of occupied places on employment training for the most recent date for which information is available, (b) the total number of planned places in employment training in 1989–90, (c) the total planned expenditure on employment training in 1989–90 and (d) the total expenditure on employment training for the most recent dates for which information is available.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The number of Employment Training filled places in Scotland as at 20 October 1989 was 25,446.

  (b) The number of Employment Training planned places in Scotland for the year to March 1990 is 36,002.

  (c) The total planned expenditure on Employment Training in Great Britain in 1989–90 is £1,271 million. No separate detailed figure is provided for Scotland. However, the Scottish share is estimated at approximately £153 million.

  (d) The total expenditure on Employment Training in Great Britain for the period 1 April 1989 to 31 August 1989 was £388 million. No detailed figure is available for Scotland. However, the Scottish share is estimated to be approximately £47 million.

  Independent Schools
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the steps and procedures involved in monitoring and reviewing(a) the development of the curriculum, (b) teacher training and (c) quality and standards of educational attainment within independent schools.

  Mr. Lang
  Independent schools are, like other schools, subject to inspection on a continuing basis by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools to ensure that efficient and suitable instruction is being provided. Such inspections will take account of the state of the curriculum, the quality of teaching and the level of educational attainment.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish Her Majesty's inspectors' reports for independent schools.

  Mr. Lang
  Reports on independent schools are published in the same way as for education authority schools.

  Economic Output
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the index of output for production industries divisions 1–4 and (b) the output per person employed for each of the years 1979 to 1989, inclusive, using the employed labour force as a denominator.
  581
  Mr. Lang
  Estimates of the employed labour force are not available for the production industries in Scotland. The table shows an index of output in the production industries (SIC divisions 1 to 4) for Scotland together with estimates of employees in employment. Output per employee is calculated and expressed in index form for comparative purposes.

  Year

  Production output index (1985=100)

  Employees in Employment (thousands)

  Output per employee (1985=100)

  1979

  101·4

  674

  74

  1980

  95·2

  631

  75

  1981

  93·2

  580

  79

  1982

  93·7

  545

  85

  1983

  93·4

  511

  90

  1984

  97·2

  499

  96

  1985

  100·0

  495

  100

  1986

  97·6

  474

  102

  1987

  99·6

  463

  106

  1988

  107·2

  470

  113

  Source: Index of Industrial Production for Scotland Department of Employment

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total index of output of manufacturing industrial divisions 2–4 and (b) the output per person employed for each of the years 1979 to 1989, inclusive, using the employed labour force as a denominator.

  Mr. Lang
  Estimates of the employed labour force are not available for the manufacturing industries in Scotland. The table shows an index of output in the manufacturing industries (SIC divisions 2 to 4) for Scotland together with estimates of employees in employment. Output per employee is also calculated and expressed in index form for comparative purposes.

  Year

  Manufacturing output index (1985=100)

  Employees in employment (Thousands)

  Output per Employee (1985 = 100)

  1979

  103·5

  602

  74

  1980

  96·6

  556

  75

  1981

  94·0

  507

  80

  1982

  94·7

  474

  86

  1983

  93·7

  443

  91

  1984

  97·8

  434

  97

  1985

  100·0

  431

  100

  1986

  97·7

  416

  101

  1987

  100·7

  407

  107

  1988

  108·7

  412

  114

  Source: Index of Industrial Production for Scotland Department of Employment

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total index of output of the whole economy and (b) the output per person employed for each of the years 1979 to 1989 inclusive, using the employed labour force as a denominator.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives the information requested for the years 1979 to 1987, the latest year for which there are estimates of Scotland's gross domestic product.

  Year

  Gross Domestic Product1

  Output per person employed2

  1979

  94·5

  88

  1980

  92·7

  88

  1981

  91·4

  90

  582

  Year

  Gross Domestic Product1

  Output per person employed2

  1982

  92·8

  93

  1983

  94·1

  95

  1984

  97·2

  98

  1985

  100·0

  100

  1986

  100·5

  102

  1987

  102·9

  104

  Source: Scottish Office Department of Employment.

  Notes:

  1 Output based estimate of Scottish gross domestic product 1985=100.

  2 Based on estimates of employed labour force in Scotland and expressed as an index (1985=100). The employed labour force comprises employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's Forces.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on the assisted places scheme in 1988–89 and the estimated expenditure in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  As regards the period 1989–91, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer he was given on 17 January. To achieve the planned increase in the number of children benefiting from the scheme I estimate that spending in 1991–92 could rise to £8·8 million.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of assisted places in independent schools for the following levels of family income: under £8,000 per annum, £8,000 to £12,000 per annum, £12,000 to £15,000 per annum and over £15,000 per annum for each of the years 1982–83 to 1988–89, inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is as follows:

  School Year

  Under £8,000

  £8,000-£12,000

  £12,000-£15,000

  Over £15,000

  1982–83

  1,211

  239

  —

  —

  1983–84

  1,484

  416

  —

  —

  1984–85

  1,616

  649

  —

  —

  1985–86

  1,666

  780

  171

  3

  1986–87

  1,532

  768

  285

  41

  1987–88

  1,409

  750

  399

  122

  1988–891

  1,273

  697

  433

  214

  1 Provisional figures.

  Lothian Health Board
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Lothian and Borders police on the progress of his investigations into Lothian health board.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Lothian and Borders police are investigating allegations of criminal conduct by employees of Lothian health board. The procurator fiscal at Edinburgh is being kept advised as to progress and will receive a full report from the police at the conclusion of the inquiries.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail any unforeseen losses incurred by Lothian health board during the current financial year.
  583
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not yet known whether Lothian health board has incurred any unforeseen losses in the current financial year.

  Hospitals (Self-governing Status)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will accord pilot study status to those hospitals that first become self-governing trusts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The early schemes will provide valuable, practical experience on how best to set up and manage self-governing NHS trusts and this will guide later developments.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he expects any acute hospitals to express an interest in becoming self-governing.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend looks forward to receiving expressions of interest from a wide range of types of hospital and services within the NHS, including acute hospitals.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the policy outlined in Scottish Working Paper No. 3 that self-governing status is likely to be particularly appropriate to major acute hospitals providing a reasonably comprehensive service, remains the case.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Yes, but all hospitals and a number of other services are potentially eligible.

  Victoria Infirmary
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the proposed closure of laboratories at the Victoria infirmary, Glasgow.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of laboratory services in its area is a matter for Greater Glasgow health board and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply of 18 October to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan,Official Report, column 172, what account is taken in shaping health policies and measures for Scotland of infant mortality and its causes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Account is taken of information, advice and recommendations in relation to infant mortality from a variety of sources. Perinatal and infant deaths in Scotland are the subject of continuous epidemiological audit. In addition, cognisance is taken of reports from advisory bodies and from professional colleges and associations. Research studies into specific causes of infant death are also undertaken. In the decade 1978 to 1987 the infant mortality rate in Scotland declined from 12·9 to 8·5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

  Charities
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals for improved regulation of charities in Scotland.
  584
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend issued a statement, "Charities in Scotland: A Framework for Supervision" on Monday 23 October. Copies have been placed in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Member's Question
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) 28 July,Official Report column 1050, if he will set out (a) the reasons for not replying to the priority written question referred to and (b) the longest interval between the asking of a priority written question and its answer by his Department.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) of 17 April was answered on 28 July,Official Report, column 1049. Information on the longest interval between the asking of a priority written question and its answer by my Department is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  YTS
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by region, how many unfilled places there were on YTS at the most recently available date and at the same date one and two years previously.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the number of unfilled places by region as at August 1987, August 1988 and August 1989.

  Number of unfilled YTS places by region as at August of 1987, 1988 and 1989

  Region

  1987

  1988

  1989

  South East

  22,000

  18,400

  19,900

  London

  18,000

  11,400

  10,200

  South West

  13,600

  12,000

  9,300

  West Midlands

  21,100

  20,000

  17,600

  East Midlands and Eastern

  17,700

  13,800

  11,600

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8,500

  9,200

  9,800

  North West

  20,200

  15,400

  12,700

  Northern

  8,400

  7,100

  6,000

  Wales

  6,500

  4,500

  3,700

  Scotland

  12,900

  12,800

  10,700

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

  2. 1987 figures exclude continuation places for YTSI trainees.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department is introducing to encourage members of ethnic minorities to take part in employment training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department has already introduced a wide range of measures to encourage members of ethnic minorities to take part in Employment Training and has plans for further measures which include:

  action to ensure that racial discrimination does not take place;

  action to ensure that training is attractive to and meets the needs of members of ethnic minorities and;

  action to ensure, through local marketing and publicity, that ethnic minority communities are aware of the programme.

  585
  The success of existing measures is clearly reflected in a 10 per cent. participation rate for trainees from ethnic minorities and my Department will continue to build upon this excellent beginning.

  Nearly half the people in England who are taking advantage of ET are resident in inner cities. The proportion of inner city residents entering ET from ethnic minorities is 14 per cent. above the national average. These people will benefit from the special measures which were announced by my right hon. Friend on 9 March, from the appointment of inner city development officers and from a number of initiatives which have been locally planned to meet local needs.

  Table 1

  Employment Training: Number of Trainees Receiving ET Allowances September 1988—September 1989

  Sept.

  Oct.

  Nov.

  Dec.

  Jan.

  Feb.

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Inner London North

  1,280

  2,258

  3,043

  3,479

  4,577

  5,123

  5,577

  5,675

  5,794

  6,054

  6,362

  6,434

  6,986

  Inner London South

  956

  1,268

  1,698

  1,922

  2,335

  2,653

  3,019

  3,355

  3,345

  3,302

  3,485

  3,429

  3,556

  London East

  832

  1,098

  1,421

  1,574

  1,821

  1,988

  2,010

  2,158

  2,198

  2,338

  2,519

  2,523

  2,502

  London North

  897

  1,271

  1,813

  2,142

  2,516

  2,880

  3,278

  3,321

  3,555

  3,704

  3,772

  3,922

  4,180

  London South

  389

  431

  614

  653

  1,017

  1,300

  1,439

  1,630

  1,609

  1,759

  1,698

  1,598

  1,798

  London West

  248

  431

  631

  740

  939

  1,097

  1,181

  1,214

  1,176

  1,186

  1,152

  1,086

  1,186

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,363

  2,070

  2,871

  3,647

  4,519

  5,666

  6,639

  7,402

  7,346

  7,677

  7,894

  8,151

  8,119

  Central Manchester

  1,346

  1,809

  2,372

  2,510

  2,797

  3,360

  3,815

  4,051

  4,069

  4,136

  4,327

  4,060

  4,136

  Greater Manchester North

  714

  1,103

  1,469

  1,725

  1,967

  2,290

  2,535

  2,658

  2,618

  2,810

  2,983

  2,963

  2,899

  Greater Manchester East

  848

  1,224

  1,589

  1,742

  1,895

  2,158

  2,368

  2,519

  2,595

  2,560

  2,642

  2,433

  2,546

  Table 2

  Employment Training: Number of Trainees Receiving CP Wages September 1988—September 1989

  Sept.

  Oct.

  Nov.

  Dec.

  Jan.

  Feb.

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Inner London North

  1,826

  1,514

  1,306

  1,063

  590

  278

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Inner London South

  1,736

  1,331

  939

  742

  454

  189

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  London East

  851

  639

  511

  351

  176

  44

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  London North

  1,554

  1,368

  1,032

  829

  562

  248

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  London South

  451

  311

  195

  175

  100

  38

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  London West

  273

  239

  191

  135

  76

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Birmingham and Solihull

  4,649

  3,655

  2,764

  1,975

  1,318

  596

  92

  28

  13

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Central Manchester

  3,295

  2,592

  1,965

  1,531

  976

  445

  122

  121

  120

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester North

  2,364

  1,916

  1,448

  1,050

  621

  107

  13

  6

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester East

  1,552

  1,211

  931

  795

  608

  370

  36

  35

  31

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Table 3

  Employment Training: Total number of trainees in training September 1988—September 1989

  Sept.

  Oct.

  Nov.

  Dec.

  Jan.

  Feb.

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Inner London North

  3,106

  3,772

  4,349

  4,542

  5,167

  5,401

  5,577

  5,675

  5,794

  6,054

  6,362

  6,434

  6,986

  Inner London South

  2,692

  2,599

  2,637

  2,664

  2,789

  2,842

  3,019

  3,355

  3,345

  3,302

  3,485

  3,429

  3,556

  London East

  1,683

  1,737

  1,932

  1,925

  1,997

  2,032

  2,010

  2,158

  2,198

  2,338

  2,519

  2,523

  2,502

  London North

  2,451

  2,639

  2,845

  2,971

  3,072

  3,128

  3,278

  3,321

  3,555

  3,704

  3,772

  3,922

  4,180

  London South

  840

  742

  809

  828

  1,117

  1,338

  1,439

  1,630

  1,609

  1,759

  1,698

  1,598

  1,798

  London West

  521

  670

  822

  875

  1,015

  1,109

  1,181

  1,214

  1,176

  1,186

  1,152

  1,086

  1,186

  586
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each of the Training Agency's areas within Greater London, Birmingham and Greater Manchester, what are the monthly statistics for each month since September 1988 for employment training showing(a) the number of trainees receiving employment training allowances, (b) the number of people receiving community programme wages, (c) the overall cumulative number of trainees in training for each month, and (d) the number of starts in each month with employment training training managers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is given in the tables.
  587

  Sept.

  Oct.

  Nov.

  Dec.

  Jan.

  Feb.

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Birmingham and Solihull

  6,012

  5,725

  5,635

  5,622

  5,837

  6,262

  6,731

  7,430

  7,359

  7,677

  7,894

  8,151

  8,119

  Central Manchester

  4,641

  4,401

  4,337

  4,041

  3,773

  3,805

  3,937

  4,172

  4,189

  4,136

  4,327

  4,060

  4,136

  Greater Manchester North

  3,078

  3,019

  2,917

  2,775

  2,588

  2,397

  2,548

  2,664

  2,622

  2,810

  2,983

  2,963

  2,899

  Greater Manchester East

  2,400

  2,435

  2,520

  2,537

  2,503

  2,528

  2,404

  2,554

  2,626

  2,560

  2,642

  2,433

  2,546

  Table 4

  Starts with employment training training managers September 1988—September 1989

  Sept.

  Oct.

  Nov.

  Dec.

  Jan.

  Feb.

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Sept.

  Inner London North

  820

  1,159

  948

  712

  1,314

  1,090

  1,115

  927

  770

  1,005

  1,073

  955

  1,638

  Inner London South

  404

  491

  540

  454

  639

  572

  756

  675

  456

  543

  542

  469

  823

  London East

  268

  382

  432

  329

  488

  453

  487

  381

  339

  452

  452

  290

  467

  London North

  730

  565

  602

  533

  655

  664

  848

  566

  583

  549

  544

  592

  999

  London South

  116

  202

  216

  179

  404

  390

  295

  360

  216

  399

  261

  216

  530

  London West

  165

  258

  372

  198

  302

  263

  283

  177

  187

  198

  206

  138

  307

  Birmingham and Solihull

  465

  1,190

  1,237

  1,051

  1,377

  1,739

  1,576

  1,437

  1,016

  1,254

  1,079

  1,033

  1,461

  Central Manchester

  545

  738

  899

  608

  828

  1,051

  866

  923

  770

  965

  871

  643

  937

  Greater Manchester North

  323

  541

  646

  523

  602

  759

  717

  616

  521

  871

  589

  569

  609

  Greater Manchester East

  363

  596

  660

  426

  477

  643

  800

  664

  548

  588

  516

  458

  588

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each of the Training Agency's areas within Greater London, Birmingham and Greater Manchester, what are the latest available statistics for employment training giving a breakdown of entrants

  Employment Training Characteristics of Entrants (September 1988 to June 1989) Greater London, Birmingham, and Manchester (all figures are percentages, figures may not total 100 because of rounding)

  Areas

  Men

  Women

  Unemployment Duration (Months)

  Ethnic Origin1

  PWD2

  0–6

  6–12

  13–23

  24+

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  Yes

  No

  Manchester East

  69

  31

  21

  31

  12

  36

  93

  1

  4

  2

  1

  10

  90

  Manchester Central

  73

  27

  19

  31

  15

  36

  84

  6

  5

  2

  3

  9

  91

  Manchester North

  71

  29

  23

  31

  13

  33

  92

  1

  5

  1

  1

  9

  91

  Birmingham

  70

  30

  16

  26

  11

  47

  63

  17

  15

  2

  3

  8

  92

  North London

  57

  43

  17

  32

  14

  36

  48

  26

  13

  7

  6

  10

  90

  London West

  56

  44

  22

  29

  14

  34

  59

  12

  18

  7

  4

  10

  91

  London East

  60

  41

  10

  35

  15

  40

  60

  17

  18

  3

  2

  12

  88

  South London

  54

  46

  18

  29

  13

  40

  67

  16

  8

  4

  4

  12

  88

  Inner London North

  54

  46

  18

  30

  15

  38

  49

  27

  9

  8

  6

  8

  92

  Inner London South

  61

  39

  12

  31

  14

  43

  43

  37

  4

  11

  5

  11

  90

  1 Ethnic origin.

  1.—White.

  2.—Black/African/Caribbean

  3.—Indian/Pakistan/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan

  4.—None of these.

  5.—Prefer not to say.

  2 PWD—People with disabilities. Those trainees answering whether they had a long-term health problem or disability which affected the type of work they could do.

  ..=less than 0·5 per cent.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when information from the comprehensive employment training leavers survey will be available; and when a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholls
  First questionnaires for the 100 per cent. follow-up survey of employment training leavers were sent out on 16 October. Information will be available later in the year.
  588
  which shows how many were male and female, the length of time they had been out of work, their ethnic backgrounds and whether or not they had any disabilities.

  Mr.Nicholls
  The information is given in the table.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria are used when setting the price to the public of Health and Safety Executive publications including the annual report; and what has been the average profit yielded by these publications in each of the last five years.
  589
  Mr. Nicholls
  In line with Her Majesty's Treasury rules, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) operates a pricing policy which seeks to recover in full the costs of production. Information is not available for the last five years but the HSE has produced a memorandum trading account in each of the last three financial years as follows:

  Year

  Profit

  £

  1986–87

  306,000

  1987–88

  167,000

  1988–89

  150,000

  The available information from the censuses of employment taken in September 1984 and September 1987 is given in the table below Numbers and percentage of employees in employment1 in the 15 industry classes with the largest number of employees in the Swindon constituency

  Classes of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980

  September 1984

  September 1987

  Number (000s)

  Per cent.2

  Number (000s)

  Per cent.2

  32 Mechanical engineering

  3—

  3—

  2·1

  3·7

  34 Electrical and electronic engineering

  4·4

  8·0

  4·7

  8·1

  35/36 Manufacture of motor vehicles and other transport equipment

  3—

  3—

  —

  —

  50 Construction

  2·0

  3·7

  2·6

  4·5

  61 Wholesale distribution

  4·7

  8·5

  3·9

  6·7

  64 Retail distribution

  7·2

  13·1

  7·2

  12·6

  66 Hotels and catering

  2·0

  3·6

  2·0

  3·6

  71/72 Railways and other inland transport

  1·7

  3·0

  2·2

  3·9

  79 Postal services and telecommunications

  2·6

  4·7

  2·5

  4·4

  81 Banking and finance

  1·3

  2·4

  —

  —

  82 Insurance except for social security

  2·2

  4·1

  2·5

  4·4

  83 Business services

  2·7

  5·0

  3·8

  6·7

  91 Public administration and defence

  1·8

  3·2

  1·9

  3·2

  92 Sanitary services

  —

  —

  20

  3·4

  93 Education

  2·8

  5·0

  3·0

  5·2

  95 Medical, other health and veterinary services

  2·8

  5·1

  3·1

  5·4

  96 Other services to the general public

  —

  —

  2·0

  3·6

  1 Excludes the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.

  2 Percentage of all industries and services total.

  3 Indicates in top 15 but figures cannot be given without disclosing confidential information relating to individual firms.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the estimate for the number of people in work in Great Britain for March in each year since 1970.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Estimates of the self-employed are based on the census of population and the labour force surveys. Prior to 1971 this information was obtained from the Department of Health and Social Security's sample of national insurance cards. The current surveys of work force in employment, including the self-employed, are therefore not comparable with data before 1971.

  The available information is as follows:

  Workforce in employment Great Britain Seasonally adjusted (Thousands)

  March

  1971

  23,944

  1972

  23,935

  1973

  24,505

  1974

  24,507

  1975

  24,509

  1976

  24,286

  1977

  24,285

  Statistics (Swindon)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the largest 15 categories of employment in the Swindon constituency in the last five years for which figures are available; how many were employed in each category; and what percentage of the total work force these represent.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is given in the table.

  March

  1978

  24,368

  1979

  24,699

  1980

  24,824

  1981

  23,966

  1982

  23,435

  1983

  22,999

  1984

  23,568

  1985

  23,923

  1986

  23,959

  1987

  24,219

  1988

  25,159

  1989

  25,687

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom(a) the total estimated numbers of the civilian work force in employment in March 1983, in each of the years to 1989 inclusive and (b) the changes by number and percentage between March 1983 and March 1989 and March 1988 and March 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows:
  591

  Civilian workforce in employment (Unadjusted for seasonal variation)

  Thousands

  Regions

  March

  March

  March

  March

  March

  March

  March

  Change between March 1983 and March 1989

  Change between March 1988 and March 1989

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  South East

  7,764

  8,002

  8,139

  8,169

  8,275

  8,616

  8,816

  1,052

  13·5

  200

  2·3

  East Anglia

  761

  798

  825

  823

  845

  888

  916

  155

  20·4

  28

  3·2

  South West

  1,685

  1,748

  1,792

  1,817

  1,864

  1,953

  2,012

  327

  19·4

  59

  3·0

  West Midlands

  2,104

  2,160

  2,174

  2,171

  2,199

  2,292

  2,331

  227

  10·8

  39

  1·7

  East Midlands

  1,560

  1,610

  1,641

  1,654

  1,669

  1,735

  1,782

  222

  14·2

  47

  2·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,940

  1,978

  1,999

  1,991

  2,001

  2,076

  2,085

  145

  7·5

  9

  0·4

  North West

  2,524

  2,552

  2,574

  2,578

  2,618

  2,707

  2,757

  233

  9·2

  50

  1·8

  North

  1,151

  1,161

  1,179

  1,177

  1,181

  1,226

  1,253

  102

  8·9

  27

  2·2

  Wales

  1,004

  1,023

  1,037

  1,040

  1,056

  1,100

  1,136

  132

  13·1

  36

  3·3

  Scotland

  2,054

  2,083

  2,107

  2,093

  2,077

  2,143

  2,190

  136

  6·6

  47

  2·2

  Northern Ireland

  564

  565

  572

  571

  571

  579

  584

  20

  3·5

  5

  0·9

  United Kingdom

  23,434

  24,005

  24,365

  24,405

  24,674

  25,633

  26,175

  2,741

  11·7

  542

  2·1

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give from the censuses of employment(a) the total number of employees in employment in each standard region of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United

  Employees in Employment (Unadjusted for Seasonal Variation) (Thousands).

  Change between Sept. 84 and Sept. 87

  Regions:

  September 1984

  September 1987

  Number

  Percentage

  South East

  7,219

  7,400

  182

  2·5

  East Anglia

  717

  739

  22

  3·0

  South West

  1,553

  1,628

  76

  4·9

  West Midlands

  1,981

  1,989

  8

  0·4

  East Midlands

  1,457

  1,508

  51

  3·5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,774

  1,783

  9

  0·5

  North West

  2,296

  2,345

  49

  21

  North

  1,060

  1,074

  14

  1·3

  Wales

  886

  924

  38

  4·3

  Scotland

  1,904

  1,881

  -23

  -1·2

  Northern Ireland

  500

  507

  7

  1·4

  United Kingdom

  21,346

  21,778

  432

  2·0

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, based on the census of employment and the labour force survey for the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom(a) the total estimated number

  Employees in employment (unadjusted for seasonal variation). Thousands.

  Change between March 1983 and March 1984

  Change between March 1988 and March 1989

  Regions

  March 1983

  March 1984

  March 1985

  March 1986

  March 1987

  March 1988

  March 1989

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  South East

  7,038

  7,143

  7,211

  7,232

  7,237

  7,513

  7,659

  105

  1·5

  146

  1·9

  East Anglia

  668

  688

  708

  709

  715

  745

  764

  20

  3·0

  19

  2·6

  South West

  1,470

  1,507

  1,531

  1,547

  1,573

  1,634

  1,676

  37

  2·5

  42

  2·6

  West Midlands

  1,928

  1,956

  1,968

  1,963

  1,961

  2,016

  2,030

  28

  2·5

  14

  ·7

  East Midlands

  1,405

  1,430

  1,465

  1,471

  1,467

  1,511

  1,545

  25

  1·8

  34

  2·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,772

  1,765

  1,762

  1,753

  1,744

  1,804

  1,792

  -7

  -·4

  -12

  -·7

  North West

  2,301

  2,280

  2,286

  2,288

  2,307

  2,374

  2,399

  -21

  -·9

  25

  1·1

  North

  1,061

  1,056

  1,065

  1,058

  1,053

  1,086

  1,090

  -5

  -·5

  4

  ·4

  Wales

  879

  873

  880

  877

  889

  933

  955

  -6

  -7

  22

  2·4

  Scotland

  1,879

  1,880

  1,890

  1,868

  1,850

  1,893

  1,911

  1

  ·1

  18

  1·0

  Northern Ireland

  494

  496

  503

  503

  503

  510

  514

  2

  ·4

  4

  ·8

  United Kingdom

  20,896

  21,076

  21,267

  21,269

  21,298

  22,019

  22,337

  180

  ·9

  318

  1·4

  592
  Kingdom in September 1984 and 1987 and (b) the change in numbers and percentage between September 1984 and 1987 in each of the areas.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  of employees in employment in March 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 and (b) the change by number and percentage between March 1983 and March 1984 and March 1988 and March 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:
  593
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide an estimate of the economically active population in March 1979, 1983 and 1989 for each of the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom and the changes by number and percentage between 1979 and 1983 and 1983 and 1989.

  Economically active by region

  1979

  1983

  11988

  Change 1979–83

  Change 1983–88

  '000s

  '000s

  '000s

  '000s

  Per cent.

  '000s

  Per cent.

  Northern

  1,429

  1,417

  1,484

  -13

  -0·9

  67

  4·8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,283

  2,299

  2,359

  17

  0·7

  60

  2·6

  North West

  3,053

  2,974

  3,108

  -79

  -2·6

  134

  4·5

  East Midlands

  1,784

  1,839

  1,976

  55

  3·1

  137

  7·4

  West Midlands

  2,484

  2,438

  2,580

  -46

  -1·8

  142

  5·8

  East Anglia

  878

  918

  1,027

  40

  4·6

  109

  11·8

  South East

  8,087

  8,272

  8,926

  185

  2·3

  653

  7·9

  Greater London

  3,330

  3,335

  3,423

  5

  0·1

  87

  2·6

  South West

  1,965

  2,027

  2,260

  63

  3·2

  232

  11·5

  Wales

  1,222

  1,198

  1,272

  -24

  -2·0

  74

  6·2

  Scotland

  2,459

  2,415

  2,449

  -44

  -1·8

  34

  1·4

  Northern Ireland

  613

  650

  672

  37

  6·1

  21

  3·3

  United Kingdom

  26,256

  26,447

  28,112

  192

  0·7

  1,665

  6·3

  1 Preliminary results (1988 only).

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the total estimated number of people in work-related Government training schemes included in the civilian work force in employment, in each of the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom in March in

  Participants on work-related Government training schemes (Thousands).

  Change between March 1983 and March 1989

  Change between March 1988 and March 1989

  Regions

  March 1983

  March 1984

  March 1985

  March 1986

  March 1987

  March 1988

  March 1989

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  South East

  0

  34

  36

  33

  38

  54

  64

  64

  n.a.

  10

  18·5

  East Anglia

  0

  4

  5

  6

  8

  11

  12

  12

  n.a.

  1

  91

  South West

  0

  13

  15

  15

  19

  27

  32

  32

  n.a.

  5

  18·5

  West Midlands

  0

  19

  20

  21

  34

  41

  50

  50

  n.a.

  9

  22·0

  East Midlands

  0

  16

  18

  17

  18

  26

  31

  31

  n.a.

  5

  19·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  0

  18

  20

  20

  27

  39

  53

  53

  n.a.

  14

  35·9

  North West

  0

  22

  23

  23

  35

  48

  62

  62

  n.a.

  14

  29·2

  North

  0

  13

  13

  14

  21

  29

  47

  47

  n.a.

  18

  62·1

  Wales

  0

  10

  11

  11

  17

  21

  31

  31

  n.a.

  10

  47·6

  Scotland

  0

  19

  21

  22

  30

  40

  57

  57

  n.a.

  17

  42·5

  Northern Ireland

  9

  8

  8

  8

  9

  9

  10

  1

  11·1

  1

  11·1

  United Kingdom

  9

  176

  190

  191

  255

  343

  448

  440

  n.a.

  105

  30·6

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the total number unemployed in March 1979, 1983 and 1989 for each of the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom and (b) the changes by number and percentages between March 1979 and 1983 and March 1983 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is available from the Library. The following table shows, seasonally adjusted, the number of unemployed claimants along with the change and percentage change for the dates and regions requested.

  Unemployed claimants—seasonally adjusted

  March

  1979

  1983

  1989

  England

  Total

  852·2

  2,198·7

  732·0

  Change

  —

  +1,345·9

  -1,466·7

  594
  Mr. Nicholls
  Estimates for spring each year from the labour force survey are given in the table below. Estimates for 1989 are not yet available, so preliminary 1988 figures have been given instead.

  each of the years 1983 to 1989 inclusive and (b) the change by number and percentage between March 1983 and March 1989 and March 1988 and March 1989 in each of the areas in (a) above.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  March

  1979

  1983

  1989

  Percentage change

  —

  +1,57·8

  -66·7

  Scotland

  Total

  142·1

  295·1

  250·5

  Change

  —

  +153

  -44·6

  Percentage change

  —

  + 107·8

  -15·1

  Wales

  Total

  70·6

  153·1

  104·9

  Change

  —

  +82·5

  -48·2

  Percentage change

  —

  +116·9

  -31·5

  Northern Ireland

  Total

  53·2

  104·2

  109·2

  Change

  —

  +51·0

  -5·0

  Percentage change

  —

  +95·9

  -4·8

  United Kingdom

  Total

  1,118·7

  2,751·1

  1,916·6

  595

  March

  1979

  1983

  1989

  Change

  —

  +1,632·4

  -834·5

  Percentage change

  —

  145·9

  -30·3

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the total of estimated number

  Self-Employed ( Thousands)

  Regions

  Change between March 1983 and March 1984

  Change between March 1988 and March 1989

  March 1983

  March 1984

  March 1985

  March 1986

  March 1987

  March 1988

  March 1989

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  South East

  726

  826

  892

  904

  1,000

  1,049

  1,093

  100

  13·8

  44

  4·2

  East Anglia

  93

  105

  113

  107

  122

  133

  140

  12

  12·9

  7

  5·3

  South West

  215

  228

  247

  255

  273

  292

  305

  13

  6·0

  13

  4·5

  West Midlands

  176

  185

  186

  187

  204

  235

  251

  9

  5·1

  16

  6·8

  East Midlands

  155

  164

  159

  165

  184

  198

  207

  9

  5·8

  9

  4·5

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  168

  195

  217

  218

  231

  233

  240

  27

  16·1

  7

  3·0

  North West

  223

  250

  265

  267

  276

  286

  296

  27

  12·1

  10

  3·5

  North

  90

  92

  101

  105

  107

  112

  116

  2

  2·2

  4

  3·6

  Wales

  125

  140

  146

  152

  150

  147

  150

  15

  12·0

  3

  2·0

  Scotland

  175

  184

  196

  204

  197

  210

  222

  9

  5·1

  12

  5·7

  Northern Ireland

  61

  61

  61

  60

  60

  60

  60

  0

  0

  0

  0

  United Kingdom

  2,209

  2,428

  2,582

  2,623

  2,802

  2,954

  3,079

  219

  9·9

  125

  4·2

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of(a) full-time male employees in employment, (b) part-time male employees in employment, (c) full-time female employees in employment, (d) part-time female employees in employment in each of the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom in March 1983 and March 1989 and (e) the

  Employees in employment male/female and part/full time (unadjusted)

  Thousands

  Regions

  March 1983

  March 1989

  Changes between March 1983 and March 1989

  Total male

  Full-time female

  Part-time female

  Total male

  Full-time female

  Part-time female

  Total male number

  Per cent.

  Full-time female number

  Per cent.

  Part-time female number

  Per cent.

  South East

  3,989

  1,826

  1,223

  4,075

  2,205

  1,378

  86

  2·2

  379

  20·8

  155

  12·7

  East Anglia

  399

  146

  123

  413

  193

  158

  14

  3·5

  47

  32·2

  35

  28·5

  South West

  841

  338

  291

  883

  429

  364

  42

  5·0

  91

  26·9

  73

  25·1

  West Midlands

  1,124

  471

  334

  1,119

  519

  392

  -0·5

  -0·4

  48

  10·2

  58

  17·4

  East Midlands

  814

  341

  250

  833

  395

  317

  19

  2·3

  54

  15·8

  67

  26·8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,023

  400

  350

  959

  431

  402

  -64

  -6·3

  31

  7·8

  52

  14·9

  North West

  1,281

  586

  434

  1,277

  637

  486

  -4

  -0·3

  51

  8·7

  52

  12·0

  North

  610

  251

  199

  586

  273

  231

  -24

  -3·9

  22

  8·8

  32

  16·1

  Wales

  512

  213

  154

  516

  245

  194

  4

  0·8

  32

  15·0

  40

  26·0

  Scotland

  1,055

  495

  329

  1,015

  534

  361

  -40

  -3·8

  39

  7·9

  32

  9·7

  Northern Ireland

  270

  —

  —

  269

  —

  —

  -1

  -0·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  United Kingdom

  1,837

  —

  —

  1,800

  —

  —

  -37

  -2·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tourism
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the English tourist board and the English regional tourism authorities, will be empowered to market their areas within the whole of the European Community from 1992 onwards.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, the English tourist board can engage in marketing activities outside the United Kingdom on behalf of the British Tourist Authority, but not otherwise. In practice,
  596
  of self-employed in each of the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom in March in each of the years 1983 to 1989, inclusive and (b) the change by number and percentage between March 1983 and March 1984 and March 1988 and March 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  changes by number and percentage between March 1983 and March 1989 in each of the of the areas in (a) to (d) above.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on full-time and part-time employment is not available for males in the regions or for all employees in Northern Ireland and therefore in the United Kingdom for these dates.

  The available information is as follows:

  the English tourist board does not engage in any marketing activity outside England. There are no plans to introduce any change to this position.

  The English regional tourist boards are independent, non-statutory organisations, and are therefore free to carry out marketing activities both inside and outside the United Kingdom.

  Noise at Work
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement notices for each of the last 10 years have been issued against employers
  597
  relating to the control of noise at work for each of the geographical areas of, respectively, the factory inspectorate, mines and quarries inspectorate, agricultural inspectorate, and railway inspectorate.

  Improvement notices issued by Her Majesty's factory inspectorate and agricultural inspectorate* against employers1 where subject of offence/requirement of notice-noise, 1981–1988/89p

  Year of issue

  HSE area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Q1/19862

  1986–873

  1987–883

  1988–89p3

  South West

  1

  —

  2

  6

  6

  2

  2

  4

  1

  South

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  South East

  —

  1

  2

  13

  14

  3

  7

  4

  2

  Greater London

  7

  2

  3

  18

  7

  3

  8

  10

  10

  East Anglia

  —

  1

  —

  4

  16

  —

  7

  7

  7

  Northern Home Counties

  —

  —

  1

  4

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Midlands

  3

  4

  4

  14

  11

  3

  4

  6

  4

  West Midlands

  2

  —

  2

  19

  8

  2

  2

  4

  —

  Wales

  3

  2

  3

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Marches

  —

  —

  *1

  3

  2

  1

  —

  7

  1

  1

  North Midlands

  3

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  4

  2

  6

  9

  17

  1

  6

  3

  *10

  3

  *6

  West and North Yorkshire

  —

  4

  2

  1

  6

  —

  —

  4

  3

  Greater Manchester

  2

  3

  4

  9

  4

  —

  2

  2

  1

  Merseyside

  —

  1

  5

  3

  1

  —

  4

  1

  1

  North West

  1

  —

  2

  3

  3

  1

  1

  1

  2

  North East

  2

  4

  4

  9

  23

  4

  4

  *1

  5

  2

  Scotland East

  9

  29

  16

  14

  6

  1

  8

  *1

  7

  3

  Scotland West

  6

  1

  3

  1

  7

  —

  2

  —

  5

  Total

  44

  57

  *1

  65

  131

  133

  21

  66

  *2

  61

  *10

  46

  *6

  p = Provisional.

  * Figures for numbers of notices issued by agricultural inspectorate are indicated by an asterisk.

  1 Notices issued against all persons excluding employees.

  2 1st quarter (January-March).

  3 Year commencing 1 April

  Mines and quarries inspectorate and railway inspectorate issued no improvement notices.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition notices have been issued against employers relating to the control of noise at work for each of the geographical areas of factory inspectorate, mines and quarries inspectorate, agricultural inspectorate and railway inspectorate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The figures cover the period 1981–1989. Information in the form requested is not available for 1979 and 1980.

  The following prohibition notices were issued by the factory inspectorate:

  1981 None

  1982 None

  1983 3 in Scotland West

  1984 1 in South West

  1 in South East

  1 in Scotland East

  1 in Scotland West

  1985 None

  Q1. 1986 1 in Scotland West

  1986–87 1 in Greater London

  2 in Scotland East

  1987–88 1 in Scotland East

  1988–89 1 in North Midlands

  1 in South Yorkshire and Humberside

  Notes:

  1. No prohibition notices were issued for noise related offences by HSE's agricultural inspectorate, and mines and quarries inspectorate or by the railway inspectorate during the period 1981–1989.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions have beeen taken against employers for each of the last 10 years relating to control of noise at work for each of the geographical areas of factory inspectorate, mines and quarries inspectorate, agricultural inspectorate, and railway inspectorate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The figures cover the period 1981–1989.
  598
  Mr. Nicholls
  The figures cover the period 1981–89.Information in the form requested is not available for 1979 and 1980.

  Information in the form requested is not available for 1979 and 1980

  The following informations were laid by the factory inspectorate in respect of noise-related offences:

  1981 1 information laid in Scotland West

  1982 None

  1983 1 information laid in W & N Yorkshire

  1984 1 information laid in W & N Yorkshire

  1 information laid in Scotland West

  1985 None

  1986 None

  1986–87 None

  1987–88 1 information laid in East Anglia

  1 information laid in North East

  1988–89 1 information laid in S Yorkshire and Humberside

  1 information laid in W & N Yorkshire

  Notes:

  1. No proceedings were instituted for noise related offences by HSE's agricultural inspectorate, and mines and quarries inspectorate during the period 1981–89, or by the railway inspectorate.

  2. The legislation under which this action was taken has recently been strengthened by the addition of new Noise at Work Regulations (SI 1989 No. 1790) coming into force next January, reflecting the Government's commitment to controlling noise at work.

  Special Employment
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the total estimated number of people in special employment and training measures in each of the standard regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom in March 1983 and March 1989 and (b) the change by number and percentage between March 1988 and March 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of people starting special employment and training programmes in Great Britain in 1982–83 and 1988–89 is shown in the table. Figures for
  599
  March only are not available, nor are regional analyses for 1982–83. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for similar measures there.

  Thousands

  Regions

  Change between 1987–88 and 1988–89

  1982–83

  1988–89

  Number

  Per cent.

  South East

  —

  91

  -12

  -11

  London

  —

  93

  +3

  +3

  South West

  —

  66

  -14

  -18

  West Midlands

  —

  112

  -1

  -2

  East Midlands

  —

  101

  +2

  +2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  121

  +19

  +19

  North West

  —

  167

  -12

  +8

  Northern

  —

  87

  -14

  -20

  England1

  442

  978

  -122

  -12

  Scotland

  71

  136

  -10

  -7

  Wales

  40

  85

  -4

  -4

  Great Britain Totals1

  565

  1,262

  -140

  -10

  1 Columns may not sum to the England and Great Britain totals because of rounding and because several schemes have been included in the England and Great Britain totals which could not be shown by region.

  Wages Councils
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the evidence on which he based his assertions in the wages councils 1988 consultative document that the decline in youth unemployment is a direct result of young persons' removal from wages councils remit in 1986.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There were indications from employers that their freedom to offer jobs at rates they could afford had resulted in the engagement of young people who would not otherwise have been recruited. It follows that this has contributed to the decrease in youth unemployment.

PRIME MINISTER

  Inner Cities Policies
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the Government's inner cities policies.

  The Prime Minister
  Excellent progress continues to be made in the regeneration of our inner cities under the Government's Action for Cities programmes, spending on which is planned to increase to about £3·5 billion this year. Unemployment in the 57 inner city target areas has fallen by 23 per cent. over the last year.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Pakistan.

  The Prime Minister
  Our close and friendly relations with the democratic Government in Pakistan have been reinforced by Pakistan's recent resumption of Commonwealth membership. After Prime Minister Bhutto's welcome visit to Britain in July, I was pleased to 600
  renew my acquantance with her at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kuala Lumpur last week.

  Housing Policy
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding housing policy.

  The Prime Minister
  Many representations are received on housing policy. The Government's policies have encouraged the spread of owner-occupation which has increased by 3,600,000 homes since 1979, an increase in the total housing stock of nearly 2 million since 1979 and the highest number of private housing starts since 1972.

  Legal Profession
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding reform of the legal profession.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations both on the Government's consultation papers. Many support the Government's aim of securing for the public the best possible access to legal services of sound quality.

  Countryside
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the preservation of the countryside.

  The Prime Minister
  Widespread appreciation has been expressed at this Government's determination to protect the countryside, and to recognise the interests of people who live and work there.

  United States of America
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the United Kingdom's relations with the United States of America.

  The Prime Minister
  I regularly receive representations on a range of subjects from members of the public and from hon. Members of this House.

  Education Policy
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representatives regarding educational policy.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many representations about education. The Government's educational policies, in particular the introduction of the national curriculum, will continue to raise standards at all levels.

  National Heritage
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the preservation of the national heritage.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friends and I receive representations frequently. Our heritage makes a particularly important contribution both to the quality of
  601
  life within our communities and to the tourism industry. The Government are concerned to ensure that the nation's wealth of important historic buildings, monuments and sites are preserved wherever possible.

  British Rail
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding British Rail.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes. Many welcome the current investment programme which at £4 billion over the next five years is the largest programme since the transition from steam to diesel 30 years ago.

  Cawston, Rugby
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay an official visit to Cawston near Rugby.

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

  Exeter
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Exeter.

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

  Water Act
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received on the implementation of the Water Act.

  The Prime Minister
  We have received a wide range of representations on the subject of water privatisation generally. In our view this represents the best way of achieving even higher standards of water quality more quickly and more cost effectively.

  Waste Disposal
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding waste disposal.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive representations from a variety of sources on a wide range of waste disposal issues.

  USA President
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next proposes to meet the President of the United States of America.

  The Prime Minister
  I expect to meet President Bush again next month.

  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.

  Transport Policy
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding transport policy.

  The Prime Minister
  I regularly receive representations on a wide range of issues concerning transport policy.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received on food safety.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations on a range of matters relating to food safety. These have been drawn to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health. The Government's proposals on food safety have been set out in its White Paper published in July this year.

  London Transport
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding London Transport.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive various representations concerning different aspects of London Regional Transport's operations.

  EC Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the proposed intergovernmental conference in the European Community.

  The Prime Minister
  No such representations have been received.

  Engagements
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.

  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.

  Southern Africa
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position on the Organisation of Africa Unity declaration on South Africa, adopted in Harare on 21 August.
  603
  The Prime Minister
  We do not believe that it is for outsiders to prescribe constitutional solutions to South Africa's problems. South Africans themselves must decide their own future. However, we welcome signs that the ANC is now thinking seriously about a negotiating process.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will make a statement on the Commonwealth Heads of Government document, "Southern Africa: The Way Ahead.";

  (2) if she will make a statement on the document, "Southern Africa: The Way Ahead: Britain's View."

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made earlier this afternoon.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to call upon the Governments of the United States of America, the Nordic countries and others to maintain existing sanctions and other measures against South Africa, as agreed at the Kuala Lumpur meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth.

  The Prime Minister
  Britain agreed with all other Commonwealth countries at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting the passage in the Kuala Lumpur statement on Southern Africa"that all existing sanctions and measures should be maintained and called upon the wider international community to do likewise."

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a statement on the progress that Her Majesty's Government believe has been made towards dismantling the pillars of apartheid.

  The Prime Minister
  Progress towards the dismantling of apartheid has included the abolition of the pass laws and influx control, the ending of job reservation on a racial basis, the granting of freehold property rights to all South Africans, the legalisation of black trades unions and the lifting of many restrictions on black small businesses. There have also been substantial moves towards the desegregation of public amenities. The release of eight long-term security prisoners and the granting of permission for peaceful demonstrations are welcome steps in the right direction. We will continue to seek the total abolition of apartheid, including the repeal of the remaining discriminatory legislation which forms the legal basis of apartheid, and its peaceful replacement by a system of government acceptable to all South Africans.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report, in relation to the document, "Southern Africa: The Way Ahead: Britain's View", when it was released, when it was decided to release the document and on which previous occasions Her Majesty's Government has issued a formal document of explanation further to a Commonwealth statement.

  The Prime Minister
  "Southern Africa: The Way Ahead: Britain's View" is not a formal document. It is a statement setting out our views on those passages of the Kuala Lumpur statement with which we disagreed and on how we see the way forward. At previous meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government I have expressed publicly Britain's views on matters which have arisen in discussion.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of letters from hon. Members to her received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not held centrally and could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime Screening
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations from the public concerning the Metropolitan police crime screening ratios policy.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Representations about crime screening have been received in the course of consultation meetings which my right hon. Friend had earlier this year with London Conservative Members of Parliament and the London local authority associations.

  Crime Prevention (West Cornwall)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to help prevent crime in west Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have a crime reduction strategy that applies to all parts of England and Wales. Central to this strategy is the involvement of the local community in crime prevention activity. Crime Concern was launched to support such activity and our national publicity campaign will continue to provide further advice to the public on ways in which they can reduce crime. In west Cornwall, I am pleased to report that there are now 100 neighbourhood watch schemes where 18 months ago there were none. Young people, too, are co-operating with the police. Youth crime prevention panels have been set up in Hayle with the assistance of schools liaison officers. The police and community of west Cornwall are enthusiastically working together to prevent crime.

  Dogs
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he intends to take to control the dog population in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Following the passage of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 I believe that effective steps have been taken to control the problem of dangerous dogs. The Act greatly improves the effectiveness of the courts' power to order the destruction of dangerous dogs and increases maximum penalties for offences.

  Right to Silence
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to implement the proposals contained in the recent Home Office report on the right to silence; and if he will make a statement.
  605
  Mr. John Patten
  We are waiting for comments, which are requested by 25 January, before reaching a final view.

  West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Reid).

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent decision to disband the West Midlands serious crimes squad, he will review convictions for serious crimes based wholly or mainly on confessions obtained from people in the custody of the West Midlands police.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of the West Midlands; and what matters were discussed.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent decision to disband the West Midlands serious crimes squad, he will review all convictions for serious crimes based wholly or mainly on confessions obtained in the custody of the West Midlands police.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Reid).

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, in the light of recent evidence that officers of the West Midlands serious crimes squad have been forging confessions.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, in the light of recent evidence that officers of the West Midlands serious crimes squad have been forging confessions.

  Mr. Hurd
  I referred this case to the Court of Appeal on 20 January 1987 and after a thorough investigation by the Devon and Cornwall police, the court heard the case in November and December 1987. In its judgment, announced in January 1988, the court concluded that it had no doubt that the convictions were safe and satisfactory.
  606
  I am always ready to consider new evidence or other information which has not been before the courts and which appears to cast doubt on the safety of the conviction. We are in close touch with the Police Complaints Authority about the investigations into the allegations made about the West Midlands serious crime squad. If relevant information came to light in the course of the investigation, I should as I stated in the House on 19 October consider whether there were grounds to justify my further intervention in this or any other case.

  Street Drinking
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on Government initiatives to curb drinking in the street.

  Mr. John Patten
  The experimental byelaw, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol in designated public places, is now in force in seven areas. The operation of the byelaw is being closely monitored by participating local authorities, the police and the Home Office. The results so far are encouraging. The byelaw has maintained its initial popularity and continues to be generally complied with. There have been 10 prosecutions, with 11 pending.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were appointed during the first half of 1988.

  Mr. Hurd
  On 31 December 1988 there were 15,778 special constables in England and Wales (10,578 men and 5,210 women). On 30 June 1989 there were 15,625 (10,465 men and 5,160 women). Statistics relating to appointments are not held centrally.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables now serve in police forces in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) earlier today.

  Immigrants
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of immigrants allowed to enter Britain; and what are the figures for each of the previous five years.

  Mr. Renton
  In the 12 months ending 30 June 1989, a total of 50,200 persons were accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom. The corresponding figures for previous years were 53,500 in 1983, 51,000 in 1984, 55,400 in 1985, 47,800 in 1986, 46,000 in 1987 and 49,300 in 1988.

  Neighbourhood Watch
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in West Mercia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand from the West Mercia constabulary that at the end of September 1989 there were
  607
  2,928 schemes in West Mercia, covering approximately 73,000 households. This is an increase of 859 schemes compared with the position reported 12 months previously.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand from the Staffordshire police that at the end of September 1989 there were 760 neighbourhood watch schemes in Staffordshire, covering approximately 84,000 households. This represents an increase of 228 schemes compared with the position reported 12 months previously.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  At the end of September 1989 there were estimated to be in the region of 75,300 residential neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales. The total number of schemes is almost 16,000 more than recorded 12 months ago and covers well over 3·5 million households. In addition the original neighbourhood watch idea has diversified to include initiatives such as pub watch, business watch, taxi watch and farm watch schemes. I welcome this evidence of the public's continuing support for crime prevention in general and neighbourhood watch in particular.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in Kent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand from the Kent constabulary that at the end of September 1989 there were 1,604 neighbourhood watch schemes in Kent, covering approximately 201,000 households. This is an increase of some 280 schemes compared with the position reported 12 months previously.

  "Practical Ways to Crack Crime"
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of "Practical Ways to Crack Crime" have now been distributed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Nearly 2·5 million copies of the first and second editions of "Practical Ways to Crack Crime" have been distributed in England and Wales. The third edition was published yesterday.

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the effectiveness of the forensic science service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Following the publication of its strategy statement in May 1989, the forensic science 608
  service has prepared a comprehensive programme of action aimed at improving both its effectiveness and efficiency. Copies of both the strategy statement and the more detailed action programme are in the Library.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for the level of prosecutions, under sections 3 and 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824, for homeless young people in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of persons aged under 21 proceeded against in the Metropolitan police district under sections 3 and 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 for 1987 was 171. Information is not collected centrally on the number of homeless people who have been prosecuted under the aforesaid Act. However of the 171 prosecutions only four were for sleeping out. This compares with 66 for being on enclosed premises for an unlawful purpose, 49 for indecent exposure and 38 for begging. Data for 1988 are not yet available.

  Drug Traffickers
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards concluding further international agreements to confiscate the assests of convicted drug traffickers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards concluding further international agreements to confiscate the assets of convicted drug traffickers.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have concluded reciprocal agreements or arrangements with 11 countries: the United States, Australia, Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Spain, Switzerland, Nigeria, Anguilla, Gibraltar and Malaysia. An agreement with Sweden is also near completion and negotiations are under way with several other countries.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report the latest available totals for drug traffickers' assets confiscated or frozen pending trial.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information available centrally relates only to confiscation orders made under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986. For 1988, £8·1 million was ordered to be confiscated by the courts. The national drugs intelligence unit estimates that confiscation and restraint orders exceeding £13 million and £20 million respectively have been made since the Act came into force in January 1987.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drugs trafficking offences were recorded and successfully prosecuted during the past 12 months.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information available centrally indicates that 9,214 offences of trafficking in controlled drugs were dealt with in the United Kingdom in 1988. A total of 4,208 persons were found guilty of 5,600 of these offences and a further 811 persons were cautioned or dealt with by compounding (payment of a penalty in lieu of prosecution) for a single offence.

  Policing
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for increased policing throughout the United Kingdom over the next 12 months.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend will be able to approve 1,100 additional police posts for police forces in England and Wales in 1990–91.

  Cocaine and Crack
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to combat the threat from cocaine and crack.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards targeting publicity campaigns warning of the dangers of crack in certain key cities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply my right hon. Friend gave earlier to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord).

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the conduct of the Sussex police force when investigating the murder charge against Mr. Colin Wallace.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have received representations from the hon. Member and from Mr. Colin Wallace. I hope to be able to let them have a substantive reply to their representations shortly.

  Police (Norfolk)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards securing greater efficiency and value for money by the police service in Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for securing value for money in the Norfolk constabulary rests primarily on the chief constable and the police authority. Among the initiatives taken in pursuit of better value for money are a programme of civilianisation including the setting up of administrative support units which has released 112 officers to operational duties since 1981; sharing underused police premises with other services; putting police canteens out to competitive tendering; and a review of vehicle fleet management.

  Slopping Out (Prisons)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to end the practice of slopping out within prisons.

  Mr. Hurd
  As I indicated in a reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis) on 20 February 1989 at column 506, we accept that ending slopping out would make a substantial difference to the lives of prisoners and staff, and that achieving this should 610
  be given a high priority. Work is under way to reach this goal, with all prisons built or designed since 1979 having either integral sanitation within the living accommodation or free access to sanitation. At existing establishments, the introduction of sanitary facilities is proceeding as quickly as possible within financial and physical constraints. I also announced a provisional programme to add more than 6,500 cells to those already scheduled for conversion. In addition, each establishment which does not have integral sanitation, or where it has not already been scheduled to be included, is being examined to determine the best way of providing such access, taking account of its individual circumstances. We thus plan to reduce the number of places without access to sanitation as quickly as possible, though it is not yet possible to say exactly when the practice will finally cease.

  Shotgun Certificates
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from chief constables in England and Wales on the steps they are taking to satisfy themselves that applicants for shotgun certificates can possess these weapons without danger to the public safety or the peace.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend has issued guidance to chief officers of police on this matter in the publication entitled "Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police", a copy of which is in the Library. Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary give considerable attention to this aspect in their inspections of forces.

  Fines
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines were imposed by courts in June 1989, March 1989, December 1988 and September 1988.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information for 1988 and 1989 is not yet available.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive and make public the findings of the five assessment projects on the feasibility of day fines and the causes of the decline in the use of fines as punishment.

  Mr. John Patten
  Autumn 1990: the project includes following up the enforcement of the fines assessed on a unit basis.

  War Crimes Report
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement in respect of comments received by his Department on the war crimes report.

  Mr. John Patten
  Since the war crimes inquiry's report was published, we have received a considerable number of letters representing a range of differing arguments of principle and practicality raised by the issue of war crimes prosecutions. We hope that it will be possible for the House to debate the issues raised by the report shortly.

  Orange Badges
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with chief constables measures which would make it easier for police and traffic wardens to identify misuse of orange badges by able-bodied people.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to his question on 20 July 1989 at column 301.

  Turkish Kurds
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in deciding applications for political asylum by Turkish Kurds.

  Mr. Renton
  By 11 October the asylum applications from 592 Turkish nationals had been considered in detail. The results of this consideration are that 71 met the criteria of the 1951 UN convention and have been recognised as refugees; 243 have been given leave to remain in the United Kingdom on an exceptional basis; 24 departed voluntarily before a final decision was reached; 172 have been notified of a provisional decision that they do not qualify for asylum and further information/representations are awaited; 36 did not qualify for asylum or leave to enter under the immigration rules, were refused entry and returned to Turkey.

  In addition, a further 207 have made voluntary departures after withdrawing their claims for asylum.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of Kurds currently seeking asylum in the United Kingdom and of those the number in custody in(a) Her Majesty's prisons and (b) detention centres.

  Mr. Renton
  Immigration statistics do not record ethnic origins, but most of the 4,200 Turkish nationals currently seeking asylum in the United Kingdom are believed to be of Kurdish origin. Six Turkish asylum seekers, whose applications have been refused and who await removal, are currently detained, all in prisons.

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the increase in police numbers since October 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Between October 1979 and July 1989 police officer strength increased by 12,925 to 125,808.

  Police Service (Cambridgeshire)
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards securing greater efficiency and value for money by the police service in Cambridgeshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for securing value for money in the Cambridgeshire constabulary rests primarily on the chief constable and police authority.

  In pursuit of better value for money Cambridgeshire constabulary has undertaken, amongst other things, the following initiatives: the introduction of a comprehensive
  612
  performance review system; reduction in the number of tiers of management and clarification of management responsibilities; streamlining paperwork to reduce time spent by officers on administrative tasks; the introduction of graded response to calls; and civilianisation of police officer posts.

  The chief constable has identified a number of other areas for further work to improve value for money, including transport and communications.

  Safer Cities Initiative
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made with his Department's safer cities initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Progress is good. Eleven local safer cities projects are now operating and five more should be in place by next January. Resulting action to reduce crime, and fear of crime, encompasses well-tried physical security and other more innovative measures. Examples are better fittings in homes of the elderly and in business premises; improved lighting in car parks and streets; personal safety classes; and new activity for young people at risk of offending.

  Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons (Report)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received following the publication on 24 July of the report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons 1988.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As yet we have received no representations on this report.

  Crime (Bury)
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to help prevent crime in Bury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our strategy for crime prevention applies to all parts of England and Wales. We have substantially increased police manpower and resources, set up Crime Concern to stimulate, support and develop local crime prevention activity, and have launched this month the third phase of our national crime prevention advertising campaign which will provide further advice for the public on how they can help to reduce crime. The Government encourage the growth and development of neighbourhood watch schemes and crime prevention panels and I am pleased to note that there are now 401 watch schemes in Bury, North compared to 259 this time last year. I know also that the Bury and district crime prevention panel has run successful campaigns against shoplifting and recently organised a major crime prevention exhibition.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the implementation of the new regulations relating to concessionary television licences; and what representations he has received from local authorities on this matter.
  613
  Mr. Renton
  By the end of August 1989 about 27,000 schemes had been reviewed under the May 1988 regulations, and some 804,500 people were covered by concessionary licences. Applications in respect of a further 10,000 schemes are being considered by the national TV licence records office and it is hoped that they will be dealt with by the end of the year. Since the change in the regulations, we have received 62 letters, 52 through hon. Members, from local authorities about aspects of the concessionary television licence scheme. I have also received two delegations from local authorities.

  Chief Constable of Essex
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of Essex; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend last met the chief constable of Essex on 21 September when he opened the new police station at Colchester. They touched on a number of matters during the brief conversation which the occasion allowed.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of remand prisoners held in custody during 1988 later received a custodial sentence.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information for 1988 is incomplete because for a proportion of the prisoners the outcome of court proceedings is not yet recorded. Final figures for 1987 and provisional figures for 1988 are given in tables 2.10 and 2.6 respectively of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1988", published today, which is available in the Library.

  Broadcasting Standards Council
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Broadcasting Standards Council is making towards its code of conduct.

  Mr. Renton
  I understand that the Broadcasting Standards Council has completed work on its code of practice on the portrayal of sex and violence in broadcast programmes and video works, and that it will be published along with the council's annual report on 1 November.

  Police Officers (Administrative Support)
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Audit Commission report on administrative support for police officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Audit Commission recommendations in its report on administrative support for police officers contain valuable guidelines for improved value for money in the use of police resources. Responsibility for responding to the recommendations lies primarily with chief officers of police and local police authorities with the advice and encouragement of Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary. A survey carried out by the inspectorate last June showed that over 90 per cent. of forces had completed or were carrying out reviews of their administrative support services.

  Nationality Applications
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in dealing with nationality applications at the Liverpool nationality office.

  Mr. Renton
  Excellent progress continues to be made. The number of applications currently outstanding is less than 40,000. As I indicated to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells) on 26 July at column 709, we expect to have taken decisions on all these applications by January 1990.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards securing greater efficiency and value for money by the police service in the London metropolitan area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A wide range of initiatives is being pursued to improve value for money in the Metropolitan police. They include a programme of civilianisation, which has released more than 360 officers for operational duties since April 1986; an annual programme of efficiency scrutinies with seven scrutinies completed to date; the introduction of external inspections by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary; improvements in resource planning and central processes, including the development of output measures and performance indicators and targets, progressive delegation of budgets to areas and divisions and improvements in financial management information; wide-ranging reviews by external consultants, including reviews of provisioning services and of building project management; appointment of specialist procurement and accounting advisers; and numerous other internal reviews. Further details on value for money activity may be found in the Commissioner's report for 1988 (Cm. 670).

  National Investigation Bureau
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police about proposals to create a national investigative bureau; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have not received any formal representations, but we welcome the views the Commissioner expressed in his speech to the Police Foundation on 6 July as being an important contribution to the debate on the organisation of policing to combat the challenge of serious crime. At this stage I believe that it would be premature to create an operational national unit to investigate serious crime, which would involve a substantial reorganisation of our present police force structures. Co-ordination of criminal intelligence is, however, essential. I am, therefore, asking the police service to consider how we might build on the excellent work of the regional crime squads, the national drugs intelligence unit and the national football intelligence unit to improve the collection and dissemination of criminal intelligence about all kinds of serious crime, perhaps by the creation of a national criminal intelligence unit.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what subjects he expects to discuss at his next meeting with representatives of the broadcasting authorities.

  Mr. Renton
  I have regular meetings with the broadcasting authorities at which a wide range of broadcasting issues are discussed.

  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the future role envisaged for Gaelic broadcasting.

  Mr. Renton
  My right hon. Friend hopes before long to he in a position to make an announcement on Gaelic broadcasting.

  Hong Kong Citizens
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of Hong Kong have been granted abode in the United Kingdom over the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Renton
  The number of British dependent territory citizens from Hong Kong granted settlement in the United Kingdom in the years 1984 to 1988 is published in table 22 of the Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics; United Kingdom 1988" (Cm. 726), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Police Officials (Removals)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made on proposals that would lead to the removal of inefficient police officials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This issue is still under consideration by a committee of the Police Advisory Board. I expect it to be discussed at the committee's next meeting on 15 November.

  Violence and Sex (Television)
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from ethnic minorities about violence and sex on television.

  Mr. Renton
  We receive a number of letters about the portrayal of sex and violence on television, but have not received any specifically from ethnic minority groups.

  EC Border Control
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about border control between the United Kingdom and other European community countries.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox).

  Burials
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been given to registrars in England in easing the formalities for the burial in England of persons who have died in Scotland.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Registrars are advised to obtain documentary evidence of the place and cause of death of persons who die in Scotland where it is intended that the burial or cremation take place in England or Wales.

  The registrars general for England and Wales and for Scotland have recently agreed revised written instructions which will shortly be circulated to registrars in England and Wales, advising that the appropriate documentary evidence would include either a certified extract of an entry in a Scottish death register, or a letter from the procurator fiscal stating the place and cause of death.

  I understand that similar instructions are about to be issued to registrars in Scotland so that they can give advice on the documentary evidence required in England and Wales in such cases.

  Passports
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered, as recommended in the fifth report of the Home Affairs Select Committee (1987–88 session), the withdrawal of the British visitor's passport and the issue of the back page of the new United Kingdom passport as a voluntary identification document to facilitate travel within the European Community and to replace the growing number of cards now being issued by football clubs, public houses and other private establishments for the purposes of identification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  As explained in the Government's reply to the Committee's fifth report (Cm. 635), no decision about withdrawal or replacement of the British visitor's passport can be made until the main passport issuing system has been fully computerised and tested under a full workload.

  Prisons
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff and of what grades are to be recruited or transferred to posts at(a) Her Majesty's Garth prison and (b) Her Majesty's Wymott prison (i) over the next six months and (ii) over the following six months;

  (2) how many staff and of what grades are to be redeployed from (a) Her Majesty's remand centre, Risley and (b) Her Majesty's young offenders institution, Buckley Hall (i) over the next six months and (ii) over the following six months.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In his statement on 25 July 1989 about action to be taken in the light of the Risley disturbances, at columns 607–8, my right hon. Friend indicated that he had decided to work towards the end of Risley's remand function for males by the summer of next year, after which it would take only sentenced prisoners. The staffing requirement for the establishment after these changes have been made has not yet been precisely set, but it is expected that more than 200 staff—mainly from the prison service
  617
  unified grades—will need to be redeployed. An exercise has been mounted to establish the wishes of the staff, which will be met so far as possible.

  My right hon. Friend has recently decided that the young offender institution at Buckley Hall should close and it will cease to function on 12 November, with formal closure some time thereafter. Arrangements are being made for the staff—as shown in the table—to be redeployed.

  Movements of staff into other establishments in the north-west, including those mentioned by my hon. Friend, depend on a number of factors, and I cannot say at this stage how many such movements there will be. Priority in filling such vacancies will, however, be given to staff transferred from Risley and Buckley Hall, and it is therefore unlikely that any newly recruited staff will be posted to Garth or Wymott.

  HMYOI Buckley Hall: Staff in post 1 October 1989

  Numbers

  Governor 3

  1

  Governor 5

  1

  Principal Officers

  3

  Senior Officers

  4

  Officers

  34

  Night Patrols

  5

  Storeman

  1

  Farm Manager 3

  1

  Chaplains (part-time)

  3

  Medical Officer (part-time)

  1

  Executive Officer

  1

  Administrative Officers

  5

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  Typists

  3

  Industrial grades

  14

  Pub Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what time and on what day Gerry Conlon was informed formally of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision not to contest his appeal against the Guildford and Woolwich pub bombing convictions.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the Crown Prosecution Service informed Mr. Conlon's solicitor of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision at about 11 am on Tuesday 17 October (one hour before the press notice). The solicitor was advised of Mr. Conlon's arrival at Brixton prison the same afternoon and she was able to speak to Mr. Conlon later in the day. There was no formal announcement of these events by the prison authorities.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what time and on what day Patrick Armstrong was informed formally of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision not to contest his appeal against the Guildford and Woolwich pub bombing convictions.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the Crown Prosecution Service informed Mr. Armstrong's solicitor of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision at about 11 am on Tuesday 17 October (one hour before the press notice). The solicitor was advised of Mr. Armstrong's arrival at Brixton prison the same afternoon and he was able to speak to Mr. Armstrong later in the day. There was no formal announcement of these events by the prison authorities.
  618
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what time and on what day Paul Hill was informed formally of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision not to contest his appeal against the Guildford and Woolwich pub bombing convictions.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the Crown Prosecution Service informed Mr. Hill's solicitor of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision at about 11 am on Tuesday 17 October (one hour before the press notice). The solicitor was advised of Mr. Hill's arrival at Brixton prison the same afternoon and he was able to speak to Mr. Hill later in the day. There was no formal announcement of these events by the prison authorities.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will name those who have been involved in the administration of justice who have sought to have the case of those convicted of the Birmingham bombing put before the courts again.

  Mr. John Patten
  Since the case of those convicted of the Birmingham public house bombings was last considered by the Court of Appeal following a reference by my right hon. Friend, representations proposing that the case be referred again to the Court of Appeal have been received from members of both Houses of Parliament, representatives of the clergy, representatives of various campaign groups, and members of the public. Some of these have legal qualifications.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions Gerry Conlon was strip-searched between 1 pm Tuesday 17 October and his release on Thursday 19 October;

  (2) on how many occasions Patrick Armstrong was strip-searched between 1 pm Tuesday 17 October and his release;

  (3) on how many occasions Paul Hill was strip-searched between 1 pm Tuesday 17 October and his release.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Comprehensive records of this kind are not routinely maintained, but it would be normal practice for them to have been strip-searched on arrival at Brixton prison, before and after receiving visits, and before their appearance at the Court of Appeal on Thursday 19 October; a total of about half a dozen occasions. It is standard practice to strip-search Category A prisoners on such occasions.

  Terence William Rivett
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Terence William Rivett escaped from HM prison, Ford, where he was serving a sentence of three years' imprisonment imposed at Guildford Crown court.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Terence William Rivett absconded from Ford open prison on 25 August 1989.

  Criminal Cases Appeal
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on deciding whether to reconsider a previous decision not to refer criminal cases to appeal; and if he takes into account the later views of the judge who had dismissed a particular appeal at the time.
  619
  Mr. John Patten
  In deciding whether to refer to the Court of Appeal, under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, the case of a person convicted on indictment, my right hon. Friend would normally consider it right to intervene whether there is new evidence or other consideration of substance which has not previously been before the courts, and which appears to cast doubt upon the safety of the conviction. If any member of the judiciary expressed views on the safety of a conviction my right hon. Friend would consider these very carefully.

  Fostering
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children of West African origin were left by their parents for fostering in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if he will set out in each case the main categories by percentage of the immigration status of the children so left.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not available. There is no provision in the immigration rules for the admission of children to be fostered in the United Kingdom. Under the rules children may settle here if their parents are also settled here. Children may also be admitted temporarily either as visitors or with parents who come here for a limited period, for example as students or work permit holders. A child admitted for a limited period would become an overstayer if he did not depart when his leave to remain expired.

  Dr. Siddiqui
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the immigration status of the Dr. Siddiqui who recently addressed a meeting on the subject of Salman Rushdie.

  Mr. Renton
  He is a British citizen.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time taken between awards being made from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the issue of cheques for such awards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The board does not keep the information requested, but I understand that once an applicant has written to accept an offered award it will normally be paid in a few weeks.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to make awards on claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 17 October at column 16.

  Trespassing
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends undertaking an evaluation of the working of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 was introduced into the Public Order Bill as it was going 620
  through Parliament in response to the depredations suffered by landowners by members of the so-called peace convoy during the summer of 1986. The section provides the police with a power to direct trespassers to leave land in certain circumstances. Only if the trespassers knowingly fail to obey such a direction do they commit a criminal offence.

  Section 39 put in place entirely new powers for the police and introduced an accompanying criminal sanction. It has been in force for about two and a half years. It has been the subject of representations by a number of people and organisations. In view of the time the section has been operative and because of the interest it has aroused. I propose to institute an evaluation of how the section is working in order to obtain a clearer picture of the consistency and effectiveness of its application. Views on the section may be directed in writing to F8 Division, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SWIEI 9AT, to arrive by 31 December 1989.

  Race Relations Act 1976
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance the Department issues with regard to the meaning of "appropriate arrangements" in section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976;

  (2) what monitoring arrangements his Department operates to ensure that section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976 is carried out by all local authorities.

  Mr. John Patten
  The joint circular 54/77, sent with the Race Relations Act 1976 to local authorities, advised them to examine their policies and practices for carrying out their different functions to ensure that they met the requirements of section 71, and to keep their employment policies and practices under regular review to ensure equality of opportunity for members of minority groups. No special monitoring arrangements are made by the Home Office.

  Genetic Fingerprinting
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish figures of immigration cases where DNA has proved a positive relationship where entry has previously been refused for(a) those still under 18 years of age and (b) those who have passed their 18th birthday subsequent to entry refusal.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not available. DNA evidence can be produced at any stage of the entry clearance or appeals process. Statistics relating to entry clearance applications granted or appeals allowed do not identify the number of cases which were resolved on the basis of DNA evidence or the number of such cases previously refused on relationship grounds.

  Immigration (Body Searches)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are given on the circumstances in which immigration officials should undertake body searches; and how many such searches were made in the last year.

  Mr. Renton
  Paragraph 4(3) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 provides that an immigration
  621
  officer may search the baggage and person of passengers seeking entry to ascertain whether they are carrying relevant documents, but no woman or girl may be searched except by a woman. Immigration officers normally seek the co-operation of HM Customs in any search of a passenger's baggage or person which may be considered necessary. In practice immigration officers do not carry out body searches and no guidelines on this have therefore been issued.

  Police Records
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines there are for chief constables on how long they should keep records on individuals who have committed no crime which were collected prior to a security-sensitive event which has subsequently passed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. This is an operational matter for chief constables.

  Prisoners (Health Care)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that prisoners enjoy the same rights in relation to health care as the general population except that of being able to choose their doctor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Every prison has a medical officer who is statutorily responsible for the health care, mental and physical, of the prisoners held therein. All medical officers are bound by the prison or young offender institution rules and by prison standing orders which inter alia require 24-hour availability of doctors for regular surgeries and emergencies and allow medical officers unfettered clinical freedom to call upon such National Health Service and other specialist out-patient and in-patient services as they consider appropriate. Such services are used extensively.

  Unconvicted prisoners may be treated by a doctor or dentist of their choice in consultation with the medical officer if certain conditions are satisfied.

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers of extra staff required by the immigration and nationality department to clear the backlog of immigration and nationality cases by 31 December.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not readily available. Efforts to reduce the backlog by improved efficiency and streamlining caseworking procedures continue. The backlog of nationality registration applications is planned to be cleared during January 1990, and of naturalisation applications by 31 March 1991.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog of immigration applications in terms of(a) the total number of cases, (b) the number in each category and (c) the average length of time it takes to deal with a case in each category.

  Mr. Renton
  At the end of September 1989, there were 27,600 cases outstanding in the immigration caseworking groups and 10,000 active cases in the refugee and special cases unit. Information by category on the number of cases 622
  currently outstanding is not readily available, but marriage and student cases are thought to account for the greater part of the backlog. The estimated average length of time to deal with applications in the main variation of leave categories in the third quarter of 1989 is given in the table:

  Estimated average length of time between the receipt of an application and the decision, for variation of leave cases1 2 decided in the third quarter of 1989, for the main categories of applications 1989 Third Quarter

  Category of application

  Months

  Student

  3½

  Work permit holder

  1½

  Settlement grant

  2½

  Limited leave prior to settlement as a spouse

  4

  Visitor

  2

  1 Includes cases decided in the Public Enquiry Offices as well as in the caseworking groups

  2 Excludes EC nationals

  Immigration and Nationality Department
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number and location of the sites suggested by the consultants employed by his Department for the possible relocation of the immigration and nationality department; and what was the cost of the consultants' work.

  Mr. Renton
  The consultants considered the broad potential benefits that might be secured from relocating in a number of areas. These were the north-east, north-west, west midlands, south Wales, Glasgow and central Birmingham. They made no specific recommendations regarding possible sites. The cost of the consultants' work was £70,100. Their report is still under consideration.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of staff vacancies at(a) the immigration and nationality department, Croydon and (b) the immigration and nationality department, Liverpool.

  Mr. Renton
  At 19 October there were 50 vacancies in the immigration and nationality department in Croydon, and two in the Liverpool nationality office.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of applications for registration which were completed by the immigration and nationality department in(a) 1987, (b) 1988, and (c) the current year to date.

  Mr. Renton
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Applications for registration completed

  1987

  51,291

  1988

  53,947

  11989

  79,605

  1 Provisional figure to end September.

  Naturalisation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of applications for naturalisation dealt with and completed by his Department in(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, and (d) the current year to date.

  Mr. Renton
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Applications for naturalisation completed

  1986

  15,213

  1987

  20,180

  1988

  15,772

  11989

  16,194

  1 Provisional figure to end September.

  Illegal Abortions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by year and location, for the last five years, the number of successful prosecutions in respect of illegal abortion operations and the ages of the patients.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information available to me relates to the number of persons found guilty of procuring illegal abortions under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, sections 58 and 59 as amended by the Abortion Act 1967, in England and Wales by police force area for 1983 to 1987.

  Police force area

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Kent

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Lancashire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  624

  Police force area

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Metropolitan police district

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  England and Wales

  3

  2

  —

  2

  —

  Data for 1988 is not yet available. Information is not collected centrally on the age of the patients.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the fire service.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government wish to see the fire service in Great Britain maintain the present high level of service while giving the best value for money to the public. It is the Government's view that this can be achieved within existing administrative structures.

  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Government have arty plans to privatise the fire service.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 10 January.

  Lorrain Osman
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer recent correspondence from the hon. Member for Stockton, South about Mr. Lorrain Osman.

  Mr. John Patten
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 25 October.

  NATO DEFENCE EQUIPMENT: COLLABORATION
  NATO DEFENCE EQUIPMENT: COLLABORATION
  ROAD SCHEMES: COST BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS
  ROAD SCHEMES: COST BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS
  REAR SET BELTS
  REAR SET BELTS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE LEVY ON AU PAIRS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE LEVY ON AU PAIRS
  PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986: SECTION 39 EVALUATION
  PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986: SECTION 39 EVALUATION
  CIVIL SERVICE TRADE UNIONS: FACILITY TIME COSTS
  CIVIL SERVICE TRADE UNIONS: FACILITY TIME COSTS