Written Answers of 30 October 1989

EMPLOYMENT

  Businesses
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses are being created every week; and what was the position in the same period 10 years ago.

  Mr. Tim Eggar
  In 1988, the latest year for which figures have been published, the net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses was 64,000, an average of just over 1,200 per week. In 1980, the net increase was 16,000, an average of 300 per week.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for Great Britain and each standard Training Agency region, how many individual child care allowances are being received by lone parent employment training participants; and how many were granted or refused for each of the latest available three months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The estimated proportions of trainees receiving child care allowances at the end of June, the latest date for which information is available, are given in the table. The latest in training figures, at 13 October 1989, has been provided for each region. Information is not available on the number of child care allowances granted or refused for each of the latest available three months.

  Employment Training Trainees in receipt of Child Care Allowances

  Region

  Per cent.1

  Number2

  South East

  3

  14,900

  London

  4

  20,500

  South West

  3

  12,100

  West Midlands

  2

  23,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2

  16,900

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2

  25,200

  North West

  2

  28,800

  Northern

  1

  24,300

  Wales

  1

  16,600

  Scotland

  2

  25,300

  Great Britain

  2

  209,000

  1 Proportion receiving child care allowances 30 June 1989.

  2 Numbers in training 13 October 1989.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for Great Britain and each standard Training Agency region, what are the monthly statistics for each month since January showing the results of new client adviser interviews with people who want to register as unemployed showing(a) the number of claims not pursued at the reception stage, (b) the number of clients who do not attend for interviews, (c) the number of claims not pursued at the interview broken down into the following categories: (i) those entering employment, (ii) those not available for work and not intending to claim an
  2
  alternative benefit, (iii) those appropriate to alternative benefits and (iv) other, and (d) the number of submissions to vacancies, (e) the number of referrals to employment training, (f) the number of availability referrals, (g) the number of referrals to specialists, namely DRO, CA, (h) the number of referrals to job clubs and (i) the number of referrals to EAS.

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

  Special Employment Measures (Swindon)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people benefiting from special employment measures at the latest available date in the Swindon constituency; and what is the average cost per person supported under each measure.

  Mr. Eggar
  The following programmes help to increase the opportunities available to unemployed people either to take up work or to start their own business. The figures indicate the number of people supported in the Gloucester and Wiltshire area, which includes Swindon, during August/September:

  Number

  Enterprise allowance scheme

  1,242

  Job start

  34

  Job release scheme

  80

  The average cost per person on job start is £382. Average costs per person are not available for either the enterprise allowance scheme or the job release scheme. Job release pays people either £79·25 or £65·25 a week, depending on their circumstances, up to age 65. The net cost to the Exchequer of the enterprise allowance scheme is £1,846 per person taken off the unemployment count.

  There are a number of other programmes available in Swindon which help unemployed people. These include the job club programme which provides training and support to help long-term unemployed with their job search activity. In September, 294 people were in a job club in the Gloucester and Wiltshire area.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how long a claimant must be out of work before being eligible to join a job club.

  Mr. Eggar
  Claimants should normally be out of work for six months before being eligible to join a job club. There are relaxations to the six month rule for people with disabilities, ex-offenders and people leaving YTS or employment training without a job to go to.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what facilities are available at his Department's job clubs to assist unemployed people trying to secure work.

  Mr. Eggar
  Every job club has telephones, paper, pens, typewriter or word processors, envelopes, stamps, photocopiers, newspapers and directories which members can use free of charge. A trained job club leader helps members draw up a curriculum vitae and shows them the
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  best way to look for jobs, make job applications and prepare for interviews. Fares to attend the job club are reimbursed.

  Job clubs continue to be very successful and provide valuable help to all those who join. Over 54,000 members have found work so far in 1989. Many others have gone on to training, self-employment or education. Overall, 69 per cent. of all job club members leave with a positive outcome.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider making job club facilities immediately available to unemployed people as soon as they become unemployed.

  Mr. Eggar
  Job club membership is generally available only to people who have been unemployed six months or longer. This is because long-term unemployed people are generally less well motivated and have greater difficulties in applying for and securing jobs than those recently unemployed.

  However, there are some important exceptions to the six-month eligibility rule which are designed to help groups who do need extra help, including those with

  Employment Training agreed action plans at training agents

  May to September 1989

  Area office

  May 1989

  June 1989

  July 1989

  August 1989

  September 1989

  South East Region1

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  270

  307

  340

  283

  339

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  412

  472

  509

  487

  538

  Essex

  538

  589

  761

  460

  734

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  583

  573

  705

  463

  602

  Kent

  561

  550

  470

  480

  574

  Surrey

  154

  247

  186

  197

  248

  Sussex

  548

  461

  546

  549

  542

  London Region

  Inner London North

  1,595

  1,632

  1,477

  1,545

  1,510

  Inner London South

  420

  684

  648

  618

  748

  London East

  743

  721

  695

  820

  787

  London North

  726

  749

  584

  700

  962

  London South

  406

  479

  426

  346

  561

  London West

  365

  428

  388

  417

  431

  South West Region

  Avon

  432

  440

  342

  378

  764

  Devon and Cornwall

  861

  1,003

  918

  877

  1,238

  Dorset and Somerset

  307

  344

  231

  226

  296

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  442

  402

  285

  333

  468

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,177

  1,506

  1,424

  1,363

  1,988

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  524

  559

  598

  418

  701

  Dudley and Sandwell

  631

  684

  688

  619

  755

  Staffordshire

  594

  628

  541

  494

  603

  The Marches, Hereford/Worcester

  577

  555

  550

  580

  716

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  463

  587

  715

  466

  532

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  317

  289

  260

  249

  396

  Derbyshire

  531

  571

  444

  430

  512

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  598

  714

  571

  733

  960

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  disabilities, ex-offenders and those leaving YTS or ET without a job. I have no plans to change the eligibility rules at present.

  Job Interviews (Travel Costs)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of travel warrants for unemployed people attending job interviews in 1988.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of travel warrants is not separately available. The cost to public funds of unemployed people attending job interviews under the travel-to-interview scheme in 1988 was £980,000.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many agreed action plans have been drawn up at employment training agents on a monthly basis(a) nationally and (b) by training agency area since May.

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

  May 1989

  June 1989

  July 1989

  August 1989

  September 1989

  Lincolnshire

  240

  282

  271

  334

  196

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  530

  466

  526

  393

  540

  Nottinghamshire

  786

  1,122

  1,062

  929

  964

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  914

  981

  930

  905

  1,002

  Humberside

  727

  884

  737

  802

  1,088

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  1,245

  993

  1,012

  1,052

  1,137

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  994

  959

  888

  802

  1,308

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  1,144

  1,019

  1,083

  1,019

  1,741

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  574

  854

  679

  519

  689

  Cumbria

  182

  181

  287

  190

  259

  Lancashire

  899

  937

  907

  936>

  1,130

  Central Manchester

  639

  791

  768

  655

  785

  Greater Manchester North

  685

  856

  839

  849

  700

  Greater Manchester East

  644

  675

  652

  688

  774

  Merseyside

  1,671

  2,067

  1,837

  1,767

  2,213

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  1,222

  1,352

  893

  1,170

  1,356

  County Durham

  917

  944

  959

  877

  1,139

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  1,006

  1,195

  1,011

  987

  1,307

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  1,182

  1,318

  959

  846

  1,270

  Wales

  Dyfed and West

  Glamorgan

  855

  912

  774

  556

  889

  Gwent

  516

  409

  479

  443

  640

  Gwynned, Clwyd and Powys

  486

  397

  329

  332

  685

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  893

  1,001

  755

  883

  1,027

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  675

  889

  627

  801

  1,122

  Central and Fife

  567

  693

  388

  644

  887

  Glasgow City

  1,186

  1,601

  1,159

  1,492

  1,697

  Grampian and Tayside

  748

  1,055

  685

  799

  1,091

  Highlands and Islands

  190

  238

  240

  230

  262

  Lanarkshire

  567

  840

  727

  821

  781

  Lothian and Borders

  645

  804

  574

  589

  792

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  714

  987

  779

  1,066

  997

  Great Britain Total

  39,018

  43,876

  39,117

  38,907

  48,973

  1 South East figures have been revised since this same information was given in a previous answer.

  Accidents (Radiation)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what comprehensive plans have been made, and what programmes for implementation of procedures, for the fire service to deal with accidents on railway or road involving external emissions of gamma radiation, and for police officers and other workers immediately affected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have been asked to reply, and will write to the hon. Member.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  "Today" Newspaper Story
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South, of 3 July,Official Report, column 14, what action he has now taken with regard to the Today newspaper for its front page story on 11 May headed, "Maggie IRA Bomb Squad Seized", concerning the arrest of three Irishmen who were later released without charge.
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  The Attorney-General
  I have considered the matter, but have concluded that there is no realistic prospect that any prosecution would result in a conviction. Accordingly, I do not propose to take any further action.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr Shersby
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he proposes any changes to the serious fraud offices cash and running cost limits for 1989–90.

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on class XI, vote 12 will be increased by £250,000 from £5,514,000 to £5,764,000. Within this total the running costs limit will remain at £5,372,000. This change is to enable the serious fraud office to meet the costs of capital works relating to its new accommodation at Elm house, some of which although initially provided for in 1988–89 have, due to unexpected delays in completion of the work, now slipped into 1989–90. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

PRIME MINISTER

  Environmental Protection
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will set out the details of the policy options for global co-operation on environmental protection and environmental improvement she presented to the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting on 6 September in London.

  The Prime Minister
  My speech to the Inter-Parliamentary Union last month set out the principles which I believe should govern our efforts to improve the environment. There are four: first, that proper protection for the environment is not possible without adequate growth; secondly, that we need a sound scientific base to enable us to adopt policies and remedies which will be effective; thirdly, that the demand for a better environment means accepting the costs involved and that action must work with the grain of the market and of human nature; and fourthly, that many of the key environmental problems cannot be addressed by one nation alone—they need international co-operation. The Government have followed these principles in the detailed actions it has taken to improve the environment domestically and to take the lead in international co-operation, notably in the London ozone layer conference earlier this year and in the proposal we have made in the United Nations for an international framework convention on global climate change.

  Poverty
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will now consider convening an inter-departmental ministerial committee to consider the problem of poverty in Great Britain.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so. The Government will continue to take account in all their policies of those with particular needs. The recent statement on benefits by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has directed further 8
  substantial help to the less well-off pensioners, the lower income families with children and the long-term sick and disabled.

  Sir Alan Walters
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether Sir Alan Walters has signed the Official Secrets Act;

  (2) whether Sir Alan Walters is subject to the same conditions of service as other special advisers; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) whether Sir Alan Walters is subject to the same conditions of service as civil servants at a comparable grade; and if she will make a statement;

  (4) whether Sir Alan Walters is subject to the same rules of conduct as civil servants at a comparable grade; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Sir Alan Walters was employed as a fee-paid consultant. His conditions of service were based on those of a special adviser which differ slightly from those of permanent civil servants. He is subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Acts.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the consultative assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Poole (Mr. Ward) as a substitute member in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale), and I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) as a substitute member in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart).

  OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in 1989–90 cash limits for expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on the overseas aid vote (class II vote 5) will be increased by £74,613,000 to £1,365,579,000. The increase reflects adjustments to the aid programme during the year, including significant new commitments for Nigeria of £49,600,000—Official Report 6 December 1988 column 90 —and for the Commonwealth Development Corporation of £20,000,000—Official Report, 21 May 1989, column 38. The increase also includes £2,500,000 for the estimated costs in 1989–90 of training and advice under the know-how fund for Poland—Official Report 18 October 1989, column 149—originally to be incurred on class II vote 2, "Other External Relations". Pending approval of the supplementary estimate, urgent expenditure of £1,500,000 for this new service will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund. The running costs cash limit for the ODA has also been increased by £300,000, from £43,831,000 to £44,131,000. The net effect of these changes has been charged to the reserve, and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. The Department received 11,157 letters for ministerial reply between January and September this year; 4,798 were replied to within four weeks. Approximately two thirds of this correspondence was from hon. Members.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide figures to support the statement made by the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold) on 15 September, that teachers' pay has increased over the past three years by 40 per cent.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Teachers have received the following pay increases since March 1986:

  Date of settlement

  Increase Per cent.

  31 March 1986

  1·6

  1 April 1986

  5·7

  1 January 1987 and 1 October 1987

  116·4

  1 April 1988

  4·75

  1 April 1989

  6·3

  1 Paid in two instalments of 8·2 per cent.

  The cumulative effect has been a rise in teachers' pay of some 40 per cent.

  Mr. Raison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for average teachers' earnings for each year from 1981 to the latest year for which figures are available at 1985 prices.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is as follows:

  Average teachers1 salaries 1981–89

  Year (April)

  Average salaries (Cash) £

  Average salaries real terms2 (1985 prices) £

  1981

  8,031

  10,275

  1982

  8,618

  10,087

  1983

  9,119

  10,255

  1984

  9,652

  10,327

  1985

  10,391

  10,391

  1986

  11,216

  10,883

  1987

  13,100

  12,200

  1988

  13,670

  12,249

  1989

  14,762

  12,244

  1 Teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales.

  2 Using the Retail Prices Index.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the referral of the interim pay award for teachers to the teachers' interim advisory committee; and if he will make a statement.
  10
  Mrs Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received a substantial number of letters commenting on the remit given last month to the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions.

  GCSE
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide details of what examination fees can be recovered by schools and colleges from pupils who fail to complete the course work requirements of the GCSE examination.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  If a pupil fails without good reason to complete the requirements, including coursework, for any public examination for which the LEA or school has paid an entry fee, it is open to the LEA under section 108 of the Education Reform Act 1988 to recover the fee from the parent or guardian.

  Crack
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has distributed fact sheets on crack to teachers in Warrington.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Bulk copies of a fact sheet on crack were issued by the Department on 29 August to all drugs education co-ordinators in England. It is for each co-ordinator to decide how the fact sheet should be distributed locally.

  National Curriculum (Special Needs)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has made any estimate of the extra resources needed to enable children with special needs to participate fully in the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The cost of implementing the national curriculum will be met from the redirection of existing resources. However, the Government are making specific grants available to local education authorities to support the introduction of the national curriculum. In this financial year, there will be support for over £100 million expenditure. It is for authorities to decide how much to spend within this total in order to enable children with special educational needs to participate fully in the national curriculum, where appropriate.

  Local Authorities' Cash Plans
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes),Official Report, 24 April, column 421, why information on local education authorities' cash plans is not available for the years 1981 to 1984; and what relevant information is held by his Department.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Cash plans were not requested in the period 1981–84 and information comparable with that provided for later years could not be made available without disproportionate expense. For the period in question the Department sought estimates from local education authorities of the cost of certain elements of their capital programme, but not in respect of new places to meet basic need for areas of population growth. Where numbers were expected to increase pupil projections were converted to allocations by means of standard cost multipliers per pupil place.

  Infertility Research
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give current Government funding into infertility research.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. The council spent £2·3 million on research specifically into infertility in the financial year 1988–89 and also supports a range of basic research which may be of relevance to infertility.

  Additionally, research on infertility may be pursued by university departments and medical schools with support from UFC block grants, and by health authorities; information on this is not collected centrally.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list establishments where research into infertility is currently being carried out.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: The Medical Research Council funds research into infertility at the following establishments:

  I. MRC Establishments

  1. Clinical Research Centre, Clinical Sciences Division, Harrow

  Project Title

  (i) Ultrasound and hormonal analysis of ovarian follicular growth in infertile women.

  (ii) A population survey of ovarian morphology.

  (iii) Urine Steroid profiling in patients with ovulatory dysfunction.

  2. Clinical Research Centre, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Harrow

  Project Title

  Study of efficacy of antimicrobial therapy in male infertility.

  3. MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh

  Project Title

  Cytogenetic and physiological aspects of meiosis in man and other mammals: male infertility; Spontaneous and mutagen—induced aneuploidy.

  4. MRC Experimental Embryology and Teratology Unit, London

  Project Title

  Factors affecting in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer in laboratory animals and man.

  5. MRC Mammalian Development Unit, London

  Project Title

  Genetic, molecular and hormonal factors affecting gonadal differentiation in the mouse.

  6. MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh

  Project Title

  (i) Role of neuropeptides, inhibin and gonadal steroids in the differential secretion of pituitary gonadogtrophins.

  (ii) Lactational amenorrhoea in women. Implications for contraception and family planning.

  (iii) Neural mechanisms governing the secretion of LHRH and functionally-related peptides.

  (iv) Application of neuropeptide analogues and steroid antagonists in the regulation of the pituitary gland.

  (v) Molecular analysis of sperm function in normal and infertile men. Effect of oral contraceptives and putative therapeutic agents.

  (vi) Identification and characterisation of gamete specific antigens. Immunological infertility and contraceptive vaccines.

  (vii) Endocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of the ovary, with reference to physiology of the follicle and corpus luteum.

  (viii) Prostaglandins in human semen. Role in sperm physiology and immunosuppression.

  (ix) Endrocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of the testis. Application of chemotoxins in the study of hormone kinetics and gametogenesis.

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  (x) Neuroendocrine regulation of development, puberty and sexual behaviour.

  (xi) Studies of physiological mechanisms controlling erection in primates.

  (xii) Sexuality and well being of women. Relationship of the menstrual cycle, lactation, contraception and disorders thereof.

  (xiii) Prostaglandin biosynthesis in the female reproductive tract. Interactions with steroid hormones and their antagonists.

  7. MRC Biostatistics Unit—Cambridge

  Project Title

  Predictive indices of fertilization capacity.

  II. Grant-holders in University Departments, etc.

  (a) Dr. C. W. Coen, Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College. London.

  Biogenetic amines and the control of luteinizing hormone secretion.

  (b) Professor A. P. M. Flint, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London.

  Development and reproductive physiology of mammals.

  (c) Dr. H. D. M. Moore, MRC/AFRC Comparative Physiology Group, Zoological Society of London, London.

  Effects of chemicals on reproduction: sperm function in the rat and rabbit following testicular insult.

  (d) Dr. Dorothy C. Wathes, Department of Anatomy, Bristol University.

  Control of peptide secretions by the ovary.

  (e) Dr. M. J. Hunter, Department of Physiology, University of Edinburgh.

  Development of activation of ionic permeability channels in mammalian oocytes.

  (f) Professor D. T. Baird, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh.

  A study of the selection and maturation of the pre-ovulatory graafian follicle and oocyte.

  (g) Professor B. T. Pickering, Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol.

  (i) Testicular oxytocin: Investigations of its functions and possible role in fertility.

  (ii) The control of testicular oxytocin and its influence on fertility.

  (h) Dr. W. C. L. Ford, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bristol.

  The regulation of energy metabolism in human spermatozoa.

  (i) Dr. N. L. Poyser, Department of Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh.

  Investigations into the intracellular control of Prostaglandin synthesis in the endomentrium.

  (j) Dr. Lynn R. Fraser, Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College, London.

  Adenosine and cyclic AMP regulation of mamalian sperm fertilising ability.

  (k) Dr. L. Hall, Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol.

  An evaluation of hormonally-regulated, epididymal sequences as potential markers of infertility in human males.

  (l) Dr. T. Poulton, Department of Pathology, University of Dundee.

  Characterisation of spermatozoa autoantigens in male autoimmune infertility.

  (m) Dr. S. R. Milligan, Department of Physiology, King's College, London.

  The endocrine conditions limiting the establishment of pregnancy.

  (n) Dr. A. E. Bolton, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sheffield Polytechnic.

  Characterisation and biological activities of immune cells in semen and cervical mucus in normal and infertile couples.

  (o) Dr. R. J. Post, Department of Medical Entomology, School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool.

  13

  Investigation of the effects of repeated doses of ivermectin on onchocera volvulus fertility in Sierra Leone.

  Information is not gathered centrally about research into infertility supported by block grants from the Universities Funding Council, by health authorities, or by the private sector.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Advice Centres
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government have any plans to establish a national network of advice centres.

  Mr. Forth
  No. However my Department funds by means of grant-aid the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, and Citizens Advice Scotland which provide administrative, training and other services to the national network of over 1,000 citizens advice bureaux. This funding amounts to nearly £10 million per annum for England and Wales, and some £1 million for Scotland.

  My Department has a network of 37 regional offices and sub-offices in England which give advice on its activities, and a number of other Government Departments also have regional networks.

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

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Trade last met the chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board on 24 October. They discussed a range of issues relating to the work of the board.

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

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

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

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

  Each of these new codes had to be allocated, whole or in part, to industries of the standard industrial
  14
  classification before import penetration figures could be derived. The size and complexity of this task has resulted in an interruption to the normal publication timetable.

  Pembridge Investments
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for policy on takeovers of the financing arrangements of Pembridge Investments through short-term, high-interest borrowing, for the sale by auction of DRG businesses to market competitors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The proposed acquisition of DRG by Pembridge Investments is currently being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will take his decision on the question of reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of the director general's advice and of his own consideration of all the relevant issues.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to announce his decision on whether or not to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the Pembridge Investments bid for DRG plc before the next closing date of the offer on Friday 3 November.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision as soon as possible after he has considered the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading, as is usual.

  Recycling
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives from the British Plastics Federation and when he next plans to meet the British Plastics Federation to discuss the implementation of recyclable plastic bottles and containers in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Forth
  I met representatives of the British Plastics Federation at the "Plastics Recycling—Future Challenges" conference dinner in September. However, the question of how to achieve optimum recycling levels of plastic bottles and containers is not a matter solely for the British Plastics Federation. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 17 October at column 12 which lists a number of inititatives that are relevant to increasing the proportion of these products which is recycled. The British Plastics Federation is a member of the advisory group referred to in the reply.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has made any recent study on the benefits to United Kingdom industry of raw materials recycling from commercial, domestic and industrial wastes; and if he will make a statement on the current status of the United Kingdom national recycling programme.

  Mr. Forth
  There has been no recent study, but it is estimated that last year our reclamation industries recovered about 27 million tonnes of recyclable materials worth about £2 billion. United Kingdom industry traditionally recycles about 95 per cent. of its process
  15
  scrap, and we also recover more than 80 per cent. of the ferrous metal, 75 per cent. of the copper, 65 per cent. of the lead, and 60 per cent. of the aluminium from our scrap and waste resources. The Department has recently formed an advisory group of individuals with special expertise on, or responsibilities for, recycling, to assist in developing a national recycling strategy.

  Marine Licensing
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the latest procedures for the enforcement of VHF marine licences.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department's radio investigation service (RIS) responds to complaints of interference to marine radio channels. The RIS also randomly inspects marine licences and installations to ensure that licence conditions are met and that only approved equipment is used.

  Coastal Waters (Digital Selective Calling)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the timetable for the introduction of digital selective calling for all United Kingdom coastal waters.

  Mr. Forth
  The Secretary of State for Transport, who is responsible for maritime distress and safety matters, has established an MF distress and safety digital selective calling (DSC) service at five stations in the United Kingdom. This service, operated by Her Majesty's Coastguard, provides coverage for most of the coastal waters around the United Kingdom. When two further stations are established in the Republic of Ireland in 1992, all United Kingdom coastal waters will be adequately covered by DSC for distress and safety purposes.

  A DSC service for commercial purposes would be provided by British Telecom, but it has no plans at present to install either MF or VHF DSC equipment at its coast stations. However, it is evaluating automated MF and VHF radiotelephone systems which have various DSC-based facilities.

  Marine Distress Service
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure British manufacturers are ready to take advantage of the global marine distress service.

  Mr. Forth
  British manufacturers are aware of the requirements of the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) and the opportunities that it offers through their representation on a number of national and international committees.

  Much of the radio equipment which will be needed to operate the GMDSS is already required to be fitted to merchant shipping under an international agreement known as the safety of life at sea convention (SOLAS). Already British industry plays an important role in supplying this equipment to the international shipping community.

  For certain types of equipment there are still some technical and operational details to be finalised and international discussions are continuing on these outstanding topics. British manufacturers are fully
  16
  involved in decision-making, through the appropriate committees such as the maritime radio technical committee.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional measures are being taken to reduce the burden of licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department laid on 10 October 1989 a set of regulations under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 which will further reduce licensing requirements in line with intentions expressed in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm. 512), published in November 1988.

  The regulations will exempt the testing or development of radio devices on certain frequency bands under suppressed radiation conditions. This mainly affects those businesses which carry out the development of new radio devices and those that are involved with the servicing and repair of radio devices.

  A requirement of the exemption is that no interference is caused to other authorised wireless telegraphy services by the exempted apparatus.

  The regulations will affect over 400 current licensees. They are due to come into force on 1 November 1989.

  Fan Clubs
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations exist to cover the operation of fan clubs, and what action can be taken against the organisers of such bodies when they are found to be bogus.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no specific regulations that control the operation of fan clubs. The action that can be taken against the organisers of such bodies when they are found to be bogus would depend on the circumstances of each case.

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the future status of the laboratory of the Government chemist.

  Mr. Ridley
  Today the laboratory of the Government chemist is being established as an executie agency of DTI. The freedom and flexibility that the laboratory is to gain will further improve its efficiency and help it to provide a better service to its customers. The LGC is the fourth agency to be created in the DTI under the next steps initiative.

  The relationship between the LGC and the DTI will be governed by principles laid down in its policy and resources framework. Management of the agency will be the responsibility of the chief executive, Mr. Alex Williams, the Government chemist. The agency will operate within policies determined by DTI Ministers. It will recover its full economic cost from services rendered through arm's-length customer-contractor relationships with all its customers. From April 1990, the LGC will be exempted from gross cost control. These arrangements will ensure that there will be open competition for analytical services, that the size and shape of the laboratory will depend on the orders it can win from customers and that customers will achieve better value for money.
  17
  In my foreword to the agency framework document, a copy of which has been placed in the library of the House, I undertake as part of the corporate planning process, to set targets that will require the laboratory to achieve demanding incremental improvements in overall efficiency and quality of service.

  The main link between the LGC and the DTI will be a steering board chaired by Dr. R. Coleman, the chief engineer and scientist of the DTI. In addition to Mr. Williams, the chief executive, the board will include the following members drawn from the private sector:

  Company

  Mr. H. B. Berridge

  Berridge Environmental Laboratories Ltd.

  Dr. L. B. Davies

  Lyndon Davies Associates

  Dr. D. R. Williams

  BOCM Silcock

  New EC Regulations
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many European Community Commission 83/189 cases have been notified since 30 December 1988.

  Mr. Redwood
  A total of 257 notifications have been received between 1 January and 26 October 1989.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how long it takes Her Majesty's Government to respond to European Community Commission 83/189 cases on average; and what has been:(a) the shortest and (b) the longest time;

  (2) how many European Community Commission 83/189 notification cases have been received in English; and how long it takes Her Majesty's Government to have those that were not, translated;

  (3) how many times Her Majesty's Government have objected to European Community Commission 83/189 cases; from which countries, on which subjects and on which grounds;

  (4) how many times Her Majesty's Government have used the Committee procedure provided for in the regulation to raise objections to European Community Commission 83/189 cases; and what was the reason.

  Mr. Redwood
  Notifications are received in the language of the notifying member state. The European Commission provides the translation. The other information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the mechanism for inter-departmental co-ordination in relation to European Community Commission 83/189 cases involving more than one Government Department.

  Standard Industrial Classification

  Activity Heading

  Product included in activity heading

  Year to

  1978

  19882

  1989Q12

  3166 Metal furniture and safes

  Furniture

  15

  27

  27

  3254 Construction and earth moving equipment

  Excavators

  63

  66

  65

  3286 Other industrial and Commercial machinery

  Sewing machines

  41

  64

  63

  Lawn mowers

  Vending machines

  3301 Office machinery

  Calculators

  1120

  1124

  1122

  18
  Mr. Redwood
  The Department with the primary interest in any particular notification is responsible for any necessary consultation and co-ordination with other Departments, using the usual formal and informal mechanisms.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is responsible for receiving, processing and formally replying to notification by the Commission of 83/189 cases.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedure there is, in relation to European Community Commission 83/189 cases, for notifying and consulting the industries affected by these notifications; how it works; and how long it is reported to take a Department to notify the affected industry.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department, as well as making summaries of notifications available through the Spearhead database, consults the interests falling within its sphere of responsibility that seem likely to be affected and circulates details to other Departments to enable them to do likewise. Information is not held centrally on the time taken to dissemminate that information, and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  The Association of British Chambers of Commerce now prints summaries of notifications in its weekly publication "Business Briefing", as does the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

  Imports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing(a) the current degree of import penetration and (b) that in December 1978 for (i) radios, (ii) black and white televisions, (iii) video recorders, (iv) colour televisions, (v) telephone receivers, (vi) refrigerators, (vii) passenger motor vehicles, (viii) microwave ovens, (ix) calculators, (x) desk top computers, (xi) computer printers, (xii) word processors, (xiii) microchips, (xiv) irons, (xv) commercial vehicles, (xvi) x-ray machines, (xvii) dental instruments and appliances, (xviii) shoes, (xix) sewing machines, (xx) excavators, (xxi) lawn mowers, (xxii) public transport type motor vehicles, (xxiii) burglar alarms, (xxiv) built-in-ovens, (xxv) hovercraft, (xxvi) lasers, (xxvii) vending machines, (xxviii) dishwashers, (xxix) medical instruments and appliances, (xxx) paper, (xxxi) wallpaper, (xxxii) printed matter and (xxxiii) furniture.

  Mr. Redwood
  The import penetration ratios given in the table refer to the activity heading to which the individual products are classified. Ratios for the individual products are either not available or not readily available.
  19

  Activity Heading

  Product included in activity heading

  Year to

  1978

  19882

  1989Q12

  3302 Electronic data processing equipment

  Word processors

  88

  90

  93

  Computer printers

  Dest top computers

  3433 Alarms and signalling equipment

  Burglar alarms

  12

  31

  31

  3441 Telegraph and telephone apparatus and equipment

  Telephone receivers

  10

  28

  28

  3443 Radio and electronic capital goods

  X-Ray apparatus

  28

  40

  40

  3453 Active components and electronic sub-assemblies

  Microchips

  76

  118

  119

  3454 Electronic consumer goods and other electronic equipment

  Video recorders Radios

  46

  72

  74

  Black and white television

  Colour television

  3460 Domestic-type electric appliances

  Irons

  30

  42

  43

  Microwave ovens

  Dishwashers

  Built-in ovens

  Refrigerators

  3510 Motor vehicles and their parts

  Public service Passenger cars Commercial vehicles

  41

  51

  51

  3540 Aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing

  Hovercraft

  35

  63

  N/A

  3720 Medical and surgical equipment and orthopaedic appliances

  Dental instruments and appliances

  59

  83

  82

  Medical instruments and appliances

  3732 Optical precision instruments

  Lasers

  53

  70

  N/A

  4510 Footwear

  Shoes

  30

  48

  49

  4671 Wooden and upholstered furniture

  Furniture

  9

  18

  18

  4710 Pulp, paper and board

  Paper

  53

  63

  64

  4721 Wall coverings

  Wallpaper

  6

  9

  8

  4750 Printing and Publishing

  Printed matter

  6

  7

  7

  Source: Business Monitor MQ12

  1Entrepot trade causes ratio to exceed 100.

  2Provisional.

  Monthly Digest of Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the figures in table 15–10 of the monthly digest of statistics have not been updated with the 1988 figures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: The delay has been caused by the introduction in January 1988 of the new harmonised system for overseas transactions, entailing a thorough revision and renumbering of the Customs tariff headings.

  All tariff codes had to be reassessed and reallocated, in whole or in part, to the industries of the standard industrial classification before the import penetration and export sales ratios presented in table 15.10 of the monthly digest of statistics could be derived.

  This classification has proved to be more complex and to have taken longer than expected. The ratios for 1988 will be published in the next edition of the monthly digest of statistics.

ENERGY

  Offshore Installations (Safety)
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 will be applied to offshore installations.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Requirements for the control of hazardous substances on offshore installations have been
  20
  in force since 1976 under the Offshore Installations (Operational Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1976. These requirements are to be supported by guidance notes which will be produced in 1990.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies have been made to test the effectiveness of comprehensive plans to ensure that experts with special knowledge of nuclear energy would be on the scene of an accident in adequate time to take preventive measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The operators of nuclear installations have on site at all times staff who are fully trained to take preventive action in the event of a nuclear emergency. The operators also have additional specialist staff who are always available on standby and would immediately go to the site. A deputy chief inspector of nuclear installations would also be appointed by the Government as a Government technical adviser to preside over the off-site centre. He would become the authoritative source of advice to the police, local authorities and central Government on the course of the accident and the need for countermeasures to protect the public. He would be assisted by experts with special knowledge including representatives from the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Radiological Protection Board and the operator. These arrangements are approved by the Health and
  21
  Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and are regularly tested in exercises in order to ensure their effectiveness.

  Coal Mining
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps the Government are taking to protect the indigenous coal mining industry; and if he will make a statement on the special report from the committee on the Associated British Ports No. 2 Bill, HC 258.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  It is not this Government's policy to restrict imports of coal. Restricting competition will not bring long-term security to the British coal industry. The best protection is to produce reliable supplies which are competitive on the world market.

  It is not for Government to make a formal response to the special report but for the House to take it into account on Third Reading.

  Severn Barrage
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent report of the Severn barrage study group.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Copies of the report summarising the work of the Severn Tidal Power Group, published by HMSO in the Department of Energy paper series, were placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament on 23 October.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the privatisation of the electricity industry; and if he will indicate when the flotation of the two Central Electricity Generating Board successor companies is to proceed.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Both generating companies will be brought to the market in the first half of 1991. The precise timings are still to be decided.

  Electricity Boards (Appointments)
  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many individuals have been appointed to electricity boards over the last two years; and from what industries they came.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Since 1 October 1987, a total of 57 individuals have been appointed to electricity boards in England and Wales. They have a wide range of backgrounds.

  Electricity Industry (Capacity Deficiency Scheme)
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the terms of the new capacity deficiency scheme proposed for the electricity industry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The rules on which the new electricity market will operate will be published in good time before vesting of the restructured industry.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans exist for fitting special filtered containment venting systems into the designs for the four 22
  pressurised-water reactors to be built by the Central Electricity Generating Board in England and Wales for the prevention of over-pressurising station containment buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Consent has been granted for only one new nuclear power station: Sizewell B. The design and construction of this station is a matter for the CEGB. I have therefore asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will constitute a planning inquiry commission, as specified in sections 47–49 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, to consider the possible construction of a nuclear power station at Wylfa.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  As the Gwynedd county council and the Anglesey borough council have objected to the CEGB's applications for my right hon. Friend's consent to construct a PWR nuclear power station to be known as Wylfa B and to modify the transmission lines in the vicinity of the existing power station at Wylfa, he must now arrange for public inquiries to be held into the applications pursuant to section 34(1) of the Electricity Act 1957. My right hon. Friend will announce the arrangements for these inquiries in due course.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates his Department has of the likely costs of decommissioning(a) AGR and (b) PWR nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the present estimated cost of decommissioning each advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactor, indicating what cost is to be borne by National Power and what by the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Decommissioning costs for AGRs and PWRs are matters for the CEGB or SSEB. The accounts of these bodies will include appropriate provisions for AGR decommissioning costs as presently estimated. The Government have taken powers, under schedule 12 to the Electricity Act 1989, to contribute towards decommissioning costs, and the way in which these powers will be used is under consideration.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cost per kwh, or on another basis of appropriate calculations, to be charged by National Power for electricity generated by the Sizewell B power station under the contracts negotiated with the distributors.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The contract for electricity from Sizewell B is currently under negotiation.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest calculation of his Department of the cost of electricity generated by Sizewell B.

  Mr. Wakeham
  This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I shall ask the chairman of the CEGB to write to the hon. Member.

Health

  Coronary Heart Disease
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given by his Department to health authorities about the development of strategies for the prevention of coronary heart disease.

  Mr. Freeman
  Planning circulars from the Department of Health to the NHS have repeatedly emphasised the importance the Government attach to the prevention of disease and the promotion of health. Authorities have been asked to identify needs and develop programmes to meet them and to focus on specific programmes on diet, smoking and exercise. Such work is central to coronary heart disease prevention. Furthermore, the joint Department of Health and Health Education Authority "Look After Your Heart" campaign is intended to provide links between national and local initiatives for health authorities to build on and the regional review and operational planning processes have emphasised that authorities should be developing programmes for prevention in line with the national campaign. This year's planning guidelines refer to the intention to issue general guidance on health promotion and disease prevention during the planning year. This will include specific references to coronary heart disease prevention. I hope that my hon. Friend will also not forget the important role played by the voluntary sector in this area.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give for each district health authority, regional health authority and special health authority the number of acute hospital beds and the total number of beds in each year since 1979;

  (2) if he will give for each district health authority, the percentage decrease or increase in acute hospital beds between 1982 and the latest available date; and if he will rank the district health authorities according to the percentage change;

  (3) if he will give for each district health authority, the percentage decrease or increase in the total number of hospital beds between 1982 and the latest available date; and if he will rank the district health authorities according to the percentage change;

  (4) if he will give for each district health authority, the percentage increase or decrease in the number of deaths and discharges per annum between 1982 and the latest available year; and if he will rank the district health authorities according to the percentage change;

  (5) if he will give for each district health authority, the total number of deaths and discharges in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested has been placed in the Library and I have written to the hon. Member with a copy of such information.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) National Health Service family planning clinics and (b) general practitioner health centres are designated as training centres for family planning in the United Kingdom for 1987 and 1988.
  24
  Mr. Freeman
  The following information is recorded by the joint committee on contraception which is concerned with family planning training for doctors and on which the Department of Health is one of several bodies represented. The figures refer to the number of approved premises for family planning training.

  United Kingdom Totals at 30 September

  1987

  1988

  Community and hospital clinics

  1,065

  1,092

  General Practitioners' premises

  32

  32

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment by contraceptive method(a) through National Health Service family planning clinics in England for the year 1987 and 1988 and (b) from general practitioners in England for the years 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  The available information is contained in the tables. Community and hospital clinic figures for 1988–89 are not yet available. A detailed analysis of contraceptive services provided by general medical practitioners is not held centrally.

  Health authority family planning services—community and hospital clinics in England

  Number of patients by primary birth control method chosen or in use at first visit in the year: 1987–88

  Method

  Numbers (Thousands)

  Total

  1,339·1

  Oral contraceptives

  677·1

  IUD

  168·9

  Cap/Diaphragm

  114·1

  Sheath

  208·7

  Chemicals

  9·6

  Rhythm

  0·3

  Female sterilisation

  2·1

  Vasectomy

  12·3

  Other

  21·0

  None

  125·0

  End of year figures for contraceptive services provided by general medical practitioners in England

  1987

  1988

  Total number of patients

  2,554,900

  2,634,600

  Fitting IUD

  101,700

  91,200

  Other than IUD

  2,453,200

  2,543,400

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of family planning clinics and family planning clinic sessions in each regional health authority in England for 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information is not available centrally in precisely the form requested. The number of premises in regular use for family planning sessions and the number of sessions, by regional health authority, are shown in the table. Figures for 1988–89 are not yet available.

  Family Planning Clinic Services

  Number of premises in regular use for family planning sessions

  Total premises 1987–88

  Number of sessions held 1987–88

  England

  1,754

  190,935

  Northern

  132

  10,667

  Yorkshire

  149

  11,952

  25

  Total premises 1987–88

  Number of sessions held 1987–88

  Trent

  129

  14,019

  East Anglia

  51

  5,428

  North West Thames

  145

  17,704

  North East Thames

  197

  21,962

  South East Thames

  129

  17,994

  South West Thames

  118

  15,154

  Wessex

  87

  10,511

  Oxford

  59

  8,357

  South Western

  113

  10,036

  West Midlands

  172

  21,135

  Mersey

  103

  9,857

  North Western

  170

  16,159

  Infant Deaths
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for the latest year for which records exist and for each of the preceding three years, what was the number of infant deaths in the United Kingdom as a whole and the rate per 10,000.

  Mr. Freeman
  Infant mortality (deaths under one year), numbers and rates per 10,000 live births, in the United Kingdom, 1985–88, were

  Year

  Number of Deaths

  Rate1

  1985

  7,030

  93·6

  1986

  7,180

  95·1

  1987

  7,077

  91·2

  21988

  7,061

  89·7

  1 Per 10,000 live births.

  2 Provisional.

  Abortion
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review compliance with section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chief Medical Officer wrote on 11 October to remind health authorities in England about the national guidance issued in 1975 and 1979 about the appointment of hospital doctors to posts which involve termination of pregnancy or advice on termination. The Department will respond to any report of the Social Services Select Committee which is currently investigating this subject.

  Medical Damage (Compensation)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list representations which he has received concerning the introduction of mechanisms for the payment of no-fault compensation to victims of medical damage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  A number of representations have been received. There are no plans to introduce any kind of no-fault compensation scheme. We consider that the basis for seeking compensation for injuries alleged to have been suffered as a result of medical negligence should continue to be through the courts, as recommended by the Pearson commission in 1978.

  Irradiated Casualties
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals where training has been introduced for medical or nursing personnel in dealing with irradiated or contaminated casualties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following is a list of hospitals which have been designated by the relevant regional health authority as being prepared to accept contaminated casualties and to advise on and assist with decontamination of personnel. The list is provisional and represents a preliminary compilation of responses to a health circular issued earlier this year giving guidance to the NHS on accidents involving radioactivity. I shall let the hon. Member have the definitive version as soon as possible.

  Hospitals prepared to accept contaminated casualties and to advise on and assist with decontamination of personnel

  Regional Health Authority and Hospital

  East Anglia

  Addenbrooke's Hospital

  Norfolk and Norwich Hospital

  The Ipswich Hospital

  Mersey

  Royal Liverpool Hospital

  North East Thames

  The Middlesex Hospital

  North Middlesex Hospital

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital

  University College Hospital

  Oldchurch Hospital

  Essex County Hospital

  Southend General Hospital

  Royal Free Hospital

  Colchester General Hospital

  Northern

  Royal Victoria Infirmary

  Cumberland Infirmary

  West Cumberland Hospital

  Newcastle General Hospital

  Freeman Hospital Unit

  South Cleveland Hospital

  North Tees District General Hospital

  Sunderland District General Hospital

  Dryburn Hospital

  Darlington Memorial Hospital

  North Western

  Manchester Royal Infirmary

  Christie Hospital

  Hope Hospital

  Royal Lancaster Infirmary

  North West Thames

  St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington

  Mount Vernon Hospital

  Westminster Hospital

  Charing Cross Hospital

  Hammersmith Hospital

  Oxford

  John Radcliffe Hospital

  Northampton General Hospital

  Royal Berkshire Hospital

  South East Thames

  Guy's Hospital

  Kent and Canterbury Hospital

  Royal Sussex County Hospital

  South Western

  Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital

  27

  Bristol Radiotherapy Centre

  Gloucester Royal Hospital

  Derriford District General Hospital

  Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

  Plymouth General Hospital

  Cheltenham General Hospital

  City Hospital, Truro

  South West Thames

  Royal Surrey County Hospital

  St. George's Hospital, London

  Royal Marsden Hospital, London

  Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton

  Trent

  Royal Hallamshire Hospital

  Derbyshire Royal Infirmary

  Leicester Royal Infirmary

  County Hospital, Lincoln

  University Hospital, Nottingham

  Wessex

  Southampton General Hospital

  Queen Alexandra Hospital,

  General Hospital, Poole

  West Midlands

  The Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton

  North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary

  Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham

  Yorkshire

  The General Infirmary, Leeds

  The Princess Royal Hospital, Hull

  Bradford Royal Infirmary

  Substance Misuse Services
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the financial resources allocated for substance misuse services; if he will list priority issues in this field; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1984 the Department has committed nearly £65 million of new money to preventing drug misuse and providing services. This includes £17·5 million on pump priming, 188 local drug projects, over £35 million to HAs to develop and expand services, over £8 million on campaigns of information and education and £3 million on funding the headquarters costs of major voluntary organisations.

  The Government's objectives have been to prevent, as far as possible, people from using drugs in the first place; to reduce the physical harm of those who do use drugs, and to provide users with advice and treatment services to help them live without drugs.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount of moneys paid out of the trust fund set up to assist those haemophiliacs infected with the HIV virus who are in the greatest need; how many such applications have been made to the fund and granted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that in the period to 31 August 1989 the trust made 1,600 single payments totalling around £0·9 million and 578 regular payments totalling around £1 million. The Macfarlane Trust is an independent charitable trust and it is a matter for the trustees to allocate funds in the way which they consider best meets the needs of those eligible for assistance within the provision of the trust deed.
  28
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities have so far been issued with writs by haemophiliacs infected with the HIV virus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  As health authorities are separately represented, the Department does not routinely receive this information. However, I understand that most regional and district health authorities and some special health authorities have been issued with writs.

  Nuclear Flask Accidents
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans have been made by health authorities to deal with nuclear flask accidents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Arrangements for dealing with the response to an accident involving the transportation of irradiated fuel are set out in consignors' contingency plans and the irradiated fuel transport flask emergency plan, a copy of which is in the Library. Radiation protection advice would be provided by health physicists specified in the emergency plan, not by the NHS.

  However, in the unlikely event of this advice not being available at the time, the police could invoke the national arrangements for incidents involving radioactivity (NAIR) scheme. This scheme is intended to ensure that, for accidents involving the transportation of radioactive materials, appropriate resources are available to the police for providing protection to the general public. The NAIR scheme is co-ordinated by the National Radiological Protection Board and its participants include appropriately staffed and equipped National Health Service hospitals that are designated for NAIR purposes.

  In addition, Regional Health Authorities are required to designate hospitals within their regions which are equipped and staffed to provide treatment and decontamination facilities in the unlikely event of an incident leading to the release of radioactivity.

  Benzodiazepine
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals there may be to monitor counselling given by pharmacists to patients on long-term and medium-term prescriptions for benzodiazepine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no such proposals. This is a matter for the pharmaceutical profession.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is conducted into the effects on patients receiving medium or long-term prescriptions for benezodiazepine when sudden reduction or stoppage is made by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are not aware of any such current research. It is now generally accepted that a sudden reduction or stoppage in taking benzodiazepines can have an undesirable effect on patients. The British National Formulary, which is supplied free of charge by the Department to all prescribing doctors, carries advice on benzodiazepine withdrawal.

  National Tranquilliser Advice Centre
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure the future of the national tranquilliser advice centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Etterick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel) on 25 October.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report from the London ambulance service on what has been the average response time for a 999 call in its area by(a) London ambulance service vehicles, (b) police vehicles used as ambulances and (c) other voluntary ambulances per week since 1 September.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the period 1 September to 22 October the London ambulance service's average response time for 999 calls was 11·9 minutes from the receipt of the call by central ambulance control. The average time taken from the crew receiving the call to their arrival on the scene was nine minutes.

  Similar information is not available in respect of Metropolitan police and British Red Cross vehicles deployed on 23 and 24 October. St. John ambulance service vehicles were also deployed on those dates and their average response time was 8·8 minutes from receipt of a call from control.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report from the London ambulance service on the number of ambulances that have been taken off the road by the London ambulance service management whilst crews were available to staff them during the current dispute.

  Mr. Freeman
  The details for the two days of the action are as follows:

  Early

  Middle

  Night

  Monday 23 October 1989

  Manned2

  127

  110

  67

  Not used3

  52

  86

  34

  Early

  Middle1

  Tuesday 24 October 1989

  Manned2

  122

  113

  —

  Not used3

  83

  73

  —

  1Up to 1700 hours when an agreement was reached and front line vehicles went back "on the run".

  2Manned = the number of fully staffed ambulances available.

  3Not used = those ambulances not used due to the industrial action, as crews would not work to London ambulance service management requirements.

  Care in the Community
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to include a code of conduct for the care of the elderly for residential care in private homes as part of the White Paper on care in the community.

  Mr. Freeman
  General guidance on the running of these homes is contained in "Home Life" a code of practice for 30
  residential care, endorsed by the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales. This guidance remains valid.

  Additionally, we have recently put in hand a three-year programme of development projects aimed at demonstrating how the quality of life for people in residential care can be improved.

  Kidney Dialysis
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the present ratio of kidney dialysis machines to renal patients; and what is the ratio of renal units to patients.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information on the number of dialysis machines is not collected centrally.

  According to data for 1988 reported to the European Dialysis and Transplant Association, the ratio of patients to renal units in the United Kingdom is 224 to one if those with a functioning transplant are included. The ratio is 108 to one if patients are defined to include only those receiving dialysis for example, either from dialysis machines or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

WALES

  EC Aid
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what agreement has been reached with the four county councils of south Wales for financial compensation to authorities who have lost eligibility for European regional development fund grant for major infrastructure projects due to delayed submission of integrated development operations to the European Commission.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There was no such delay. The integrated development operations programme for industrial south Wales was submitted in advance of the date specified by the European Commission.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he held with the four county councils of industrial south Wales and the European Commission on the proposal for an integrated development operation.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My officials held discussions during the summer of 1987 with the relevant local and public authorities following the European Commission's identification of industrial south Wales as a potential candidate for an integrated approach. The four county councils, along with the local authorities and interested bodies have been fully involved in the subsequent formulation of an integrated development operation programme which was submitted to the European Commission in May 1988. Against the background of the reform of the European structural funds the programme has since been the subject of discussions with the Commission which have involved representatives of the county councils.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he held with the four county councils of south Wales and the European Commission on the timing of submission of proposed integrated development operations to the European Commission.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  All the bodies involved in the formulation of the integrated development operations
  31
  programme for industrial south Wales, including the four county councils, were fully aware that the European Commission required submission of the document by May 1988 and worked energetically to meet that requirement.

  Roads
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, following the consultation undertaken by his Department on the impact of the A55 trunk road improvements programme on Gwynedd, whether any new policy initiatives are being taken by his Department.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The continued fall in unemployment, spreading industrial investment and new job creation in north Wales all underline the effectiveness of the Government's policies in regenerating the area's local economy.

  Following my statement to the Welsh Grand Committee in December 1988, my hon. Friend the Minister of State has sought views on how the opportunities afforded by the massive investment in the A55 improvements can best be used to the advantage of north Wales. I expect to make an announcement before the end of the year.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the original cost estimate of dualing the A55 trunk road between Conwy and Bangor, together with the original target completion date for this work; what is the latest cost estimate and latest estimated completion date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  In "Roads in Wales 1980" the estimated cost was £166 million, including the cost of the Conwy crossing and the Bangor bypass. Estimated completion was towards the end of the decade. The cost estimated in "Roads in Wales" 1989 is £322 million. Completion is now expected in the early 1990s.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations have been received by the Welsh Office during the past six months calling for new legislation relating to the Welsh language.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Around 25 from individuals and organisations.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Peter Walker
  The information is shown in the following table:

  1987 per cent.

  1988 per cent.

  11989 per cent.

  Under 4 weeks

  89

  91

  92

  Within 4 to 6 weeks

  9

  7

  6

  Within 6 to 8 weeks

  1

  1

  1

  Over 8 weeks

  1

  1

  1

  1 To 27 October 1989.

  Vicarages and Manses
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provisions will apply from April 1990 in respect of grants for home improvements for vicarages and manses in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Subject to parliamentary approval, the provisions of part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Bill will apply in respect of vicarages and manses in Wales.

  Contraception
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown of the number of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment by contraceptive method(a) through National Health Service family planning clinics in Wales for the years 1987 and 1988 and (b) from general practitioners in Wales for the years 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is shown in the following table:

  Family planning clinic services

  Method1

  Number of patients

  1987

  1988

  Oral contraceptives

  36,324

  34,545

  IUD

  9,138

  7,936

  Cap/Diaphragm

  4,459

  3,835

  Sheath

  14,075

  12,589

  Chemicals

  589

  645

  Rhythm

  9

  38

  Female sterilisation

  76

  47

  Vasectomy

  86

  64

  Other

  2,910

  2,794

  None

  4,753

  5,019

  Total

  72,419

  67,512

  1 If the patient was already using a birth control method the method in use at the time of the first visit during the year was recorded unless another method was chosen at the visit in which case the new method was recorded.

  General medical practitioners contraceptive service

  1Number of patients

  1987

  1988

  Intra-Uterine Devices

  4,651

  3,934

  Other than Intra-Uterine Devices

  120,887

  131,015

  Total

  125,538

  134,949

  1 Number of patients at 1 October for whom payment was due at the end of the quarter.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total cost for 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 in Wales for(a) general practitioner provision for family planning servies and (b) district health authority family planning clinic services.

  Mr. Grist
  The available information, shown in the following table, relates to(a) the contraceptive fees paid to general practitioners plus the estimated net ingredient cost of contraceptive drugs and appliances precribed by general practitioners and dispensed by retail pharmacists and appliance contractors, and (b) expenditure, including overheads, on family planning services provided through health authority community health services.
  33

  £ thousands

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  (a) Family Practitioner Services

  2,175

  2,443

  2,575

  3,429

  (b) DHA Community Health Services 1 2

  1,308

  1,434

  390

  432

  1The figures for 1985–86 and 1986–87 exclude Gwynedd Health Authority whose Community Health Services expenditure in those years is only available in total for all services.

  2 Due to restructuring of Health Authority accounts the figures for 1987–88 and 1988–89 include support service costs for clinics but exclude costs of drugs and medical supplies issued by nursing and medical staff.

  Sources: Health Authority Annual Accounts; Family Practitioner Committee Annual Accounts; Prescription Pricing Division, Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give(a) the number of applications for regional selective assistance received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A total of 417 applications for regional selective assistance grants were received by my Department between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989. In the same period, 310 offers of grant1 were made to the value of £127 million.

  Total expenditure2 in 1988–89 was £42·5 million (£44·8 million at 1989–90 prices). I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 20 March 1989 for details of the vote provision for 1989–90 and planned provision for 1990–91 to 1991–92.

  1 RSA project and training grants.

  2 Gross expenditure comprises project and training grants, exchange risk losses on European loans and payments under the Business Improvements Service scheme.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give(a) the total number of applications for regional development grants outstanding at 31 March 1988, (b) the total number of applications processed by 30 September 1989, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A total of 1,911 of the 1,935 applications for regional development grants outstanding at 31 March 1988 had been processed by 30 September 1989, involving offers of grant to the value of £98·3 million. Total expenditure in 1988–89 was £58·6 million1 (£61·8 million at 1989–90 prices). I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 20 March 1989 for details of the vote provision for 1989–90 and planned provision for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  1 Gross expenditure on original (RDG I) and revised (RDG II) schemes.

  Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give(a) the total number of applications for investment grants and innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved
  34
  and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for 1988–89 and 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A total of 655 applications for regional enterprise (investment and innovation) grants were received by my Department between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989. Of these, 337 applications had been approved by 30 September involving grant offers of over £2·8 million.

  Total expenditure in 1988–89 was £0·218 million (£0·230 million at 1989–90 prices). I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave him on 20 March 1989 for details of the vote provision for 1989–90 and planned provision for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Severn Barrage
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact on the proposed Cardiff bay barrage of the Severn estuary barrage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Cardiff bay barrage will be designed to withstand the present full tidal range. A barrage across the Severn estuary would serve to reduce the tidal range and therefore result in a lower loading on the Cardiff bay barrage.

  NHS Treatment Centres
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many patients he expects to use each National Health Service treatment centre for each of the first three years; what proportion of the total in-patient waiting list for each specialty this represents; and by what date he expects the current in-patient waiting lists to be cleared;

  (2) what financial resources are to be allocated for treatment centres; and what proportion of that figure will be used for (a) administration, (b) wages and salaries and (c) clinical use.

  Mr. Grist
  Welsh Office staff are currently finalising the details of operation of treatment centres in discussion with managers and clinicians in the NHS. When these discussions are complete I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional staffing requirements he anticipates due to the implementation of the proposals contained within the National Health Service White Paper.

  Mr. Grist
  A considerable amount of work is currently being undertaken within the NHS in Wales in the field of manpower planning and management. District health authorities have recently completed the second round of a continuing manpower resource planning exercise introduced last year to identify future manpower requirements in terms of numbers and skills. The manpower implications of a number of initiatives, including the proposals contained in the White Paper "Working for Patients", are being addressed as part of that ongoing process.

  Hospital Admissions
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available figures for each year and by Welsh health authority for the number of hospital admissions due to post-operative infections, for(a) general surgery, (b) orthopaedics, (c) ophthalmology and (d) all specialties.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  NHS Property (Maintenance)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of backlog maintenance for National Health Service properties in Wales, and by health authority, for the latest available year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not held centrally. However, district health authorities in Wales are required to review the condition of their stock annually and for 1988–89, it was estimated that it would cost about 132·7 million to bring the whole of the NHS Estate in Wales to a standard where it was exhibiting only minor deterioration. This sum may be broken down by district health authority as follows:

  DHA

  £ million

  Clwyd

  19·2

  East Dyfed

  4·5

  Gwent

  14·6

  Gwynedd

  10·0

  Mid Glamorgan

  26·4

  Pembrokeshire

  0·7

  Powys

  1·2

  South Glamorgan

  45·0

  West Glamorgan

  11·1

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Racial Harassment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many perpetrators of racial or anti-semitic harassment have been charged by the police under(a) section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and (b) section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21 July 1989 at column 401.

  Malicious Communications
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place under the Malicious Communications Act; and how many of those relate to racist and anti-semitic material.

  Mr. John Patten
  Data is not yet available on the number of offences committed under the Malicious Communications Act 1988, which did not come into force until September 1988. Information as to whether prosecutions specifically relate to racist and anti-semitic material is not being collected centrally.

  Local Government Grants
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention to implement the report entitled "A Scrutiny of Grants Under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966" published on 3 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The report entitled "A Scrutiny of Grants Under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966" has been welcomed by the Government for its thorough analysis of the problems surrounding section 11 grant. Ministers are presently considering the changes needed in order to improve the effectiveness of assistance provided for ethnic minorities by section 11 grant.

  The Government hope that it will not be too long before an announcement can be made.

  Mr. Lorrain Osman
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been held on remand in Her Majesty's prisons for a period exceeding three and a half years; if he will list all such prisoners; what steps he proposes to take to bring to an end such extended remands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 31 August 1989 one unconvicted prisoner had been held in Pentonville prison for more than three and a half years. Mr. Lorrain Osman was committed to custody pending completion of extradition proceedings and remains in cutsody awaiting the final outcome of the succession of appeals that he has lodged. He may not be surrendered for extradition while appeal proceedings are pending. A judicial review and further habeas corpus proceedings began on 4 October. Extradition proceedings are not subject to the custody time limits contained in the regulations made under section 22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available in the Library those communications he has had from the Governor of Hong Kong since May 1989 in relation to the case of Mr. Lorrain Osman; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has received none.

  Fugitives
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last five years he has used his discretion under the Fugitive Offenders Act(a) to order or (b) to refuse the return of a fugitive in extradition cases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Secretary of State signed 28 surrender warrants in extradition cases under section 9(1) of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967, during the period from 1 January 1984 until 26 September 1989, when the Act was replaced by the Extradition Act 1989. In the same period no requests were refused.

  Arrest Warrants
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether deputy clerks in the magistrates courts have authority to issue arrest warrants; and if he will make a statement.
  37
  Mr. John Patten
  In magistrates courts warrants of arrest may be issued only by magistrates.

  Commonwealth Immigrants
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure in each of the last three years under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, as outlined in his Department circular 72/1986, relating to expenditure for Commonwealth immigrants by local authorities; and of those sums how much was spent on education.

  Mr. John Patten
  The amount of grant paid out under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 for the most recent three year period for which actual figures are available is as follows:

  £ million

  1986–87

  104

  1987–88

  93

  1988–89

  89

  The figures represent 75 per cent. of total section 11 expenditure. The remaining 25 per cent. is a matter of local authority contribution.

  In each of the three years education provision has accounted for approximately 80 per cent. of total grant.

  Wiltshire constabulary

  Authorised establishment

  Strength

  31 December

  Number

  As proportion of population of England and Wales (per cent.)

  Number

  As proportion of population of England and Wales (per cent.)

  England and Wales population figures1 (thousands)

  1979

  1,032

  0·002

  1,007

  0·002

  48,870

  1980

  1,033

  0·002

  1,032

  0·002

  49,162

  1981

  1,035

  0·002

  1,042

  0·002

  49,222

  1982

  1,042

  0·002

  1,031

  0·002

  49,573

  1983

  1,042

  0·002

  1,030

  0·002

  49,608

  1984

  1,042

  0·002

  1,029

  0·002

  49,657

  1985

  1,045

  0·002

  1,028

  0·002

  49,767

  1986

  1,049

  0·002

  1,037

  0·002

  49,923

  1987

  1,074

  0·002

  1,096

  0·002

  50,079

  1988

  1,074

  0·002

  1,093

  0·002

  50,244

  1 The population figures are mid-year figures and relate to the previous year in each instance.

  Details of the police/population ratio for Wiltshire and for the other police force areas in England and Wales for the last 10 years can be found in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (appendix 7) copies of which are lodged in the House of Commons Library.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.

  Conservative Party Conference 1989
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Lancashire on the policing implications for the rest of Lancashire of police deployment during the Conservative party 1989 conference.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. This is a operational matter and, as such, the responsibility of the chief constable.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the provision of civil defence in Swindon.

  Mr. John Patten
  Responsibility for civil defence planning rests with county councils who are assisted by district councils. We are satisfied that Wiltshire county council, and the district councils within the county, are making good progress towards meeting their statutory obligations.

  Wiltshire Constabulary
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for the authorised establishment of the Wiltshire constabulary for the last 10 years for which figures are available; what was the actual strength of the force in post in each year; and if he will express both as a proportion of the population of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Waddington
  The available figures relate to ministerial correspondence, the great majority of which represented correspondence with hon. Members, and are as follows:

  Turn-round time in calendar days

  up to 30 days per cent.

  31–60 days per cent.

  more than 60 days per cent.

  1986

  14·5

  46

  39·5

  1987

  33

  41

  26

  1988

  35

  47·5

  17·5

  Wymott Prison (Suicides)
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there have been at Wymott prison since 1 January 1986.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since 1 January 1986 one verdict of suicide has been returned on an inmate who died at Wymott prison.

  Fire and Police Services
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the latest year for which records exist and for the preceding three years, what was the average length of involuntarily separated or unaccompanied tours of duty for personnel in(a) the fire service and (b) the police service.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not held centrally.

  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration on television broadcasting in the gaelic language.

  Mr. Waddington
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy) on 26 October.

  Deaths (Metropolitan Police)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the names, dates and circumstances of all deaths of persons in the custody of the Metropolitan police since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information about the deaths of persons in custody of the Metropolitan police, including the date, place and cause of death, and the circumstances surrounding the death, has been published, since 1980, in the annual report of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Information prior to 1980 is not available. To provide the names of the persons concerned could cause distress to their families.

  Public House Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Surrey listing the Surrey police officers who visited Birmingham during the pub bombings investigation;

  (2) what liaison took place between officers of the Surrey and West Midlands police forces during the Guildford and Birmingham pub bombings investigations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A full list of all Surrey police officers who visited Birmingham in the period referred to cannot be provided. Criminal and other records not part of a major inquiry are destroyed by the Surrey police after at most five years, and by the West Midlands police after seven years. Details of precise liaison between the two forces at that date are similarly unavailable, although there is no reason to think that normal liaison arrangements were not in force.

  However, I understand that a team of nine Surrey officers was working in the west midlands area at the time
  40
  of the Birmingham pub bombings investigation. As the hon. Member knows, the actions of the Surrey officers who investigated the Guildford bombings are the subject of inquiries by the Avon and Somerset police. It would be inappropriate for me to identify the individual officers.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from(a) the chief constable of Surrey and (b) the chief constable of the West Midlands as to whether Surrey police officers visited Queen's Road police station in Birmingham between 22 to 25 November 1974.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that according to the records of the investigation conducted on behalf of the West Midlands police by the Devon and Cornwall constabulary, no Surrey police officers visited Queen's Road police station on the dates in question.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to establish the whereabouts of the non-material evidence in the Birmingham pub bombings case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. I understand that the Devon and Cornwall police attempted to find these documents at the time of their investigation in 1987 and were unable to do so. As far as they could establish, the documents had been destroyed.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he has taken to provide compensation to Carol Richardson, Gerard Conlon, Patrick Armstrong and Paul Hill for their wrongful imprisonment; and if he will make an interim payment.

  Mr. John Patten
  The solicitors representing the four persons have been informed that interim payments will be made. The amount has been assessed by the independent assessor appointed under the provisions of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. We have also invited them to supply any information they would wish the assessor to take into account in assessing the total amount of compensation that should be paid.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had the views of Lord Denning on the convictions of those found guilty of the Birmingham pub bombings brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  We have considered a number of views, from Lord Denning and others, on the convictions of those found guilty of the Birmingham pub bombings. My right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) 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.

  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.

  Computer Hacking
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking to make hacking, including the laying of viruses, a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government have received a report from the Law Commission (Law Commission 186, Cm 819) recommending new criminal offences of unauthorised access to a computer and unauthorised modification of computer material. The Law Commission, the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry have all received various representations urging legislation on these lines. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has indicated that he is inclined to accept the Law Commission's recommendations, subject to comments from interested parties upon them.

  Jamie Lloyd Stewart
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the death in custody of Jamie Lloyd Stewart who died at Holloway police station on 4 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The circumstances of Mr. Stewart's death are being investigated by the Metropolitan police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. An inquest has been opened and adjourned until January 1990. The case is therefore sub judice.

  Shooting Clubs
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations prohibiting the use in shooting clubs of targets depicting human beings.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave him on 26 October at column 1031. I recognise that some targets used in non-international disciplines may be regarded as being in poor taste, but I am not aware of any risk to public safety arising from their use. We have no plans, therefore, to prohibit their use.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations to provide for vetting by the police of persons seeking temporary membership of shooting clubs.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is no statutory power under the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988 to introduce regulations for this purpose. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State informed my hon. Friend on 26 October at column 1031 we are looking most closely at the issue of temporary membership of gun clubs to see whether further controls are necessary.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police vehicles were used during the current ambulance dispute in place of London ambulance service vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner that, between 7 am on Monday 23 October and 9 pm on Tuesday 24 October, 104 Metropolitan police vehicles were used to provide emergency ambulance cover.

  Serious Crime Squad (West Midlands)
  Mr. Chris 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 as to how many officers were serving with the serious crime squad at the time it was disbanded.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 October 1989, c. 125]: I greatly regret that the figure of 29 quoted therein is incorrect. The correct figure is 25.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what information he has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any changes to announce to the cash and gross running costs limits for the Privy Council Office for 1989–90.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XX vote 10 will be increased by £290,000 from £1,242,000 to £1,532,000. The Privy Council Office running cost limit will be increased by £290,000 from £1,262,000 to £1,552,000. This increase reflects additional expenditure being incurred by the Privy Council Office in respect of recommended security improvements and the acquisition of additional staff following changes in ministerial responsibilities. This increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Television
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what arrangements are being made for Members to have access to the signal from the television cameras in the Chamber before the end of Session.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Select Committee on televising have agreed that the "clean feed" from the Chamber, as it will be provided to the broadcasters after the State Opening, will be shown on two television sets in the Voting Lobbies between 2.30 and 10 pm on Mondays to Thursdays with effect from 1 November. Arrangements are also being made through the usual channels for access to taped material covering proceedings between 2.30 and 5.30 pm.

DEFENCE

  Tours of Duty
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for the latest year for which records exist and for the preceding three years, what was the average length of
  43
  involuntarily separated or unaccompanied tours of duty for service personnel in (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force, (c) the Royal Navy, (d) the Royal Marines and (e) the women's services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Statistics on the average lengths of involuntarily unaccompanied tours of duty are not maintained. The practice in the Army and the Royal Air Force is that postings where personnel are required to serve unaccompanied should not normally exceed six months. For the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, unaccompanied tours arise mainly when personnel are at sea. The average length of sea postings is about two years, although not all that time will be spent away from home.

  Medical Services
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) consultant radiologists and (b) consultant paediatricians there are in each of the armed services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The numbers of service and civilian consultant radiologists and paediatricians in each of the three services, as at 30 September 1989, are as follows:

  Consultant radiologists

  Consultant paediatricians

  Royal Navy

  3

  1

  Army

  5

  5

  Royal Air Force

  13

  1

  TOTALS

  111

  7

  1Plus 1 part time.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of patients per military doctor(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in the British Army of the Rhine and (c) elsewhere.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

  Cambodian Guerrillas
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of British armed forces are engaged in training Cambodian guerrillas; where they are based; what is their rank; when the programme commenced; and what has been the cost to public funds.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to provide information of this nature.

  EC Components Tariff
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards a European Community tariff on defence parts and components; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The European Commission last year published a proposal concerning the suspension of import duties on certain weapons and military equipment (European Community Document No. 8461/88, COM(88) 502). We are currently discussing this proposal with the Commission and with NATO Allies. An explanatory memorandum was submitted to the House on 2 December 1988.

  Anti-submarine Weapons
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the development of a low-cost submarine weapon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Since existing anti-submarine weapons have an effective life extending into the next century, and since we have yet to be convinced that an effective low-cost anti-submarine weapon could be produced, we currently have no plans to develop such a weapon. We are, of course, keeping developments in this area under review.

  Air-to-air Missiles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the development of the advanced short-range air-to-air missile in the light of the decision of West Germany on 13 July to withdraw from the programme to develop it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The RAF has a requirement for an advanced short range air-to-air missile, and the United Kingdom remains committed to the four power family of weapons arrangements for the next generation of air-to-air missiles. Following the German withdrawal, we are considering with Norway and Canada revised proposals from the prime contractor, British Aerospace, for the next stage of the advanced short range air-to-air missile programme.

  Anti-tank Ammunition
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the development of the Merlin anti-tank ammunition by British Aerospace; and what financial support has been given by his Department in every year since the project commenced.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The MOD has, at present, no formal requirement for the Merlin anti-tank ammunition. It remains our policy to encourage United Kingdom companies to undertake private venture developments which may have relevance to our future requirements, and we are continuing to take a close interest in the completion of the development of Merlin. The MOD contributed £3·4 million in 1983–84 and £2·2 million in 1984–85 by way of financial support towards the feasibility and systems definition phases of the British Aerospace work.

  NATO Air Base, Italy
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the funding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air base at Crotore, Italy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO agreed last year to fund the construction of a new air base at Crotone, Italy, from the Alliance infrastructure budget. The United Kingdom fully supports this decision.

  Modular Stand-off Weapon Programme
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the considerations which led to the withdrawal by the United Kingdom from the modular stand-off weapon programme.
  45
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United States and the United Kingdom jointly withdrew from this programme because the differing national requirements were considered to be too difficult to reconcile even within a modular programme. The United States wanted a short-range lightweight weapon for use primarily on F16 aircraft; we wanted a heavier longer-range weapon for use on Tornado.

  Type 2057 Sonar
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the results of the project definition studies for the type 2057 passive towed array sonar.

  Mr. Neubert
  Contracts for the competitive Sonar 2057 project definition phase have been let and results are expected by the end of 1990.

  Cavalry Officers
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the importance of equestrian skills for cavalry officers in units which do not have a mounted ceremonial role; and if he will list those units which have such a role.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Cavalry officers in regiments which do not have a ceremonial role are not required to ride, although they are encouraged to do so. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery have mounted ceremonial roles.

  Sea Rescue Services
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to have overnight at RAF Chivenor a helicopter such as the Sea King with night radar capacity; and if he will list the number of incidents resulting in death by drowning off the north Devon coast during the current year to date.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have no plans to alter the present arrangements for the provision of search and rescue cover at RAF Chivenor. I understand that three people have died through drowning off the north Devon coast this year.

  Arms Treaties
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, during his discussions with United States Defence Secretary Cheney on 25 October in London, he raised the issues of(a) the implications for United Kingdom and United States commitments to article VI of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty of new nuclear weapons systems deployments and (b) the status of the Fylingdales facility in Yorkshire in regard to the provisions of the anti-ballistic missile treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend discussed a range of matters of mutual interest when he met the United States Defence Secretary on 25 October, but it is not our practice to reveal the details of confidential bilateral discussions of this kind.

  Procurement
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on procurement from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) United States-owned defence industries.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on procurement from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) United States-owned defence industries.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on procurement from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) United States-owned defence industries.

  Mr. Neubert
  [pursuant to the reply, 7 February 1989, col. 666]: The following should have appeared in the Official Report

  Whilst we have regard for other factors including the location of the manufacturer and the ownership of suppliers, our prime consideration is to obtain the best value for money.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  European Agriculture Council
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Agriculture Council meeting of Ministers on 23–24 October in Luxembourg.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 25 October 1989.

  Organic Farming
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to evaluate the applicability to the United Kingdom of organic farming methods recommended in the report on alternative agriculture, released by the United States National Research Council in September.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18 October 1989 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) at column 132 which outlined ways in which the Government are encouraging British farmers to respond to demand for organic produce. My Department will also consider the recent American report.

  Less Favoured Areas
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the United Kingdom Government's response to the European Commission's proposal to limit the amount of total compensatory payment to individual farm holdings in lesss favoured areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government remain strongly opposed to the principle of limits based on farm size. Such limits are particularly difficult to justify in less favoured areas, since there is no correlation between the size of a farm and the
  47
  degree of severity of the permanent natural handicap. I have left the Agriculture Council in no doubt as to the strength of my views on the Commission's current proposals for hill livestock compensatory allowances.

  Grant Claims
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requirements are stipulated by his Department in respect of the submission of receipts and invoices accompanying claims for payment under agricultural grant schemes operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The principal farm capital grant schemes currently operated by my Department are the farm and conservation grant scheme and the farm diversification grant scheme. For both, claims for grant must be supported by appropriate documentation which normally consists of a properly receipted invoice. We reserve the right, however, to seek additional information where this is thought necessary to ensure that public money is being properly disbursed.

  Tonnes (except where shown)

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  11988

  Coffee

  117,239

  110,998

  108,475

  120,203

  121,303

  Sugar

  1,410,291

  1,330,614

  1,309,997

  1,254,863

  1,290,446

  Bananas

  309,445

  323,728

  343,107

  359,569

  388,154

  Orange juice concentrate2

  102,510

  102,342

  125,095

  139,487

  137,007

  African palm oil

  162,608

  217,823

  276,730

  288,935

  286,443

  Details from Overseas Trade Statistics.

  1 Provisional.

  2 '000 litres.

  Details of the countries from which the United Kingdom imports these commodities are in a table which I will be depositing in the Library of the House as soon as it is available.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any meat for human consumption is currently being imported from the United States of America.

  Mr. Curry
  Imports of beef for human consumption from the United States of America since January 1989 have been as follows:

  Tonnes

  January

  147

  February

  46

  March

  59

  April

  0

  May

  12

  June

  6

  July

  6

  August

  13

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the report on the work in 1988 of his advisory committee on pesticides.

  Food Safety Directorate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many staff will be employed in his food safety directorate; how many of these will be food inspectors; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the remit of his food safety directorate;

  (3) whether he intends to consult outside organisations on the establishment of a food safety directorate; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) whether he will create any new posts in setting up his food safety directorate; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) whom he will appoint as the director of his food safety directorate.

  Mr. Gummer
  I shall make a further announcement shortly.

  Food Imports
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries from which the United Kingdom imports(a) coffee, (b) sugar, (c) bananas, (d) orange juice concentrate, and (e) African palm oil; and if he will give the amounts of each product imported in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The quantities of each product imported are given in the following table:

  Mr. Maclean
  The 1988 report of the advisory committee on pesticides is expected to be published in the first quarter of 1990.

  Potato Planting
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards there are to ensure that targeted potato acreage is actually planted.

  Mr. Curry
  The Potato Marketing Board is required, under the terms of its financial agreement with Government, to ensure that plantings by registered producers are as close as possible to the target area. It set quota area as a percentage of producers' basic area accordingly, and producers who underplant are penalised in subsequent years because their basic area is reduced.

  Levy Schemes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names of all the levy schemes which he operates and for each one the industry it is imposed upon, and the use to which the money levied is put and the amount collected for which most recent figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: The list includes levy schemes for which I have statutory

  49
  authority excluding marketing board levies. The organisation originating or operating these schemes is included in the list as I do not have responsibility for operating every scheme.

  Organisation

  Levy

  Industry

  Purpose

  Amount collected

  Period

  European Community

  Milk Co-responsibility Levy (EC)

  Milk Producers

  80 per cent. likely to go to market support measures, rest on promotion of dairy products and improvement of milk hygiene

  £52·8 million

  1988–89

  European Community

  Milk Supplementary Levy (EC)

  Milk Producers

  Levied on over-quota milk production proceeds used to finance disposal of EC dairy surplus

  £15·6 million

  1988–89

  European Community

  Cereals Co-responsibility Levy

  Cereals Industry

  Contributes to the costs involved in disposing of surplus production

  £50·8 million

  1988

  European Community

  Sugar Production Levies

  Sugar Processors who pass back 60 per cent. to beet growers

  Used to offset cost of export refunds on quota sugar

  £31·65 million

  1988–89

  European Community

  Storage Levy

  First marketing of sugar by producers and merchants

  Used to offset costs of storage refund scheme

  £26·37 million

  1988–89

  MAFF

  Sugar Beet (Research and Education) Fund

  Growers and Processors of Home Grown Sugar Beet

  Research and Education in matters affecting the growing of home grown sugar beet

  £1·7 million

  1987–88

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Meat and Livestock Commission Levy General levy 3 species promotion levies on beef, sheep and pork

  Slaughters and exporters of live animals. Slaughters recover ½ general levy and all promotion levy from seller

  General activities on livestock, meat and meat production

  £17·7 million

  1987–88

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Pig Industry Levy Scheme1

  Pig Industry

  Eradication of Aujeszky's disease

  £4·3 million

  1988–89

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  Home Grown Cereals Authority Levy Scheme 1987

  Cereals Industry

  Market information service, R&D contribution to Food From Britain and promotion of British cereal exports

  £3·58 million

  1988–89

  Horticultural Development Council

  Horticultural R&D Levy

  Horticulture Industry

  To finance R&D levy is at the rate of ¾ per cent. on sales

  £1 million

  Apple and Pear Development Council

  This body is being wound up; a successor body which will operate under new rules is planned

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  Sea Fish Industry Authority (Levy) Regulation 1988 Confirmatory Order 1989

  Sea Fish Industry

  Promotion of the efficiency of sea fish industry

  £3·4 million

  1988–89

  MAFF Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  Annual Fees for product licences for Animal Medicines

  Animal Health Industry

  Contributes to the cost of the licensing system for animal medicines

  £442,000

  1988–89

  MAFF

  Pesticides Levy Scheme

  Pesticides Industry

  Monitoring use and residues in foodstuffs, human tissues and the environment

  £2·45 million

  Beginning of 1989

  International Cocoa Agreement

  $30 per tonne

  Cocoa importers

  Finance price stabilising measures

  $1·8 million

  1 October 1988 to 30 September 1989

  1 Levy suspended on 2 October 1989.

  Salmon
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the member states of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation which
  50
  still allow monofilament drift net fishing in their waters, and those which do not, indicating in each of the latter cases, the date on which such nets were banned and the reasons given for the ban.
  51
  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: We understand that of the nine contracting parties to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, drift netting for salmon takes place in the USSR, Finland, the European Community and Greenland (which is represented in the organisation by Denmark as a separate contracting party for this purpose). The remaining contracting parties (Canada, USA, Iceland, Sweden and Norway) have either not used drift nets or have ceased to do so. Drift nets can be made of monofilament, multi-monofilament, or multi-filament material; we do not have definite information as to which of these types of net are used in each of the contracting parties specified although I understand that monofilament netting is in use in Greenland as well as in parts of the European Community. NASCO has made no recommendations on drift netting for salmon. We have no comprehensive records of the dates when action was taken by some contracting parties or of the reasons advanced at the time. Both are clearly matters for the contracting parties themselves.

  Food Irradiation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 27 June,Official Report, column 443, how he intends to consult the public on his proposals to lift the ban on food irradiation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I intend that there will be ample opportunity for all those matters affected by proposed regulations on food. Under the proposals shoppers would of course be able to make up their minds on irradiation as it is intended that food which has been irradiated will be clearly labelled.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Personal Pensions
  Mrs Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have taken out personal pension schemes; what is the estimated cost to the national insurance fund for 1989–90 and 1990–91; and how much of this cost is accounted for by the 2 per cent. inducement under section 1 of the Social Security Act 1986.

  Mrs Gillian Shephard
  A total of 3·5 million people have so far applied for an appropriate personal pension. The most recent estimate of the revenue forgone by the national insurance fund in respect of minimum contribution to personal pension schemes is £2,580 million in 1989–90 and £2,020 million in 1990–91. Of these amounts £720 million and £520 million respectively relate to the cost of the incentive.

  Source: Government Actuary's Department.

  Industrial Injury and Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publicise fully in the media and by leaflets section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 to avoid unnecessary hardship to claimants awaiting compensation for industrial injury or disease.

  Mr. Scott
  A fully comprehensive guide to recovery from compensation awards of amounts equivalent to 52
  benefit will be available early next year. It is intended for both those paying compensation and solicitors and others advising victims. Officials are in close touch with the insurance industry, The Law Society, The Law Society of Scotland and the TUC amongst others on both the content and distribution of the guide to ensure maximum coverage. A separate leaflet will be available in local offices to explain the scheme to claimants.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information his Department has with regard to problems arising on benefit claims due to failure to pay or late payment of national insurance contributions by employers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No records are kept of the number of persons whose employers have either failed to pay contributions or have paid them late. However, we have an established procedure which is used where benefit is claimed and the non-payment or late payment of contributions is caused through no fault of an employee. In such cases the employee's correct contribution position is urgently established and his record is credited with the relevant contributions, which in turn allows benefit to be paid. These contributions are treated as paid on time, and this ensures that individual benefit rights are not affected.

  Crisis Loans
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of crisis loans are estimated to be paid out by his Department's officials to bridge the periods when claimants are left without money after transferring from sickness benefit to unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement about the effect of benefits paid in arrears on crisis funds.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that information relating to the situation described is not available. However £5 million, representing 3·5 per cent. of the loans budget was paid in 1988–89 in circumstances where payment of benefit in arrears was a factor.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will review the arrangements which leave claimants transferring from unemployment benefit to sickness benefit without any money for two weeks.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Unemployment benefit is paid fortnightly in arrears, and sickness benefit is paid weekly in arrears. There should therefore be no gap in payment when transferring from unemployment to sickness benefit.

  Travel Warrants
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will review the regulations preventing his Department's officials from meeting the cost of travel warrants of claimants travelling for job interviews outside the area where they reside.

  Mr. Scott
  No. Where employers do not provide for such costs, the travel-to-interview scheme administered by the employment service is available. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  War Widows
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each of the years 1973, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1985 and 1988 the number of women designated as war widows.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The numbers are as follows:

  Number

  1973

  96,181

  1976

  86,854

  1979

  78,621

  1982

  71,592

  1985

  64,859

  1988

  57,751

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers by the last serving rank, for Army equivalent, of men who died or left the services before 31 March 1973 and whose widows are at present in receipt of the state war widow's pension.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There are, however, 56,176 widows currently receiving war widow's pension (at quarter ending 30 September 1989) of whom it is estimated about 1,200 are the widows of men who served in the Armed Forces on or after 31 March 1973.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there have been any changes to the cash limits or running costs limits of his Department for 1989–90.

  Mr. Scott
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XV vote 6 (housing benefit administration) will be increased by £3,000,000 from £128,904,000 to £131,904,000. The revision provides for payments to local authorities towards the costs incurred in preparing to implement changes to the housing benefit scheme and the community charge rebate scheme which provides for new premiums for poorer pensioners, more generous rules for certain 16 and 17-year-old claimants and the inclusion of hostel dwellers in the housing benefit scheme.

  The cash limit for class XV vote 7 (administration and miscellaneous services) will be increased by £13,770,000 from £1,581,348,000 to £1,595,118,000. The revision takes account of the abolition of the earnings rule and national insurance contribution changes announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement, namely £16,787,000, the ministerial decision to provide extra help to poorer pensioners, £7,800,000, an increase in the grant to the independent living fund who make payments to very severely disabled persons, £6,000,000, and a reassessment of requirements resulting from the division of the Departments of Social Security and of Health, £59,000. These additional requirements are partially offset by an increase in receipts of £16,876,000 to the vote. The balance of the increase apart from the £59,000 transferred from class XIV vote 3, will be charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure. As a result the running cost limit of the Department of Social Security is increased by £24,646,000 from £1,711,885,000 to £1,736,531,000.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the number of eligible claimants for child benefit in Wales and (b) the total child benefit paid in Wales for each of the last five years in (i) cash prices and (ii) constant prices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest available figure is for December 1988, when about 348,000 claimants in Wales were receiving child benefit in respect of some 623,000 children. The estimated proportion of child benefit expenditure for Wales in each year from 1984–85 was:

  £ million

  Cash prices

  1988–89 prices

  1984–85

  220·5

  271·1

  1985–86

  230·6

  268·8

  1986–87

  234·3

  264·6

  1987–88

  238·3

  255·7

  1988–89

  234·0

  234·0

  Computer Programme (Norcoss)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security from how many companies his Department intends inviting bids for the running of its ACC programme at Norcoss, Blackpool.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The arrangements for the running of the Department's area computer centre at Norcross will be announced in due course.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Stillborn Children
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for the regulations existing in England regarding the registration of stillborn children to be applied to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Since May last, the same arrangements as those existing in England in relation to still-birth registration have applied in Northern Ireland.

  Hospital Cleaning
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the chairman of each area health and social services board as to(a) the number of staff in each board area who will be redundant after competitive tendering for hospital cleaning services has been completed, (b) the estimated number of man hours required in each area board to ensure high standards of cleaning following competitive tendering contracts for hospital cleaning, and (c) the estimated percentage of hospital cleaning which will be carried out by the private sector following acceptance of current tenders by each board stating the figures for each board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  No. The health and social services board will not be in a position to provide information on the implications for staff or the mix of public and private sector contracts for hospital cleaning services until after the competitive tendering exercise has been completed. No prior estimate is made of man hours required.

  National Health Service (Competitive Tendering)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the progress of his plans to encourage competitive tendering in the National Health Service in Northern Ireland stating for each health and social services board in Northern Ireland the services which have been contracted out, together with the amounts of the tenders submitted and the savings to be achieved in each case; and if he will list the services which were tendered for by in-house teams and the outcome of such bids, together with reasons given by boards for accepting or rejecting such bids.

  Mr. Needham
  To date 12 per cent., by value, of domestic, catering and laundry services have been market tested and 10 contracts have been awarded (three contracted out and seven retained in-house). A further 22 per cent., by value, of these services are out to tender.

  The services contracted out are as follows:

  Board and service contracted out

  Amount of tender £

  Net estimated savings £

  Eastern Board

  Domestic services—Lisburn unit of management

  Lagan Valley hospital

  343,000

  140,000

  Community facilities

  41,000

  Western Board

  Catering services—Londonderry, Limavady and Strabane unit of management

  1,881,000

  1,160,000

  In-house teams have tendered for 11 contracts and have been successful in seven as follows:

  Catering

  Omagh and Fermanagh units of management

  Domestic services

  Antrim hospitals

  Antrim—other facilities

  Ballymena hospitals

  Ballymena—other facilities

  Magherafelt and Cookstown hospitals

  Magherafelt and Cookstown—other facilities

  The identity of tenderers for particular elements of their services is essentially a matter for the boards themselves. The reasons given by boards for accepting or rejecting such bids reflect the criteria set out by the Department, which emphasised the importance of maintaining a high-quality service.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has about penalty point systems for private contractors undertaking work in the National Health Service; and if he will call for a report from the area boards as to their policies in this respect.

  Mr. Needham
  No penalty point systems are in operation in any of the contracts awarded by the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland. However, contracts do contain default clauses that enable boards to take preventive measures if the contractor fails to meet the contracted standard. Boards will be establishing formal systems to monitor contract compliance and ensure a high-quality service is provided.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will call for a report from the 56
  chairman of the Eastern health and social services board as to his board's policies for consultation with the work force about competitive tendering issues.

  Mr. Needham
  No. We are confident that the board has consulted with representatives of the work force, in keeping with normal practice.

  Contraception
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the breakdown of the number of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment(a) by contraceptive method and (b) through health and social services boards or general practitioners in Northern Ireland in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: The information cannot be provided in precisely the form requested. The figures available are given in the table:

  1987

  1988

  Health and social services boards1

  73,378

  74,093

  General practitioners2

  Oral contraceptives

  47,820

  51,673

  Intrauterine devices

  1,919

  1,928

  Total

  49,739

  53,601

  TOTAL

  123,117

  127,694

  1 Numbers of individuals attending for advice and treatment.

  2 Numbers of individuals for whom contraceptives prescribed.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost of(a) general practitioner provision for family planning services and (b) family planning clinic services through health and social service boards in Northern Ireland for (i) 1985, (ii) 1986, (iii) 1987 and (iv) 1988, respectively.

  Mr. Needham
  (holding reply 23 October 1989): The information requested is: a. The total cost of general practitioner provision for family planning services is as follows:

  Year ended

  £

  31 March 1985

  398,190

  31 March 1986

  454,674

  31 March 1987

  511,238

  31 March 1988

  587,189

  31 March 1989

  680,216

  b. The total cost of family planning services through health and social services boards in Northern Ireland is as follows:

  Year ended

  £

  31 March 1985

  480,720

  31 March 1986

  566,102

  31 March 1987

  603,078

  31 March 1988

  721,664

  31 March 1989

  770,843

  Secular Education
  Mr. Graham Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made since July on the development of secular education in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  None. The law requires that religious instruction is given in all grant-aided schools other than nursery schools.

  Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current pupil to teacher ratio in Northern Ireland; what it was five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The 1988 pupil-teacher ratio is 18·4:1 which is the lowest on record. The comparable figures for five, 10 and 15 years ago are 18·7, 19·5 and 22·4 respectively.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Cope
  The information requested is not held in this form and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, every effort is made to reply to letters from hon. Members as soon as possible.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. Lorrain Osman
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he has received any representations from the Government of Malaysia since May concerning the case of Mr. Lorrain Osman; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what communications he has had with bodies and individuals in Hong Kong in relation to the case of Lorrain Osman, in the past 12 months; what was the substance of those communications; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what communications he has received from the Governor of Hong Kong in relation to representations on behalf of the Malaysian Government concerning the case of Lorrain Osman; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what communications his Department has had with the Government of Malaysia concerning Mr. Lorrain Osman, a remand prisoner in Pentonville prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Since this matter is currently sub judice, it would not be appropriate for us to comment.

  Death Sentence (Hong Kong)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that prisoners in Hong Kong gaols in 1997 will not be made subject to the death sentence for offences committed before the transfer; and if he will make a statement.
  58
  Mr. Maude
  Persons imprisoned in Hong Kong will, in accordance with the provisions of the joint declaration relating to the continuity of laws, remain subject to Hong Kong law. The joint declaration also provides that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall remain in force after 1997. In this connection it is noteworthy that article 15 of the covenant prohibits the imposition of a heavier penalty than that applicable when the offence was committed.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he now proposes to enter into with the People's Republic of China in relation to his legal and treaty obligations to prisoners extradited to Hong Kong and in prison there in June 1997; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The joint declaration makes provision for us and the Government of the People's Republic of China to ensure the continued application of international rights and obligations affecting Hong Kong. The Chinese authorities have agreed that before 1997 we should authorise Hong Kong to conclude its own extradition agreements, designed to continue in force after 30 June 1997. These agreements will contain traditional safeguards for fugitive criminals. In addition, Hong Kong's domestic law will continue to provide traditional safeguards for fugitive criminals.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific arrangements and safeguards have been agreed with the Peole's Republic of China in relation to prisoners in Hong Kong gaols at the time of the transfer of sovereignty in 1997; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Persons in prisons will be the responsibility of the Hong Kong authorities then as they are now. The prisoners will continue to be treated in accordance with Hong Kong's own criminal laws and legal system. No specific arrangements have been agreed.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the provision in the law of the People's Republic of China that allows any person to call for the retrial of convicted persons, he has taken or proposes to take steps to protect prisoners in Hong Kong in 1997 from the use of this law against them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Under the provisions of the joint declaration and the draft Basic Law, Hong Kong will retain its own separate criminal laws and legal system after 1997. Annex III of the Basic Law specifies six Chinese national laws which will be extended to Hong Kong after 1997. The law mentioned in the question is not one of them.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that prisoners extradited from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong and in gaol at the time of the transfer to sovereignty, will be able to leave the colony at the end of their sentence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The freedom of all persons to leave the future special administrative region, if they have valid
  59
  travel documents, is established by the joint declaration. The draft basic law reflects the joint declaration in this respect.

  Hong Kong (Juries)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has taken any steps to examine the possible dangers of prejudice by juries in Hong Kong against non-local nationals facing trial in the Crown colony; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  We are not aware of any complaints of this nature. In practice a considerable number of jurors are themselves non-local nationals.

  Punjab
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests his Department has made about the renewal by the Indian Government of martial law in the Punjab.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None. Martial law is not in force in the Punjab.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the report by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on the prevention of geographical proliferation of nuclear weapons; nuclear-weapon-free zones and zones of peace in the southern hemisphere.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Yes.

  "Science and Global Security"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that his departmental library subscribes to the journal "Science and Global Security".

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We understand that the journal "Science and Global Energy" will not be available for another four weeks. Issues of new journals are considered only after publication.

  Non-proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, of 17 October,Official Report, column 78, he will set out the names of all United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisations which have written to his Department on the non-proliferation treaty indicating those which have expressed concern over the United Kingdom's policy for the 1990 non-proliferation treaty fourth review conference.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  During the last six months, the only such organisation to have written in the terms described by the hon. Member is the European proliferation information centre.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what opportunity he took 60
  at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Guyana the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Guyana joining the NPT;

  (2) what opportunity he took at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Tanzania the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Tanzania joining the NPT;

  (3) what opportunity he took at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Zambia the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Zambia joining the NPT;

  (4) what opportunity he took at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Vanuatu the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Vanuatu joining the NPT.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This subject was not discussed.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether during his recent visit to Washington DC, he raised with his American counterpart joint strategies to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and increase membership.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. But such matters are regularly discussed bilaterally in appropriate fora, most recently in the margins of the second preparatory committee, which took place on 11–15 September.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur the matter of the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the possibility of(a) Pakistan, (b) India and (c) Zimbabwe signing the treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Science and Peace
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's policy is towards the Costa Rican resolution and proposal at the United Nations for a Government-sponsored and supported international week of science and peace each November.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no wish to obstruct the measures envisaged in the resolution concerned, but doubt their value. We do not intend to allocate to them resources better employed elsewhere.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage universities and other institutions of advanced studies, scientific academies and institutes, professional associations and individuals in the scientific community to hold during the week 11 to 17 November lectures, seminars, special debates and other activities conducive to the study and dissemination of information on the links between science and technology and the maintenance of peace and security, as agreed upon in United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/43/61.
  61
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Initiatives of this sort at the United Nations are no substitute for the serious endeavours in which Britain plays a leading part. We therefore see no advantage in taking specific steps to encourage institutions to participate in these initiatives.

  Derek Smith
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he possesses concerning the arrest in Athens on 11 October of Derek Smith, a United Kingdom citizen, on charges of trying to sell uranium to a Greek nuclear research centre.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Mr. Smith was arrested in Athens on 10 October 1989. He was subsequently charged with possession of radioactive material and smuggling and is remanded in custody. The case is under investigation by the Greek authorities. Mr. Smith is legally represented. Consular access has been granted.

  General Affairs Council
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the Meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers on 14 and 15 October; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting.

  Mr. Maude
  There were informal discussions on a range of Community and European political co-operation issues, including eastern Europe.

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he took to ensure the factual accuracy of information released by the United Kingdom embassy in Oslo in regard to the proposals to examine the off-shore sub-seabed disposal of radioactive wastes off Sellafield and Dounreay.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Her Majesty's embassy in Oslo was fully briefed on this matter by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of the Environment.

  Global Resource Information Database
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the United Kingdom has given or offered towards the establishment by the United Nations of a global resource information database.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The global resource information database is a powerful computer-based system designed to present a variety of natural resources information in a way that planners can easily use. It is based in Switzerland and funded by the United Nations environmental programme (UNEP). Britain has not only supported UNEP from its inception under the usual UN budgetary formula, but this year made a substantial voluntary donation which more than doubled our contribution to £3 million.

  Hong Kong Register of Shipping
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the transitional arrangements for shipping on the Hong Kong register.
  62
  Mr. Maude
  Section VIII of annex I to the Sino-British joint declaration provides for the HKSAR to maintain Hong Kong's previous systems of shipping management and regulation and to continue to maintain a shipping register. Work is well advanced on the introduction of the new Hong Kong register which will remain in place after 1997. On its introduction, as a transitional arrangement, vessels then registered in Hong Kong will have the right to transfer to the new register.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the sale of Government houses in the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Executive Council decided on 15 August 1989 to sell a number of its 164 houses and flats because it wanted to encourage owner occupation, and because shortage of manpower made maintenance of Government houses difficult. The proceeds of the sales would be used to help finance new projects designed to reduce Stanley's housing shortage.

  Offers to purchase these houses were made to 59 sitting tenants on 15 September.

  A general election was held in the Falklands on 11 October and the newly-elected councillors are currently reviewing FIG's housing policy including the disposal programme.

  Cambodia
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the proposal for an international mission to visit Cambodia to verify the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Our objective remains a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia. An effective international control mechanism to verify Vietnamese troop withdrawal would be an important element of such a settlement.

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

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Leonid Stonov is among those cases on which we press the Soviet authorities. Most recently my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised this case among others with Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We will not let up until Leonid Stonov is given permission to leave the USSR.

  Kelman Family
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Boris and Alla Kelman and their sons Efim and Maxim of Leningrad.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have raised this case frequently with the Soviet authorities, most recently when my right
  63
  hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We understand that Boris Kelman's secrecy restrictions have now been removed and the family should be free to emigrate. We will maintain our pressure until they actually leave the USSR.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the management of hazardous, toxic and industrial wastes in Gibraltar has been in full compliance with the 1980 Athens protocol to the Barcelona convention for the protection of the Mediterranean.

  Mr. Maude
  The information required is not immediately available. A reply to the hon. Member's question will be sent to him in due course.

  Iraq (Aircraft Sales)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his colleagues in the European Community over the sale of jet aircraft to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. We keep in close contact with our European partners over the situation in the Gulf. But policies on defence sales are a matter for the judgment of individual Governments.

  Kurds
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports Her Majesty's Government have received on the conference on Kurdish culture held in Paris on 14 and 15 October; and if he will make a statement on recognition of Kurdish national claims.

  Mr. Maude
  We have received a number of reports about this conference and the attitude towards it of the Turkish and Iraqi Governments. The Government do not recognise any claim to an independent Kurdish state, although we acknowledge the Kurds' cultural identity.

  Defence and Disarmament Talks
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations present at the meeting on defence and disarmament developments held at the Foreign Office on 18 October; and if he will set out the main areas of non-governmental organisation concerns and disagreements with his Department's policies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I held a meeting with non-governmental organisations interested in arms control and disarmament issues on 18 October. The major topics discussed at the meeting, held under Chatham house rules, were nuclear non-proliferation, START, the partial test ban treaty, conventional arms control, chemical weapons, international arms transfers, and East-West relations.

  The following organisations took part:
  The Council for Education in World Citizenship, Church of England Board for Social Responsibility, the European Atlantic movement, the National Peace Council, Peace
  64
  Through NATO, Quaker Peace and Service, Scientists Against Nuclear Arms, the United Nations Association, Verification Technology Information Centre, the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, World Disarmament Campaign, International Peace Bureau, European Proliferation Information Centre, British Atlantic Committee, British Council of Churches, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Centre for International Peace Building Studies, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Coalition for Peace Through Security, Committee for International Justice and Peace, Council for Arms Control, Families for Defence, Greenpeace International, British Pugwash Group. Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non Proliferation Safer World Project, Institute for European Defence and Security Studies.

  Regular bi-annual meetings between Foreign Office Ministers and non-governmental organisations on arms control and disarmament issues began in 1983 and are continuing.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was given to the group of non-governmental organisations specialising in defence and disarmament issues in the meeting held on 18 October at the Foreign Office on the subjects of(a) Her Majesty's Government's policies and initiatives for the fourth review conference of the 1970 nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and (b) the forthcoming amendment conference for the 1963 partial test ban treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There was a general discussion of both subjects at the meeting which was one of a regular series held under Chatham house rules.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting in Paris on 25 October of the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls.

  Mr. Maude
  The co-ordinating committee (COCOM) held its annual high level meeting in Paris on 25 and 26 October. The meeting reviewed progress in COCOM's work and reached agreement on a work programme for the coming year.

  Against the background of current international and industrial developments, partners recognised the need to maintain the process of streamlining COCOM controls whilst protecting their fundamental strategic security interests. The next high level meeting will be held in 1990.

  British Citizens (Detention Overseas)
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are in detention overseas; how many of these are on drugs charges; what were the comparable figures last year; what action Her Majesty's Government is taking on this problem; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A total of 1,318 British citizens were in detention overseas on 30 June 1989, the latest complete figures available; 592 (45 per cent.) were on drugs charges. On 30 June 1988 the figures were 1,175 with 521 (44 per cent.) on drugs charges. Penalties for drug trafficking are becoming more severe—a number of countries now impose the death penalty. We have already taken measures to draw attention to the dangers of carrying and using
  65
  drugs overseas in consular advice leaflets issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Short films have been distributed to television stations, tour operators and other outlets, each carrying a consular message. The drugs film has been widely broadcast. In addition drugs warnings are given in pamphlets issued with all passports and British visitors passports. The Department has engaged a firm of consultants to advise on carrying forward our consular information campaign, including the drug message. We continue to seize every opportunity to obtain free publicity for the dangers of carrying and using drugs abroad.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to make any changes to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limit for 1989–90.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The cash limit and running costs limit for class II, vote 1 (overseas representation) will be reduced by £85,000. The cash limit will be reduced from £453,855,000 to £453,770,000 and the Department's running costs limit will be reduced from £434,606,000 to £434,521,000. These reductions reflect a transfer of FCO payroll costs to Her Majesty's Treasury.

  The cash limit for class II, vote 2, (other external relations) will be decreased by £500,000 from £171,998,000 to £171,499,000 which also reflects a token increase in provision of £1,000. The token supplementary allows for the transfer of savings to the Overseas Development Administration to finance aid to Poland, partly offset by an increase to finance the United Kingdom's assistance to Colombia in the fight against drugs.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has happened to the 58·9 kg. of ivory tusks seized by the Hong Kong authorities as detailed in his reply of 27 July,Official Report, column 861, and what information he has on the second case referred to therein.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 18 October 1989]: The 58·9 kg. of ivory tusks were confiscated and retained in safe custody by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the CITES management authority in Hong Kong. In the second case, in accordance with legal advice, no prosecution was initiated, but the owner voluntarily surrendered the 15 kg. into the custody of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Civil Servants (Overseas Service)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are currently serving overseas; in what categories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  At 1 April 1989 there were some 6,200 civil servants serving overseas, of whom about 2,700 were members of Her Majesty's diplomatic service. Additionally, there were some 700 contract technical co-operation officers employed by the Overseas Development Administration.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1989–90 cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XX, vote 1) will be increased by £1,370,000 from £33,819,000 to £35,189,000. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The increase is required to cover the additional cost of making physical security improvements to the Downing street complex and other buildings; the cost of further refurbishment and maintenance in 10 Downing street (this cost is partially offset by appropriations in aid from the Property Services Agency); the cost of expanding the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel as recommended in Sir Robert Andrew's review of the Government legal services; and the initial cost of improving the accommodation at the Civil Service college, Sunningdale park. The supplementary estimate also includes a transfer of provision between the Central Office of Information and the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service to reflect the transfer of responsibility for the information officers management unit to the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service along with an increase in provision to cover the cost of expanding the unit. In addition the supplementary estimate takes account of a reduction in provision as a result of transferring responsibility for conducting language allowance examinations to the Home Office and a reclassification of certain receipts.

  Some of the increases have a consequent effect on the Department's running costs limit which will increase by £898,000 from £30,350,000 to £31,248,000.

  Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service which reports of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, relating to the Civil Service, have been the subject of a Government response during the current session; and what further responses to such reports he expects will be published in the near future.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government have made one such reply relating to the "Next Steps" initiative, published today (Cm. 841). The reply reports good progress in implementing "Next Steps". A total of ten agencies have been established and some 40 further activities have been announced by Departments as candidates for agency status, with more to come. I am grateful to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee for the positive and helpful interest which it has taken in this most important initiative.

SCOTLAND

  Rents into Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any information of the number of tenants who may wish to participate in his rents into mortages scheme.
  67
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since my announcement of the outline of the scheme earlier this year, there have been several hundred inquiries from people interested in purchasing under the scheme. We expect up to 5,000 participants during the three-year pilot scheme announced today.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the operation of his proposed rents into mortgages scheme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland today announced the issue by Scottish Homes of an explanatory leaflet which gives details of the rents to mortgages scheme and advises tenants how to apply. Copies of this leaflet have been placed in the Libraries of the House of Lords and of the House of Commons.

  Factory Accommodation
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance the Government propose to give in order to ease the demand for affordable factory accommodation in the Borders region in the light of the decision by the Scottish Development Agency that it could not develop prize sites due to a shortage of finances.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Scottish Development Agency has not decided to curtail its involvement in the development

  Site

  District

  Date designated

  Priest Island (Summer Isles)

  Ross and Cromarty

  1 October 1986

  Loch of Skene

  Gordon

  1 October 1986

  Loch Eye

  Ross and Cromarty

  1 October 1986

  Gruinart Flats

  Argyll and Bute

  14 July 1988

  Eilean Na Muice Duibhe (Duich Moss)

  Argyll and Bute

  14 July 1988

  Bridgend Flats

  Argyll and Bute

  14 July 1988

  Laggan Peninsula

  Argyll and Bute

  14 July 1988

  Gladhouse Reservoir

  Midlothian

  14 July 1988

  Din Moss—Hoselaw Loch

  Roxburgh

  14 July 1988

  The information sought in part (b) of the question is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Government hope to be able to announce further designations soon.

  Listed Buildings (Orkney)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the principal inspector of historic buildings last visited Orkney to view listed buildings in the islands area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On 14 and 15 August 1989.

  Contraception
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the breakdown of numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment by(a) contraceptive method and (b) source of treatment, clinic or general practitioner, in Scotland for the years 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available is as follows:
  68
  of factory sites in Borders region. The agency is actively involved in targeting its resources to meet the requirements of industry in the area. This year, the agency has completed a 12,000 square foot block at Tweedbank industrial estate near Galashiels at a cost of £250,000. A further block of similar size is under construction and the agency has plans to develop another 15,500 sq ft of accommodation on this site. Other developments for specific companies are underway and the agency, in partnership with the regional council, is committed to considering the potential for developing a number of sites within Borders region.

  Protected Birds
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each of the last five years, and for 1989 to date(a) the number and locations of special protection areas designated under European Community directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds and (b) the amount of public money in constant 1989 prices spent in each of the last five years on meeting the United Kingdom's responsibilities and obligations in Scotland under that directive; and if he will make a statement on the further implementation of the directive.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following special protection areas in Scotland have been designated since 1984:

  1987

  1988

  Family planning (clinic services)1 2

  People attending

  126,955

  117,118

  Contraceptive method chosen

  Oral contraceptive

  68,222

  64,342

  IUD

  16,099

  14,268

  Cap/diaphragm

  8,911

  7,597

  Condom

  15,622

  13,077

  Other/not known/not applicable

  11,755

  11,458

  None

  6,346

  6,376

  Family planning (domiciliary) services

  Women seen

  2,994

  2,651

  General practitioner contraceptive services (as at 31 December)

  Women registered with a GP for ordinary contraceptive services or IUD fitting3

  272,598

  276,232

  1 Includes all clinic services provided including hospital, and including any provided on an agency basis. Excludes any non-clinic services which might be given to hospital inpatients or day patients.

  2 Excludes data from 1 December 1987 for Fife Health Board where the relevant information is not available.

  3 Excludes temporary residents.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost for 1987 and 1988 in Scotland of(a) general practitioner provision for National Health Service family planning services and (b) family planning clinic provision by area health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the years ended 31 March 1988 and 31 March 1989 the cost of fees to general medical practitioners for family planning services was £2,915,401 and £3,325,000 respectively. The level of provison of family planning clinics (and the cost of this provision) is a matter for individual health boards to determine within the resources available to them. Information about expenditure by boards on these clinics is not held centrally.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how quickly his Department aims to reply to letters from hon. Members.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My Department aims to reply as soon as possible to all correspondence from hon. Members and others.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the number of applications for regional selective assistance received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures requested for regional selective assistance are as follows:

  Number

  Applications received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989:

  430

  Offers made between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989:

  346

  Total value of these offers

  £117 million

  Total gross expenditure on regional selective assistance (RSA) in Scotland in 1988–89 was £38 million (equivalent to around £40 million at estimated constant 1989–90 prices). Gross provision for 1989–90 is £52 million. Planned net provision for regional selective assistance and related schemes (including regional enterprise grants) consistent with figures given in "Public Expenditure to 1991–92, A Commentary on The Scotland Programme" for each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is approximately £80 million. Actual expenditure, both this year and in these future years, will depend on the extent to which companies come forward with good projects and also on the extent to which they submit claims on existing offers. We shall continue to encourage Scottish businesses to take full advantage of the provision available.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will give(a) the total number of applications for regional development grants outstanding at 31 March 1988, (b) the total number of applications
  70
  processed by 30 September 1989, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in cash at constant prices.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures are for the revised regional development grant (RDG2) scheme.

  Number

  Number of applications outstanding at 31 March 1988:

  5,117

  Number of these processed by 30 September 1989:

  5,117

  Total value of approvals on these applications

  £189 million

  Total gross expenditure on the RDG2 scheme in 1988–89 was £51 million (equivalent to around £54 million at estimated constant 1989–90 prices). Estimated gross expenditure on the RDG2 scheme in 1989–90 is expected to be around £53 million. Planned net provision for both the old and revised regional development grant schemes consistent with figures given in "Public Expenditure to 1991–92, A Commentary on The Scotland Programme" for each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is approximately £30 million.

  Development Agencies
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total income and expenditure of the Scottish Development Agency, (b) the total public expenditure contribution to the Scottish Development Agency and (c) the total expenditure and the number of staff of Locate in Scotland for each of the years 1979–80 to 1988–89 inclusive and in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Lang
  The information on Scottish Development Agency income and expenditure is set out in the table.

  Total expenditure

  Total income

  Total expenditure contribution

  Cash

  1988–89 prices

  Cash

  1988–89 prices

  Cash

  1988–89 prices

  1979–80

  80·7

  151·6

  15·8

  29·7

  65·0

  122·1

  1980–81

  97·7

  154·8

  17·8

  28·2

  79·9

  126·6

  1981–82

  97·6

  140·9

  21·4

  30·9

  76·2

  110·0

  1982–83

  122·7

  165·4

  21·8

  29·4

  100·9

  136·0

  1983–84

  115·9

  149·4

  27·4

  35·3

  88·5

  114·0

  1984–85

  117·8

  144·7

  38·7

  47·5

  79·0

  97·0

  1985–86

  131·1

  152·6

  36·5

  42·5

  94·6

  110·1

  1986–87

  130·9

  147·4

  41·7

  47·0

  89·2

  100·5

  1987–88

  135·4

  145·2

  41·5

  44·5

  93·9

  100·7

  1988–89

  142·7

  142·7

  51·6

  51·6

  91·1

  91·1

  The agency's outturn of expenditure (as distinct from budgeted provision) is based on the net presentation employed in public expenditure White Papers, which excludes the agency's expenditure of income received on its investment function. Such income has been more substantial in recent years.

  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible in response to his questions about expenditure by Locate in Scotland and its staff numbers.

  Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total number of applications received for investment grants and innovation

  71
  grants from 1 April 1988 to 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in cash at constant prices.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures requested for investment grants and innovation grants, within the regional enterprise grant scheme, are as follows:

  Number

  Number of applications received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989

  797

  Number of offers made between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989

  445

  Total value of these offers

  £4 million

  Total gross expenditure on regional enterprise grants in 1988–89 was £282,000 (equivalent to around £300,000 at estimated constant 1988–89 prices). Gross provision for 1989–90 is £6 million although we do not expect this to be fully taken up. Planned net provision for regional selective assistance and related schemes (including regional enterprise grants) consistent with figures given in "Public Expenditure to 1991–92, A Commentary on The Scotland Programme" for each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is approximately £80 million.

  Hospitals (Self-governing Status)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the timetable for implementing his plans for self-governing status; and if he has a particular date by which expressions of interest have to be registered.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: If the hon. Gentleman studies the White Paper he will find that on page 79 we indicated that we aim to establish at least two National Health Service trusts in Scotland by 1992. No deadline has been set for the receipt of expressions of interest in self-governing status.

  Salmon
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the implementation of the recommendations of the Nature Conservancy Council's report of August on the genetic impact of farmed Atlantic salmon on wild salmon stocks.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: The Nature Conservancy Council's report is a valuable contribution to the increasing body of work on the genetics of farmed and wild salmon.

  DAFS fisheries scientists are already studying various aspects of the genetic relationships in farmed and wild salmon populations in Scotland. Scottish fisheries research report No. 42, "Genetic Protein Variation in Farmed Atlantic Salmon in Scotland: Comparison of Farmed Strains with their Wild Source of Populations" was published in August. Further studies on both wild and farmed populations of salmon have been completed. Others are in progress. The results of these studies will be made available as soon as possible. The suggestions in the Nature Conservancy Council report and elsewhere for future research will be taken into account in planning the Department's programme of scientific work in this field.
  72
  It is too early to predict what generally accepted scientific conclusions might emerge from current studies. At an international level, there have been discussions in both the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). Further discussions are planned and scientists from DAFS and MAFF will continue to contribute to these.

THE ARTS

  Regional Arts
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last discussed regional priorities with the chairman of the Arts Council.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes) earlier today.

  P. G. Wodehouse
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received seeking recognition of P. G. Wodehouse's contribution to the literary heritage of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Luce
  I have not received any such representations, although I am of course aware of P. G. Wodehouse's immense contribution to the literature of this country.

  Museums (Grants)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what grants are available to museums during the current year; and what were available five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Over the last 15 years central Government expenditure on museums and galleries has risen as follows:

  1974–75, £17 million; 1979–80, £54 million; 1984–85, £98 million; 1989–90, £158 million. (All figures except 1974–75 include building expenditure.) The real terms increase since 1979–80 is 25 per cent.

  British Library
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions he has had with the director of the British library with regard to its future as a copyright library.

  Mr. Luce
  I last met the chief executive of the British Library on 14 March 1989 to discuss the Library's strategic plan for 1989–94, "Gateway to Knowledge." I shall be meeting the British Library board on 1 November.

  Museums (Fire Precautions)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what fire precautions have been taken at national museums and their stores.

  Mr. Luce
  The reviewing and upgrading of fire precautions at national museum and gallery premises is a continuous process.

  Following untying from the Property Services Agency in April 1988 this work is now being undertaken by the institutions with the advice of local fire authorities. Several

  73
  institutions are working towards the introduction of new fire alarm systems. These include the Tate gallery, the National gallery and the British museum.

  Greater London Arts
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of Greater London Arts to discuss the level of arts funding in London.

  Mr. Luce
  I have not done so recently.

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the budget commitment for the Office of Arts and Libraries for the business sponsorship incentive scheme for the current financial year and what sum is yet to be awarded.

  Mr. Luce
  The budget for the business sponsorship incentive scheme for 1989–90 is £3 million to which I have allocated an extra £½ million to meet an increased demand for awards.

  Commitments have now used up all the available funds and I have reluctantly suspended the scheme until April 1990 when it will be resumed.

  Leicester Theatre
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he next proposes to pay an official visit to the city of Leicester to inspect the work of its theatre.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no present plans to do so. I last visited arts organisations in Leicester in September 1988.

  National Museums
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the level of maintenance and staffing in the national museums.

  Mr. Luce
  The current year's provision for the national museums and galleries building and maintenance programme is £48 million. The number of staff in post at these museums and galleries was 5,399 on 1 April 1989.

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the progress of the business sponsorship incentive scheme in the north-west.

  Mr. Luce
  The business sponsorship incentive scheme continues to be highly successful. In the north-west over £1 million of new money has been brought to the arts since the scheme's inception in 1984. Forty-eight arts organisations have won awards and 51 first-time and 20 existing sponsors have supported the arts.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how much has been raised by the Government's business sponsorship incentive scheme in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Over the last two years the business sponsorship incentive scheme has raised £13·34 million new money for the arts. Nearly £9 million has come from new sponsorship and over £4·3 million in awards has been added by the Government.
  74
  The demand for awards under the scheme has been such that I have increased the budget by an extra £250,000 to £3·25 million this year.

  Museums (Funding)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has recently met the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission to discuss the future funding of museums.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman of the Museum and Galleries Commission quite frequently and discuss a wide range of subjects, which have included museum and gallery funding.

  Yorkshire Arts Association
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of Yorkshire Arts Association to discuss the future of arts funding and administration in the region.

  Mr. Luce
  I have not done so.

  Local Museums and Galleries
  Dr. Blackburn
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many local museums and galleries there are currently in the United Kingdom; and how many there were in 1983, differentiating between publicly and privately funded institutions.

  Mr. Luce
  The Museum Association database indicated that of the 1,750 museums and galleries in 1984, 116 were national and Government Department-funded museums, 717 were in the charge of local authorities and 917 were privately funded. I understand that the Museums and Galleries Commission presently estimates that the number of institutions has risen to 2,500 in 1989.

  South Bank Centre
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he will next meet the directors of the South Bank centre.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no plans to do so. However, I meet the chairman of the South Bank centre regularly.

  Royal Festival Hall
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received concerning the future of the Royal Festival hall and the South Bank.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received a number of representations about the future of the South Bank centre which I have drawn to the attention of the Arts Council as the body responsible for allocating Government funding to the centre.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total spending and the total number of full-time equivalent staff employed by(a) all local authorities in England and (b) all local authorities

  75
  within the counties of Somerset, Avon and Gloucestershire, taken together, for the years 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1988–89, respectively.

  a. All local authorities in England (thousands)

  Staffing position in June

  Expenditure1 £ million

  Total f.t.e.

  Total no

  Full-time no

  Part-time no

  1971–72

  3,123

  n.a.

  2,103

  1,411

  692

  1972–73

  3,661

  n.a.

  2,205

  1,472

  733

  1973–74

  4,218

  n.a.

  2,310

  1,526

  784

  1974–752

  5,531

  n.a.

  2,299

  1,493

  806

  1988–893 4

  1,862

  2,440

  1,486

  954

  1988–894 5

  25,403

  1,930

  2,514

  1,548

  966

  b. All local authorities within the counties of Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire6 (thousands)

  Staffing position at June

  Expenditure1 £ million

  Total f.t.e.

  Total no

  Full-time no

  Part-time no

  1974–752

  188

  n.a.

  n.a

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1988–893 4

  n.a.

  94

  54

  39

  1988–894 5

  909

  n.a.

  95

  55

  39

  n.a. = Not available.

  1 Available information about net spending in 1974–75 and earlier is denned as Rate Fund Revenue Account service expenditure on employees and running expenses, less sales, fees, charges, specific grants and other income. Other income excludes rate support grant and rate/precept income. The information for 1988–89 is, as far as possible, on the same basis as earlier years.

  2 Local authority responsibility for water, sewerage and health were transferred to regional water and regional health authorities. An estimated 90,000 employees were transferred to these authorities and to passenger transport executives.

  3 For comparability with data for earlier years (where available) these staffing figures cover local authority general services and police; all other law and order staff and agency staff are excluded since these figures were not collected before 1975.

  4 During 1986 and 1987 approximately 21,000 employees were transferred out of the local authority sector following the abolition of the metropolitan county councils and the GLC, and the change in status of local authority bus and municipal airport staff.

  5 Includes all local authority services.

  6 Expenditure information is not readily available for individual authorities before 1974–75 and staffing information for individual authorities is not available centrally prior to 1979. Comprehensive full time equivalent figures for individual authorities are not held locally.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what is his estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the number of the extra staff and other expenditure arising from the changes to the community charge announced in October.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My officials are in discussions with the local authority associations about the costs of preparing for transitional relief and about the costs of administration. In addition we are commissioning a study by consultants of these costs. Estimates of the costs will be made in the light of the discussions with the associations and the findings of the study. It is the Goverment's intention that a reasonable level of costs will be met in full.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide updates of tables J. 5 to J. 9 on pages 124 to 127 of Cmnd. 9714 "Paying for Local Government", for England only, incorporating the latest announcements on safety nets and transitional relief.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Updated estimates of the distributional impact of the new system of local government finance will be provided next month after I have announced my proposals on the distribution of standard spending grant for 1990–91. These will include the impact of safety nets and transitional relief.
  76
  Mr. Chope
  The available information is as follows:

ENVIRONMENT

  Skillnet Courses
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of trainees on skillnet courses in London Docklands achieved recognised qualifications.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Skillnet is an independent charity largely funded by the London Docklands Development Corporation. I understand that it has not been the practice to analyse the success rate of students sponsored by skillnet with reference to their achievement of recognised qualifications.

  Skillnet provides a wide range of training and counselling services aimed at helping some 5,000 local people each year to find work. Information about individuals accepted into all forms of training and counselling is routinely collected.

  As part of these activities skillnet funded 1,370 formal training places in the last financial year, almost entirely through other institutions. These courses are as much directed at securing training leading to early employment, or at basic foundation level, or in preparation for further education, as at obtaining recognised qualifications.

  In common with other funders of training, skillnet experience difficulty in regularly monitoring the results of such training courses for individuals, but a survey was undertaken recently. I am arranging for copies of the results to be placed in the Library of the House. Procedures for monitoring the performance of skillnet-assisted trainees are currently under review.

  Unlicensed Moneylenders
  Mr. David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to increase funding to local authority trading standards departments, so as to enable them to combat unlicensed moneylenders.

  Mr. Christopher Patten
  The main avenue for Government support for local authority services will be revenue support grant, which is in aid of services generally. It is for local authorities to decide how much to spend on any particular activity.

  Birchfield Estate, Birmingham
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department expects to make a decision on the request by Birmingham city council for grant aid for the Birchfield estate security project.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The scheme has been approved for funding under this year's Birmingham inner city partnership programme.

  Housing Action Trusts (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as part of his consultation process, he has taken note of the recent public opinion poll on proposed housing action trust estates in the London borough of Lambeth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Yes. I hope to discuss the proposals for the two estates comprising the proposed housing action trust with tenant and borough representatives soon. It is important that the proposals for the housing action trust should be fully understood.

  Housing Completions
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the numbers of houses completed(a) in Burnley and (b) in each region in England by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations, (iii) private sector and (iv) housing co-operatives in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  Numbers of new housebuilding completions by local authorities, housing associations and the private sector in standard statistical regions in England, appear in table 6.4b, of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1978–1988". Figures reported by Burnley district council appear in table 1 of "Housebuilding in England by local authority areas 1980 to 1987", with figures for 1979 and 1988 being published in tables 4(b) and 1(b) of volumes 59 and 90, respectively, of "Local Housing Statistics".

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Information separately distinguishing completions by housing co-operatives is not available.

  Green Belt, Bramley
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations about encroachment on green belt for housing development at Bramley, Surrey; and if he will make a statement of Government policy towards such development.
  78
  Mr. Moynihan.
  My right hon. Friend is considering representations from the Surrey Society asking him to call in for his own decision a planning application for residential and other development on a site at Bramley, Surrey. The Government's policies on development in the Green Belt and on the provision of low cost housing in the Green Belt are set out respectively in planning policy guidance note No. 2 and in the reply which my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning gave to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Wolfson) on 9 June at col.259.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Chris Patten
  The information is not available for the last three years. Since last October, my Department has replied to some 24,000 letters from right hon. and hon. Members, of these 64 per cent. were sent within four weeks of receiving the letter, 21 per cent. within four to six weeks, 8 per cent. within six to eight weeks and 7 per cent. in over eight weeks.

  EHOs
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to visit any local authority environmental health departments to familiarise himself with the extent and nature of the work and difficulties currently facing environmental health officers.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My right hon. and hon. Friends and I are made well aware of the work, achievements and problems of environmental health departments—as of all other local authority departments—in the course of our many visits to local authorities.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many petrol stations in the United Kingdom are selling unleaded petrol.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Unleaded petrol is now widely available. More than 16,000 outlets stock the fuel.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures available for the amount of rent arrears and the number of people with arrears for each local authority in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

  Mr. Chope
  A list of local authorities showing reported cumulative rent arrears at 31 March 1988 was placed in the Library on 1 March 1989. Information about the number of tenants in arrears with rent, rates or other charges (where reported) is contained in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy publication "Housing Rents Statistics at April 1988", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Nuclear Accidents (Water Contamination)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list what representations he has received concerning adequate information within the water industry with respect to water resource consequences of a nuclear event; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I have received no such representations.

  Ashford Great Park
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the result of the public inquiry into the NEDA planning application for Ashford Great park.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Shortly.

  Litter
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he will undertake to reduce the problems posed by litter.

  Mr. Trippier
  Our aim is uncompromising—to eradicate the litter problem once and for all. In order to achieve this we propose to take action against those who drop litter and ensure that any litter which is dropped is speedily cleared up.

  Our proposals include an increase in the maximum fine for littering from £400 to £1,000, an extension to all district and borough councils of the power to operate a fixed penalty scheme for littering, and the placing upon local authorities, some statutory undertakers and certain owners of other land, of a duty to keep their land clear of litter. We also propose to give aggrieved citizens the right to seek redress in the magistrates court if a body under the duty fails to discharge it. However, we realise that, ultimately, the only lasting solution to the problem lies in changing the attitudes of those who persist with their inconsiderate and dirty habits.

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention to publish full details of the distribution incidence and precise locations in relation to emissions of naturally occurring radon gas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The results of the survey of radon in houses, which is currently being carried out for the Department by the National Radiological Protection board, will be published in summary form on completion. Results for individual dwellings are confidential to the householder.

  London Pensions Fund Authority
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to establish the London Pensions Fund Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The London Pensions Fund Authority—the "London Pensions Fund"—will be formally established tomorrow by an order made under sections 67 and 101 of the Local Government Act 1985. The order transfers to the London Pensions Fund on 180
  April 1990 the superannuation fund and associated functions, rights and liabilities which the London Residuary Body inherited on the abolition of the former Greater London Council.

  The establishment of this independent superannuation administering body is based on proposals received from the LRB under section 67 of the 1985 act and follows extensive consultations with the London boroughs and other interested parties over the future of the former GLC fund. The fund is the second largest in England operating under the local government superannuation scheme, with assets of some 1·5 billion at the end of 1988–89. The LRB has successfully managed and administered the fund since abolition, and the establishment of this new body will continue to safeguard the interests of contributors and pensioners alike.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today made the following appointments to the board members of the London Pensions Fund after consultations with organisations representing London local government:

  Sir George Blunden (Chairman)

  Mr. Michael Roberts (Deputy Chairman)

  Sir Nigel Althaus

  Councillor E. D. Barkway, OBE

  Professor R. N. Franklin

  Councillor A. King, JP

  Councillor A. S. Lourie

  Mr. C. J. Messer

  One further appointment will be made as soon as possible which will represent local London government.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research is sponsored by his Department at Cambridge university, in conjunction with the United States National Science Foundation, into the soil mechanics and stability of geological sites to assess the migration possibilities from toxic waste disposal sites.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department is currently sponsoring research on radiochemical waste disposal at the University of Cambridge. It is understood that the United States army corps of engineers has sponsored research in the area described by the hon. Member.

  Development (Road Access)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants or other financial assistance developers may apply for to pay for providing road access to residential development sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: No such grants are generally available. In the 57 urban priority areas, however, city grant may be paid to assist developers with residential projects, and this may include the provision of access roads.

  EC Drinking Water Directive
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the timetable for ensuring Britain's compliance with the European drinking water directive.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 25 October 1989]: The Government are wholeheartedly committed to complying with the requirements of the Water Supply

  81
  (Water Quality) Regulations as quickly as possible, having regard to practicalities. Those regulations incorporate the standards of the EC drinking water directive. Most supplies already comply with the requirements and the water companies in England and Wales will be spending £1,400 million over the next five years alone for dealing with current failures. Those water supplies which currently fail to comply with the directive's standards are nevertheless of a quality suitable for drinking. If this were not so, water companies would take remedial action immediately. It is widely accepted that full compliance with the directive is extremely difficult to achieve and we believe that in some respects the directive itself requires amendment. We understand that no other member state has complied fully with the directive or drawn up comprehensive compliance programmes in the way that we have.

  Water supplies which at present regularly exceed the requirements of the regulations will be brought progressively into compliance by the end of 1995. It may take longer to achieve full compliance for some other supplies which marginally fail to meet those requirements. For example, a longer period will be needed in some places to achieve full compliance with the standards on pesticides while water companies investigate the opportunity for reducing pesticide usage in their catchments and develop appropriate technology for pesticide removal. Current pesticide levels represent minute exposures, far lower than any which would be likely to present a threat to health.

  National Rivers Authority
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the memorandum of understanding with regard to the working relationship between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 25 October 1989]: Details of the working relationship between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the National Rivers Authority will be published when the memorandum of understanding has been completed.

  Water (Disconnections)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing how many people were disconnected from their water supplies for each year between 1978–79 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: The number of household supplies disconnected for nonpayment of charges by the nine English water authorities since 1984–85 is shown in the following table. Information on the number of disconnections by water authorities made prior to 1984–85 and those to household supplies by statutory water companies is not held centrally.

  Total for England

  1984–85

  2,052

  1985–86

  4,212

  1986–87

  6,450

  1987–88

  7,120

  1988–89

  8,091

  I believe that in the great majority of cases reconnections are made within 48 hours.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits for 1989–90.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Yes. I propose the following changes subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates.

  The cash limit for class X, vote 2 (central environmental services, etc.) will be increased by £32,174,000 from £280,423,000 to £312,597,000 principally to cover additional grant in aid to the National Rivers Authority of £30,325,000, increased funding for the United Nations environment programme of £1,750,000, and increased grant in aid to the Sports Council of £600,000 in respect of take up of entitlement to carry forward underspending in 1988–89 under the end year flexibility scheme for capital expenditure.

  The cash limit for class X, vote 4 (royal palaces, royal parks, historic buildings, ancient monuments and the national heritage) will be increased by £430,000 from £103,437,000 to £103,867,000 towards a compensation payment by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission to the developers of the Rose theatre site, to enable preservation of the site for the public.

  The cash limit for class X, vote 5 (Department of the Environment: administration) will be increased by £5,995,000 from £153,864,000 to £159,859,000 to provide for public information on lead-free petrol and further public information to increase awareness of the community charge system, in particular eligibility for community charge benefits and transitional relief.

  The non-voted cash limit for DOE/UA1 (urban aid and derelict land reclamation) will be increased by £72,800,000 from £650,454,000 to £723,254,000 to cover increased grant-in-aid to London Docklands Development Corporation of £79,000,000 (of which £11,000,000 reflects the take up of entitlement to carry forward underspending in 1988–89 under the end year flexibility scheme for capital expenditure). The cash limit increase includes £4,000,000 covering the transfer of responsibility for city action teams from the Department of Trade and Industry to my Department. This has been offset by an equal reduction in the cash limits for class V, vote 2. There are some offsetting savings within the cash block.

  The non-voted cash limit for DOE/NTI (new towns) has been increased by £14,889,000 from minus £435,535,000 to minus £420,646,000 reflecting take up of entitlement to carry forward underspending in 1988–89 under the end year flexibility scheme for capital expenditure.

  The above increases will be partly offset by decreases in cash limits.

  The cash limit for class IX, vote 2, (miscellaneous housing administration and grants) will be reduced by £5,535,000 from £84,952,000 to £79,417,000 reflecting principally reduced expenditure on housing action trusts and grant to the Housing Corporation for the reclamation of land in Merseyside.

  The cash limit for DOE/HCI (capital expenditure by the Housing Corporation) will be reduced by £6,750,000 from £701,000,000 to £694,250,000. This includes full take up of entitlement to carry forward underspending in 1988–89 of £3,250,000 under the end year flexibility scheme for capital expenditure offset by a £10,000,000 reduction reflecting the fact that certain receipts formerly

  83
  surrendered to the Consolidated Fund will now be retained by the Housing Corporation. The cash limit reduction does not imply a reduction in planned gross expenditure.

  The increases above will also be partly offset by decreases in non-cash-limited expenditure. The net increase in my Department's programmes will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  I have also to announce on behalf of the director general of the Office of Water Services that the cash limit for class X, vote 10 (Office of Water Services) will be increased by £1,105,000 from £2,334,000 to £3,439,000, and the running costs limit for the Office of Water Services will be increased by £575,000 from £2,200,000 to £2,775,000. The increases will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

TRANSPORT

  Roads (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on the London road assessment studies.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I expect the results of the consultants' work to be published in early December and I aim to make a statement at that time.

  Leicester Bypass
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the proposed construction of a western bypass for the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Atkins
  The public inquiry into the orders for this scheme was held in May 1988. The inspector's report was received on 1 February. The Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport are considering it and hope to announce their decision as soon as possible.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many instances of industrial action there have been amongst air traffic control officers during the current year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There has been none in the United Kingdom during the current year. We do not collect data on industrial action in other countries.

  British Rail
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail; and what subjects he expects to discuss with him.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I shall be meeting the chairman of British Rail tomorrow to discuss the board's future plans.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he has met the chair of British Rail; and what matters were discussed.
  84
  Mr. Parkinson
  I last met the chairman of British Rail on 17 October when we discussed a variety of railway matters.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chair of British Rail; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chair of British Rail; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairman of British Rail to discuss a variety of railway issues. The last such meeting took place on 17 October.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on proposals to denationalise British Rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  Studies are continuing but it will be some time before any decisions are taken.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) earlier today.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Gerard Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; and if they discussed the Channel tunnel high-speed rail link.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend and I last met the chairman on 17 October when we discussed a variety of railway issues including the proposed Channel tunnel rail link.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the Channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department has continued to receive a large number of representations about the proposed rail link.

  Inner City Transport
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to improve transport infrastructure in inner city areas.

  Mr. Atkins
  We are improving trunk roads and helping local road improvements financially. I have today announced an Industrial Development Act grant of up to £1·77 million towards a road scheme in Rotherham, which will open up land for development, providing a boost for the area and reducing local unemployment. We are also improving public transport infrastructure in London's docklands. We have approved grant towards phase I of Manchester's metrolink and are helping the development costs of a proposed light rail scheme in Sheffield.

  Roads (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the London road assessment studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the London road assessment studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  There have been numerous representations from Hon. Members, local councillors, interested groups, and members of the public. All views expressed will be taken into account.

  Road Works (Leeds)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many calls have been received at the Leeds road works information telephone number of his Department in each of the last four months.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of callers to the road works information telephone service for the A1 in Yorkshire has been:

  Number

  June

  264

  July

  406

  August

  353

  September

  358

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the working of the Transport Act 1985.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have no plans to amend the 1985 Act. Bus deregulation has encouraged a greater diversity of services, with more bus miles being provided by more operators at lower cost to local authorities.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the workings of the Transport Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have no plans to review the working of the Transport Act 1985. Bus deregulation has encouraged a greater diversity of services, with more bus miles being provided by more operators at lower cost to local authorities.

  Dartford Bridge
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the privately financed Dartford bridge will be opened.

  Mr. Atkins
  The new crossing, and the improvements to the approach roads, are expected to be open by early summer 1991.

  Road Safety Schemes
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much spending on local road safety schemes has increased in 1989–90.
  86
  Mr. Atkins
  Over 10·5 million is being spent on local safety schemes on the Department's trunk roads this year compared with nearly £5 million in 1988–89.

  Our information about local authority expenditure on such schemes is not comprehensive. Information from the latest transport policy and programme submissions suggests that authorities plan to spend just over £10 million this year which is about the same as they did in 1988–89.

  North Devon Trunk Road
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the dates and number of fatal accidents along the route of the north Devon trunk road from Tiverton to Bideford bridge, indicating the number of prosecutions relating to these accidents and (b) the reported number of speeding incidents and prosecutions since its opening date.

  Mr. Atkins
  Four accidents, each resulting in one death, have occurred on the road since the first section was opened in November 1988. These were on 11 January, 5 May and 7 July, all in the Loxbeare area, west of Tiverton, and on 16 August at Bish Mill, east of South Molton. I understand that no prosecutions are pending in relation to these accidents.

  Up to 1 September 1989, over 1,000 traffic offences have been reported by the police, which have resulted in either the issue of fixed penalties or prosecutions in the courts.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bypasses are included in the new road programme.

  Mr. Atkins
  A total of 173 schemes in the expanded trunk road programme are designated as bypasses or relief roads. A large number of other schemes, although not designated as bypasses, also help to take through traffic away from unsuitable roads.

  Disqualified Drivers
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions have been reached regarding the recommendation in the North report that disqualified drivers should be retested.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's response to Dr. North's recommendations was set out in the White Paper "The Road User and the Law" (Cm. 576). It is proposed that certain road traffic offenders should be required to take an extended driving test before their licences are restored. The views of interested organisations are being sought on the details of the proposals. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library.

  Severn Crossing
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the county councils in south Wales concerning the Severn crossing.

  Mr. Atkins
  Meetings of the Severn Bridge Consultative Committee take place every six months, while the Severn crossing traffic management liaison committee meets every
  87
  two months. Representatives of Gwent county council attend both sets of meetings, while South Glamorgan and Mid-Glamorgan attend the former. The most recent meetings took place on 1 June and 20 September respectively.

  Buses (Deregulation)
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many areas are now served by minibuses following the deregulation of buses.

  Mr. Portillo
  The latest research shows that at the end of 1988 there were over 7,000 minibuses serving bus users in over 600 places.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new operators have resulted from the deregulation of buses.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is estimated that by 1 May 1988, there has been a net increase of 465 operators running local bus services since deregulation.

  Women and Transport
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has undertaken or plans to undertake into women and transport; and if he will make a statement.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has undertaken or plans to undertake into women and transport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) earlier today.

  New Roads
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses he has received to the Green Paper "New Roads by New Means".

  Mr. Portillo
  Over 160.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to reduce delays to road users caused by maintenance work.

  Mr. Atkins
  Existing measures include programming of roadworks to avoid where possible having works too close together, or during peak traffic periods; improved contraflow layouts and video monitoring to enable prompt responses to traffic incidents at road works; the use of mobile lane closures for some works, in which a convoy of specially marked vehicles protect workmen instead of static lines of cones; and the use of lane rental contracts. Since these contracts were introduced in 1984, they are estimated to have saved over 2,000 days of lane closures worth around £40 million in avoided delays to road users.

  New traffic management arrangements to increase vehicle flows past contraflow sites are being tested; these include the use of narrower traffic lanes to enable more lanes to be provided, and tidal flow systems in which the
  88
  number of lanes available in each direction changes to match traffic demand. The Department is also developing a computer system to assist in optimising the planning and scheduling of maintenance and improvement works on trunk roads, including motorways, to minimise disruption to road users.

  Docklands
  Mr. Neil Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to improve transport in docklands.

  Mr. Portillo
  London Regional Transport is planning to double the capacity of the Docklands light railway from Tower Gateway early next year by the introduction of two-unit trains, which will be followed by further new sets in 1991, raising the capacity of the Tower Gateway service from the present 1,750 passengers to 6,500 passengers per hour. Completion of the first tunnel to the Bank is now scheduled for late 1990, with the second one to follow in late 1991, and I have asked LRT to do everything it can to advance the opening dates for the new services through them. We have also enabled LRT to let the first contracts for the DLR extension to Beckton, and in the meantime the reliability of the existing railway is being improved by an urgent programme of remedial measures.

  The British Railways Board has this month introduced improved services and rolling stock on its North London line service to North Woolwich, and has commenced work on a new station at Silvertown, which will give easier access to the London City airport. I hope to make an announcement shortly on the recommendation arising from the east London rail study as to an extension of the Jubilee line to Stratford.

  Docklands minibus have introduced a fifth service, and an improved LRT bus network is in place to serve the docklands. The riverbus now provides a weekend service and runs through to Greenwich, and is installing monitors on piers so as to improve passenger information.

  The London Docklands Development Corporation has a programme for the construction of a development road network through Limehouse, the Isle of Dogs and the royal docks. Work is well advanced and expected to be completed in 1993. As part of this, a £171 million contract has just been let for construction of the Limehouse link, a 1·8 km dual two-lane cut and cover tunnel from the highway to Westferry Circus and Poplar, which is due for completion by the autumn of 1993. Construction work should start on the Limehouse link by the end of this year. Work should also start on the proposed Lower Lea crossing by the spring of 1990. The Eastern Gateway access road was opened on 3 October. The opening of an extension to Aspen Way by the end of this year will provide a third major access to the Isle of Dogs from the A13, serving the island's eastern side.

  The Department has a complementary programme to improve the A13 in Tower Hamlets and Newham by the mid-1990s. Three interim schemes for the Isle of Dogs are scheduled to start in 1990, two for completion in 1991 and one for 1992.

  Final schemes at these locations and Cotton street are scheduled to start in 1993. At that time work should begin on the widening of the Ironbridge, including a connection of LDDC's proposed East India Dock link.

  An exhibition of our proposals to replace the Beckton flyover and improve the A13–A117 junction during

  89
  1992–93 was held at Brampton Road Manor school, East Ham on 27–28 October. Improvements to the A 13 junction with the A112 are scheduled for 1994–95

  We have announced reopening of the inquiry into the design of the east London river crossing bridge. The reopened inquiry will clearly have to take account of the inter-relationship with the proposed future development of the London City airport, on which a planning application has now been made.

  We have rationalised waiting and loading restrictions on the A13 trunk road in Tower Hamlets, and have let a contract for provision of a new east London traffic control system. We have invited tenders for the renovation of the northbound Blackwall tunnel. LDDC has in hand a study on the extension of the controlled parking zone to the Isle of Dogs. The Department and the other highway authorities have reached an understanding with the statutory undertakers on the conduct of highway works in Docklands.

  Rail Investment (North-West)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received concerning rail investment in the north-west of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  In July approval was given to BR's proposals to invest £26 million in a new Manchester airport rail link. BR is already spending a total of nearly £50 million on new locomotives and driving van trailers on the west coast main line, and another £35 million on the Windsor link and the resignalling and remodelling of Piccadilly station in Manchester. The area is also benefiting from BR's substantial rolling stock investment.

  A41 Bypass
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the A41 bypass inquiry.

  Mr. Atkins
  Public inquiries into the A41 Berkhamsted and King's Langley bypasses finished in September 1988 after 48 sitting days. The considerable volume of evidence put forward is being carefully considered in the light of the independent inspector's report and recommendations. The Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport will announce their joint decision as soon as possible.

  Aviation (Single Market)
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards completing the single market in aviation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A first stage of aviation liberalisation was agreed in December 1987. The EC Commission has recently made proposals for a second major package, which would encourage greater competition and should bring down fares. The Council is due to decide on these proposals by the end of June 1990. Particularly bearing in mind the interests of consumers, my right hon. Friend has pressed hard for further liberalisation. I am glad that the commission has taken up the United Kingdom's ideas in framing its proposals. We will continue to press for measures based on these proposals to be adopted by the Council.

  Glasgow Abbotsinch Airport
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to give Glasgow Abbotsinch airport gateway status before 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend announced on 13 September that he was to review Scottish lowland airports policy. A consultation document was issued on 27 September and respondents have until 29 November to comment. All views put forward will be considered carefully.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to visit Manchester airport.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so. I visited the airport myself on 23 October.

  London Underground
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extensions of the current London Underground have been agreed but not completed; and what schemes have been submitted but still await approval.

  Mr. Portillo
  There are no outstanding proposals for extensions to the Underground which have been approved but not built. We are considering with the operators the new lines proposed in the central and east London rail studies.

  Road Signs
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take additional steps to(a) improve the standard of road signs, (b) ensure speedier repair of damaged and faded road signs and (c) ensure road signs are not obscured on motorways and trunk roads.

  Mr. Atkins
  Yes.

  British Rail and Scotrail
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress towards the privatisation of British Rail and Scotrail.

  Mr. Portillo
  Studies into the possible privatisation of British Rail, including Scotrail which is one of British Rail's six regions, are continuing.

  Municipal Ports
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any information on the management costs expressed per ton at municipal ports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Regulations under section 42 of the Harbours Act 1964 require all statutory ports whose turnover is £250,000 or more to send their annual accounts to this Department, which also collects data on the trade which passes through ports. Because of the wide variety of goods handled, comparisons of costs per ton would not be meaningful.
  91
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will carry out a financial and managerial appraisal of all municipal ports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. Any such appraisal would be the responsibility of the local authorities concerned or for the Audit Commission, in the case of a broader comparative survey.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ports together with their tonnage for the last five years operated by municipal management.

  Million tonnes

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Anglesey Marine Terminal (closed March 1988)

  6·5

  7·8

  7·4

  7·7

  1·1

  Boston

  1·4

  1·4

  1·5

  1·5

  1·4

  Bridgwater

  0·5

  0·4

  0·4

  0·4

  0·2

  Bristol

  3·8

  3·8

  4·1

  4·0

  4·5

  Colchester

  1·5

  1·2

  1·1

  1·0

  1·0

  Orkney

  16·1

  16·1

  15·8

  17·1

  8·0

  Perth

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  Portsmouth

  1·6

  2·0

  2·0

  2·4

  2·8

  Ramsgate

  1·2

  1·3

  1·3

  1·6

  1·9

  Sullom Voe (Shetlands)

  59·7

  59·0

  57·2

  50·0

  50·6

  Sunderland

  1·2

  2·5

  2·3

  1·8

  2·0

  Watchet

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  Whitby and Scarborough

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  Whitstable

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·4

  Wisbech

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  Workington

  0·6

  0·6

  0·5

  0·4

  0·7

  Statistics of freight tonnage through British ports are published in an annual report "Port Statistics", published jointly by the Department of Transport and the British Ports Federation. "Ports Statistics 1988" was published on 27 October and a copy has been placed in the House Library.

  Marine Rescue Services
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has had any representation on the cost of switching from Decca to Loran C for the marine rescue services;

  (2) if he will list the representations he has had about Loran C;

  (3) if he will publish his response to the paper submitted by Racal Decca on the Loran C proposals;

  (4) if he will publish the basis for his costings for updating the Decca transmitters.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Representations about the future choice of marine radionavigation system have been received from the following:

  Andrew Weir Shipping

  Brightlingsea and District Fishermen's and Boatmen's Association

  British Marine Industries Federation

  British Motorship Owners Association Ltd

  British Offshore Support Vessels Association

  British Ports Federation

  British Shippers' Council

  British Telecom (Marine) Ltd

  Brooks and Gatehouse Ltd

  Caledonian MacBrayane

  Coe Metcalf Shipping

  Comite International Radio Maritime

  Commissioners of Irish Lights

  Cruising Association

  Department of Agriculture for Scotland

  Department of the Environment

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  Mr. McLoughlin
  Freight tonnage handled over the last five years by those ports in Great Britain where the local authority is the harbour authority, and where traffic exceeded 100,000 tonnes a year, is given in the following table.

  There are another 14 ports in Great Britain where the local authority is the harbour authority but traffic was less than 100,000 tonnes per year.

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Electronics and Business Equipment Association

  Federatie Van Visserijverenigingen

  Federation of Highlands and Islands Fishermen

  General Council of British Shipping

  Highlands and Islands Fishermens Association

  Honourable Company of Master Mariners

  Humberside International Fisheries Institute

  International Association of Lighthouse Authorities International Chamber of Shipping

  International Hydrographic Bureau

  Kelvin Hughes Ltd

  Lights Advisory Committee

  Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

  MOD Hydrographer

  National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations

  Navigation Management Ltd

  NAVSTAR (Polytechnics Electronics)

  Nautical Institute

  Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd

  Northern Lighthouse Board

  North Shields Fishermen's Association

  NUMAST

  Racal Decca Marine Navigation Ltd.

  Royal Institute of Navigation

  Royal National Lifeboat Institution

  Royal Yachting Association

  Royal Yachting Association for Scotland

  Scottish Development Department

  Scottish Fishermans Federation

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  STC Defence Systems

  Trinity House

  United Marine Aggregates Limited

  Wild Goose Association

  Some 12 individuals have also made representations.

  The RNLI has drawn attention to the cost of re-training marine rescue personnel and of re-equipping with receivers if a changeover were to be made to Loran C.

  These representations are all now being considered, and
  the Department proposes to publish a response in due

  93
  course to the paper submitted by Racal Decca Marine Navigation Ltd. The costings for updating the existing Decca transmitters are based on an offer made by RDMNL to the general lighthouse authorities in November 1988, under which the company would finance the work in return for an extension of their contract with the authorities to the year 2004.

  Ships Officer Manning Levels
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those countries that propose a reduction in ships officer manning levels, including radio operators, in the next 12 months; and if he will list and tabulate the United Kingdom's manning levels as against those of other EEC countries.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department has no information that other countries propose to reduce ships officer manning levels, including radio operators, in the next 12 months. The United Kingdom's manning levels are assessed on an individual ship basis in accordance with the principles of safe manning established by the International Maritime Organisation. The Department has not attempted to tabulate manning levels but a record of the safe manning certificates issued is maintained.

  Short Sea Prospects
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the estimated short sea prospects for the next two years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department does not forecast prospects for the shipping industry, but I have noted that British ship operators in the short sea sector have recently been more confident about future prospects, reflected in improved freight rates and some increased investment in new tonnage. British operators are among the most entrepreneurial and cost-effective and I will continue to argue vigorously in the Community for the liberalisation of cabotage markets and for the elimination of subsidies which distort competition and put British interests at a competitive disadvantage.

  Shipping Tonnage
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current percentage reduction of United Kingdom registered shipping tonnage over the same figure in 1988.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of vessels registered at ports in the United Kingdom and their deadweight are given in the table.

  All United Kingdom registered vessels of 100 grt and over

  Number of vessels

  Deadweight tonnage ('000 tonnes)

  Percentage reduction in total deadweight

  September 1988

  2,030

  7,253

  —

  September 1989

  1,929

  6,544

  9·8

  Seafarers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated reduction in the number of seafarers in the first six months of the current year.
  94
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of seafarers on the General Council of British Shipping register at 31 December 1988 and at 30 June 1989 was as follows:

  Officers

  Ratings

  Cadets

  Total

  31 December 1988

  9,322

  12,860

  447

  22,629

  30 June 1989

  8,989

  12,593

  411

  21,993

  Per cent, reduction

  -3·6

  -2·1

  -8·1

  -2·8

  Port State Control
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the memorandum of understanding on port state control is strictly enforced to a uniform and high level throughout the EEC.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Each signatory country of the memorandum of understanding should achieve an annual total of inspections corresponding to 25 per cent. of the estimated number of individual foreign merchant ships which enter its ports during a 12-month period. The United Kingdom has always exceeded the 25 per cent. figure of inspection of foreign flag vessels since the memorandum became operational. United Kingdom representatives have always endorsed the efforts of the secretariat of the port state control committee to encourage signatories of the memorandum, which include all littoral EEC countries, to achieve the 25 per cent. inspection rate.

  Cycling
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from cycling organisations in England and Wales regarding(a) full provision for cyclists in new road schemes, (b) increases in local authorities' cycle budgets, (c) promotion of traffic-calming measures and (d) special funding for British Rail for cycle provision on trains; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Cyclists' Touring Club wrote in July proposing a series of measures including the four included in the question. I have replied pointing out that cycling does not need to be stimulated by public funding. Interest in cycling is high. Sales of new machines have been buoyant. Unfortunately cycling is one of the least safe means of transport, so the emphasis of the Government's work must be on making it safer. Cycle provision on trains is a matter for British Rail.

  Council of Ministers
  Sir Jim Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the recent European Council of Transport Ministers meeting in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I was pleased that the Council reached agreement on a new directive to ban the addition of certain types of older, and noisier, jet aircraft to Community fleets. This is a useful step in the process of moving towards an era of quieter aircraft.

  The Council also agreed, subject to receiving the opinion of the European Parliament, to a regulation removing recommended road haulage tariffs between

  95
  member states. We welcome this as part of the process of abolishing tariffs and reducing bureaucracy across the Community.

  There was discussion but no agreement on the Commission's proposals for shipping "positive measures"; a proposed short-term road haulage cabotage experiment; a draft directive on training for drivers of dangerous goods vehicles; a proposal by the Commission for a programme of transport infrastructure funding; and fiscal harmonisation in road haulage. The Commission reported the current position in the Community's negotiations with Austria, Switzerland and Yugoslavia. Notes by the Presidency presented proposals on road safety, and on the development of railways in the Community.

  I also attended an informal meeting of the Council in Paris on 6 October which was mainly devoted to a discussion of the Commission's recent proposals in the field of aviation.

  "The Road User and the Law"
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in implementing proposals contained in the White Paper "The Road User and the Law".

  Mr. Atkins
  Many of the proposals announced on 7 February in the White Paper "The Road User and the Law" (CMD 576) will require legislation.

  The further consultation outlined in the White Paper on the details of the legislative changes and administrative arrangements for key proposals is well advanced. Copies of the papers on driver retesting, vehicle prohibition and the use of technology for enforcement have been placed in the Library.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the total cost of the east London river crossing taking into account the changes in bridge design and the widening of the road to dual three lanes between the A13 and the Thamesmead spine road.

  Mr. Portillo
  The latest estimate of the total cost of the scheme at average 1984 prices is approximately £195 million. When converted to mid-1989 prices the estimate becomes £300 million.

  Motorcycle Tests
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the budget allocated by his Department for the current financial year for motor cycle tests; whether that budget figure has been reached; and what arrangements are being made to ensure satisfactory delivery of the service for the remainder of the financial year.

  Mr. Atkins
  The new part 2 motorcycle test was estimated to cost £644,000 in 1989–90 (starting 2 October) on the assumption of 26,850 tests to be conducted and an average waiting time of four weeks. This remains our forecast. Following the pre-September surge to avoid the fee increase (to £24), both the new arrangements and demand are now settling down as forecast.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current waiting time for a96
  motorcycle riding test in Leicestershire; what is the existing waiting list; and what action is taken to ensure that applicants are tested before their provisional licences expire after two years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Six weeks planned to reduce to four weeks by the end of the financial year. There are 300 tests at present booked for dates up to 15 December. Waiting times of this order should not present difficulties for motorcycle riders seeking test within the two years' term of their provisional licence; applicants with specific needs may ask to be given priority bookings.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of test inspectors for motorcycle tests in Leicestershire; how many tests they have carried out since the new test was introduced on 2 October; and what arrangements will be made to hold tests in venues other than the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Atkins
  Two examiners are available to conduct part 2 motorcycle tests in Leicestershire; 45 tests have been conducted in the county since 2 October and 50 tests a week have been booked to be conducted in November and into December. Additionally, it is proposed to conduct tests at Melton Mowbray from December and at Hinckley in the new year.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what type and cubic capacity of motorcycle is made available to test examiners of his Department; what is the approximate purchase price of these machines; and what steps have been taken to ensure public economy in this regard.

  Mr. Atkins
  450cc to 800cc. The machines are lease hired at an average annual cost of £1,816 per machine following competitive tender.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what type of one-way radio equipment has been provided to motorcycle test examiners of his Department; what is the approximate purchase price of this equipment; and what steps have been taken to ensure public economy in this regard.

  Mr. Atkins
  Examiners have been provided with UHF FM 1·5 watt single-channel portable radios and ancillary equipment. Following extensive trials to identify the most suitable and cost-effective equipment these were purchased at a cost of £2,106 per set following competitive tenders.

  Nuclear Fuel Train Journeys
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many waste nuclear fuel train journeys have been completed(a) with no accidents involved, and (b) with accidents involved, for each year since 1982 in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  There are at present about 350 loaded fuel flask movements per year. It is not practical for British Rail to provide statistics of all movements since 1982, but in that period there have been eight incidents during transport, all of which were minor.

  In more than 25 years of nuclear fuel flask movements, not one incident has occurred which led to a release of even the smallest quantity of radioactivity, or to injury to any person caused by the nature of the contents.

  Road Standards
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on his plans to put on a sound, long-term basis expenditure on maintenance and minor improvements to bring classified roads up to reasonably modern standards over the next decade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  We are catching up with the backlogs of maintenance on motorways and other trunk roads as quickly as programming and traffic management considerations allow and in line with the targets announced in April. Once the backlogs have been eliminated, a steady programme of major maintenance will be required to keep pace with ongoing deterioration. We have greatly improved the strength of motorways and other trunk roads built in recent years to increase their life before reconstruction becomes necessary.

  Other classified roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities, who determine their own maintenance priorities.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support he is giving to research about aircraft noise reduction, and what financial support is available for the implementation of measures aimed at reducing the level of aircraft noise(a) near the main Scottish airports and (b) generally.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to spend some £.1·8 million in the current financial year on research on reducing aircraft noise at source. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has made schemes for Heathrow and Gatwick airports under section 79 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 whereby the airport company makes grants for noise insulation of dwellings; it is also intended to make a scheme for Stansted. At other airports, not designated under section 79, such measures are for the airport management.

  Public Transport Proposals
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the public transport proposals currently under consideration by his Department for grant or investment approval in London and the south-east.

  Mr. Portillo
  The majority of investment decisions are taken by the public transport operators, the passenger transport authorities and executives, and county councils.

  The Department of Transport is considering the case for new rail lines identified by the central and east London Rail studies; for an extension of the docklands light railway to Greenwich and Lewisham; and for the investment required to improve the existing BR rail lines and to buy new rolling stock to carry Channel Tunnel traffic in 1993. Channel-tunnel-related investment is not eligible for grant.

  London Assessment Studies
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has received the consultants' reports on stage 2b of the London assessment studies;
  98
  (2) when he intends to publish the results of stage 26 of the London assessment studies.

  Mr. Atkins
  We expect to receive reports from the consultants for all four London assessment studies in the next month or so. Arrangements for printing will be put in hand as soon as possible for publication early in December. The reports will be available for purchase and there will be free summaries. Displays will be offered at town halls and public libraries throughout the study areas.

  In order to reduce uncertainty, we intend to announce at the time the reports are published which options will not be considered further. We shall be inviting comments from local authorities, other organisations and members of the public before reaching firm decisions on the remaining options.

  Public Transport Fares (EC)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the comparative fares for a standard public transport journey in each of the European Community capital cities.

  Mr. Portillo
  There is no agreed definition of a "standard public transport journey", and the nature and circumstances of public transport in European Community capital cities vary.

  Injuries and Deaths (Trunk Roads)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has for use on trunk roads in order to prevent injuries or deaths to pedestrians; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government attach great importance to making trunk and local roads safer for pedestrians. In April 1989 following a thorough review of pedestrian safety on all roads we published a leaflet entitled "Pedestrian Safety" which outlined a number of initiatives aimed at making walking safer. The implementation of the proposals on local roads, where the great majority of pedestrian casualties occur, is primarily for the local authorities. The proposals also apply as appropriate to trunk roads, standards for which already incorporate requirements to protect pedestrians. In addition, the trunk road construction programme will continue to take traffic away from roads in towns and villages which are heavily used by pedestrians, thus making a significant contribution to safety.

  M1
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the terminal date for completion of the road works near junction 12 on the north-bound carriageway of the M1; what financial incentive has been provided to the contractor to complete the work ahead of schedule; and what quantification he has made in financial terms of the cost to business and industry from the daily congestion and delay there.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: The works are likely to finish in mid-November, about a month ahead of the original programme. The contract was let on a lane-rental basis with the contractor paying a fee to the Department related to the amount of carriageway space he

  99
  uses. The fee in this case is a maximum of £25,000 per day. This provides considerable incentive to complete the works early. The lane rental fee is based on the estimated cost of delays to the travelling public. Calculations take into account the range of vehicles and whether business or leisure use is involved.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will specify any action taken by his Department to minimise the delay and inconvenience caused to road users by the major road works near junction 12 on the north-bound carriageway of the M1 since July; and why there has been no use of contraflow techniques.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: Lane rental has been used to encourage the contractor to complete the works in the shortest possible time consistent with quality and price. The traffic management arrangements use the minimum road space necessary for safe and efficient working on the site. In the current phase of lane closures the cones are removed during peak hours to enable three lanes to be open. Contraflow has, where appropriate, been used throughout the contract.

  A1
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend dual carriageway on the Al north of the Morpeth bypass.

  Mr. Atkins
  An improvement scheme for dualling a section of the A1 at Cawledge, south of Alnwick, commenced on 10 April 1989 and is expected to be completed early 1990.

  Other dual carriageway proposals in the road programme for the Al north of Morpeth are the Brownieside improvement and Marshall Meadows to the
  100
  Scottish Border improvement. On current planning the start of works on these schemes is scheduled for the spring 1991.

  A56-M63
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will review urgently the road safety position with respect to the A56 Chester road, between the intersection with the M63 motorway and Warwick road north;

  (2) what information he has about the number of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians on the A56 Chester road between the intersection with the M63 motorway and Warwick road north which resulted in (a) fatalities, (b) serious injury, (c) minor injury and (d) other over the last three years.

  Mr. Atkins
  I understand the hon. Gentleman's concern in the light of the recent tragic accident there. However, these are matters for Trafford metropolitan borough council as highway authority for that stretch of the A56.

  Search and Rescue (North Devon)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will accept the invitation of the hon. Member for Devon, North to visit the north Devon coastline and the Swansea coastguard station in order to assess the efficiency of the emergency services concerned with search and rescue.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend thanks the hon. Member for his invitation. He is, however, content that there is adequate provision of services for maritime search and rescue in the area and has no immediate plans for any such visit.

  PROPERTY SERVICES AGENCY
  PROPERTY SERVICES AGENCY
  CAMDEN HOUSING AUTHORITY
  CAMDEN HOUSING AUTHORITY
  NEW TOWN HOUSING: TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS
  NEW TOWN HOUSING: TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS
  COMPUTER MISUSE: PREVENTION
  COMPUTER MISUSE: PREVENTION
  EC TRANSPORT MINISTERS COUNCIL
  EC TRANSPORT MINISTERS COUNCIL
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM: PUPILS WITH STATEMENTS
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM: PUPILS WITH STATEMENTS