Written Answers of 4 April 1990

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Marchioness
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has now received the results of the police investigation into the sinking of the Marchioness; and when he expects to reach a decision on whether to prosecute.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General whether it is proposed to bring any criminal prosecutions in relation to the sinking of the Marchioness; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The results of the police investigation of the sinking of the MV Marchioness have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the final report having been received on 22 March 1990.

  The evidence has been submitted to Treasury counsel for advice. Consideration of the case is proceeding with all proper expedition.

  Mortgage Lenders
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Attorney-General if he intends to prohibit mortgage lenders from offering loans to their customers on exceptionally favourable terms if more than one service is offered as part of the loan package.

  (a) Payments of income tax (less child benefit), NICs and VAT by a married couple with non-earning wife as a percentage of gross earnings. Multiples of average male earnings.

  ½

  1

  1½

  2

  3

  5

  10

  1978–79

  Income Tax less Child Benefit

  -4·1

  14·4

  20·6

  23·6

  32·0

  47·1

  64·7

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  5·6

  4·2

  2·8

  1·7

  0·8

  VAT

  —

  2·7

  2·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  Income Tax less Child Benefit

  0·5

  12·7

  16·8

  21·8

  27·9

  32·7

  36·4

  NICs

  6·9

  7·9

  6·2

  4·7

  3·1

  1·9

  0·9

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Payments of income tax (less child benefit) and NICs by a married couple with wife working as a percentage of gross earnings. Multiples of average male earnings.

  ½

  1

  1½

  2

  3

  5

  10

  1978–79

  Income Tax less Child Benefit

  1·1

  6·4

  15·2

  19·7

  25·9

  32·9

  50·6

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  6·5

  6·5

  5·4

  3·4

  1·7

  1990–91

  Income Tax less Child Benefit

  -9·0

  8·0

  13·6

  16·5

  20·3

  27·3

  33·6

  NICs

  4·8

  6·9

  7·6

  7·7

  6·2

  3·7

  1·9

  Notes:

  1. Average male earnings in 1990–91 are assumed to be £303·80 per week, 8½per cent. higher than in 1989–90. This represents a real increase of 33 per cent. since 1978–79.

  2. NICs are assumed to be paid at the class I contracted-in rate.

  3. A married man's payment of income tax do not now depend on whether he has any children. But in order to provide comparability with 1978–79 when support for children was given partly through child tax allowances, the figures show income tax less child benefit.
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  The Attorney-General
  The Courts and Legal Services Bill contains proposals to prevent the tying-in to the mortgage of any other service in the domestic property market. The Government believe, however, that packages can be in the interests of the consumer and propose that they will be permitted under the legislation.

THE ARTS

  "The Three Graces"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals he has for the allocation of funds towards the purchase of "The Three Graces."

  Mr. Luce
  Purchase of works of art is a matter for the trustees of individual museums and galleries, who may apply to the national heritage memorial fund, which acts as a fund of last resort.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross income paid in income tax, national insurance contributions and value added tax by(a) a married man with a non-earning wife and two children and (b) a married man with an earning wife and two chilren at one half, one and a half, two, three, five and 10 times national average earnings in 1990–91; and what were the comparable figures in 1978–79.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is set out in the table:
  607
  4. From 1990–91 husbands and wives in two-earner couples will be taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of two-earner couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons between 1978–79 and 1990–91 the table therefore shows income tax (less child benefit) and national insurance contributions paid by a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming that the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.

  5. Estimates of VAT payments depend on a family's income and its pattern of expenditure. Such estimates are subject to a substantial margin of error and cannot reliably be made outside a range of 75 per cent. to 150 per cent. of average male earnings. Estimates for a single earner couple with two children are set out above. Corresponding figures for a two earner couple with two children are not available. Estimates are based on 1985 Family Expenditure Survey and assume that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no account is to be taken of transitional relief when the community charge is introduced into the retail prices index in April.

  Mr. Lilley
  For purposes of the retail price index transitional relief will not be treated as reducing the prices charged. This conforms to a general principle governing the treatment of subsidies and discounts, which was laid down by the retail price index advisory committee in a report submitted to and accepted by Ministers in 1986 (Cmnd 9848). The principle is that reductions in the amount charged are treated as price effects if they are equally available to all consumers facing the charge in question or if they are financed by the supplier of the goods or services concerned. Transitional relief does not qualify on either ground as it is available only to consumers fulfilling certain criteria and is funded not by the local authority making the charge but by a transfer from central Government. The community charges taken for the retail price index will be those made by authorities after allowing for the "safety net" since this affects all charge payers in any one area.

  Correspondence (MEPs)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer since 18 June 1989, how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

  Mr. Major
  Since 18 June 1989 Treasury Ministers have received 40 communications from Members of the European Parliament concerning local or United Kingdom matters. Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice is to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards establishing the Central Office of Information as an executive agency.

  Mr. Major
  I am pleased to announce that the Central Office of Information (COI) will become an executive agency tomorrow. I have set demanding targets against which performance will be measured. These will ensure that the steady improvement in COI's efficiency over 608
  recent years continues into the future. Copies of the framework document will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report the outcome of the price variation negotiations with Racal Data Networks Ltd. for the Government data network.

  Mr. Ryder
  Negotiations are still in progress and scheduled for completion by 30 June 1990. These negotiations are taking into account marketplace movements since the GDN contract was let and are reviewing general administrative arrangements in the contract associated with the GDN tariff.

  Further consideration of the contract has shown that, contrary to earlier interpretations reflected in my right hon. Friend, the then Paymaster-General's answer of 22 June 1988, Official Report, col. 599-600, the contract does not necessarily prevent the cost of the GDN service from exceeding that of comparable public services. The Treasury and Racal Data Networks Ltd. are seeking to negotiate revisions to the contract which would incorporate a satisfactory basis for value-for-money comparison with available public services.

  I will announce the outcome of these negotiations when they have been completed.

  Civil Service Catering Organisation
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have for the future of the Civil Service Catering Organisation.

  Mr. Major
  I have commissioned a study of future options for the Civil Service Catering Organisation (CISCO).

  The aim of the study will be to examine how CISCO might be placed on a more commercial footing for the future in an increasingly competitive environment for the provision of staff catering.

  The study will centre on possibilities for the transfer of CISCO to the private sector. Operation in the private sector might provide a better basis and greater range of opportunities for building upon the success that CISCO has achieved to date. The options will include the possibility of management and employee participation in the privatisation of CISCO's business.

  If this approach is found not to be feasible or desirable, the study will consider whether CISCO should be retained within the civil service as a "next steps" agency or whether the delivery of catering services is best devolved fully to Government Departments.

  The study will involve discussions with Government Department clients of CISCO and consultation with relevant bodies in the catering trade. Consultation will also take place with the Council of Civil Service Unions and the joint coordinating committee for Government industrial establishments.
  609
  A decision will be made later in the year.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Creche
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 24, concerning child care facilities at the House of Commons, what arrangements are being made for consultation with and the full participation of each of the staff unions and the creche committee established by staff.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) has asked for an urgent feasibility study to be undertaken into the cost and accommodation implications of providing child care facilities for the children of Members and staff employed in the House. A decision on whether a survey of potential demand is needed will be taken once the results of the feasibility study are known.

TRANSPORT

  Traffic Director for London
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his intention to appoint a traffic director for London, he will list the terms of reference for that post, the bodies and resources attached or available to it; and to whom the director will be responsible.

  Mr. Portillo
  Proposals concerning the traffic director are set out in paragraphs 7.34 to 7.38 of the discussion document "Traffic in London". We are considering the powers and duties of the post in more detail, and will consult local authorities and other interested bodies further.

  Motorway Repairs
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what motorway repair works are scheduled for the M6 and M1 between April and October; and if he will publish full details of these in the Official Report.

  Mr. Portillo
  Capital maintenance schemes which have been given approval and are programmed1 to be carried out at various times between April and October 1990 are as follows:

  M1

  Major schemes (over £0·5 million)

  Junction 8 to junction 9 (resurfacing)

  Junction 26 to junction 27 (reconstruction)

  Junction 29 to junction 30 (reconstruction)

  Junction 43 to M621 (reconstruction)

  Per cent.

  Traffic Area

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Northern

  21·24

  16·86

  16·22

  14·93

  18·14

  Yorkshire

  21·96

  20·32

  18·66

  19·46

  20·37

  North West

  24·85

  22·03

  22·57

  19·99

  20·52

  West Midland

  27·25

  23·12

  18·66

  17·32

  16·69

  East Midland

  18·00

  16·45

  14·49

  14·87

  17·93

  Eastern

  21·37

  18·80

  20·26

  22·24

  24·20

  South Wales

  31·06

  23·06

  19·97

  21·06

  24·97

  610
  Non-major schemes

  Junction 2 slip roads (earthworks)

  Junction with A42 (part of national improvement scheme)

  Junction with MI-A1 Link (part of national improvement scheme)

  Junction 34 to junction 35 (earthworks)

  M6

  Major schemes (over £0·5 million)

  Junction 3 (reconstruction)

  Junction 8 to junction 9 (resurfacing)

  Junction 13 to junction 14 (resurfacing)

  Junction 17 to junction 29 (reconstruction)

  Junction 28 to junction 29 (resurfacing)

  Junction 41 to junction 42 (resurfacing)

  Non-major schemes

  Junction 5 slip roads (safety fences)

  Junction 5 to junction 6 (resurfacing)

  Junction 6 slip roads (safety fences)

  Junction 6 to junction 7 (safety fences)

  Junction 7 slip roads (resurfacing)

  Junction 7 to junction 8 (resurfacing)

  Junction 22 to junction 27 (cable laying)

  Junction 27 slip roads (resurfacing and safety fences)

  Junction 29 slip roads (safety fences)

  Junction 36 to junction 38 (safety fences)

  1 Programme may be subject to alteration due to local considerations.

  There will also be other urgent and routine works necessary on these roads during this time.

  The Department will announce further details of schemes in due course.

  Road Congestion
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on road congestion in the 1990s and the cost to the economy.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply of 6 March, volume 65, columns 545-46. We are concerned about the economic effects of congestion, and about the consequences for the environment and road safety. We have doubled the road programme to increase capacity on existing motorways and other strategic routes.

  MOT Tests
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public service vehicle failure rates of vehicles undergoing their annual MOT test in Government-controlled testing stations, in each year since the scheme's inception, listing regional variations.

  Mr. Portillo
  Statutory annual testing for PSVs was introduced in January 1982. Between 1982 and 1987 the results were collated by traffic areas. Since 1987 they have been collated by sub-regions of the vehicle inspectorate. The fail rates, not including vehicles with minor defects rectified at the time of test, are:
  611

  Traffic Area

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Western

  26·52

  24·14

  20·81

  19·96

  23·71

  South Eastern

  28·97

  23·81

  18·96

  21·40

  22·23

  Metropolitan

  23·41

  19·16

  13·10

  12·15

  11·29

  Scottish

  27·69

  25·50

  25·98

  28·09

  25·45

  National

  24·70

  21·40

  19·20

  19·10

  19·90

  Per cent.

  Vehicles Inspectorate Sub-Region

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Metropolitan

  18·13

  17·75

  South-Eastern

  20·44

  17·69

  Eastern

  19·32

  20·95

  Western

  24·33

  23·29

  West Midland

  23·47

  24·37

  North-Western

  23·15

  22·14

  North-Eastern

  24·12

  23·23

  Scottish

  23·90

  23·54

  National

  22·20

  21·60

  UK-US Air Routes
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable he envisages for further talks with the appropriate American authorities on the future of air routes from the United Kingdom to the United States of America.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No specific timetable has been established, but my right hon. Friend is in direct touch with his US counterpart.

  Noise Insulation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide additional resources to local highway authorities specifically to enable them to deal with properties which qualify for insulation from traffic noise under the revised interpretation of the 1973 Noise Insulation Regulations.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. There is no revised interpretation of the Noise Insulation Regulation. The hon. Member may, however, be referring to the greater exercise of discretionary powers in connection with the proposed motorway widening programme, as announced in the recent roads report, which refers to motorways and other major trunk roads. It is a wider application of the existing discretionary power by the Secretary of State in relation to his trunk road programme, for which of course local authorities are not responsible.

  Correspondence (MEPs)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, since 18 June 1989, how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

  Mr. Portillo
  Ministers at the Department of Transport have received 54 written communications from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters.

  If there is no Community content at all in the MEP's letter and a constituency interest predominates, it is our
  612
  general practice to suggest that the MEP should refer the case to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to MEPs' letters would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

  Stop Notices
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to confer upon highway authorities the power to issue stop notices in respect of development projects where public rights of way have been rendered unusable as a consequence of works being started in the absence of lawful authority being secured either to stop up or divert the right of way.

  Mr. Portillo
  This is not necessary. Highway authorities already have powers under section 143 of the Highways Act 1980 to secure the removal of unauthorised structures from highways. A grant of planning permission for such a structure is not of itself such an authorisation.

  Wales (Official Visits)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the dates on which he has made an official visit to Wales since his appointment to his present post.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend made an official visit to Wales on 2 April when he launched the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea.

  Roads (Private Financing)
  Mr. Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further developments there have been in private financing for roads since the publication of the Green Paper, "New Roads by New Means"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The Green Paper set out proposals for new legislation and procedures to authorise privately financed roads. We invited comments from the private sector and from a wide range of other organisations concerned with roads and transport.

  The response was encouraging, with over 160 interested parties commenting. A number of potential problems were exposed and debated, but the overall message was one of wide support for the Government's aims.

  Today the Government have published their response to the consultation.

  We are making some additions to the proposals in "New Roads by New Means". Their purpose is to enhance the attraction of major road schemes for private sector funding by reducing some of the uncertainties. The details are in the published response which I have placed in the Library of the House.

  I am pleased to be able to announce a number of other developments and initiatives. Last year the Government set up a competition for the Birmingham northern relief

  613
  road. The response to this challenge has been good. Three pre-qualifying bids were received from consortia which have assembled a wide range of expertise. Today I have issued final tender invitations to all three bidders. This means that we should receive, this autumn, firm indications of how the road can be built and operated in the private sector.

  I am also inviting the private sector to come forward with preliminary proposals for a new privately funded road between Birmingham and Manchester, as foreshadowed in the Green Paper. We have recently announced a public scheme to widen much of the existing M6 motorway. This will relieve congestion on the route of the motorway, but there will be a further need for extra capacity between the two cities in the longer term. We are looking to the private sector to consider innovative ways of meeting this longer-term need well into the 21st century.

  I am inviting views about the suitability of six other schemes for private finance. The schemes I have in mind are:

  a lower Thames crossing, east of the M25,

  a new crossing of the River Tamar,

  a new Mersey crossing serving Liverpool airport,

  a link between the M25 and Chelmsford,

  a new route parallel to the Al27 from the M25 to Rayleigh in Essex, and

  a short link between the Al and MI at Scratchwood in north London.

  The list is not a closed one. We are willing to consider proposals for the private financing of any scheme in the roads programme. We shall also welcome proposals for schemes not in the programme, since the Government do not have a monopoly of good ideas.

  All roads financed by the private sector will be subject to the same form of environmental assessment as public schemes. The Government will insist that they are designed and built to the highest standards. We shall want to ensure also that road investment provides best value for money for taxpayers and users.

  The response to the Green Paper shows that our proposals for the further development of private funding financing of transport projects enjoys widespread support. My new proposals will provide additional opportunities for the private sector to add to Britain's transport network.

  Second Severn Bridge
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the successful tenderer in the competition to provide a second Severn bridge.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I intend to accept the proposal from the John Laing/GTM Entrepose consortium to design, build, finance and operate the second Severn bridge, in conjunction with taking over the financing and operation of the existing bridge. This privately funded proposal offers the best overall value for money of all those submitted; it will be the most effective means of securing completion of the second crossing at the earliest practicable date. The final decision was between two very strong contenders with good designs, and I am grateful to all the groups which participated.

  The consortium's proposal is for a concession to collect tolls on the crossings for up to 30 years, depending on traffic levels. On current forecasts, tolls would be needed for only about 21 years. The consortium's proposal would minimise the impact on traffic by charging tolls in only one
  614
  direction—westbound—on each crossing. Some increase in tolls would be necessary to cover the cost—some £270 million—of this major improvement in this part of the road network. These rises would be phased in gradually. For car users the initial increase in equivalent single journey tolls in 1992 would be about 20p in 1989 prices, rising ultimately to about 40p from 1995.

  The new crossing—which I know is most eagerly awaited on both sides of the Severn—would more than double the road capacity across the estuary. It would relieve for the foreseeable future the traffic congestion already starting to be faced at peak times at the existing bridge. It would also include windshielding to minimise the need for traffic restrictions or closure.

  This decision is subject to confirmation of the provision of finance and to a satisfactory conclusion to detailed negotiations on the terms of the concession. I shall make a further announcement when the necessary arrangements are confirmed.

  I hope to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to seek the necessary powers for the provision of the new bridge and its approach roads. Subject to the necessary parliamentary approvals, construction could start at the beginning of 1992 and be completed in 1995.

  This announcement on the Severn bridges demonstrates that the skill and initiative of the private sector can be employed to provide new infrastructure at good value for the public.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to set financial objectives for London Regional Transport.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend expects to be able to set these objectives when the House reconvenes following the Easter recess.

  EC Transport Council
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the meeting of the European Community Transport Council yesterday.

  Mr. Parkinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1990]: I attended the meeting of the European Council of Transport Ministers which was held in Brussels on 29 March.

  A 40 per cent. increase in road haulage quotas was agreed for 1990. The Council also gave a commitment to take simultaneous decisions on the quotas for 1991 and 1992, and on the safeguard measures in the event of a crisis in the road haulage industry, at its next meeting in June.

  The Council made further advances towards agreement of the second phase of aviation liberalisation. In particular it agreed on a zone scheme for fares, and on the treatment of region-to-region and hub-to-region services for capacity sharing purposes. Progress was also made on other aspects of the liberalisation package and several reservations were withdrawn. The Commission confirmed its intention of coming forward with proposals for dealing with anti-competitive practices in the context of the second package. The Council will return to the subject at its June meeting. There were also useful discussions on air traffic control and personnal licences in aviation. The Council agreed in principle that negotiations should get under way

  615
  on a package of civil aviation measures with the European Free Trade Association, and further work will now be undertaken on the negotiating mandate.

  I am glad to say that a debate on shipping cabotage enabled the presidency to conclude that a proposal should be prepared for positive debate in June.

  In a short discussion on the establishment of a transport infrastructure fund, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany maintained their unequivocal view that, although the Community could assist in planning, there was no need for a fund as such since member states were best able to decide their own funding priorities. Again, the Council agreed to return to the subject in June.

  The June meeting of the Council will also consider again the issue of harmonisation, on which some helpful developments at the Council meeting were offset by the announcement by the Federal Republic of Germany that it intended to introduce, with effect from 1 July, a tax on foreign lorries travelling through Germany.

  The Commission reported on the progress of negotiations with Austria, Switzerland and Yugoslavia on third country transit. There were discussions, but no conclusions, on the length of road trains, and on the hire of vehicles without drivers. The following topics were raised under other business: developments in East Germany and elsewhere in eastern Europe; the liberalisation of bus and coach transport; marine pollution; the revision of AETR (the European agreement concerning the work of crews of vehicles engaged in international road transport); the width of vehicles; rail policy; drivers' hours; noise reduction around airports; and concerns about delays caused by customs staff at some borders.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Exchange Programmes
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what exchange and collaborative research and educational development programmes exist between the United Kingdom and Belgium.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department, through the central bureau, provides funds to support and encourage exchange activity in the following areas:

  (i) A school links programme: there are currently some 11 schools known to have links with Belgian schools.

  (ii) A foreign language assistants programme: in the current academic year there are 10 British language assistants working in Belgium and eight Belgian language assistants working in the United Kingdom.

  (iii) Vocational and technical education links: there are five colleges of further education with links with establishments in Belgium. In addition, under the auspices of IAESTE (the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) there is a small-scale annual programme of course-related practical training placements for higher education students.

  (iv) Teacher exchange programme: it is hoped that the 1990–91 academic year will see the first post-to-post teacher exchanges with Belgium.

  In addition, there are arrangements for exchange and collaborative activity with Belgium under European Community programmes such as COMETT, ERASMUS and ARION.
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  United Kingdom scientific research collaboration and exchanges with Belgium occur mainly through common membership of a range of multilateral schemes. These include the European Science Foundation, the European Space Agency, CERN (the European particle physics organisation), the NATO science programme, and the European science exchange programme, as well as the various programmes within the European Communities research and development framework.

  In addition, the British Council, under the cultural convention with Belgium, promotes exchanges and collaborative research in scientific and educational fields. Activities are agreed at biennial meetings of the mixed commission, the most recent of which, the 26th meeting, was held in December 1989. All activity with Belgium is fragmented, in that the Flemish and francophone communities function completely separately. Formal statistics of links are not kept because activity is agreed rather in terms of particular projects and budgets.

  Professional visits between Britain and Belgium are arranged to study developments in education at all levels. These have led, for example, to the Belgian Ministry of Education seeking council assistance in the introduction of computers in schools, and to a project in drama education with the Brussels circus school. The Flemish universities and the Open university have collaborated to set up a Flemish open university with British inputs and materials. Long-term joint projects at university level are also encouraged in fields such as science parks, engineering, medicine and criminology.

  In 1989, new Government funding enabled a programme of academic and professional exchanges to be established. For example, groups of British engineers and environmental scientists visited both Flemish and francophone universities. The links between the university of Gent and the university of Newcastle in linguistics and English literature, and the Vrije universiteit Brussel and Huddersfield polytechnic, in human ecology, have been particularly successful. The latter will now receive funding as part of the mixed commission cultural agreement. A double degree awarded jointly by the university of Liège and Cranfield institute of technology has also been established as part of a major link. All links have attracted matching funding from the Belgians.

  In March 1990 two senior British academics headed a mission to Belgium, and the Netherlands to initiate further collaborative programmes. This follows a recent pattern in Europe, where programmes have been established with Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and the Republic of Ireland.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the recent changes announced in funding disabled students' extra educational costs will apply to disabled students with central Government awards pursuing postgraduate degrees.

  Mr. Jackson
  The rates of postgraduate awards made by the Department for 1990–91 will be announced in due course. My right hon. Friend expects to make appropriate provision for the disabled students' and other allowances, on lines broadly similar to that for mandatory undergraduate awards but allowing for any relevant differences in the postgraduate awards arrangements.
  617
  Other postgraduate award-making bodies determine the rates for their subjects within the resources available to them.

  School Buildings (Repairs)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total expenditure for each education authority on repairs to school buildings.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest available information is for 1987–88 and is given in the table.

  Expenditure by local authorities

  Repairs and maintenance of buildings, nursery, primary and secondary schools

  Local Education Authority

  £'000

  Barking

  1,717

  Barnet

  2,150

  Bexley

  1,998

  Brent

  2,112

  Bromley

  3,434

  Croydon

  3,679

  Ealing

  n/a

  Enfield

  28

  Haringey

  n/a

  Harrow

  876

  Havering

  1,954

  Hillingdon

  44

  Hounslow

  1,173

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  733

  Merton

  672

  Newham

  1,540

  Redbridge

  1,849

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  658

  Sutton

  800

  Waltham Forest

  2,293

  ILEA

  24,400

  Birmingham

  8,225

  Coventry

  1,923

  Dudley

  1,642

  Sandwell

  4,076

  Solihull

  1,609

  Walsall

  1,492

  Wolverhampton

  2,027

  Knowsley

  1,001

  Liverpool

  6,047

  St. Helens

  1,272

  Sefton

  2,111

  Wirral

  1,885

  Bolton

  1,288

  Bury

  1,458

  Manchester

  3,958

  Oldham

  1,510

  Rochdale

  1,388

  Salford

  803

  Stockport

  2,377

  Tameside

  1,842

  Trafford

  1,188

  Wigan

  2,104

  Barnsley

  2,509

  Doncaster

  2,756

  Rotherham

  2,015

  Sheffield

  n/a

  Bradford

  3,143

  Calderdale

  1,357

  Kirklees

  2,425

  Leeds

  600

  Wakefield

  2,061

  618

  Local Education Authority

  £'000

  Gateshead

  1,359

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,675

  North Tyneside

  933

  South Tyneside

  1,259

  Sunderland

  2,189

  Isles of Scilly

  23

  Avon

  8,012

  Bedfordshire

  4,024

  Berkshire

  n/a

  Buckinghamshire

  4,193

  Cambridgeshire

  5,201

  Cheshire

  496

  Cleveland

  7,773

  Cornwall

  3,338

  Cumbria

  4,647

  Derbyshire

  6,389

  Devon

  7,003

  Dorset

  4,893

  Durham

  6,887

  East Sussex

  2,810

  Essex

  17,830

  Gloucestershire

  3,100

  Hampshire

  8,149

  Hereford

  4,249

  Hertfordshire and Worcester

  5,908

  Humberside

  10,211

  Isle of Wight

  272

  Kent

  4,365

  Lancashire

  10,449

  Leicestershire

  7,363

  Lincolnshire

  3,344

  Norfolk

  4,386

  North Yorkshire

  5,162

  Northamptonshire

  3,842

  Northumberland

  1,730

  Nottinghamshire

  7,569

  Oxfordshire

  4,421

  Salop

  4,240

  Somerset

  3,243

  Staffordshire

  8,559

  Suffolk

  3,865

  Surrey

  4,973

  Warwickshire

  3,368

  West Sussex

  5,486

  Wiltshire

  3,776

  Notes:

  1. The figures are based on LEA recurrent expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment.

  2. They do not include any items of expenditure that were capitalised.

  3. Expenditure returns were not received from those authorities marked n/a.

  Examinations
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about trends in examination results in Greater Manchester since 1975.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The table gives the percentage of leavers from the Greater Manchester area and for England obtaining five or more grades at A to C in the GCSE (or its equivalent at O-level and CSE) and one or more A-level passes, since 1974–75.
  619

  Examination attainments of leavers from maintained schools Percentage of leavers

  5+ graded results at GCSE, O-level and CSE (A to C)1

  1+ A-level passes2

  Greater Manchester

  England

  Greater Manchester

  England

  1987–88

  24·0

  26·6

  13·6

  15·2

  1986–87

  22·7

  23·2

  13·8

  13·9

  1985–86

  22·9

  23·6

  13·6

  13·6

  1984–85

  22·7

  23·7

  12·3

  13·9

  1983–84

  23·1

  23·8

  12·3

  14·3

  1982–83

  21·6

  23·3

  13·3

  14·4

  1981–82

  20·6

  23·0

  11·3

  14·1

  1980–81

  19·3

  21·8

  11·0

  13·5

  1979–80

  19·0

  20·9

  11·1

  12·6

  1978–79

  19·6

  20·6

  11·5

  12·6

  1977–78

  18·8

  20·5

  11·4

  12·7

  1976–77

  17·7

  20·3

  10·3

  12·8

  1975–76

  16·4

  19·5

  10·0

  12·8

  1974–75

  17·1

  19·1

  10·4

  12·5

  1 GCSE grades A to C; 0-level grades A to C; CSE grade 1.

  2 Grades A to E.

  Notes:

  1. The School Leavers Survey, from which the figures in the table are derived, is based on a 10 per cent. sample of pupils at each school. Sampling error may lead to distortion in the trends.

  2. The figures do not provide the overall picture. There has been a growing tendency among 16-year-olds in particular to leave school for GCSE/0-level/A-level study in full-time further education.

  3. All figures exclude leavers from direct grant schools. Such leavers were included in an answer to a similar question to Mr. John Marshall (Hendon, South) on 21 March 1990 for the earliest three years given.

  Reorganisation (Bath)
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision he has made on the application of Beechen Cliff school, Bath, for grant-maintained status; and what response he is making to Avon county council's application for the reorganisation of schools in Bath following the recent court judgment.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has reconsidered these proposals, as required by the High Court judgment given on 23 February, which set aside his earlier decisions on them. On 30 March he announced his decisions to approve the proposals for grant-maintained status published by the governors of Beechen Cliff school and to reject those for the reorganisation of secondary education in Bath published by Avon local education authority and the governors of St. Mark's Church of England aided school.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the rates of supplementary allowances payable within the mandatory student award in 1990–91.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary regulations, supplementary allowances payable within the mandatory student award by local education authorities in England and Wales will be increased in the academic year 1990–91. I announced substantial improvements in the disabled students' allowance on 19 March at columns 417-18.Other allowances will be raised broadly in line with the main grant increases which I announced on 19 December 1989 at columns 220-222. I am placing details in the Library.

  Dyslexia
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to include in the local education authority training grants scheme dyslexia as a national priority area.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Legislation would not be needed to designate the training of teachers of dyslexic children as a national priority area under the local education authority training grants scheme (LEATGS).

  The possibility of including a wider range of training within the national priority areas was raised in the recent report of the efficiency scrutiny of education support grants and LEATGS. My right hon. Friend is reflecting carefully upon this recommendation.

  Research
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the value of research undertaken for commercial concerns by universities and polytechnics in the last financial year.

  Mr. Jackson
  Provisional figures indicate that, in the academic year 1988–89, universities in Great Britain received £92 million from industry in the form of research grants and contracts. Comparable information for polytechnics is not currently available.

  Ancillaries
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish for each local authority area the number of ancillaries employed in(a) 1970–71, (b) 1979–80 and (c) 1988–89 in (i) the primary and (ii) the secondary sector, and the ratio of ancillaries to teachers and pupils in each case.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally.

  History Teaching
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he intends to take to introduce study of the Nazi holocaust into state schools as a core part of the national curriculum;

  (2) when he intends to publish the final report of the working group on history in the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The final report of the history working group was published yesterday. Because history is an important and a controversial subject we are consulting a wide variety of interested bodies on its recommendations. In the light of this consultation, and his own further examination of the group's recommendations, my right hon. Friend will in due course publish his proposals on attainment targets and programmes of study for history for pupils aged five to 16 in schools in England. They will then be sent to the National Curriculum Council for the statutory consultation required by the Education Reform Act. I shall not try to anticipate the nature of my right hon. Friend's proposals.

  Correspondence (MEPs)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the honourable Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. Members of the European Parliament who raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest are advised to refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, ministerial replies to MEPs are normally copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had copied his original letter to the hon. Member.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Company Accounts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to require the supervisory bodies seeking recognition under the Companies Act 1989 to inform their members and the public of the voting of(a) their councils and (b) their major committees.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 2 April 1990,Official Report, column 399.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to investigate and identify the companies which operate off-balance-sheet financing schemes in their financial statements.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The Companies Act 1989 has extended the definition of a subsidiary undertaking, which will bring on to the balance sheet a number of schemes which would previously have been off-balance sheet. The issue of off-balance sheet financing is also being addressed by the profession.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the conditions under which a work of art, subject to an export licence, may be acquired by private individual.

  Mr. Ridley
  The acquisition of works of art is not a matter for me; I am concerned solely with export licensing. Works of art which might be subject to an export licence (whether or not an application for an export licence has been made) may be acquired by a private individual through a private sale at any time, if the owner so agrees.

  On 2 March I announced that, in considering an application for a licence to export a work of art which meets the Waverley criteria, I proposed to take into account the existence of private offers, as well as offers by public institutions, to purchase the item, and said that I would be ready to consider any representations by persons affected by this refinement of policy.

  I have received a number of representations in this connection which I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Arts and Libraries.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to address the concerns expressed about the uncertainty of how the statutory regulations made under the Financial Services Act 1986, and the rules made by the self-regulating organisations and professional bodies recognised under that Act, interact with the common law duties of those carrying on investment business.

  Mr. Redwood
  I recognise the concerns which have been expressed on this matter and the complexity of the issues involved. I have therefore made a reference to each of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission in the following terms:"Certain professional and business activities are subject to public law regulation by statutory or self-regulatory control. The Law Commission/Scottish Law Commission is to consider the principles which should govern the effect of such controls on the fiduciary and analogous duties of those carrying on such activities, and to make recommendations. The inquiry will consider examples from differing areas of activity but will be with particular reference to financial services".

  The general issue of the inter-relationship of fiduciary duties arising under the common law on the one hand, and statutory and self-regulatory rules on the other, arises in relation to a variety of activities. Fiduciary duties relating to matters such as disclosure of information to clients, liability to account, for example, for commissions, and conflicts of interest, can apply in areas such as estate agency and insurance brokerage as well as in the financial services area.

  I have therefore asked the two Law Commissions not to restrict themselves to examining the financial services area, but to consider the issue, and make whatever recommendations they feel appropriate, in the wider context.

  European Single Market
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest position on the implementation by member states into national legislation of single market measures.
  623
  Mr. Redwood
  I am very pleased to announce that the Commission's fifth progress report on the single market shows that the UK as recorded by the EC is now in the lead in the Community for the implementation into national legislation of single market measures. Member states' figures for non-implementation are as follows:

  Number

  United Kingdom

  9

  Denmark

  10

  Germany

  12

  Ireland

  18

  France

  19

  Netherlands

  24

  Luxembourg

  27

  Spain

  30

  Greece

  35

  Belgium

  34

  Portugal

  44

  Italy

  50

  It is also satisfactory to note a considerable improvement in implementation across the Community. The number of measures implemented in all member states has risen from seven in September 1989 to 21 by the end of February 1990.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider amending the law to raise the age at which an individual can purchase fireworks from 16 years to 18 years.

  Mr. Forth
  No. A person of 16 is considered old enough to work full time and at 17 to drive a car. It would not therefore be practical to raise the minimum age for purchasing fireworks from 16 to 18.

  Visas (United States)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with members of the travel industry about the practice of charging holidaymakers for visas to the United States of America in cases where visas are not required.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 3 April 1990]: I have had no discussions with the industry on this issue.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the practice of charging holidaymakers for visas to the United States of America in cases where visas are not required.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 3 April 1990]: There are no plans to introduce legislation in this area and I have received no representations to indicate that this is a problem which needs to be addressed. There are certain circumstances where the United States visa waiver scheme does not apply to holidaymakers travelling to the USA, and in some cases travellers may desire a visa for reasons of convenience. These holidaymakers would be able to obtain a visa free of charge from the United States embassy or, if they prefer, to pay any adminstrative charge which their travel agent may levy where they provide this service.

  Environmental Technology Network
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the contribution made by his Department to the European Communities' network of environmental technology transfer programme.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 2 April 1990]: The network of environmental technology transfer (NETT) was established in 1988 and aims to facilitate the exchange of information on a range of techniques, equipment and markets in the areas of clean and low waste technology. NETT is jointly funded by the European Commission and by its membership and services, with the Commission support reducing over the next few years as membership is expected to build up. The president of NETT is Mr. A. J. Fairclough, formerly of the Department of the Environment and the European Commission.

  My Department's environmental agency, Warren Spring Laboratory, is a founder member of NETT and its Dr. Schofield is a member of the international board of management. My Department is therefore playing an active role in the further development of NETT.

  At present, there are 170 European members, including 27 United Kingdom organisations. Membership is expected to grow as more services come on line. The NETT secretariat has dealt with 30 inquiries from United Kingdom organisations.

  Unlisted Securities Market
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the steps his Department has taken to protect investors in the unlisted securities market since June 1987.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 29 March 1990]: Throughout the period since June 1987, the issue of shares other than those to be included on the official list of the stock exchange has been regulated under part III of the Companies Act 1985. Shares may be offered only by public limited companies, and there must be a prospectus which complies with the requirements set out in schedule 3 of the Act.

  The stock exchange, of which the unlisted securities market is part, has been a recognised investment exchange (RIE) within the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986 since the main provisions of that Act came into force in April 1988. Prior to this, the stock exchange was a recognised stock exchange under the terms of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958. Responsibility for RIEs has been transferred to the Securities and Investments Board, including ensuring their compliance with schedule 4 to the 1986 Act, which sets out the safeguards for investors which RIEs must provide.

  Since April 1988, those carrying on investment business in the United Kingdom, including advising and dealing or arranging deals in securities for them, have had to be authorised or exempt under the terms of the Financial Services Act.

  Faulty Goods
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many letters concerning the problems consumers have experienced with faulty goods he has(a) received directly, or (b) had forwarded to him since 11 March.
  625
  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: Since 11 March I have directly received approximately 300 letters about consumer problems with faulty goods and approximately a further 140 letters have been forwarded to me.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Yeast
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reply he has sent to representations from the director of Consumer Watch about the need to provide consumers with information about products made with genetically engineered yeast.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will send my hon. Friend, in his capacity as chairman of Consumer Watch, a copy of the reply which the Minister will shortly be sending to the director of Consumer Watch on this matter.

  Dairy Farming
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount payable each year to United Kingdom dairy farmers in co-responsibility levy.

  Mr. Curry
  United Kingdom dairy farmers paid an estimated £35·1 million in co-responsibility levy in the financial year 1989–90. Co-responsibility levy receipts are used for a number of purposes, including the promotion of milk products and the funding of milk sector subsidies. It is estimated that levy receipts contributed some £42 million towards such measures in the United Kingdom in 1989–90, but this figure is expected to fall in 1990–91 as a result of the cuts in the rate of levy agreed by the Council of Ministers in 1989 and hence the reduction in available levy receipts.

  Bristol Channel (Dumping)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many permits have been issued for the piping or dumping of waste materials into the Bristol channel; how many of these are for industrial, chemical or nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  There are 14 current licences for the dumping of waste materials from vessels into the Bristol channel including the Severn estuary. Two of these involve sewage sludge and the rest dredged spoil.

  Authorisations issued by my Department jointly with the Department of the Environment permitting the pipeline discharge of liquid radioactive wastes currently exist for nuclear power stations at Berkeley and Oldbury, which discharge into the Severn estuary, and at Hinkley Point, which discharges into the Bristol channel.

  Other discharges of radioactive wastes are a matter for the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales. Pipeline discharges of non-radioactive waste are a matter for the National Rivers Authority.

  National Farmers Union
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects were discussed.
  626
  Mr. Curry
  The Minister is meeting the president of the National Farmers Union and others today to discuss how United Kingdom industry can best respond to the recent developments in eastern Europe.

  Mink
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink farmers have been prosecuted for allowing mink to escape into the wild since 1979 under(a) the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 and (b) the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mr. Maclean
  No prosecutions have been taken by the Ministry under the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 since 1983, the first year for which records exist.

  Enforcement of the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the responsibility of the police. Details are not held centrally, but I am not aware of any recent prosecutions.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink farms in the United Kingdom have closed in 1988–89; and what measures his Department is taking to dicourage the breeding of mink.

  Mr. Maclean
  The number of licensed mink farms in the United Kingdom has varied in recent years, as follows:

  Number

  31 March 1988

  54

  31 March 1989

  61

  20 February 1990

  50

  The Government do not encourage or discourage mink farms, but seek to ensure that they keep mink securely and humanely.

  Arctic Fox Farms
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the number of arctic fox farms in the United Kingdom and where they are situated.

  Mr. Maclean
  In 1987, the last year for which statistics are available, arctic foxes were farmed at three establishments, two in England and one in Scotland.

  Exports
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which are the volumes and values of the top five agricultural products exported from England and Wales in the last financial year.

  Mr. Curry
  The following table, based on provisional data, shows the five main agricultural products, by value, exported from the United Kingdom during the calendar year 1989. Data for financial years are not readily available and information for England and Wales cannot be separately identified.
  627

  Value (£'000)

  Volume (000s tonnes)

  Alcoholic beverages

  1,767,980

  745

  Meat (other than from bovine animals) and edible meat offal for human consumption; fresh, chilled or frozen

  358,025

  227

  Cereal preparations and preparations of flour or starch of fruits or vegetables

  343,027

  514

  Wheat (including spelt) and meslin, unmilled

  326,247

  3,278

  Meat of bovine animals; fresh, chilled or frozen

  303,698

  138

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Environment Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has received an invitation to be represented at the environmental biotechnology conference in Braunsweig on 23 to 27 April, organised by the GFB and the European Environmental Research Foundation.

  Mr. Maclean
  No such invitation can be traced.

  Correspondence (MEPs)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, since 18 June 1989, how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

  Mr. Curry
  We have received a number of inquiries during the period. Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice is to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

  Offal
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether those offals specified in the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 are permitted for use in(a) animal feedstuffs for pigs and poultry and (b) pet food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. There is no scientific justification for prohibiting the use of any ruminant-based protein in food for pigs, poultry or domestic pets.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the updated total figures for confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in England and Wales since records were first kept.
  628
  Mr. Gummer
  Since November 1986, when BSE was first identified, until 23 March 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, 10,409 cases have been confirmed in England and 764 cases in Wales.

  Research
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the criteria under which he funds research projects under the open contracting and strategic fund 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The open contracting and strategic fund 1990–91 was used, as in previous years, to meet urgent needs for research and development in line with MAFF's policy requirements. In doing this, we have sought also to widen the range of contractors beyond MAFF's own in-house laboratories and those of the research councils. Proposals made far exceed the sums of money available and decisions are made in favour of those proposals which best meet MAFF's needs, give good balance to wider programmes, have the best scientific and technical quality and represent value for money.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects he is funding on bovine spongiform encephalopathy under the open contracting and strategic fund 1990–91, giving the name of the relevant body and amount of money to be paid for each project.

  Mr. Gummer
  A £6·1 million programme of research on BSE being funded by my Department was announced on 9 January in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns),Official Report, column 572.

  In addition, under the open contracting and strategic fund 1990–91, one project on BSE was approved which will be funded subject to contract:

  Title

  Duration

  Total cost £000

  Population genetics of BSE: evidence for the inheritance of susceptibility to BSE

  3 years

  155

  It would be inappropriate to provide more detailed contractual information at this stage.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his reasons for refusing grant aid under the open contracting and strategic fund 1990–91 for a project for the development of a routine diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy as an alternative to histopathology.

  Mr. Gummer
  Research to find a diagnostic test in the live animal was considered a high priority by the Tyrrell committee and funds have already been made available for this work. A proposal was made under the open contracting and strategy fund for a post-mortem test. A technique for post-mortem confirmation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy already exists and, while the project was examined carefully, when compared with other project applications under the fund, it was not considered to be of sufficient merit to warrant funding on this occasion.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has determined the market support prices for potatoes to apply in Great Britain for the 1990–91 crop year beginning 1 July.

  Mr. Gummer
  Agriculture Ministers have consulted the farmers' unions about the market support arrangements to apply for the 1990–91 crop year. Ministers have decided that the guaranteed price should remain £53 per tonne. They have authorised the board to decide whether it wishes to support the market by entering into pre-season contracts with producers or by intervening directly, provided that total purchases do not exceed 500,000 tonnes. The target area for potato plantings by registered producers in Great Britain was fixed last July at 154,500 hectares.

ENERGY

  Correspondence (MEPs)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Information on the number of communications from Members of the European Parliament is not identifiable except at disproportionate cost. However, it is the practice, where an MEP raises a matter in correspondence which is exclusively of local interest, to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, the reply to such a communication would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he is reviewing his policy on the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation to 12GW of coal-burning electricity generating capacity;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to deal with coal-burning power station emission problems by means of combustion process controls as distinct from importing low-sulphur content coal:

  (3) what effect he envisages on the make-up of British Coal, after the current three-year contract with the principal generators, if flue gas desulphurisation proceeds only at the 4GW Drax project.

  Mr. Wakeham
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 March 1990, c. 274]: Subject to scrutiny of their detailed plans, I expect National Power and PowerGen to meet the SO2 emissions reductions required by the EC large combustion plants directive in 1998 by each undertaking 4GW of FGD retrofits and by adopting supplementary measures such as the burning of low-sulphur fuels.

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Police (Vacancies)
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many current vacancies there are at chief officer rank in each constabulary in England and Wales.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    There is only one force, Derbyshire, where the post of chief constable remains unfilled until the police authority makes an appointment.

    Prisoners (Malaysian Diet)
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for providing a Malaysian diet to remand prisoners who may request such a diet; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Mellor
    Remand prisoners receive the same meals as convicted inmates. Although a Malaysian diet is not provided, dietary variations are supplied on grounds of religion, and any inmate may request a vegetarian or vegan diet. Rice is issued in lieu of potatoes if it is a basic part of the diet in the inmate's country, and establishments use a wide variety of spices in preparing meals.

    Pentonville Prison (Unconvicted Prisoners)
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what educational facilities and opportunities for association there are for unconvicted prisoners in Pentonville prison; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Mellor
    There are education classes for two hours each morning and afternoon from Monday to Friday for those who wish to attend. In addition to recreational association for two hours once a week, each prisoner may associate with others in the course of routine activities, which include one hour's exercise in the open air each day (weather permitting), social visits for at least 15 minutes each weekday, physical education sessions lasting one and a half hours twice a week, visits to the prison canteen twice a week and attendance at religious services on Sundays. The regime will be considerably improved when these prisoners move to a completely refurbished wing in about six weeks' time.

    Life Imprisonment
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average term of imprisonment served by offenders sentenced to life imprisonment and the minimum periods served by those offenders sentenced to life imprisonment and released from custody during each of the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Mellor
    Information on the average time served under sentence was published in table 8.5 of the prison statistics England and Wales 1988 (Cm 825), a copy of which is in the Library.

    Details of the shortest time served are given in the table. All these prisoners were released on licence following a favourable recommendation by the Parole Board and after consultation with the judiciary as required by section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967.
    631
    Information for 1989 is not yet complete.

    Shortest period spent under sentence in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales by life sentence prisoners1 first released on licence in each of the years 1984 to 1988.

    Year of release

    Years under sentence2

    1984

    4·4

    1985

    4·2

    1986

    4·2

    1987

    2·2

    1988

    5·0

    1 Including detention for life or during Her Majesty's pleasure under s.53 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and custody for life.

    2 Excluding any time spent on remand in custody, in non-prison service establishments or following any subsequent recall.

    Fraud Squad
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish for each police force in England and Wales the percentage of officers assigned to fraud squad duties for each of the last five years;

    (2) if he will publish for each police force in England and Wales for each of the last five years (a) the number of officers assigned to fraud squad duties, (b) the number of prosecutions brought and (c) the number of convictions secured.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    The figures for the last five years for which records are available are set out in the table. Offences of fraud and forgery are recorded together; the figures for prosecutions and convictions in 1989 are not yet available. Statistics on the strength of fraud squads before 1987 are not readily available; the figures for 1985 come from those published in the Roskill report.

    Fraud and Forgery
    1984

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    Avon and Somerset

    654

    597

    Bedfordshire

    256

    195

    Cambridgeshire

    374

    344

    Cheshire

    465

    458

    Cleveland

    365

    341

    Cumbria

    196

    182

    Derbyshire

    406

    361

    Devon and Cornwall

    673

    605

    Dorset

    391

    350

    Durham

    243

    217

    Dyfed Powys

    220

    184

    Essex

    542

    466

    Gloucestershire

    287

    286

    Greater Manchester

    1,864

    1,761

    Gwent

    293

    249

    Hampshire

    906

    818

    Hertfordshire

    342

    308

    Humberside

    448

    413

    Kent

    535

    535

    Lancashire

    1,102

    1,028

    Leicestershire

    302

    281

    Lincolnshire

    287

    251

    Merseyside

    1,058

    901

    Norfolk

    303

    274

    Northamptonshire

    267

    246

    Northumbria

    647

    556

    North Wales

    319

    305

    North Yorkshire

    293

    265

    Nottinghamshire

    503

    450

    South Wales

    947

    814

    632

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    South Yorkshire

    612

    552

    Staffordshire

    449

    423

    Suffolk

    264

    236

    Surrey

    324

    300

    Sussex

    632

    617

    Thames Valley

    651

    617

    Warwickshire

    158

    148

    West Mercia

    403

    395

    West Midlands

    1,504

    1,306

    West Yorkshire

    1,337

    1,126

    Wiltshire

    176

    174

    City of London

    138

    90

    Metropolitan

    6,516

    5,696

    Total

    28,652

    25,721

    1985

    Proceeded Against

    Found Guilty

    Avon and Somerset

    709

    613

    Bedfordshire

    306

    267

    Cambridgeshire

    351

    310

    Cheshire

    483

    465

    Cleveland

    359

    326

    Cumbria

    237

    204

    Derbyshire

    540

    439

    Devon and Cornwall

    662

    591

    Dorset

    340

    315

    Durham

    226

    203

    Dyfed Powys

    171

    166

    Essex

    541

    501

    Gloucestershire

    267

    256

    Greater Manchester

    1,998

    1,864

    Gwent

    230

    230

    Hampshire

    894

    780

    Hertfordshire

    365

    321

    Humberside

    380

    342

    Kent

    514

    517

    Lancashire

    1,065

    989

    Leicestershire

    415

    360

    Lincolnshire

    277

    247

    Merseyside

    1,024

    851

    Norfolk

    322

    284

    Northamptonshire

    250

    225

    Northumbria

    674

    613

    North Wales

    284

    273

    North Yorkshire

    276

    255

    Nottinghamshire

    601

    583

    South Wales

    918

    791

    South Yorkshire

    640

    586

    Staffordshire

    421

    393

    Suffolk

    223

    210

    Surrey

    269

    230

    Sussex

    568

    547

    Thames Valley

    598

    588

    Warwickshire

    184

    174

    West Mercia

    445

    422

    West Midlands

    1,490

    1,341

    West Yorkshire

    1,179

    1,003

    Wiltshire

    184

    170

    City of London

    119

    86

    Metropolitan

    6,307

    5,573

    Total

    28,306

    25,504

    1986

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    Avon and Somerset

    725

    603

    Bedfordshire

    224

    179

    Cambridgeshire

    333

    301

    Cheshire

    403

    391

    Cleveland

    410

    392

    Cumbria

    256

    211

    633

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    Derbyshire

    351

    283

    Devon and Cornwall

    613

    548

    Dorset

    270

    252

    Durham

    269

    230

    Dyfed Powys

    177

    142

    Essex

    465

    422

    Gloucestershire

    224

    186

    Greater Manchester

    1,535

    1,456

    Gwent

    268

    205

    Hampshire

    866

    751

    Hertfordshire

    322

    326

    Humberside

    364

    320

    Kent

    532

    518

    Lancashire

    956

    828

    Leicestershire

    394

    369

    Lincolnshire

    264

    217

    Merseyside

    1,044

    817

    Norfolk

    296

    273

    Northamptonshire

    272

    255

    Northumbria

    697

    609

    North Wales

    286

    265

    North Yorkshire

    282

    238

    Nottinghamshire

    512

    471

    South Wales

    842

    674

    South Yorkshire

    686

    538

    Suffolk

    287

    239

    Surrey

    256

    243

    Sussex

    579

    527

    Thames Valley

    634

    589

    Warwickshire

    151

    137

    West Mercia

    442

    382

    West Midlands

    1,322

    1,107

    West Yorkshire

    1,017

    864

    Wiltshire

    181

    151

    City of London

    133

    108

    Metropolitan

    5,340

    4,899

    Total

    25,885

    22,845

    1987

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    Avon and Somerset

    595

    486

    Bedfordshire

    334

    228

    Cambridgeshire

    317

    257

    Cleveland

    419

    355

    Cumbria

    265

    224

    Derbyshire

    372

    336

    Devon and Cornwall

    615

    553

    Dorset

    250

    195

    Durham

    233

    199

    Dyfed Powys

    214

    172

    Essex

    601

    468

    Gloucestershire

    310

    258

    Greater Manchester

    1,605

    1,378

    Gwent

    394

    291

    Hampshire

    830

    719

    Hertfordshire

    366

    322

    Humberside

    379

    321

    Kent

    598

    540

    Lancashire

    1,015

    820

    Leicestershire

    338

    295

    Lincolnshire

    310

    268

    Merseyside

    933

    687

    Norfolk

    363

    323

    Northamptonshire

    248

    201

    Northumbria

    698

    631

    North Wales

    281

    255

    North Yorkshire

    334

    277

    Nottinghamshire

    627

    579

    South Wales

    871

    687

    South Yorkshire

    664

    534

    Staffordshire

    438

    359

    634

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    Suffolk

    243

    214

    Surrey

    240

    203

    Sussex

    613

    598

    Thames Valley

    581

    548

    Warwickshire

    159

    156

    West Mercia

    478

    393

    West Midlands

    1,379

    1,131

    West Yorkshire

    970

    819

    Wiltshire

    167

    169

    City of London

    192

    99

    Metropolitan

    5,124

    4,572

    Total

    26,371

    22,473

    1988

    Proceeded against

    Found guilty

    Avon and Somerset

    727

    556

    Bedfordshire

    291

    209

    Cambridgeshire

    273

    251

    Cheshire

    456

    391

    Cleveland

    347

    278

    Cumbria

    254

    205

    Derbyshire

    453

    381

    Devon and Cornwall

    642

    571

    Dorset

    306

    243

    Durham

    275

    199

    Dyfed Powys

    197

    161

    Essex

    59l

    446

    Gloucestershire

    311

    292

    Greater Manchester

    1,591

    1,501

    Gwent

    324

    267

    Hampshire

    1,018

    811

    Hertfordshire

    332

    283

    Humberside

    468

    404

    Kent

    552

    504

    Lancashire

    1,070

    869

    Leicestershire

    394

    324

    Lincolnshire

    286

    263

    Merseyside

    998

    713

    Norfolk

    372

    309

    Northamptonshire

    258

    202

    Northumbria

    646

    531

    North Wales

    323

    282

    North Yorkshire

    339

    271

    Nottinghamshire

    546

    503

    South Wales

    966

    738

    South Yorkshire

    703

    564

    Staffordshire

    444

    372

    Suffolk

    258

    210

    Surrey

    306

    242

    Sussex

    740

    579

    Thames Valley

    621

    523

    Warwickshire

    194

    152

    West Mercia

    514

    414

    West Midlands

    1,364

    1,155

    West Yorkshire

    1,189

    945

    Wiltshire

    219

    184

    City of London

    134

    107

    Metropolitan

    4,860

    4,285

    Total

    27,152

    22,690

    Fraud Squad Strengths

    1985

    Avon and Somerset

    10

    0·34

    Bedfordshire

    6

    0·61

    Cambridgeshire

    5

    0·44

    Cheshire

    4

    0·22

    Cleveland

    9

    0·62

    Cumbria

    4

    0·36

    Derbyshire

    8

    0·45

    Devon and Cornwall

    10

    0·36

    635

    Strength

    Per cent.

    Dorset

    5

    0·42

    Durham

    8

    0·62

    Dyfed Powys

    2

    0·22

    Essex

    11

    0·41

    Gloucestershire

    5

    0·43

    Greater Manchester

    19

    0·28

    Gwent

    4

    0·41

    Hampshire

    21

    0·68

    Hertfordshire

    7

    0·44

    Humberside

    12

    0·62

    Kent

    12

    0·42

    Lancashire

    11

    0·37

    Leicestershire

    7

    0·40

    Lincolnshire

    6

    0·53

    Merseyside

    16

    0·35

    Norfolk

    6

    0·48

    Northamptonshire

    3

    0·29

    Northumbria

    12

    0·36

    North Wales

    4

    0·32

    North Yorkshire

    4

    0·30

    Nottinghamshire

    11

    0·50

    South Wales

    13

    0·42

    South Staffordshire

    9

    0·32

    Staffordshire

    7

    0·33

    Suffolk

    6

    0·53

    Surrey

    2

    0·12

    Sussex

    10

    0·36

    Thames Valley

    11

    0·34

    Warwickshire

    7

    0·75

    West Mercia

    8

    0·42

    West Midlands

    34

    0·52

    West Yorkshire

    26

    0·551

    Wiltshire

    4

    0·39

    City of London

    62

    7·93

    Metropolitan

    147

    0·55

    Total

    588

    0·49

    1987

    Strength

    Percentage

    Avon and Somerset

    15

    0·50

    Bedfordshire

    6

    0·60

    Cambridgeshire

    5

    0·43

    Cheshire

    4

    0·22

    Cleveland

    10

    0·68

    Cumbria

    3

    0·26

    Derbyshire

    15

    0·84

    Devon and Cornwall

    10

    0·36

    Dorset

    5

    0·40

    Durham

    5

    0·37

    Dyfed Powys

    3

    0·32

    Essex

    13

    0·48

    Gloucestershire

    5

    0·43

    Greater Manchester

    28

    0·40

    Gwent

    4

    0·41

    Hampshire

    21

    0·67

    Hertfordshire

    7

    0·44

    Humberside

    11

    0·56

    Kent

    11

    0·38

    Lancashire

    10

    0·32

    Leicestershire

    6

    0·34

    Lincolnshire

    6

    0·51

    Merseyside

    18

    0·39

    Norfolk

    6

    0·46

    Northamptonshire

    4

    0·37

    Northumbria

    12

    0·35

    North Wales

    4

    0·31

    North Yorkshire

    4

    0·29

    Nottinghamshire

    13

    0·58

    South Wales

    16

    0·51

    South Yorkshire

    11

    0·37

    Staffordshire

    7

    0·33

    Suffolk

    4

    0·34

    Surrey

    1

    0·06

    Thames Valley

    10

    0·29

    336

    Strength

    Percentage

    Warwickshire

    11

    1·13

    West Mercia

    9

    0·46

    West Midlands

    49

    0·74

    West Yorkshire

    35

    0·67

    Wiltshire

    4

    0·36

    City of London

    52

    6·66

    Metropolitan

    143

    0·52

    Total

    624

    0·51

    1988

    Strength

    Percentage

    Avon and Somerset

    23

    0·77

    Bedfordshire

    8

    0·78

    Cambridgeshire

    5

    0·42

    Cheshire

    6

    0·32

    Cleveland

    8

    0·54

    Cumbria

    3

    0·26

    Derbyshire

    17

    0·95

    Devon and Cornwall

    10

    0·36

    Dorset

    5

    0·41

    Durham

    5

    0·37

    Dyfed Powys

    3

    0·32

    Essex

    14

    0·51

    Gloucestershire

    5

    0·43

    Greater Manchester

    28

    0·41

    Gwent

    5

    0·51

    Hampshire

    20

    0·65

    Hertfordshire

    7

    0·43

    Humberside

    11

    0·56

    Kent

    16

    0·54

    Lancashire

    10

    0·32

    Leicestershire

    6

    0·34

    Lincolnshire

    6

    0·50

    Merseyside

    35

    0·75

    Norfolk

    6

    0·45

    Northamptonshire

    7

    0·64

    Northumbria

    12

    0·35

    North Wales

    4

    0·31

    North Yorkshire

    4

    0·29

    Nottinghamshire

    13

    0·57

    South Wales

    16

    0·51

    South Yorkshire

    12

    0·41

    Staffordshire

    7

    0·33

    Suffolk

    5

    0·42

    Surrey

    3

    0·18

    Sussex

    10

    0·35

    Thames Valley

    12

    0·34

    Warwickshire

    7

    0·72

    West Mercia

    8

    0·41

    West Midlands

    44

    0·65

    West Yorkshire

    36

    0·69

    Wiltshire

    5

    0·46

    City of London

    64

    8·02

    Metropolitan

    135

    0·48

    Total

    666

    0·54

    1989

    Strength

    Percentage

    Avon and Somerset

    27

    0·88

    Bedfordshire

    6

    0·66

    Cambridgeshire

    6

    0·50

    Cheshire

    6

    0·32

    Cleveland

    8

    0·54

    Cumbria

    4

    0·35

    Derbyshire

    15

    0·84

    Devon and Cornwall

    10

    0·35

    Dorset

    12

    0·95

    Durham

    6

    0·44

    Dyfed Powys

    3

    0·32

    Essex

    14

    0·50

    Gloucestershire

    6

    0·52

    Greater Manchester

    31

    0·45

    Gwent

    6

    0·60

    637

    Strength

    Percentage

    Hampshire

    22

    0·71

    Hertfordshire

    7

    0·43

    Humberside

    10

    0·50

    Kent

    16

    0·54

    Lancashire

    10

    0·32

    Leicestershire

    9

    0·51

    Lincolnshire

    11

    0·93

    Merseyside

    29

    0·62

    Norfolk

    6

    0·44

    Northamptonshire

    7

    0·63

    Northumbria

    12

    0·34

    North Wales

    4

    0·30

    North Yorkshire

    4

    0·29

    Nottinghamshire

    13

    0·56

    South Wales

    16

    0·51

    South Yorkshire

    14

    0·48

    Staffordshire

    7

    0·32

    Suffolk

    6

    0·51

    Surrey

    4

    0·24

    Sussex

    12

    0·41

    Thames Valley

    12

    0·33

    Warwickshire

    8

    0·82

    West Mercia

    8

    0·41

    West Midlands

    54

    0·79

    West Yorkshire

    39

    0·75

    Wiltshire

    6

    0·54

    City of London

    63

    8·03

    Metropolitan

    143

    0·51

    Total

    712

    0·57

    Race Relations Act
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have been made by the police since 1980 under section 70 of the Race Relations Act 1976 in respect of written material likely to incite racial hatred;

    (2) how many requests have been made to the police since 1980 under section 70 of the Race Relations Act 1976 in respect of written material likely to incite racial hatred but where the police have taken no notice concerning the request.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    Prosecutions in respect of written material likely to incite racial hatred are brought by or with the consent of the Attorney-General. Since 1980 there have been 60 such prosecutions. These have been under section 5A of the Public Order Act 1936 introduced by section 70 of the Race Relations Act 1976, section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986, which replaced section 5A of the Public Order Act 1936 with regard to the publication or distribution of written material, or section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, which relates to conspiracy to commit offences.

    Information on the number of complaints that have been made to the police since 1980 about material likely to incite racial hatred or the ensuing prosecutions is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Asylum
    Mr. Bernie Grant
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the Turkish Kurdish asylum seekers who sought entry in May and June 1989(a) are still to be interviewed and (b) have been interviewed but no decision has yet been made;
    638
    (2) whether he will make a statement on the length of time it is taking for initial decisions to be reached in the case of the Turkish Kurdish asylum seekers who came to the United Kingdom in May and June 1989.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    Of the 3,700 Turkish nationals who claimed asylum on arrival in April, May and June 1989, some 1,900 claimed asylum in their own right and their dependants will have their cases decided accordingly. A special unit has been established which is conducting 40 interviews each week. Some 1,500 applicants have now been interviewed and initial decisions taken in the majority of cases. On 30 March 1990, in 134 cases interviews had been conducted but no decision reached.

    We expect to complete most of the remaining interviews and to reach initial decisions on their cases by the end of May. The timetable for interviews has been agreed with solicitors representing the applicants.

    Correspondence (MEPs)
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the honourable Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    Since 18 June 1989, I have received 44 communications from Members of the European Parliament concerning local or United Kingdom matters. Where members of the European Parliament raise matters which are exclusively of local interest, the practice is to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As to other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

    Wales (Official Visits)
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the dates on which he has made an official visit to Wales since his appointment to his present post.

    Mr. Waddington
    I visited Wales on 19 February 1990 when I addressed a conference on alcohol and disorder in Newport. I also met organisers and members of the Gwent victims support group on that day.

    Serious Disorder, London
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis giving details of the intelligence information available to the Metropolitan police prior to the protest march on Saturday 31 March in London against the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    No. The Commissioner will consider any relevant information as part of his review of the events on 31 March.

    Voluntary Sector Funding
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report of the efficiency scrutiny of Government funding of the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waddington
    The report has been published today. The Government value highly the great contribution made by voluntary bodies to individuals, the communities in which they live and work, and their environment. Effective voluntary organisations channel the energies of individuals to help themselves and others. They meet people's needs imaginatively. They encourage individual and community responsibility.

    The Government already support the voluntary sector on a very large scale. In 1988–89 Government grants exceeded £2 billion. This money must be used for good purposes; and it must be used efficiently. The report of the efficiency scrutiny of Government funding of the voluntary sector provides a basis for improving arrangements to secure this.

    The Government will continue to provide funds for efficiently managed voluntary organisations which provide worthwhile services, yield practical benefits and meet other valuable objectives. Support for the voluntary organisations involves a partnership between the public sector, the corporate sector and individual donors. We have made tax concessions to encourage this. Voluntary bodies should be encouraged to raise more money from private and corporate donations: it would, clearly, be damaging to the whole nature of voluntary effort if voluntary bodies were to become over-dependent on public funding.

    Government funding for voluntary bodies will be governed by a number of principles:
    They will support organisations which can achieve a direct practical effect: for example, assisting disabled people; improving the environment; providing skills for the unemployed.
    Projects and bodies receiving Government money must uphold accepted ethical standards: for example to support family life.
    Government financial support for voluntary bodies should help to achieve the overall policies of Departments: they must carefully determine how this should be done.
    The opportunity which voluntary bodies give ordinary people to make an active contribution to the life of the community is one of their important strengths. One of the factors to be taken into account in Goverment support to voluntary bodies should therefore be the extent to which they use or encourage volunteers.
    Any campaigning in which voluntary bodies engage must be ancillary to their objectives as required by charity law. Government grant conditions will, therefore, take this fully into account.
    Government funding will normally be for specific services or for projects limited to a particular period. It will be subject to review as policies evolve with changing circumstances; though where a body has a continuing role in achieving particular policy goals or provides services for other voluntary organisations Goverment funding for the body's administrative core costs may in certain circumstances be appropriate.
    Departments funding voluntary bodies will monitor the results obtained from their funding and have regard to the efficiency with which the body is administered and the costs of its administration.

    In the light of these principles Departments will take action to review their funding programmes. They will prepare action plans which will be considered in July by the ministerial group on the voluntary sector chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State.

    Mr. John Stalker
    Sir John Wheeler
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has completed his consideration of the document handed to his private secretary on 25 January by Mr. John Stalker; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waddington
    I have now completed my study of this document, which is a typed copy of manuscript notes from the diary of Sir John Hermon, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, relating to the period 16 May 1986 to 2 June 1986. I have also further examined the statement which Mr. Stalker issued to the press at the same time.

    Mr. Stalker drew particular attention to two entries in Sir John Hermon's diary. The first, under the heading "18 May 1986—Sunday", records a telephone call to Sir John from Sir Philip Myers, Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary. At the end the following words appear: "Mentioned a CC seeing BS RA TK and that DH was au fait with developments". Sir John Hermon has confirmed that the persons referred to by their initials were Sir Barry Shaw, then Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, Sir Robert Andrew, then Permanent Under-Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, then Secretary of State for the Home Department. Sir John has also confirmed that "a CC" meant a chief constable and that he did not, at that time, know the identity of that chief constable. He was, however, in no doubt that Sir Philip was talking about future contacts between a chief constable and the persons identified by their initials.

    Sir Philip Myers has confirmed that the chief constable, to whom he referred but did not name in the conversation recorded by Sir John Hermon, was in fact Mr. Colin Sampson, then Chief Constable of the West Yorkshire police who was subsequently to replace Mr. Stalker as leader of the inquiry in Northern Ireland. Mr. Sampson has confirmed that he knew nothing about the possibility that Mr. Stalker might be the subject of an investigation before he attended a meeting at Scarborough on 19 May chaired by the then chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Lawrence Byford. The other persons present at that meeting were Sir Philip Myers, Mr. James Anderton, Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police, Mr. Ralph Lees, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police, and a staff officer. That was the meeting at which Mr. Anderton decided to refer certain information relating to Mr. Stalker to his police authority.

    Against this background, it is a matter for regret that, in his published statement of 25 January, Mr. Stalker misquoted Sir John Hermon's diary entry so as to make it refer to Sir Philip Myers telling him that "a Chief Constable has seen BS RA and TK and that DH was au fait with developments", with a clear implication that the entry referred to events that had already taken place. In fact, Mr. Sampson had at that time seen none of the persons to whom Sir John was referring.

    As regards the words "DH was au fait with developments", it would have been perfectly natural for Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary to have informed the Home Secretary that problems were arising in relation to Mr. Stalker's position, but there is now no

    641
    other record to show whether he did so before 19 May. My right hon. Friend's recollection is that he was first informed after 19 May.

    The second diary entry to which Mr. Stalker has drawn special attention appears under the heading "May 30. 1986—Friday". It contains the following words "Expressed concern regarding structure of enquiry. Clearly collusion between PM/RA/CS and DPP. I must hold the line". By the time this entry was made, Mr. Stalker had already been placed on extended leave. Sir John Hermon has confirmed that this was a reference to the arrangements for the appointment of a replacement for Mr. Stalker and to arrangements for the continuance of the inquiry, about which he felt, at that time, that he was not being adequately consulted. He has also said publicly that nothing sinister should be read into the "collusion" in this context and that he regrets both its use and the subsequent publication of what were intended to be purely personal notes. I am entirely satisfied that, contrary to the assertion made by Mr. Stalker in his statement of 25 January, Sir John Hermon's diary entry for 30 May 1986 had nothing whatever to do with Mr. Stalker's removal from the inquiry in Northern Ireland.

    The facts leading to the removal of Mr. Stalker from the Royal Ulster Constabulary investigation are straightforward. During the course of a criminal investigation in Greater Manchester unconnected with the inquiry in Northern Ireland, information came to light which cast doubt on Mr. Stalker's conduct. The information was referred to the Greater Manchester police authority, which decided that there should be an investigation into the conduct of Mr. Stalker and placed him on leave of absence. They were the disciplinary authority for Mr. Stalker, and the decision was entirely a matter for them. An officer who is under investigation himself cannot continue an investigation into the actions of officers in another force, since doubts about his probity must cast doubt on any work which he does. Mr. Stalker therefore had to be replaced as leader of the investigation in Northern Ireland.

    Computer Fraud
    Mr. Steinberg
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the amount of money stolen by computer fraud in 1989; and what measures are being taken to combat this type of crime.

    Mr. Forth
    I have been asked to reply.

    Information on computer fraud is not collected centrally, and an estimate cannot therefore be made with any degree of accuracy. However, it is clear from anecdotal evidence that computer fraud and the broader problem of computer misuse are sufficiently widespread to be of concern.

    My hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) is sponsoring a private Member's Bill to strengthen the criminal law to deal with these issues. The Bill is currently before Parliament, and my Department is giving Mr. Colvin all the support it properly can. We have also launched a three-year awareness programme to emphasise the importance of good computer security.

    Criminal Justice
    Mr. Janner
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the organisations and individuals that have made submissions to him since the publication and on the subject of "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", the Government's proposal for legislation.

    Mr. John Patten
    [holding answer 30 March 1990]: We invited comments by 30 April and we have already had an encouraging response. As soon as possible after that date, I shall let the hon. and learned Gentleman know which organisations have commented.

  WALES

    Sewage Outfalls
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many short sea outfalls known to his Department discharge untreated sewage into the sea around the Welsh coast.

    Mr. Grist
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 8 November 1989, Vol. 159, column 649.

    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information his Department holds on the future plans by Welsh Water plc for constructing long sea outfalls around the Welsh coast; and if he will give the Ordnance Survey grid references for each such site.

    Mr. Grist
    The future plans of Welsh Water plc are a matter for that company.

    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the other participants in the research into sea waters contaminated by sewage, referred to in his reply of 31 October 1988,Official Report, column 550; and what progress has been made in the research.

    Mr. Grist
    The working group advising on the conducting of the research include officials from the Department of the Environment, Department of Health, Scottish Development Department, Welsh Office and HMIP and representatives from the public health laboratory service, Water Services Association, Water Research Centre, Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre, the Robens Institute, the university of Wales, Altwell Ltd. and the National Rivers Authority. The first report is due to be presented soon.

    Council of Ministers
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to attend any meetings of the European Council of Ministers.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    It has not been the normal practice of Welsh Office Ministers to attend meetings of the European Council of Ministers. I have, of course, met members of the European Commission to discuss issues of importance to Wales, and I am in close touch with developments.

    Bathing Waters
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to require Welsh Water plc to erect signs on those bathing beaches that have failed to comply with the 1976 EEC bathing waters directive.

    Mr. Grist
    No.

    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that all bathing waters in Wales comply with the 1976 EEC bathing waters directive by the summer of 1992.

    Mr. Grist
    The £96·8 million investment programme which has been agreed with Dwr Cymru should ensure that all bathing waters in Wales listed under the directive comply with its bacteriological standards by 1995. A list of the individual schemes has been placed in the Library.

    Water Prices
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the percentage increase above the retail prices index that the price of water will rise in the year 1991–92 within the area served by Welsh Water plc.

    Mr. Grist
    Dwr Cymru will be allowed to increase the average of its principal charges by the percentage change in the retail price index plus an adjustment factor of 6·5 per cent. in 1991–92.

    Alzheimer's Disease
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to inform general practitioners of the eligibility for community charge exemption of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia.

    Mr. Grist
    The acting chief medical officer wrote to all doctors in Wales on 10 November 1989 to give them information and guidance about the certification procedure for exemptions from the personal community charge on grounds of severe mental impairment. The ACMO's letter, a copy of which I am placing in the Library, included guidance on the criteria according to which severe mental impairment is to be judged.

    Viruses
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial contribution his Department has made to the study into the survival rates of viruses in sea water.

    Mr. Grist
    The Department contributed £27,757 towards a study, funded jointly with the Welsh water authority, by Dr. J. M. Tyler concerning viruses in sea and fresh water.

    Motor Neurone Disease
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if(a) L-Threonine and (b) branch chain amino acids are available for the treatment of motor neurone disease in the National Health Service; and how many people in Wales suffer from motor neurone disease.

    Mr. Grist
    Under National Health Service regulations medical practitioners have freedom to prescribe whatever 644
    drugs are considered to be clinically necessary for the treatment of their patients except those items which are included under the selected list scheme. Foods and food supplements are not normally prescribable and branch chain amino acids, which include L-Threonine, are more properly classified as foods. Doctors can, however, prescribe food supplements where these are, in their clinical judgment, necessary for the treatment of patients, but they may be required to justify their prescribing to the district medical committee.

    Exact information on how many people suffer from motor neurone disease is not held centrally.

    British Steel
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit British Steel, Shotton.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    I have no immediate plans to do so.

    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to meet the chairman of British Steel.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    I met him on 19 March.

    Toxic Waste
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit toxic waste tips in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Grist
    Members of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution visit licensed waste disposal sites in the course of their duties as necessary.

    Aberystwyth-Machynlleth Road
    Mr. Geraint Howells
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to improve the trunk road from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Roberts
    The A487 Furnace Bridge-Eglwys Fach improvement scheme is programmed to start after April 1994, as indicated in table 6 of "Roads in Wales—Progress and Plans for the 1990s".

    Local Government Finance
    Mr. Geraint Howells
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to how many extra staff have been employed by local authorities in Dyfed and Powys for the administration of the poll tax system; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Grist
    This information is not held centrally.

    Aberystwyth (Bypass)
    Mr. Geraint Howells
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to build a bypass in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Roberts
    No. One hundred per cent. principal road grant assistance has been approved for improvements to the A4120, a local authority road, which helps to remove through traffic from Aberystwyth. A study of the road network in the Aberystwyth area is also being undertaken in conjunction with Dyfed county council.

    Queensferry High School
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Queensferry high school consequent upon Clwyd county council's decision to close Queensferry high school.

    Mr. Roberts
    I have no plans to do so.

    Flooding, North Wales
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra subvention he will pay to the borough councils of north Wales whose territory was affected by the March 1990 sea inundation; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to him on 14 March—Volume 169, columns 243-44—and am keeping the situation under review.

    Workers Educational Association
    Mr. Nicholas Bennett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has completed his review of the funding of the Workers Educational Association in Wales.

    Mr. Roberts
    The Workers Educational Association has played an important role in the provision of adult liberal education in Wales for many years. There continues to be a need for this type of provision and I have concluded that in the context of the educational scene in Wales, Welsh Office support for Workers Educational Association activity in Wales should continue. Discussions will be held with the Workers Educational Association however on establishing a new funding regime which reflects more directly the level of course provision and student participation in Wales.

    Parent Teachers Associations
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has met the parent teacher associations of Wales.

    Mr. Roberts
    [holding answer 3 April 1990]: I addressed the annual general meeting of the parent teacher associations of Wales in November 1987.

  EMPLOYMENT

    Tourism
    Mr. Speller
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which professional bodies within the hotel and catering industry he consults when matters relating to tourism are under consideration.

    Mr. Nicholls
    My right hon. and learned Friend consults those organisations which are appropriate for the issue under consideration.

    Young People (Earnings)
    Ms. Short
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the most recent figures derived from the 1989 New Earnings Survey, showing the average weekly gross earnings not affected by absence, full-time, for 16-year-olds and for 17-year-olds.
    646
    Mr. Nicholls
    The information requested is provided in the following table:

    Average gross weekly earnings April 1989

    1Age

    All employees

    16

    £85·9

    17

    £98·9

    1 As at 1 January 1989.

    Note: Full-time employees, earnings not affected by absence.

    Training Courses
    Ms. Armstrong
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what system of quality control he envisages for training courses run by private training organisations or by employers under his announced system of training credits.

    Mr. Nicholls
    The operation of training credit schemes will be the responsibility of training and enterprise councils (TECs) which are invited to submit bids for approval to run pilot schemes against the criteria set out in "Training Credits for Young People: A Prospectus". In all cases training will have to be to approved standards and skill levels.

    In particular, the schemes will have to ensure training that leads at a minimum to qualifications at or equivalent to the second level of the framework established by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. Employers and others who provide training under the credit scheme will have to meet the same quality criteria which apply more generally under youth training. The schemes will be aimed at demanding targets for participation by young people, levels of skills attainment and jobs with training.

    There will be vigorous, regular monitoring and evaluation of the schemes including visits by the training standards and advisory service, and follow-up of all young people when they leave the credit schemes.

    Channel Tunnel
    Mr. Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secetary of State for Employment whether any members of staff of the Health and Safety Executive have examined the accident books from the Channel tunnel sites; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls
    Regulation 7 of the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 places duties on employers and others to keep records of every event which is required to be reported under the regulations to the appropriate enforcing authority. Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have examined samples of the record kept by the Channel tunnel contractors and are satisfied that the contractors have complied with the requirements of the regulations.

    Training Vouchers
    Mrs. Gorman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received regarding his training vouchers scheme.

    Mr. Nicholls
    My right hon. and learned Friend has received a considerable number of representations from a range of interested organisations, all of which have expressed support for the scheme of training credits for young people.

    Unemployed People (Advice)
    Mr. Andrew Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to improve the help and advice given to unemployed people by the employment service; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Howard
    I have today agreed with the employment service a number of changes which extend and improve the present system of offering counselling and advice to unemployed people. These changes will be of particular benefit to those who have been unemployed for over six months.

    The changes are aimed at those unemployed people who are prepared to get back to work but have not been able to do so and also at making sure that the recent legislative changes which require those in receipt of benefit to be actively seeking work are properly enforced.

    The main points where improvements to the present system will be made are:
    a back to work plan agreed with the adviser which gives individual guidance for each unemployed person on how best to find work. This will be reviewed and revised at regular intervals. Accompanying it will be a new booklet emphasising that the need to look for work is a fundamental responsibility of everyone who expects to receive unemployment benefits and giving general guidance on how best to go about it;
    a new advisory interview after 13 weeks of unemployment with a check on activity in looking for a job and subsequent help for those who have been unable to get work even though their skills are in demand in the local labour market;
    a unified advisory service which will abolish the increasingly artificial distinction between restart counsellors and claimant advisers and enhance the support that the employment service can give to unemployed people. In particular, the employment service will aim to ensure that each unemployed person after the fresh claims stage is seen by the same adviser during any period of unemployment;
    a more systematic follow-up of those who do not take up places on employment training, in job clubs or on restart courses even though they have agreed to do so. Advisers will be given a caseload of unemployed people whom they will re-interview if necessary so that the reasons behind individual decisions can be checked and further advice and action considered;
    extra intensive counselling and advice for those who have been unemployed for two years.

    Taken together, these measures will improve the effectiveness of the help that the employment service is able to give to unemployed people in getting them away from dependency on benefit and into work or other opportunities that will improve their chances of getting a job.

    Skill Centres
    Mr. Cryer
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the skill centres to be sold and the purchasers in each case; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Eggar
    [holding answer 3 April 1990]: The following list includes details placed in the Vote Office on 13 February concerning the successful bids by Astra Training Services Ltd and Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd, together with information provided in answers to my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Stewart) (Official Report, 28 February 1990, column 249), and my hon. Friends the Members for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Franks) (Official
    648
    Report, 7 March 1990, column 672) and for Hexham (Mr. Amos) (Official Report, 13 March 1990, column 216) concerning the successful bids by Mr. J. James, a consortium headed by Mr. Christopher Lakin, and Training Business Ltd. It lists skill centres, and other units within the Skills Training Agency, which are to be sold and the successful bidder in each case. There will be no more sales of training businesses.

    To Astra Training Services Limited Management Buy-out Team

    Head Office—Sheffield

    Anglesey Outreach

    Barking Skillcentre

    Basildon Skillcentre

    Bellshill Skillcentre

    Billingham Skillcentre

    Birmingham Skillcentre

    Bradford Skillcentre

    Bristol Skillcentre

    Cardiff Skillcentre

    Cardiff Bay Outreach

    Catrine Outreach

    Cheshire Skillcentre (Runcorn)

    Chesterfield Skillcentre

    Coventry Skillcentre

    Deptford Skillcentre

    Derby Outreach

    Dundee Skillcentre

    Dunfermline Skillcentre

    Durham Skillcentre

    Edinburgh Skillcentre

    Enfield Skillcentre

    (Business only, transferring to site of former Annexe)

    Gloucester Skillcentre

    Gwent Skillcentre (Newport)

    Millington Skillcentre (and Instructor Training College)

    Hull Skillcentre

    Irvine Skillcentre

    Leeds Skillcentre

    Leicester Skillcentre

    Letchworth Training College (not Skillcentre)

    Manchester Skillcentre

    Medway Skillcentre (Gillingham)

    Milton Keynes Skillcentre

    North Staffs Skillcentre (Stoke-on-Trent)

    Norwich Skillcentre

    Nottingham Skillcentre

    Peterborough Skillcentre

    Plymouth Skillcentre

    Preston Skillcentre

    Redruth Skillcentre

    Rochdale Skillcentre

    Salisbury Outreach

    Scunthorpe Training Centre

    Sheffield Skillcentre

    Slough Skillcentre

    Sneinton Outreach

    Somerset Training Centre (Bridgewater)

    Southampton Skillcentre (not Millbrook Skillcentre)

    Stafford Outreach

    Swindon Skillcentre

    Telford Outreach

    Tyneside Skillcentre (Newcastle)

    Wakefield Skillcentre

    West Glamorgan Skillcentre (Port Talbot)

    West Sussex Skillcentre (Lancing)

    Wigan Skillcentre

    Wolverhampton Skillcentre

    Wrexhan Skillcentre

    Mobile Training Service

    Sales Teams

    To METEL (Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd)

    Liverpool Skillcentre

    To Mr. James

    649

    Gas and Water Safety Training business presently located at Letchworth Skillcentre

    To Consortium headed by Mr. C. Lakin

    Cumbria Skillcentre (Maryport)

    East Lanes Skillcentre (Accrington)

    Ipswich Skillcentre

    St. Helens Skillcentre

    To the Training Business

    Lambeth Skillcentre

    Skills Training Agency
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what response the Minister of State has had about his offer to meet representatives of the trade unions about position papers prepared by bidders for the Skills Training Agency, together with assessments by the Government Actuary's Department of the successful bidders' pension proposals.

    Mr. Eggar
    [Pursuant to his reply, 20 March, Official Report, c. 573]: I met representatives of the STA trade unions on 16 March.

    Education Building Projects
    Mr. Mallon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the major capital building projects carried out by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland in each year since 1980; and if he will list those capital projects currently scheduled to start over the next five years.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    Major capital building projects are not carried out by the Department of Education. However, I am sending to the hon. Gentleman and copying to the Library details of major capital building projects carried out by various bodies which were approved for grant aid by the Department of Education in the financial years 1980–81 to 1989–90. Information on capital projects currently scheduled to start in the 1990–91 financial year is also included; projects starting in the next four years are not known at this stage.

    Culture
    Mr. Beggs
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of expenditure incurred to date related to the cultural traditions programme in Northern Ireland.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    Since the cultural traditions programme was introduced the Department of Education and the central community relations unit have incurred the following expenditure:

    Department of Education

    £000

    Arts Council

    Various drama, music, dance and story-telling projects and local arts festivals

    140

    Ulster Museum

    "Kings in Conflict" Exhibition and production of associated work-packs for schools

    95

    Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

    (i) Completion and conversion of Cluan Place Terrace to schools residential accommodation

    (ii) Initial work towards the production of an Ulster Dialect Dictionary

    105

    Ulster-American Folk Park

    (i) Secondment of teacher to develop classroom materials on the emigration theme

    650

    Department of Education

    £000

    (ii) Feasibility study relating to possible establishment of schools residential accommodation

    (iii) Fees for guide/lecturers.

    50

    Institute of Irish Studies

    Part publication of Ordnance Survey Memoirs and support for salary of part-time researcher and assistant in this field

    11

    BBC

    "Today and Yesterday" Festival for primary schools at Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

    9

    Old Museum Building

    Contribution towards refurbishment costs to enable building to open for local community arts activities

    30

    Education for Mutual Understanding Programme

    Production of materials for use in the classroom, by Stranmillis Training College and others

    80

    Central Community Relations Unit:

    Publications Subsidy Scheme

    Support for cultural traditions publications

    100

    Media Support

    Local history programmes, cross-community drama

    81

    Ulster Local History Trust Fund

    Support for publications by local history groups

    125

    Irish Language Support

    Ultach Trust and adult education programmes

    86

    Cars
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the purpose of the annual inspection of cars aged five years and over; and what are the statutory responsibilities of car owners.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    The annual visual inspection of vehicles by officers of the Department of the Environment is to ensure that on the date of inspection the requirements of the Construction and Use Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976 are complied with.

    This does not absolve the owner/user from his obligation, under article 29 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, to ensure that the vehicle complies at all times in all respects with the Construction and Use Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976.

    The issue of a vehicle test certificate should not be relied upon as indicating the condition of particular test items of the vehicle other than at the moment of issue.

  HEALTH

    Mental Hospitals
    Mr. Gould
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update information given in the answer to the hon. Member for Dagenham on 20 March 1987,Official Report, column 669.

    Mr. Freeman
    The tables list mental illness hospitals with over 200 beds which we are aware were approved far closure in 1988, hospitals which were closed between 1987 and 1989 inclusive and those mental illness hospitals which health authorities plan to close by about 1995. No mental illness hospitals with over 200 beds were approved far closure in 1989.
    651

    Table 1—mental illness hospitals with over 200 beds, approved for closure, following public consultation.

    Number of beds

    Date closure approved

    Yorkshire

    Clifton Hospital

    303

    March 1998

    Table 2—Mental illness hospitals closed between 1987 and 1989.

    Number of beds

    Yorkshire

    Naburn Hospital, Near York

    —

    Trent

    Saxondale Hospital

    —

    St John's Hospital, Lincolnshire

    —

    South Western

    Horton Road Hospital

    —

    Digby Hospital, Exeter

    —

    West Midlands

    Powick Hospital, Worcester

    —

    Middlewood Hospital, Sheffield

    606

    Towers Hospital, Leicestershire

    394

    Kingsway Hospital, Southern Derbyshire

    363

    East Anglian

    St Audry's Hospital, Woodbridge

    372

    St Nicholas' Hospital, Great Yarmouth and Waverney

    131

    St Andrews, Norwich

    335

    North East Thames

    Friern Hospital1

    673

    Claybury Hospital

    722

    South East Thames

    Cane Hill Hospital

    343

    Tooting Bec Hospital

    420

    Hellingly Hospital

    154

    St Augustines Hospital

    235

    South West Thames

    Long, Grove Hospital, Epsom

    404

    Brookwood Hospital

    489

    Wessex

    Whitecroft Hospital

    75

    Herrison Hospital, Dorchester

    263

    Old Manor Hospital1

    216

    Oxford

    St John's Hospital, Aylesbury

    282

    St Crispin's Hospital, Northampton

    263

    Littlemore Hospital, Oxford

    226

    West Midlands

    Barnsley Hall Hospital, Bromsgrove and Redditch

    169

    Rubery Hill Hospital, South Birmingham

    211

    Central Hospital, South Warwickshire

    298

    Hollymoor Hospital, Solihull

    279

    Mersey

    Rainhill Hospital

    487

    Parkside Hospital

    485

    Winwick Hospital

    815

    North Westrn

    North Manchester (Springfield) Hospital1

    145

    Northern

    St Mary's, Stannington

    495

    South Western

    Mendip Hospital

    96

    Moorhaven Hospital

    157

    652

    1 With some facilities remaining on site.

    HIV
    Mr. Cummings
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people there are in the northen region who are HIV positive because of contaminated blood transfusions.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    At the end of 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of people in Northern region who had been reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre as being HIV positive as a result of contaminated blood transfusions was greater than zero but less than 10. In line with the procedure followed in reports under the AIDS (Control) Act, to safeguard confidentiality, the actual figures in this range are not published.

    Drugs
    Mr. Michael Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) of 26 March,Official Report, column 46, whose forecast increase in the cost of drugs will be used in deciding the factor to set indicative drug budgets for general practitioners.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    The Department will give 372 annual guidance on the allowance to be made for the forecast increase in the cost of drugs when setting indicative drug budgets for the following year.

    Wales (Official Visits)
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the dates on which he has made an official visit to Wales since his appointment to his present post.

    Mr. Kenneth Clarke
    Responsibility for the health services in Wales lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. I have therefore made no official visits to Wales as Secretary of State for Health.

    Family Planning
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support is being given by his Department to the Family Planning Association and Brook Advisory Centre.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    Section 64 grants to both organisations are being renewed for the three-years ending 31 March 1993. The Family Planning Association will receive £165,000 in 1990–91, £130,000 in 1991–92 and £100,000 in 1992–93 from the Department of Health towards their headquarters administrative expenditure and regional activities. Financial support will also be provided by the health departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The equivalent grant for the last three-year period was £130,000 per annum.

    For the period 1990–1993 the grant to Brook will be maintained at the existing level of £45,000 per annum. This funding goes towards its headquarters administrative 145 costs, including the education and information activities designed to encourage responsible attitudes to personal relationships among young people under 25 and the co-ordination of the local Brook centres working directly with young people. In addition to the core grant a further award of £20,000 per annum for each of three years is being made to fund a new development officer post.
    653
    The conditions attaching to these organisations' grants, in relation to expenditure, activities and liaison with Government Departments, will continue to apply.

    Occupational Therapy
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the manpower planning advisory group on the future supply of occupational therapists has reported; if he will make it his policy to place its report in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    The manpower planning advisory group expects to report on occupational therapy skill mix and supply issues shortly. When the report is ready. I shall arrange for a copy of it to be placed in the Library.

    Pesticide Exposure
    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ability of doctors within the National Health Service to diagnose pesticide exposure.

    Mr. Freeman
    All doctors receive training during their undergraduate and postgraduate years in the diagnosis of acute poisoning, for instance by pesticides. In addition all general practitioners and hospital accident and emergency departments were issued with a copy of the book, "Pesticide Poisoning". This gives guidance on the diagnosis and treatment if acute poisoning from pesticides is suspected. If a doctor requires further advice on poisoning he can contact any of the five national poisons information centres, which offer a 24-hour service.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence is available to his Department of any connection between pesticides and Parkinson's disease.

    Mr. Freeman
    We have no conclusive evidence of any connection between pesticides and Parkinson's disease. Some recent preliminary research has shown that in individuals with an inherited tendency to metabolise in a restricted way certain classes of biochemical compounds, including some pesticides, there could be a link with degenerative nervous diseases like Parkinson's disease. The results are inconclusive and work continues.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent research has been carried out in the United Kingdom on the health effects of pesticide exposure.

    Mr. Freeman
    The Department of Health does not hold comprehensive information centrally about independent research carried out in the United Kingdom on the health effects of pesticide exposure. Nevertheless, medical staff in this Department keep abreast of developments published in relevant scientific journals.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has of a connection between pesticides and cot deaths.

    Mr. Freeman
    We are not aware of any evidence suggesting a connection between cot deaths and pesticides. A diagnosis of cot death, or more specifically sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is made when, after careful 654
    inquiry and through pathological examination, no specific cause of death can be found. In such circumstances it is not, of course, possible to be certain that some unidentified toxic agent has not contributed to a premature death. However, the epidemiological characteristics of SIDS, as a whole, are not consistent with a direct connection with pesticides.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what routine blood tests are available to determine levels of pesticide within an individual's blood.

    Mr. Freeman
    There is no evidence that blood tests for pesticide levels would be of benefit to symptomless individuals. Where patients present with symptoms which could be due to poisoning, for instance by pesticide, clinicians have access to local and supra-regional pathology laboratories. Laboratory staff carry out blood tests necessary to aid diagnosis and treatment.

    Correspondence (MEPs)
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

    Mr. Freeman
    We have had 30 such letters. Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice should be to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

    NHS Buildings
    Mr. Robin Cook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the proportion of National Health Service buildings constructed(a) before 1890, (b) before 1918, (c)between 1919 and 1939, (d) between 1940 and 1964 and (e) after 1965.

    Mr. Freeman
    Up-to-date information on the age profile of the estate is not held centrally.

    Agency Staff
    Mr. Robin Cook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the amount spent on(a) agency nurses and (b) agency clerical and administrative staff for 1987–88 for each district health authority, special health authority and regional health authority and England as a whole.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    Information derived from annual accounts submitted to the Department for 1987–88 is shown in a table which has been placed in the Library.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 29 March at columns 318-20.

    NHS Consultants
    Mr. Robin Cook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the date and details of the last occasion on which the breach of contract by a National Health Service consultant was reported to him.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    Allegations of breach of contract by an NHS consultant are a matter for the employing authority, and are not necessarily reported to the Department. Any such information affecting particular individuals is treated in confidence.

    Mr. Robin Cook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that hospital consultants honour their National Health Service contracts.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    This is primarily a matter for employing authorities. "Working for Patients" and its associated working paper 7 announced the Government's proposal to introduce fuller job descriptions for all hospital consultants to improve their accountability. Discussions with the profession are not yet completed. We intend to issue guidance to health authorities advising them to define more clearly the scope of consultants' duties, which will help to ensure that all consultants fulfil their NHS commitments.

    Mr. Robin Cook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any districts have taken action to deal with consultants who may have breached their National Health Service contract in the last year.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
    This information is not collected centrally. Questions about consultants' fulfil-ment of their NHS contracts are a matter for resolution by employing authorities.

    Privatisation
    Mr. Dobson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979–80 and in each subsequent year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91.

    Mr. Kenneth Clarke
    [holding answer 12 March 1990]: No expenditure prior to 1986–87 has been identified. Expenditure in 1986–87 and subsequent years has been incurred for work by professional advisors on the sale of the General Practice Finance Corporation. The expenditure for each year is as follows:

    £

    1986–87

    23,000

    1987–88

    37,800

    1988–89

    174,621

    1989–90

    414,000

    The figure for 1989–90 is estimated.

    All expenditure up to and including 1988–89 has been from a joint Health and Social Security budget.

    There are no plans for any expenditure in 1990–91.

  SCOTLAND

    Firearm Licences
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firearm licences have been revoked in Scotland in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    Sections 30 and 52 of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended by section 12 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 provide powers to revoke firearm and shotgun certificates. The number of revocations in Scotland, since 1980, the earliest year for which figures are readily available, are as follows:

    Year

    Firearm

    Shotgun

    1980

    27

    59

    1981

    20

    52

    1982

    23

    66

    1983

    16

    54

    1984

    25

    67

    1985

    39

    99

    1986

    25

    69

    1987

    31

    101

    1988

    39

    142

    1989

    36

    124

    Local Government Finance
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish pensioners have written to him since the Budget supporting the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations from pensioners about different aspects of the community charge since the Budget statement.

    Violent Crime
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the numbers of violent crimes where firearms have been involved in each year since 1979.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    I refer the hon. Member to the annual bulletins published by the Scottish Home and Health Department under the title "Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland", which give a comprehensive analysis of offences involving firearms including information on categories of firearms used, type of offence committed, and so on. The latest bulletin, which gives the figures for 1988, was published as SHHD statistical bulletin No. 4/1989. A copy is in the Library.

    Departmental Employees
    Mr. Home Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of people employed by his Department, including full-time and part-time employees and consultants.

    Mr. Rifkind
    The March 1990 figures for staff employed in the Scottish Office, Scottish prison service and the four minor Departments for which I am responsible (Scottish Record Office, General Register Office (Scotland), Department of the Registers of Scotland and the Scottish Courts Administration) are as follows:
    657

    Department

    Full-Time

    Part-Time

    Total

    Scottish Office

    6,173

    228

    6,401

    Scottish Prison Service

    3,855

    34

    3,889

    Scottish Record Office

    108

    11

    119

    General Register Office

    289

    28

    317

    Department of Registers

    987

    20

    1,007

    Scottish Courts Administration

    899

    61

    960

    Total

    12,311

    382

    12,693

    In addition, the Scottish Office has current contracts with 144 individual consultants or with consultancy firms. The Scottish prison service similarly has 29 such arrangements.

    Hepatitis B
    Mr. Wallace
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding newly reported cases of persons infected by the hepatitis B virus in each health board area in Scotland in each of the last five years.

    Mr. Michael Forsyth
    The number of reported cases of persons infected by the hepatitis B virus in each of the last five years is set out in the table:

    Health Board

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1989

    Argyll and Clyde

    29

    27

    9

    2

    8

    Ayrshire and Arran

    18

    12

    4

    7

    4

    Borders

    1

    1

    0

    1

    0

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1

    1

    0

    0

    0

    Fife

    2

    1

    3

    3

    5

    Forth Valley

    24

    12

    3

    4

    5

    Grampian

    69

    32

    34

    24

    14

    Greater Glasgow

    371

    231

    151

    174

    180

    Highland

    9

    7

    3

    2

    3

    Lanarkshire

    26

    24

    8

    5

    6

    Lothian

    101

    72

    53

    35

    35

    Orkney

    0

    0

    0

    0

    1

    Shetland

    0

    1

    0

    1

    1

    Tayside

    53

    33

    41

    55

    24

    Western Isles

    3

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Other1

    2

    15

    13

    4

    12

    Total

    709

    469

    322

    317

    298

    1Cases which cannot be attributed to a specific Health Board.

    These figures show a welcome decline in the incidence of the disease.

    Mr. Wallace
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the level of take-up of the hepatitis vaccine in each health board area in Scotland.

    Mr. Michael Forsyth
    This information is not routinely recorded by health boards.

    Schools
    Mr. Dewar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the capital expenditure on local authority schools in each Scottish regional and island council in each of the past 10 years in cash and constant prices.

    Mr. Rifkind
    The information is given in the following table, which has been compiled from local authority financial returns. The reduction in expenditure in real terms during the period reflects a substantial and progressive decline in pupil numbers which in turn reduced the requirement for new school building.658

    Capital Expenditure by Local Authorities on Schools

    1979–80

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    552

    1,039

    Central

    3,264

    6,143

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1,509

    2,840

    Fife

    2,292

    4,313

    Grampian

    6,844

    12,880

    Highland

    2,326

    4,377

    Lothian

    7,745

    14,576

    Strathclyde

    17,292

    32,542

    Tayside

    2,228

    4,193

    Orkney

    155

    292

    Shetland

    2,906

    5,469

    Western Isles

    485

    913

    1980–81

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    1,046

    1,663

    Central

    2,716

    4,319

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1,572

    2,500

    Fife

    2,503

    3,980

    Grampian

    8,658

    13,678

    Highland

    2,624

    4,173

    Lothian

    8,722

    13,870

    Strathclyde

    19,013

    30,235

    Tayside

    1,723

    2,740

    Orkney

    95

    151

    Shetland

    3,093

    4,919

    Western Isles

    626

    995

    1981–82

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    921

    1,334

    Central

    2,419

    3,504

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1,668

    2,416

    Fife

    2,471

    3,579

    Grampian

    11,803

    17,095

    Highland

    3,203

    4,639

    Lothian

    7,073

    10,244

    Scrathclyde

    23,468

    33,990

    Tayside

    1,799

    2,606

    Orkney

    602

    872

    Shetland

    3,555

    5,149

    Western Isles

    1,422

    2,060

    1982–83

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    643

    869

    Central

    1,388

    1,875

    Dumfries and Galloway

    2,042

    2,758

    Fife

    2,330

    3,147

    Grampian

    8,583

    11,594

    Highland

    2,813

    3,800

    Lothian

    8,003

    10,811

    Scrathclyde

    19,013

    25,684

    Tayside

    2,003

    2,706

    Orkney

    1,212

    1,637

    Shetland

    2,710

    3,661

    Western Isles

    1,638

    2,213

    1983–84

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    703

    907

    Central

    1,068

    1,378

    Dumfries and Galloway

    2,400

    3,097

    Fife

    1,705

    2,200

    659

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Grampian

    6,499

    8,388

    Highland

    1,649

    2,128

    Lothian

    5,898

    7,612

    Scrathclyde

    19,724

    25,456

    Tayside

    1,449

    1,870

    Orkney

    897

    1,158

    Shetland

    2,507

    3,236

    Western Isles

    917

    1,183

    1984–85

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    913

    1,123

    Central

    1,083

    1,332

    Dumfries and Galloway

    2,376

    2,921

    Fife

    2,881

    3,542

    Grampian

    5,805

    7,137

    Highland

    817

    1,005

    Lothian

    5,941

    7,305

    Strathclyde

    19,969

    24,552

    Tayside

    2,114

    2,599

    Orkney

    1,253

    1,541

    Shetland

    1,829

    2,249

    Western isles

    964

    1,185

    1985–86

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At outturn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    1,064

    1,242

    Central

    1,407

    1,642

    Dumfries and Galloway

    2,463

    2,874

    Fife

    4,284

    4,999

    Grampian

    8,247

    9,624

    Highland

    1,320

    1,540

    Lothian

    6,132

    7,156

    Strathclyde

    20,072

    23,424

    Tayside

    2,751

    3,210

    Orkney

    1,211

    1,413

    Shetland

    1,055

    1,231

    Western Isles

    1,188

    1,305

    1986–87

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At out-turn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    876

    989

    Central

    2,378

    2,684

    Dumfries and Galloway

    2,102

    2,372

    Fife

    4,589

    5,179

    Grampian

    7,931

    8,951

    Highland

    1,125

    1,270

    Lothian

    3,732

    4,212

    Strathclyde

    17,290

    19,514

    Tayside

    2,012

    2,271

    Orkney

    913

    1,030

    Shetland

    502

    567

    Western Isles

    3,244

    3,661

    1986–87

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At out-turn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Borders

    951

    1,019

    Central

    2,798

    2,997

    Dumfries and Galloway

    656

    703

    Fife

    2,077

    2,225

    Grampian

    2,262

    2,423

    Highland

    2,521

    2,701

    Lothian

    8,108

    8,685

    Strathclyde

    19,714

    21,118

    Tayside

    3,267

    3,500

    Orkney

    979

    1,049

    660

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At out-turn prices

    At 1988–89 prices

    Shetland

    537

    575

    Western Isles

    3,872

    4,148

    1988–89

    Region/Islands Council Area

    At out-turn prices

    Borders

    1,060

    Central

    4,372

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1,661

    Fife

    4,753

    Grampian

    3,409

    Highland

    3,655

    Lothian

    7,828

    Strathclyde

    24,897

    Tayside

    3,605

    Orkney

    1,027

    Shetland

    929

    Western Isles

    2,196

    The figures include expenditure on nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.

    Out-turn figures have been converted to 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.

    Sir David Steel
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has taken, and proposes to take, to ensure that schools meet an acceptable level of first aid provision by(a) meeting the Government's own guidelines and (b) matching the health and safety requirements required of factories and offices; and what time limit he has set for the attainment of such standards.

    Mr. Rifkind
    Education authorities are responsible for the operational management of schools and are responsible for the safety of pupils attending schools under their management. Health and safety legislation applies to schools as it does to other workplaces. Health and Safety Commission guidance on first aid in educational establishments recommends that the total number of people on site, not just the number of employees, be considered in assessing first aid needs.

    Regulations, which also provide for playground supervision in Scottish schools, came into force on 1 April this year putting a statutory duty on education authorities to take reasonable care for the safety of all pupils attending schools under their management. In addition, my Department is currently preparing guidance on first aid provision in schools and colleges which will be issued to education authorities.

    Trunk Roads
    Sir Hector Monro
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about progress on trunk road schemes during 1989–90 and about the progress expected in 1990–91.

    Mr. Rifkind
    Details of the major scheme starts made and expected to be made are as follows:

    Schemes with an estimated cost of over £1 million started since 1 April 1989

    M80 Stepps Bypass

    A82 Luss Bypass

    A7 Dalkeith Bypass

    A68 Newton St. Boswells Bypass

    A76 Cumnock and Auchinleck Bypass

    A87 Dornie Bypass

    A701 Ae Bridge

    A94 Stracathro Junction

    661
    These schemes had a total value of £66 million.

    Schemes with an estimated cost of over £l million expected to start by 31 March 1991

    M74 Millbank-Nether Abington

    A74 Upgrading schemes

    M74 Kirkpatrick Fleming-Gretna

    A74 Upgrading schemes

    M74 Elvanfoot-Paddy's Rickle Bridge

    A74 Upgrading schemes

    M74 Maryville-W. of Fullarton Road (Advance Works)

    A1 Tower-Dunglass

    A96 Nairn Railway Bridge Replacement

    A9 Greenloaning-Blackford

    A929 Tarbrax-Forfar

    A75 Carrutherstown-Hetland

    A77 Bennane Hill

    These schemes have a total value of £130 million, reflecting the 28 per cent. increase in trunk road funds for this year and the still further increase for the following year. I will be making a more detailed announcement on A74 upgrading schemes later this month. As to completions of major schemes, in 1989–90 eight major schemes were completed and in 1990–91 another 10 schemes are expected to be completed.

    Motorway Service Areas
    Mr. Bill Walker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy and practice for providing new motorway service areas in respect of development of the motorway network in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    The Scottish Development Department is currently progressing a massive motorway building programme in Scotland and schemes valued at over £650 million are now coming on stream. An integral part of the development of the motorway network will be ensuring the provision of adequate services in strategic locations, such as network focal points. The general policy will be to secure new service areas spaced roughly 20 to 30 miles apart on existing motorways where there is a gap in provision and on new motorways.

    The general policy as to the siting, planning, design and operation of motorway service areas (MSAs) is to ensure:

    (a) the development of an adequate network of service facilities;

    (b) genuine competition for service provision through competitive tendering for provision of services;

    (c) road safety, by restricting and controlling access to the motorways, and by preventing inappropriate activities at service areas (such as the sale of alcohol);

    (d) the maintenance of the necessary range of services for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including facilities for the disabled and provision for heavy goods vehicles.

    The Department's policy will therefore be to ensure that the consumer is provided with an adequate range of choice and good value for money, while upholding the highest standards of road safety. This depends among other things on promoting fair competition among firms seeking to provide services. Normally competitive tenders are sought from the private sector for the development and a long lease of the site, in return for an appropriate rent which reflects the market value of the site as developed. In implementing its policy the Department will, of course, remain flexible to the specific needs and circumstances of particular routes, areas and local communities.

    To achieve the control over the planning, development and future use of MSAs it is intended that the Secretary of State should, except in very exceptional circumstances, own the sites which are identified as suitable for the provision of MSAs and that the Department should obtain
    662
    the appropriate planning clearance. If an identified site is not already in the Secretary of State's possession it will be acquired either voluntarily or, if necessary, by using compulsory purchase powers. The site would then be open to competition and thereafter leased to a firm which would provide the services with the necessary control over the site being exercised through appropriate conditions in the lease. Other things being equal, leases for adjacent sites would not be awarded to the same firm. The lease control would not entail intervening in the detailed management of sites, which is best left to the firm providing the services, but would ensure that basic requirements—for example, round-the-clock provision of certain facilities—continue to be met and that basic restrictions, for example, on the sale of alcohol, continue to be observed.

    As part of the route studies for the M74 and M80 motorways consultants will be advising on suitable sites for service areas. Once these have been identified and they are in the Secretary of State's ownership they will then be the subject of an application for planning clearance before making the necessary arrangements for leasing the site.

    Where proposals are brought forward for service areas which are designed to meet the needs of motorway users but which would not actually be sited on the motorway itself—that is, off a road or roundabout giving access to it—the relevant planning applications will fall to be considered by the local planning authority. In such cases planning authorities will no doubt take into consideration not only the road safety and traffic implications of the proposals but existing and proposed service areas on the motorway itself.

    I hope that I shall be able to make a further statement about our preferred locations for service areas in the near future.

    Electricity
    Mr. Allan Stewart
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to exercise his powers under section 97 and schedule 12 of the Electricity Act 1989.

    Mr. Rifkind
    I have today placed in the Library a copy of an agreement under section 97 and schedule 12 of the Electricity Act 1989 entered into with Scottish Nuclear Ltd. to provide assistance towards qualifying expenditure in respect of certain back-end costs of the nuclear cycle. The agreement relieves SNL of some of its inherited liabilities in relation to the generation of electricity by Magnox stations of up to £716 million by 1994. The qualifying expenditure to which the agreement relates will be incurred by the company over a period which is likely to exceed 100 years from the present. It is not therefore expected that payment of grant under the agreement will be made for some years.

    Student Allowances
    Mr. Allan Stewart
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish full details of student allowances for session 1990–91.

    Mr. Lang
    I announced the main rates of student grant for the 1990–91 academic year on 19 December 1989 a t columns 147-48 and I announced the new provisions for disabled students on 19 March at columns 450-51.

    I am publishing today the remaining supplementary grant rates for 1990–91 and full details have been placed in

    663
    the Library. The increases in these rates are broadly in line with the 5 per cent. increase in the main rates, previously announced.

    Consultancies
    Mr. Tim Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts; excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that his Department has budgeted to spend in the current year.

    Mr. Rifkind
    [holding answer 28 March 1990]: Estimated expenditure on management consultancies and computer consultancies in the 1989–90 and 1990–91 financial years is, in rounded terms, as follows:

    £'000

    Management

    Computer

    1989–90

    300

    675

    1990–91

    400

    725

    The contracts awarded by my Department in 1989–90 are as follows:

    Management Consultancies and Subject of Assignment
    A Fegent—HBM Procurement.
    Touche Ross—Health Education Review.
    Peat, Marwick McLintock—Lothian Health Board.
    Coopers and Lybrand—HBM Executive Agency proposals.
    A Fegent—Overview of Scottish Office Purchasing.
    Price Warehouse—Creche facilities.
    British Institute of Management—Network analysis on probation court services and parole.
    Peat, Marwick McLintock—Further Education development planning.
    Edinburgh University—Interpretation of a new statistical method.
    CSL Group Ltd—Financial Regulations for School Boards.
    Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte—Education Finance.

    Computer Consultancies—Subject of Assignment
    Gimms Ltd—Feasibility study on digital boundary conversion.
    DWH Associates—Advice on survey of geographical data.
    Know Edge Ltd—Feasibility study on incorporating environmental data into roads database.
    North West Regional Research Laboratory—Feasibility study on mapping application.
    BIS Applied Systems Ltd—Quality management workshops.
    Logica UK Ltd—Production of Scottish aspects for the National Response Plan (RIMNET).
    BIS Applied Systems Ltd—To review aspects of Scottish Criminal Record Office computer system.
    PA Consulting Group Computers and Telecommunications—Automatic Fingerprint Recognition System.
    Gimms (GIS) Ltd (2 contracts)—Digital mapping.
    Purchasing and Supply Consultants—Purchasing Operating and Information Systems.
    Edinburgh University Computing Service—Digital mapping.
    Dunsmore Data—Preparation and implementation of financial spreadsheet.
    CS Consultants—Programming various data systems. Preparation of roads database.
    Taylor Woodrow Management and Engineering Ltd—Specification for and running of Scottish Office Emergency Exercise.
    Napier Polytechnic—Computing requirements and staff training.
    Price Waterhouse—Management information systems in grant-aided colleges.

  ENVIRONMENT

    Local Government Finance
    Mr. Riddick
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will calculate the amount payable by a man on average earnings living in a house valued at £60,000 under a system of local government finance based on capital values rates with a local income tax element based on Kirklees council's projected spending in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what the figures would have been for a woman on average earnings in similar circumstances.

    Mr. Chope
    The amount payable would depend on the precise detail of how such a system would operate and on the taxable income of the individuals.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secetary of State for the Environment what is the Government's estimate of the number of households who pay the full rate who would gain under the poll tax; and what is their estimate of the average gain in such cases.

    Mr. Chope
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 March 1990,Official Report, Vol. 170, column 247.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the estimated numbers in each sample category of people paying more poll tax than rates, together with the Government's estimate of their contribution under the present system and the amount which the Government considered they ought to pay.

    Mr. Chope
    The Government have not prescribed an amount that people ought to pay.

    An analysis of the distributional impact of the introduction of the community charge was placed in the Library on 15 February.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing in each case the assumed underlying long-run community charge per adult as a percentage of average earnings in the northern region and the south-east for full-time adult male manual workers in the year to April 1989, together with an explanation for the difference.

    Mr. Chope
    The assumed long-run community charge used for 1990–91 revenue support grant purposes, expressed as an amount per week, represents 2·9 per cent. of average full-time earnings at April 1989 for male manual employees on adult rates of pay in the Northern region and 2·2 per cent. of the equivalent figure in the south-east including Greater London.

    The assumed personal community charge, which reflects the transitional arrangements for 1990–91, expressed as an amount per week, represents 2·4 per cent. of average full-time earnings at April 1989 for male manual employees on adult rates of pay in the Northern region and 2·3 per cent. of the equivalent figure in the south-east including Greater London.

    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from members of the public(a) supporting and (b) opposing the poll tax.
    665
    Mr. Chope
    I have received and continue to receive many representations on the community charge reflecting a wide range of views.

    Mr. Jack
    To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment if he will update the figures put in the Library on 6 November 1989 showing, for each local authority area, what level of (i) capital value rates and (ii) local income tax would be required in order to raise the same amount of revenue as with the 1990–91 community charge.

    Mr. David Hunt
    I have today placed in the Library a table showing the information requested.

    Mr. David Martin
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a table showing for each rating or charging authority(a) his estimate of the average rate bill per domestic ratepayer in 1989–90, (b) the information he has on the average personal community charge actually set in each area in 1990–91, (c) the percentage domestic rate increase which would have taken place in 1990–91 if the same amount of revenue had been raised in each area as is being raised in community charges and (d) the rate bill per domestic ratepayer in each area consequent upon that increase in domestic rates.

    Mr. David Hunt
    I have today placed in the Library a table showing the information requested.

    Mr. French
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities now known to him which have announced their intention to levy a standard community charge at less than twice the personal community charge.

    Mr. Chope
    [holding answer 3 April 1990]: I have gathered the information requested except on an informal basis from a few authorities on a basis which did not imply that it would be published.

    Mr. Gould
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given in calculating standard spending assessment and grant to Westminster city council to the daily population figure; and if he will set out the sum thereby arrived at.

    Mr. Chris Patten
    [holding answer 2 April 1990]: Standard spending assessments and revenue support grant entitlements are calculated in the same way for all local authorities. The basis of calculation is set out in the revenue support grant distribution report approved by this House on 18 January. Resident population, adjusted for visitors and for the net inflow of commuters, features in the SSA element for all other services; resident population features in the SSA for fire and civil defence; and resident population adjusted for the net inflow of commuters features in the SSA for highway maintenance. There is thus no single daily population figure used in the calculation for Westminster city council.

    Mr. Gould
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider the standard spending assessment for Brighton and other holiday and conference resorts.

    Mr. Chris Patten
    [holding answer 2 April 1990]: I have made it clear that I am willing to consider any new evidence on standard spending assessments with a view to making changes for 1991–92 if that should prove necessary.
    666
    Mr. Gould
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report setting out for each council the impact on its standard spending assessment arising from new duties under the Environmental Protection Bill and the Food Safety Bill [Lords].

    Mr. Chris Patten
    [holding answer 2 April 1990]: Duties under these bills will not affect local authority spending in 1990–91. New duties will be taken into account in setting standard spending assessments for 1991–92.

    Mr. Gould
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities which benefited in their standard spending assessment and revenue grant allocation from a consideration of the impact of daily population increases.

    Mr. Chris Patten
    [holding answer 2 April 1990]: The basis of calculation of standard spending assessments and revenue support grant entitlements is set out in the revenue support grant distribution report (England). Resident population adjusted for daily visitors and for the net inflow of commuters features in the assessment for all other services. All authorities receive a positive contribution to their SSAs from the allowance for visitors. The authorities listed in the table receive a positive contribution to their SSAs from the allowance for net inflow of commuters. The latter also features in the SSA element for highway maintenance.

    Authorities with positive day time net inflow

    Alnwick

    Ashfield

    Avon CC

    Barking and Dagenham

    Barrow in Furness

    Bassetlaw

    Bath

    Birmingham

    Blackburn

    Boston

    Bournemouth

    Brighton

    Bristol

    Burnley

    Cambridge

    Cambridgeshire CC

    Camden

    Carlisle

    Carrick

    Cheltenham

    Chester

    Chesterfield

    Christchurch

    City of London

    Cleveland CC

    Colchester

    Copeland

    Coventry

    Crawley

    Crewe and Nantwich

    Darlington

    Derby

    Devon CC

    Dover

    Durham

    East Staffordshire

    Eastbourne

    Ellesmere Port and Neston

    Exeter

    Forest Heath

    Fylde

    Gloucester

    Great Grimsby

    Great Yarmouth

    667

    Hackney

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    Hartlepool

    Hastings

    Hereford

    Hillingdon

    Hounslow

    Ipswich

    Isles of Scilly

    Islington

    Kensington and Chelsea

    Kingston upon Hull

    Knowsley

    Lambeth

    Leeds

    Leicester

    Leicestershire CC

    Lincoln

    Liverpool

    Luton

    Manchester

    Medina

    Middlesbrough

    Milton Keynes

    Newcastle upon Tyne

    North Bedfordshire

    Northampton

    Northavon

    Norwich

    Nottingham

    Nottinghamshire CC

    Oxford

    Peterborough

    Plymouth

    Poole

    Portsmouth

    Preston

    Reading

    Restormel

    Rochester upon Medway

    Rugby

    Rushmoor

    Salford

    Salisbury

    Sandwell

    Scunthorpe

    Selby

    Sheffield

    Shrewsbury and Atcham

    Slough

    South Somerset

    Southampton

    Southwark

    St Edmundsbury

    Stafford

    Stockton-on-Tees

    Stoke-on-Trent

    Taunton Deane

    Thamesdown

    Tower Hamlets

    Trafford

    Wakefield

    Walsall

    Warrington

    Watford

    Welwyn Hatfield

    West Dorset

    West Somerset

    Westminster

    Winchester

    Wolverhampton

    Worcester

    Worthing

    York

    Mr. Speller
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations to require YTS trainees to pay only 20 per cent. of the community charge.
    668
    Mr. Chope
    [holding answer 29 March 1990]: No. From May, 18-year-old YTS trainees will receive £35 per week plus top-up payments which can be substantial. Their liability for the community charge will depend upon their net income, but it is likely that most will be eligible for community charge benefit.

    Mobility
    Mr. McWilliam
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for rehousing under the national mobility scheme there have been in each year since its inception.

    Mr. Michael Spicer
    The number of nominations made by authorities on behalf of applicants for rehousing in another authority were as follows for each year:

    Number

    1981–82

    16,401

    1982–83

    25,322

    1983–84

    27,776

    1984–85

    33,877

    1985–86

    26,796

    1986–87

    33,407

    1987–88

    27,224

    1988–89

    120,369

    1Interim figure.

    Mr. McWilliam
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those local authorities which have rehoused applicants under the national mobility scheme by authority, number accepted and year accepted, and in total;

    (2) if he will list those local authorities which have unsuccessfully asked for rehousing of their residents to another local authority under the national mobility scheme by authority, number rejected, year applied and total.

    Mr. Michael Spicer
    The information is not held centrally.

    Mr. McWilliam
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of applications for rehousing under the national mobility scheme have been successful.

    Mr. Michael Spicer
    During the period from 1981, when the scheme started, to the end of 1988–89, 26 per cent. of all those who were nominated by their local authority for rehousing elsewhere were successful in moving to their area of choice; a further 7 per cent. are still on waiting lists.

    Bellwin Scheme
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for making a scheme under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

    Mr. David Hunt
    It will be necessary to make a scheme under this section only following an emergency and a decision by the Government to provide financial help for local authorities. The details of the scheme will reflect the nature of the emergency. My Department has recently written to local authorities in England outlining the
    669
    changes envisaged in the Bellwin scheme following the reform of local government finance. I have placed a copy in the Library. It is proposed to pay grant at the rate of 85 per cent. of eligible expenditure over a threshold equivalent to £2 per adult.

    Uniform Business Rate
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the uniform business rate for small rural village business concerns to include turnover and profit in its calculation.

    Mr. Chope
    Rateable values reflect the rent that might reasonably be expected to be paid from year to year for each property, on the assumption that the tenant pays the cost of repairs and insurance. In the 1990 revaluation, the level of value relates to 1 April 1988 but reflects the physical state of the property on 1 April 1990. To the extent that generally profit margins may be smaller in rural areas, these could be expected to be reflected in rents, which would in turn be reflected in rateable values.

    House Renovation Grants
    Mr. French
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about changes in the system of house renovation grants.

    Mr. Chope
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 22 February,Official Report, Vol. 167, column 888.

    Groundwater Contamination (Oxfordshire)
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any information from the National Rivers Authority concerning the contamination of groundwater at the Blewbury borehole in south Oxfordshire.

    Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
    The National Rivers Authority and Thames Water Utilities have kept the Department informed of recent observations and developments concerning groundwater quality in the Blewbury area of south Oxfordshire. Carbon tetrachloride has been detected in water supplied at about half the concentration prescribed in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. There is no cause for concern. Work is in hand to ascertain the source of the solvent and any corrective measures required.

    Merchant Seamen
    Dr. Godman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking following the recent ruling of the Humberside valuation and community charge tribunal concerning the liability of merchant seamen to the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Chope
    The Humberside valuation and community charge tribunal found that the individual circumstances of some merchant seamen whose employment required them to be absent from home for substantial periods meant they should not be registered as liable for the community charge. It is not for my right. hon. Friend to comment on the decisions of an independent tribunal.

    Correspondence (MEPs)
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the honourable Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

    Mr. Trippier
    This Department has received approximately 100 communications from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989.

    Where the correspondence raises questions of exclusively local interest, the practice is to recommend the MEP to refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.

    Drinking Water, Northumbria
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the location and staffing by grade and size of the drinking water inspectorate for the Northumbrian water authority area.

    Mr. Trippier
    The drinking water inspectorate is located in central London and recruitment is in progress. There are currently 12 staff in post: a chief inspector; deputy chief inspector; a further four professional staff; and six administrative and support staff. At present, staff are not allocated to any specific region or area.

    Caravan Sites
    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he intends to allow Kirklees and Calderdale local authorities to have to make suitable caravan site provision before he decides to issue directions to those authorities to make such provision; what is his assessment of how many sites each local authority should provide; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Chope
    My Department is in discussion with both authorities. The statutory requirement on metropolitan districts is to provide for 15 caravans. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will give a direction to either or both authorities if he considers it necessary to do so.

    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to delay the granting of designation of caravan sites in Bradford until he is satisfied that adjacent authorities have made suitable site provision.

    Mr. Chope
    No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already decided to designate Bradford on the grounds that it is not expedient for that authority to make adequate provision for the gipsies residing in or resorting to the area. We are continuing to monitor closely action being taken in respect of the provision of sites by neighbouring authorities.

    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he took account of in
    671
    considering an application from Bradford council to designate caravan sites in Bradford about (a) the cost and location of existing and proposed private caravan sites and (b) improvements Bradford council intends to make to council-owned caravan sites in Bradford.

    Mr. Chope
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State took account of all relevant factors before deciding to designate Bradford, including those relating both to private site provision, and to the improvements which the council proposes to local authority sites.

    Housing Association Tenants
    Mr. Malins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department's research report on new housing association tenants is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Chope
    I welcome the report's findings. These demonstrate that housing associations are targeting their lettings at lower-income groups in housing need. They vindicate our policy of making housing associations the main providers of new subsidised housing for rent.

    The research, published today, was carried out for the Department of the Environment by Research Surveys of Great Britain after a census of new lettings in 1988 by the National Federation of Housing Associations. Interviews were sought with all households in the census where there was someone in employment or receiving an occupational pension, in order to collect detailed information about household characteristics and incomes.

    The findings confirm that the incomes of new housing association tenants, even those in work, are low. The average gross income of households with an income from employment was £153 per week and average net weekly household earnings were £115.

    Occupational pensions averaged £29.10 per week with the state pension and other benefits bringing average total income for these households to £91·70 per week.

    Nearly nine out of 10 of the households with someone in work had savings of less than £1,500. Households receiving an occupational pension had higher savings but only one third of these had savings of more than £3,000.
    Among households with an earned income, over half were in manual jobs and a third were in unskilled manual work. About half the respondents in the survey had been on a council waiting list. Most people had applied direct to the housing association for accommodation, but about a fifth had been nominated by their local council.

    Action for Cities
    Mr. Stern
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now give(a) the final cost of the action for cities anniversary events on 28 February and (b) the costs of the publication "People in Cities".

    Mr. David Hunt
    (a) The final cost of the launch in Bradford and the television link-up on 28 February averaged under £15,000 for each of the seven centres involved, and locally incurred costs amounted in addition to an average of £5,000 for each centre.

    (b) 50,000 "People in Cities" booklets and wallets—£74,542.

    Greenhouse Effect
    Mr. Mans
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government expect to respond to the report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on the greenhouse effect.

    Mr. Chris Patten
    We have today laid before the House the Government's response to this report. The Committee produced a detailed and thorough report and we broadly welcome its conclusions. The report stressed the need for continued research into the science of climate change, we have already responded to this need by announcing significant increases in our funding for climate-related research in the coming year. The report also emphasised the importance of seeking a global solution to this global problem and we will continue to play an active and constructive role in the work of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change and in promoting an international framework convention on climate change.

    Valuation Disputes
    Mr. Jack
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his consideration of the response to the consultation paper on valuation disputes under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

    Mr. Chope
    We and the Welsh Office have now completed a full analysis of the response to the consultation paper. The consultation was undertaken in the light of suggestions that the existing statutory procedure—under which valuation disputes can be referred to the local leasehold valuation tribunal with a subsequent right of appeal to the Lands Tribunal—was in practice working to the disadvantage of leaseholders, in that some freeholders were using the threat of an appeal, and the consequent risk of substantial costs, to deter leaseholders from having recourse to the procedure. Views were sought as to whether such allegations could be substantiated and, if so, whether there was a case for withdrawing or curtailing the right of appeal.

    The consultation yielded no firm evidence that the alleged effect is occurring in practice. We have concluded, therefore, that there is at present no case for making changes to the statutory procedure. We will, however, keep matters under review and will not hesitate to take action if evidence comes to light that the procedure is failing to maintain an equitable balance between the interests of freeholders and leaseholders.

    Homelessness
    Mr. Ward
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the Housing Act 1985 as far as it affects homeless people, in view of the recent comments made by Lord Justice Watkins in the High Court about the lack of clarity in the Act.

    Mr. Michael Spicer
    [holding answer 3 April 1990.]: The Government completed a major review of the homelessness legislation only last November. It concluded that the Act provided an adequate safety net for those in genuine need, homeless through no fault of their own. It recognised, however, that there was a need for local authorities to adopt more consistent procedures and criteria. A revised code of guidance is being prepared to help them to achieve this and we will look carefully at Lord Justice Watkin's comments in preparing the revised code.

    Dangerous Substances
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementation in the United Kingdom of European Commission directives 76/769/EEC, 79/663/EEC, 82/806/EEC, 82/828/EEC, 83/264/EEC, 83/478/EEC, 85/467/EEC and 85/610/EEC, on the marketing and use of dangerous substances.

    Mr. Trippier
    [holding answer 2 April 1990]: The Control of Pollution (Supply and Use of Injurious Substances) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No. 638) restricted the use of polychlorinated biphenyls and terphenyls in the manner specified in directive 76/769, as amended by directive 82/828.

    The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Safety) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No. 136) implemented directive 76/769 as respects vinyl chloride monomer (chloroethylene) in aerosols, and also implemented directive 79/663 in respect of ornamental objects and Tris in certain textile products.

    Reduction

    Budget £ million

    Proposed cap

    £ million

    £ per adult

    Avon

    533.7

    507.1

    26.6

    37

    Barnsley

    142.0

    132.0

    10.0

    59

    Basildon

    27.9

    23.7

    4.2

    35

    Brent

    249.3

    241.7

    7.6

    39

    Bristol

    64.2

    56.6

    7.6

    26

    Calderdale

    132.9

    125.4

    7.5

    52

    Camden

    181.4

    177.0

    4.4

    34

    Derbyshire

    560.6

    520.6

    40.0

    56

    Doncaster

    190.1

    178.5

    11.6

    53

    Greenwich

    213.0

    203.0

    10.0

    65

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    167.5

    155.8

    11.7

    99

    Haringey

    216.5

    206.5

    10.0

    71

    Hillingdon

    151.0

    141.7

    9.3

    53

    Islington

    189.5

    185.8

    3.7

    30

    North Tyneside

    129.7

    122.9

    6.8

    45

    Rochdale

    152.0

    144.0

    8.0

    51

    Rotherham

    165.4

    157.5

    7.9

    39

    St Helens

    126.7

    122.8

    3.9

    29

    Southwark

    241.0

    226.9

    14.1

    86

    Wigan

    200.6

    190.6

    10.0

    43

    Note: Reductions shown as £ per head of relevant population.

  DEFENCE

    Eastern Europe
    Mr. Teddy Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the fall in defence expenditure in eastern Europe over the last year; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr Allen) on 2 February,Official Report, column 406.

    Armed Forces (Welsh Speakers)
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fluent Welsh speakers are currently serving in each of Her Majesty's armed forces.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
    674
    The Benzene and Toys (Safety) (Regulations) 1987 (SI 1987 No. 2116) implemented directive 82/806.

    The Novelties (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 128) implemented directive 83/264.

    The Asbestos Product (Safety) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 2042) and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 910) implemented directive 83/478.

    The Control of Pollution (Supply and Use of Injurious Substances) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 902) implemented directive 85/467.

    The Asbestos Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 (SI 1987 No. 1979) and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988 No. 711) implemented directive 85/610.

    Mr. Hayes
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities which he designated on 3 April for community charge limitation and the maximum amounts which he is proposing.

    Mr Chris Patten
    The list is as follows:

    Rescue Helicopters
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many land-based Royal Navy helicopters are available on a 24-hour, 365 day a year basis for rescue operations around the British coast.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Two Royal Navy air stations are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for search and rescue (SAR) duties. At each of these there are two helicopters available for SAR. More helicopters can be made available at longer notice.

    Oil Tankers
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to add to the current number of Royal Fleet Auxiliary oil tankers serving the British Navy.

    Mr. Neubert
    There are currently two of the new class of auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels (AORs) on order for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Further orders are planned but no decisions have yet been made on their size or timing.

    Natural Disasters
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of those activities in which Her Majesty's armed forces have assisted civilian populations during periods of natural disasters over the past 20 years.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The armed forces have supported civilian authorities during periods of natural disaster both at home and overseas on numerous occasions over the past 20 years. An exhaustive list of those activities could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but the following list compiled from the readily available records, gives an indication of the frequency with which the services' help is provided.

    Date

    Country

    1970

    Bangladesh (East Pakistan)

    Floods

    1970

    Tunisia

    Floods

    1970

    Turkey

    Earthquake

    1972

    Hong Kong

    Landslide

    1972

    Fiji

    Hurricane

    1972

    Rodriguez

    Cyclone

    1972

    Philippines

    Floods

    1973

    Pakistan

    Floods

    1973

    West Africa

    Famine

    1973

    Nepal

    Famine

    1974

    Belize

    Hurricane

    1974

    United Kingdom

    Floods

    1974

    Ethiopia

    Famine

    1974

    Honduras

    Hurricane

    1974

    West Africa

    Famine

    1976

    United Kingdom

    Drought/Fires

    1978

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1979

    United Kingdom

    Floods

    1979

    Jamaica

    Floods

    1979–80

    West Indies

    Hurricane

    1980

    Nepal

    Famine

    1980

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1980–81

    Italy

    Earthquake

    1980–81

    West Indies

    Hurricane

    1981

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1981–82

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1984

    Mexico

    Earthquake

    1985

    Ethiopia

    Famine

    1986

    Jamaica

    Bad Weather

    1986

    Solomon Islands

    Hurricane

    1986

    West Indies

    Floods

    1986

    El Salvador

    Earthquake

    1986–87

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1987

    Cook Islands

    Cyclone

    1987

    Bermuda

    Hurricane

    1987

    Vanuatu

    Cyclone

    1987–88

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1988

    West Indies

    Hurricane

    1988

    Nepal

    Earthquake

    1989

    West Indies

    Hurricane

    1990

    United Kingdom

    Bad Weather

    1990

    Western Samoa

    Cyclone

    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish for each of the past 10 years the number of civilians rescued at sea by Royal Navy helicopters.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Information for the years before 1983 is not held in the form requested. Since 1983 Royal Navy helicopters have rescued the following number of civilians at sea:676

    Year

    Number Rescued

    1983

    133

    1984

    88

    1985

    102

    1986

    74

    1987

    85

    1988

    80

    1989

    161

    Complaints
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years (a) the number of complaints made against his Department to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, (b) the number of complaints upheld and (c) the action he took on (b).

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The number of complaints (a) made and (b) upheld for the last 10 years is as follows:

    (a) complaints made

    (b) complaints upheld

    1989–90

    1—

    1—

    1988–89

    22

    Nil

    1987–88

    11

    Nil

    1986–87

    16

    Nil

    1985–86

    17

    1

    1984–85

    21

    Nil

    1983–84

    20

    Nil

    1982–83

    23

    1

    1981–82

    28

    1

    1980–81

    27

    Nil

    1Figures not yet available.

    When the PCA upholds a complaint it is departmental practice to provide an appropriate remedy.

    Trident
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the first submarine capable of carrying Trident missiles to commence her sea trials.

    Mr. Neubert
    Vanguard will undertake a series of sea trials, the precise dates of which are classified. However, I can say that the first of these will commence about two years before the UK Trident deterrent going into service in the mid-1990s.

    Military Personnel
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the practice of his Department on releasing the names of military personnel who are witnesses to an event which is the subject of a criminal prosecution.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The Ministry of Defence seeks to be as helpful as possible in answering requests from the police, prosecuting authorities and legal representatives of defendants in criminal proceedings for the names of service personnel who would be in a position to give evidence as witnesses. The Department needs in each case to be satisfied as to the purpose and validity of the request before providing such information. Personal security considerations may also need to be taken into account.

    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the names of witnesses who are alleged to be service
    677
    personnel have been witheld in the case of a criminal prosecution of three people for an incident which took place involving a convoy of military vehicles near the Clyde submarine base on 15 August 1989.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent request from one of those charged as a result of this incident to be given the name of the driver of one of the military vehicles involved. The Department declined to provide this information, as it is not the practice to release details of individual members of military convoy crews in response to requests of this sort.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Cummings
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Easington dated 5 February concerning living conditions of service men's families in Germany.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The hon. Member should by now have received a reply from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces.

    RAF Brawdy
    Mr. Boyes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amounts of money spent on construction and equipment for joint United Kingdom-United States of America projects at Brawdy, Wales, in each of the past five years; and which votes and sections of the defence accounts have borne these expenditures.

    Mr. Alan Clarke
    The United Kingdom has spent no money on construction and equipment for joint United Kingdom-United States projects at RAF Brawdy in the past five years.

    Mr. Boyes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the operating cost of the United Kingdom national joint ocean surveillance information centre in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these costs is borne by the United States of America.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    I assume the hon. Member is referring to the United States Navy's oceanographic research facility at RAF Brawdy. Running costs of the facility are borne by the United States, although United Kingdom provides five Royal Navy and three Royal Air Force personnel to assist in operating the facility.

    Vacant Properties
    Mr. Robert Banks
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of vacant houses classified for the use of service personnel.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    As at 30 November 1989, the latest date for which complete figures are available, the total number of vacant properties in the United Kingdom, both houses and flats, classified as service married quarters was 12,423. Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly and others were in the process of disposal.

    Royal Arsenal West
    Mr. Cartwright
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department presented its proposals for the development of the Royal Arsenal West site to the London borough of Greenwich; and what response it has received.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Our development proposals for the Royal Arsenal West site were presented to the London borough of Greenwich on 19 December 1989. The council is generally supportive of our ideas.

    Correspondence (MEPs)
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the honourable Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Some 15 letters covering a variety of topics have been received from members of the European Parliament in the period in question.

    Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice is to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEPs had themselves copied their letter in this way.

    Cambridge House, Woolwich
    Mr. Cartwright
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the flats at Cambridge house, Artillery place, Woolwich, were first offered for sale; and when he now expects the sale to be completed.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The flats at Cambridge house, Artillery place, Woolwich were first offered for sale on 8 February 1990. The sale was completed on 30 March 1990.

    Main Battle Tanks
    Mr. Macdonald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom main battle tanks are held in storage.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    It is not our practice to disclose detailed information on equipment held in storage. For information on total holdings of main battle tanks I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 15 March,Official Report, column 328.

    Wales (Official Visits)
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the dates on which he has made an official visit to Wales since his appointment to his present post.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    My right hon. Friend has made no official visits to Wales while Secretary of State for
    679
    Defence. My right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) paid an official visit to several service establishments in Wales in July 1988. I visited RAF Brawdy on 17 July 1989.

    Eastern Europe (Soviet Troops)
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effect on threat assessments of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia and Hungary is currently due to be completed by mid-1991, and we shall monitor this process with interest. When completed, these withdrawals will obviously have a significant effect on Soviet military capability in the central region.

    German Unification
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the implications of German unification for the strategy of forward defence.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    We expect forward defence to remain a central feature of NATO's strategy for deterrence. However, German unification may have implications for how it is implemented, which will need to be considered in the light of the defence and security arrangements that emerge from the two plus four negotiations. We welcome the opportunity for a fresh look at this aspect of our defence posture, to ensure that it is well fitted for the new security setting.

    Afghanistan
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the influence that the team of Royal Engineers currently teaching Afghan refugees in Pakistan will have on the conflict in Afghanistan.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Royal Engineer teams have been taking part in a UN programme designed to train Afghan refugees currently in Pakistan in techniques of mine clearance and mine awareness. This programme has been set up purely for the humanitarian purpose of reducing the danger to refugees when they return to their homes.

    Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
    Mr O'Neill
    To ask the Secretay of State for Defence what assessment he has made of procedures for monitoring and verifying a complete nuclear test ban treaty.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) on 27 June 1988,Official Report, Vol. 136, column 61, and to the working paper on seismic monitoring tabled in the conference on disarmament in 1985 (CD 610), a copy of which is held in the Library. Scientists at the MOD's research establishment at Blacknest near Aldermaston continue to undertake seismological research which might support a verification regime for further constraints on nuclear testing.

    Atomic Weapons Establishments
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents he has sent to the firms that have expressed an interest in bidding for the initial management contract at the atomic weapons establishment.

    Mr. Neubert
    Potential contractors have been sent copies of the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 5 December, and of the consultative document to which that statement referred. They will shortly receive the invitation to tender.

    Mr. Martin O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the shortfalls of staff were at each of the four atomic weapons establishments at the end of each year between 1980 and 1987.

    Mr. Neubert
    AWE shortfalls at the end of 1987 will equate to those given for 1 January 1988 in the answer which I provided to the hon. Member on 17 January 1990 at column 300. Details of staff shortfalls before the amalgamation of AWRE and the nuclear royal ordnance factories on 1 September 1987 are not readily available.

    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision about the detailed relationship between the existing safety division and the proposed compliance office at the atomic weapons establishment.

    Mr. Neubert
    The detailed relationship between the compliance office and the existing safety division at AWE will be finalised before the commencement of the initial management contract, planned for later this year.

    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a decision about what financial criteria will be used to monitor the performance of the management contractors to be appointed at the atomic weapons establishment.

    Mr. Neubert
    The criteria against which the management contractor's performance is to be assessed will be included in the invitation to tender, which is now being finalised for issue shortly.

    Soviet Navy
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current assessment of levels of Soviet naval activity.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    Levels of Soviet naval activity out of area have been falling since 1985. There has been an increase, however, in training activity close to all the main naval bases in the Soviet Union. It should be noted that although the number of Soviet units deployed out of area has reduced, a presence has been maintained in all traditional areas of Soviet interest.

    Soviet Army
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current assessment of Soviet levels of production of military equipment for the Soviet army.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    We believe that in 1989 Soviet production of tanks fell markedly from the levels of recent
    681
    years to around half the previous total. Production of light armoured fighting vehicles and artillery also declined but far less dramatically. However, such cuts were from high historic levels and current production volumes remain high, with the Soviet Union out-producing the whole of NATO in all categories of land arms equipment.

    Naval Disarmament
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has undertaken regarding the feasibility of negotiations on(a) naval confidence-building measures and (b) naval disarmament treaties.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The greatest threat to stability in Europe comes from land-based forces, and United Kingdom and NATO efforts have therefore concentrated on those. The importance of sea lines of communication to NATO remains very great, and no proposals on maritime confidence-building measures or naval arms control have been formulated by the United Kingdom.

    United Nations Military Operations
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the extent of military operations carried out under the auspices of the United Nations to increase over the next 10 years.

    Mr. Archie Hamilton
    The extent of the future contribution of British service men to such operations will depend on the number and nature of any requests for assistance we receive from the United Nations, and how we are able to respond to them.

    Nuclear Non-proliferation
    Mr. O'Neill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of technical methods of improving the non-proliferation measures available to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Mr. Baldry
    I have been asked to reply:

    The assessment of technical methods to ensure the capability of the timely detection of diversion of significant quantities of nuclear material from peaceful nuclear activities is a continuing activity for the IAEA and its member states. The United Kingdom, along with a number of other member states carries out a safeguards research and development programme in support of the IAEA. Our technical programme, carried out by AEA Technology on behalf of my Department, involves the provision of technical reports to the IAEA on many areas of interest identified by them. The IAEA has expressed satisfaction with the programme.

  SOCIAL SECURITY

    Nursing Homes
    Mr. Andrew Bowden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what evidence is available to him on the extent to which claimants in private and voluntary residential and nursing homes throughout the country are able to meet the fees in full from available income support;

    (2) what is the source of his independent research on costs and charges in private and voluntary nursing and
    682
    residential care homes which he takes into account when setting income support limits; and if he will place copies of such evidence in the Library.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    Many interested individuals and organisations make representations and submit evidence on costs and charges in homes. The authors are free to publish this if they wish. The Department has commissioned a number of studies, the best known of which was by Ernst and Whinney, published in 1986. Statistical information from the Department's own local offices is also used and this is published where practicable in aggregated form in response to questions from hon. Members.

    Mr. Colvin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of persons living in residential and nursing homes and currently receiving income support.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    At August 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, it is estimated that there were around 117,000 people in independent residential care homes and around 56,000 in nursing homes receiving income support.

    Mr. Meacher
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of the residents of nursing homes and residential care homes in receipt of income support(a) receive the full cost charged by their home and (b) receive income support payments below the charge levied by their home.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    [holding answer 6 March 1990]: The most reliable estimates are available only in respect of all claimants in homes. The proportion of claimants whose fees were at or below the income support limits for the year ended August 1989, the latest period for which figures are available, was just over half. The average number of claimants during that period was 166,000, rounded to the nearest 1,000.

    State Retirement Pension
    Mr. John D. Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what ages state retirement pensions are made available to(a) men and (b) women in (i) Germany and (ii) France; and what is the estimated increase in public expenditure if these age criteria were applied in the United Kingdom.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    There is no single state pension scheme in either the Federal Republic of Germany or France.

    The principal requirement for the award of a pension in the main state schemes in both the Federal Republic and France is that the claimant should have completed a certain number of years of contributions. Provided that this condition is met the minimum age at which the full pension is payable is 63 for the Federal Republic and 60 for France. Women in Germany can claim a pension at 60 if they have worked for at least 15 years, but as pensions in Germany are related to earnings level and length of working life, a woman in this position would be likely to receive only a small pension. There are no separate retirement ages in France for men and women.

    The cost of a common retirement age for both men and women at 63 in the United Kingdom at 1985–86 benefit rates is estimated at £800 million and at £3,000 million for age 60.

    Chief Adjudication Officer (Report)
    Mr. Rowe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the fifth annual report of the chief adjudication officer.

    Mr. Newton
    The report is being published today. It reflects considerable variation in standards of adjudication. While the report is critical of the Department of Social Security local office standards it recognises that initiatives such as the creation of social security centres should lead to improvement through greater specialisation. I am pleased that the report highlights the high standard achieved by Newcastle central office and a marked improvement in most benefits administered by North Fylde central office. While adjudication in the Department of Employment remains unsatisfactory, it is recognised that the monitoring initiatives introduced since the previous report have not yet had a chance to take effect, and these, together with changes this year in staffing and training, are noted as offering hope for future improvements. We shall respond formally to the chief adjudication officer's specific recommendations in due course.

    Occupational Pensions
    Mrs. Roe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average increase in real terms since 1979 in the amount received by people in respect of occupational pensions.

    Mr. Newton
    For all pensioners, the average amount of occupational pension received, in 1987 prices, was £13·20 in 1979 and £23·30 in 1987—an increase of 77 per cent.

    For those pensioners actually receiving an occupational pension (52 per cent. of all pensioners in 1987) the average amount of such pension, in 1987 prices, was £32·10 in 1979 and £44·80 in 1987—an increase of 40 per cent.

    I regret that in a supplementary answer to my hon. Friend on Monday 2 April at column 883, I inadvertently related the percentage increase for the average pensioner to the 1987 amount for the average occupational pensioner. I am glad to have this opportunity to clarify the position.

    Income Support
    Mr. Andrew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East of 19 February,Official Report, columns 548-49, if he will consider the case for a special exemption from the process of signing on in respect of recently bereaved income support claimants signing on for the first time.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    Title to benefit is decided on the facts of each individual case. We have given careful consideration to the case for exempting recently bereaved people from signing on in order to receive income support. We have no plans to make such an exemption.

    Correspondence (MEPs)
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security since 18 June 1989, how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament that concern local or United 684
    Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    We have received 47 letters from MEPs since June 1989. Although MEPs have no locus in respect of exclusively domestic United Kingdom matters, our practice is to reply in full to the MEP, to avoid delay for the constituent concerned. We do not copy correspondence to third parties unless the recipient has specifically requested that we do so.

    Unemployment-related Benefit
    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the grounds for disallowance of unemployment-related benefits and the number of claims disallowed for each such reason in 1989.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    The information in relation to national insurance unemployment benefit is in the tables. Similar information for other unemployment-related benefits is not available.

    Decisions of adjudication officers on doubtful claims for unemployment benefit period 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989

    Fresh or renewal claims disallowed

    Reviewed claims revised adversely to claimant

    Capability

    2,633

    209

    Employment not terminated

    98

    62

    Engaged in employment

    12,175

    7,263

    Employed to full normal extent

    12,583

    239

    Normal idle day

    1,559

    202

    Payment in lieu of notice or wages etc.

    114,836

    22,025

    Recognised or customary holiday

    4,609

    387

    Whether unemployed

    31,243

    5,804

    Share fishermen:

    Work as

    176

    26

    No work available

    123

    24

    Dependant's benefit:

    Child

    32

    34

    Adult

    912

    597

    Delayed claim

    94,819

    158

    Failure to attend for interview

    225

    25

    Failure to kepp to signing time

    13

    5

    Occupational pensioners

    131

    154

    Availability

    41,361

    4,526

    Restricted availability

    16,326

    4,178

    Share fishermen—neglect to avail

    197

    4

    Trade dispute (including R.A.O. decisions)

    302

    11

    Seasonal workers

    1,611

    27

    Leaving voluntarily

    201,633

    695

    Misconduct

    65,151

    344

    Employment:

    Neglect to avail

    2,923

    18

    Refusal of

    2,780

    19

    Refusal or premature termination of training

    863

    18

    Refusal to carry out Written recommendations

    95

    6

    Restart

    492

    66

    Other questions

    24,552

    24,365

    All questions

    634,453

    71,491

    685
    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average number of claimants to unemployment-related benefits for each year since 1979; and what was the cost of such benefits in each year.

    Estimated numbers of unemployed people receiving unemployment-related benefits 1979–80 to 1988–89

    Thousands

    1970–80

    1980–81

    1981–82

    1982–83

    1983–84

    1984–85

    1985–86

    1986–87

    1987–88

    1988–89

    Unemployment benefit only

    470

    785

    985

    815

    405

    810

    740

    795

    660

    475

    Unemployment benefit plus income support/supplementary benefit

    80

    175

    235

    275

    215

    210

    215

    210

    155

    125

    Income support/supplementary benefit only

    486

    675

    1,085

    1,395

    1,645

    1,745

    1,815

    1,895

    1,775

    1,255

    Total benefit expenditure on unemployed beneficiaries Outturn 1979–80 to 1988–89

    £ millions

    1979–80

    1980–81

    1981–82

    1982–83

    1983–84

    1984–85

    1985–86

    1986–87

    1987–88

    1988–89

    Total benefit expenditure on unemployed beneficiaries

    1,470

    2,530

    4,020

    5,010

    5,440

    6,320

    6,940

    7,290

    6,670

    5,390

    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of people referred to adjudication officers by employment service staff because of doubts about their availability for work and restricted availability; and how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on grounds of non-availability for work and restricted availability for the years 1988 and 1989.

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

    Availability

    Restricted Availability

    Referrals

    Disallowances

    Referrals

    Disallowances

    1988

    150,889

    78,436

    90,463

    23,940

    1989

    83,400

    45,887

    64,080

    20,504

    Disability
    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department has yet agreed on criteria which will prescribe the circumstances in which deaf-blind people will be treated as being unable to walk or virtually unable to walk to enable them to become entitled to mobility allowance this April.

    Mr. Scott
    The Mobility Allowance Amendment Regulations 1990, which prescribe the circumstances in which deaf-blind people will be able to qualify for the allowance, were laid before the House on 20 March. Officials have met representatives of the Mobility Allowance Campaign to discuss the regulations.

    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if invalid care allowance will be payable to carers of the recipients of all three rates of the new disability allowance.

    Mr. Scott
    I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 12 February at col 83.

    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if recipients of mobility or attendance allowance can be put on either of the two lowest rates of disability allowance, should their benefits be reviewed after April 1992.
    686
    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    The information is in the following table:

    Mr. Scott
    The qualifying criteria for the two upper levels of the care component of the disability allowance and the upper level of the mobility component will be on lines similar to those currently employed for attendance allowance and mobility allowance. The intention is that people now receiving attendance allowance and mobility allowance will continue to receive help at the same rates as under current arrangements if their condition is unchanged. In addition, in common with other disabled people, current attendance allowance recipients will also be eligible to claim the new lower rate of the mobility component of the disability and current mobility allowance recipients will be eligible to claim the new lower rate of the care component.

    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether mobility allowance will be payable to claimants who are terminally ill with a life expectancy of less than 12 months if they satisfy the other criteria for receiving mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Scott
    Yes. Possible life expectancy is not taken into account in deciding how long a person is likely to continue to meet the medical eligibility criteria for the allowance.

    Hillsborough Disaster Fund
    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on how many claimants have had benefits stopped or reduced as a result of receiving payments from the Hillsborough disaster fund.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    On the information currently available, the trustees for the Hillsborough disaster appeal fund have made payments to 647 people and five claimants have had their benefits affected.

    Industrial Diseases
    Mr. Loyden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which industrial diseases his Department recognises as rendering sufferers incapable of following their regular occupation.
    687
    Mr. Scott
    Whether a claimant is capable of following his regular occupation is decided on the evidence in each individual case.

    Family Benefits
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claimed both family credit and housing benefit in 1989–90; and how many he estimates will do so in 1990–91.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    The information is not available.

    Mr. Speller
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend the family credit regulations to treat mortgage interest relief on a basis similar to the treatment of rents in the housing benefit regulations.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    We have no plans to do so. Family credit makes no provision related to the actual cost of any outgoings in the individual case. To do so, whether for mortgage interest or any other form of outgoings, would fundamentally change the nature of the scheme.

    Housing Benefit (Students)
    Mr. Shersby
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of maintaining eligibility for housing benefit for students.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    The most recent housing benefit statistical returns available are from May 1988 and indicate that 78,000 students were in receipt of benefit at that time. On the assumption that the numbers claiming remain at that level and taking the proposed top-up loan into account as income, the net cost of maintaining students' eligibility for housing benefit is estimated to be £35 million in a full year. Nevertheless, with the introduction of top-up loans and access funds the Government expect to be spending over £100 million more on student support even after the withdrawal of entitlement to income support, unemployment benefit and housing benefit for the majority of full-time students.

    Income Statistics
    Sir George Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables showing percentage changes in real income between 1981 and 1985 before and

    c. Percentage changes in real income by cumulative decile group mean: 1981–85

    Below 10 per cent.

    Below 20 per cent.

    Below 30 per cent.

    Below 40 per cent.

    Below 50 per cent.

    Total population

    Percentage change in real income

    Before housing costs

    8·7

    6·9

    6·2

    5·9

    5·8

    6·9

    After housing costs

    2·6

    2·6

    2·5

    2·6

    3·0

    5·4

    Figures at (a) and (b) are rounded to the nearest whole number.
    The information at (c) corrects figures, particularly after housing costs, contained in the current edition of "Households Below Average Income", following the discovery of errors in the treatment of housing costs in the assessment of family income in 1981 which came to light as a result of detailed work carried out by researchers from the Institute of Fiscal Studies with the co-operation of DSS officials. Corrected full details of the 1981 analysis will be included in the next edition of "Households Below Average Incomes".
    As explained in paragraph 7 of the Technical Annex to the current edition of "Households Below Average Income" the figures contained in these tables are subject to sampling error. These sampling errors, and other peculiarities in the Family Income Survey data, increase the risk of distortion at the extremes of the income distribution where the number of sample cases available is quite limited. The Government, on the advice of statisticians, have therefore concluded that measuring changes in real income by reference to decile midpoints (the median of each decile group) provides a statistically more reliable picture of living standards and propose to adopt this approach in future. However, to ensure continuity the next edition of "Households Below Average Income" will also contain figures from 1981 based on decile group means.
    688
    after housing costs by (a) the midpoint of each decile group for the whole of the income distribution, (b) decile group means for the whole of the income distribution and (c) cumulative decile group means for the bottom half of the income distribution and the percentage increase for the total population, in each case using assumptions contained in households below average income; and if he will make a statement on which methodology is statistically more reliable.

    Mr. Newton
    The information is set out in the tables.

    a. Percentage changes in real income by decile group midpoint (medians of decile groups)

    Percentage change in income

    Midpoint of decile group

    before housing costs

    after housing costs

    1

    5

    4

    2

    6

    2

    3

    5

    3

    4

    6

    2

    5

    5

    4

    6

    7

    7

    7

    7

    7

    8

    8

    7

    9

    8

    8

    10

    9

    9

    b. Percentage changes in real income by decile group mean: 1981–85

    Percentage changes in income

    Decile

    before housing costs

    after housing costs

    1

    9

    3

    2

    6

    2

    3

    5

    3

    4

    5

    3

    5

    6

    4

    6

    7

    6

    7

    7

    7

    8

    8

    7

    9

    8

    8

    10

    7

    5

    Total

    7

    5

    Pensioners (Incomes)
    Mr. Meacher
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his statement on 27 November 1989,Official Report, column 525, on what basis he calculated that average incomes of pensioners had risen by about 23 per cent. since 1979; if he will set out the percentage increase in incomes of pensioners over this period from (i) the basic state pension, (ii) SERPS, (iii) occupational pension schemes (iv) dividends and interest and (v) other sources of income; if he will set out this information by deciles; and if he will indicate what weighting he gives to each of these sources of income in calculating the overall increase in pensioner incomes;

    (2) if he will indicate the level of total incomes of each decade of pensioners, at constant prices, in 1979 and 1989, and the percentage increase in each case or whatever data most closely approximate to this;

    (3) pursuant to his answer of 12 January, Official Report, column 782, what was the cumulative increase above inflation on the basic national insurance pension in the periods (a) 1974 to November 1979 and (b) November 1979 to April 1990;

    (4) what has been the percentage increase in the total incomes in real terms of each income decile of pensioners

    Table 1

    Pensioners' incomes

    1974

    1979

    1987

    Real terms increase 1974–79 percent.

    Real terms increase 1979–87 percent.

    Total Social Security benefits

    45·00

    50·50

    59·20

    12

    17

    Occupational Pensions

    11·80

    13·20

    23·30

    12

    77

    Savings Income

    10·70

    9·10

    20·90

    -16

    130

    Earnings

    13·60

    9·90

    7·90

    -27

    -20

    Total Gross Income

    81·10

    82·80

    111·20

    2

    34

    Total Net Income

    73·80

    75·90

    99·90

    3

    31

    Notes:

    1. Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

    2. £s per week at 1987 prices.

    The more detailed information sought about the breakdown of pensioners' incomes is not available in precisely the form requested, since (for example) the FES

    Table 2

    Percentage increase: Components of pensioners' income 1974–79 and 1979–87

    RP and related benefits

    Other benefits

    Occupational pensions

    INV income

    Earnings

    Total net

    Decile

    1974–79

    1979–87

    1974–79

    1979–87

    1974–79

    1979–87

    1974–79

    1979–87

    1974–79

    1979–87

    1974–79

    1979–87

    Lowest

    19

    19

    -35

    -42

    -13

    65

    -3

    119

    25

    -70

    14

    18

    2

    16

    11

    -29

    51

    -10

    408

    1

    109

    -82

    125

    12

    20

    3

    13

    21

    -77

    2

    131

    54

    -3

    71

    -44

    -1

    10

    23

    4

    9

    23

    157

    -33

    5

    89

    -24

    64

    -86

    231

    7

    24

    5

    3

    21

    140

    63

    13

    76

    -11

    36

    -12

    -51

    5

    24

    6

    5

    18

    138

    54

    3

    85

    10

    37

    -39

    -36

    5

    24

    7

    17

    9

    100

    250

    -29

    116

    -17

    52

    -50

    -42

    4

    25

    8

    1

    12

    81

    42

    16

    71

    -32

    234

    7

    -44

    4

    27

    9

    10

    6

    7

    116

    35

    56

    -20

    131

    -25

    -10

    5

    29

    Highest

    28

    14

    27

    30

    10

    78

    -16

    152

    -29

    -17

    -6

    53

    Overall

    11

    15

    39

    60

    12

    76

    -16

    131

    -27

    -21

    3

    31

    Note:
    This table breaks down the available sample survey information into too detailed an analysis for the results to be statistically significant and it is not possible to draw meaningful conclusions from it.
    690
    since 1979; and, in the case of each decile, what has been the real increase over the same period in income from (i) SERPS, (ii) occupational pension schemes, (iii) interest and dividends and (iv) other sources of income;

    (5) what was the net income at 1986 prices of those pensioner tax units who obtained all their income from state benefits in each year since 1979; whether he will show separately the amount of income from (a) national insurance pension, (b) the amount in (a) represented by the state earnings-related pension, (c) supplementary benefit or income support, (d) housing benefit, (e) disability benefits and (f) other; and whether he will show data separately for single and married tax units.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    [holding answers 8 January, 22 January, 26 February 1990]: The figure of a 23 per cent. increase in pensioners' average total net incomes to which the hon. Member's question refers relates to the increase from 1979 to 1986, and has therefore now been superseded by the analysis drawn from the 1987 family expenditure survey which has recently become available, showing an increase of over 31 per cent. in such incomes between 1979 and 1987. The table is therefore based on this more up-to-date information, and gives figures for both 1974–79 and for 1979–87.

    does not separately identify the basic state pension and the earnings-related SERPS element, but the table gives the available information broken down by deciles.
    691

    Table 3

    Pensioners' total net income at constant prices 1974, 1979 and 1987

    1974

    1979

    1987

    Increase percentage

    £

    £

    £

    1974–79

    1979–87

    Decile:

    Lowest

    31·10

    35·50

    41·80

    14

    18

    2

    38·40

    43·00

    51·50

    12

    20

    3

    43·60

    48·20

    59·10

    10

    23

    4

    49·20

    52·70

    65·60

    7

    24

    5

    56·00

    58·60

    72·40

    5

    24

    6

    63·80

    66·70

    83·00

    5

    24

    7

    72·90

    75·80

    95·00

    4

    25

    8

    84·40

    87·50

    111·50

    4

    27

    9

    103·90

    109·10

    141·50

    5

    29

    Highest

    194·30

    182·20

    277·90

    -6

    53

    Overall

    73·80

    75·90

    99·90

    3

    31

    Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

    For similar reasons it is also not possible to give precisely the information requested about pensioner tax units wholly dependent upon state benefits, but the table gives the available information for the years 1979 to 1987.

    Table 4

    Incomes of pensioner tax units with all income in state benefits 1979 to 1987

    Average total net income

    Retirement pension+ supplementary benefit/income supplement+ housing benefit

    Other benefits (including disability benefits)

    Single

    1979

    46·30

    43·50

    2·80

    1980

    47·80

    45·40

    2·40

    1981

    51·10

    47·40

    3·60

    1982

    53·50

    50·70

    2·80

    1983

    55·80

    53·60

    2·20

    1984

    57·10

    53·50

    3·60

    1985

    57·70

    54·00

    3·70

    1986

    57·00

    53·60

    3·40

    1987

    58·60

    54·70

    3·90

    Married

    1979

    72·80

    69·50

    3·50

    1980

    71·70

    68·50

    3·20

    1981

    78·50

    75·80

    2·70

    1982

    79·70

    73·90

    5·80

    1983

    82·30

    78·20

    4·10

    1984

    87·90

    80·20

    7·70

    1985

    84·20

    77·10

    7·10

    1986

    90·50

    78·50

    12·00

    1987

    88·40

    78·60

    9·90

    All

    1979

    50·60

    47·70

    2·90

    1980

    52·80

    50·20

    2·50

    1981

    56·00

    52·60

    3·50

    1982

    59·00

    55·50

    3·40

    1983

    61·10

    58·50

    2·50

    1984

    62·80

    58·50

    4·30

    1985

    62·10

    57·80

    4·20

    1986

    63·40

    58·40

    5·00

    1987

    64·40

    59·30

    5·00

    Notes to tables 2, 3, and 4:

    1. All cash figures are £ per week at 1987 prices.

    2. All figures refer to pensioner tax units.

    3. Retirement pension and related benefits includes basic retirement pension, additional pension, income support and housing benefit.

    4. See note 5.

    5. In common with all other surveys, the Family Expenditure Survey draws information from a random sample of the population. This means that the FES will occasionally include some individuals whose weekly income are considerably higher
    692
    or lower than those of the remainder of their group. The unrepresentative income of such individuals, when averaged, may give wide swings in year-to-year comparisons. In general, when viewed over the longer term, the data provides a more reliable overall indication of the movement in average weekly incomes. We are considering whether the use of decile medians for tables involving deciles would enhance their statistical reliability.

    Comparisons of changes in the basic national insurance pension over the periods requested, and between those periods, are complicated by a number of changes in uprating requirements and dates, including both those mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member on 20 December 1989 at column 299-302 and the earlier change, in 1976, from uprating based on known movements in indices of prices-earnings to uprating based on forecasts. This change had the practical effect that the change in prices or earnings over the period March 1975 to November 1975 was never taken into account for any uprating.

    The table therefore gives the figures requested on the same basis as in my reply of 20 December 1989, giving comparisons both for November 1978 and for November 1979 (when long-term benefit rates were increased by 2 per cent. more than inflation to make up for an under-forecast in 1978), and for changes in the average real value of benefits in the relevant uprating periods as a whole. Figures for April 1990, and therefore for the uprating year April 1989–90, are not yet available.

    Table 5

    Per cent.

    Uprating dates

    July 1974-November 1978

    5·6

    November 1978-April 1989

    0·4

    July 1974-November 1979

    7·5

    November 1979-April 1989

    -1·4

    Uprating periods (average value)

    July 1974-April 1975—November 1978-November 1979

    3·9

    November 1978·79-April 1988·89

    7·1

    Training Schemes
    Ms. Short
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the effect on the income support of participants in training courses run by local authorities or funded by the European social fund who receive financial help or help in kind towards their travel to training and meal costs; and if he will make a statement;

    (2) what is the position of income support claimants who are participating in training courses funded by the European social fund or local authorities who receive equivalent payments as enjoyed by participants in employment training; what is the effect on their benefit entitlement if they receive (a) a training premium of £10 a week, (b) a cash payment equal to the person's earnings disregard in each week, (c) a cash payout equal to the person's earnings disregard for work done outside the training each week, (d) a training bonus of up to £200 at the end of training, (e) a charitable payment or training bonus at the end of their training or (f) their travelling expenses; and if he will make a statement.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    [holding answer 1 March 1990]: For income support purposes, the treatment of payments made to trainees who are not participating in arrangements for training made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 will depend on

    693
    whether they are made on a contractual basis. Payments made on a contractual basis in respect of a weekly training premium, a weekly cash payment which is not a payment of earnings, and regular payments for meals and travel expenses will be taken fully into account as income. However, where these payments are made on a voluntary basis, the first £5 a week of the total amount is currently disregarded. From 9 April, this disregard will be increased to £10 a week, and voluntary payments which are intended and used for travel costs will be completely ignored. In addition, a payment of earnings from employment which is equal to the person's earnings disregard is ignored. Any charitable payment or training bonus (of whatever amount) paid on completion of a training course is treated as capital in the normal way and will not affect income support unless the payment brings the claimant's total capital to more than £3,000. Regular payments in kind are ignored.

    Income Support
    Mr. Nellist
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide the income support (supplementary benefit) earnings equivalents, and the assumptions underlying the calculations, for 1989, or the latest available year, 1987 and 1979 for(a) a two adult household, single earner, with two children aged between 11 and 15 years, (b) a single person aged over 25 years and (c) a single parent with one child aged between 11 and 15 years.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    [holding answer 8 March 1990]: Figures for 1987 and 1989 are given in the table. Figures for 1979 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Levels of gross earnings at which net income after housing costs in work becomes equal to that when unemployed and in receipt of Supplementary Benefit/ Income Support

    Family Type

    Supplementary Benefit April 1987 £ (gross)

    Income Support October 1989 £ (gross)

    Couple, 2 Children aged 11, 15

    35·06

    27·50

    Single person

    32·10

    34·90

    Single parent 1 child aged 14

    9·35

    6·40

    1. April 1987 figures exclude fares to work.

    2. All other assumptions are the same as the Tax Benefit Model Tables (TBM) for April 1987 and October 1989. Copies available in the Library.

    Unemployment Benefit
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what savings in social security payments would have accrued in each of the last two years if unemployment benefit were paid for(a) two years and (b) three years;

    (2)what would have been the annual cost of extending payment of unemployment benefit to (a) two years and (b) three years in each of the last two years.

    Mrs. Gillian Shephard
    [holding answer 23 March 1990]:
    Estimated costs and savings are set out in the table.

    1988–89

    1989–90

    £ million

    £ million

    Extending UB duration to 2 years:

    UB cost

    340

    260

    IS/HB saving

    210

    170

    694

    1988–89

    1989–90

    £ million

    £ million

    Extending UB duration to 3 years:

    UB cost

    540

    400

    IS/HB saving

    330

    260

    Social Fund
    Mr. McLeish
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of income support applicants, by lone parents, disabled, pensioners and unemployed, who were receiving social fund budget and crisis loans for each month in 1989 for the Leven, Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy social security offices.

    Mr. Scott
    [holding answer 26 March 1990]: The information given in the table represents the number of awards made each month. An individual applicant can make more than one application in each accounting period.

    Leven

    Lone parents

    Disabled

    pensioners

    unemployed

    Budgeting Loans 1989

    January

    23

    2

    0

    13

    February

    52

    1

    1

    45

    March

    29

    6

    1

    27

    April

    39

    3

    0

    19

    May

    34

    5

    0

    32

    June

    36

    2

    2

    24

    July

    36

    7

    2

    27

    August

    40

    4

    1

    16

    September

    25

    2

    1

    22

    October

    37

    6

    1

    24

    November

    66

    9

    7

    43

    December

    30

    2

    2

    28

    Crisis Loans 1989

    January

    3

    0

    1

    15

    February

    6

    1

    0

    12

    March

    10

    1

    0

    20

    April

    10

    0

    0

    13

    May

    9

    0

    0

    5

    June

    9

    0

    0

    12

    July

    7

    1

    0

    11

    August

    9

    0

    0

    20

    September

    25

    2

    1

    22

    October

    6

    0

    0

    9

    November

    9

    0

    0

    5

    December

    13

    3

    0

    13

    Dunfermline

    Lone Parents

    Disabled

    Pensioners

    Unemployed

    Budgeting Loans 1989

    January

    27

    4

    3

    24

    February

    63

    7

    2

    46

    March

    56

    4

    2

    54

    April

    34

    2

    5

    38

    May

    60

    6

    3

    28

    June

    35

    6

    1

    28

    July

    35

    0

    2

    30

    August

    42

    4

    3

    36

    September

    40

    3

    2

    24

    October

    49

    10

    3

    33

    November

    69

    10

    2

    36

    December

    57

    4

    3

    44

    695

    Lone parents

    Disabled

    Pensioners

    Unemployed

    Crisis Loans 1989

    January

    23

    0

    0

    64

    February

    20

    1

    1

    54

    March

    29

    0

    3

    99

    April

    32

    0

    0

    60

    May

    23

    3

    1

    46

    June

    15

    6

    0

    44

    July

    32

    0

    1

    40

    August

    27

    2

    1

    36

    September

    28

    0

    1

    50

    October

    24

    1

    0

    61

    November

    29

    0

    2

    62

    December

    24

    0

    1

    54

    Cowdenbeath

    Lone parents

    Disabled

    Pensioners

    Unemployed

    Budgeting Loans 1989

    January

    19

    14

    4

    21

    February

    41

    5

    2

    40

    March

    28

    2

    0

    26

    April

    30

    4

    3

    27

    May

    18

    8

    4

    29

    June

    20

    12

    2

    34

    July

    16

    8

    4

    33

    August

    21

    5

    2

    28

    September

    21

    3

    1

    34

    October

    35

    3

    0

    21

    November

    34

    4

    2

    31

    December

    42

    7

    3

    30

    Crisis Loans 1989

    January

    21

    5

    0

    39

    February

    15

    3

    0

    31

    March

    11

    2

    0

    52

    April

    20

    3

    0

    45

    May

    16

    2

    1

    37

    June

    21

    2

    0

    50

    July

    10

    0

    1

    43

    August

    11

    3

    1

    45

    September

    21

    1

    1

    25

    October

    21

    1

    0

    54

    November

    17

    1

    1

    59

    December

    23

    5

    0

    42

    Kirkcaldy

    Lone parents

    Disabled

    Pensioners

    Unemployed

    Budgeting Loans 1989

    January

    49

    9

    8

    77

    February

    73

    8

    7

    107

    March

    79

    14

    7

    134

    April

    53

    4

    9

    63

    May

    75

    10

    8

    64

    June

    72

    6

    7

    82

    July

    87

    6

    5

    106

    August

    93

    16

    5

    81

    September

    68

    3

    6

    72

    October

    48

    5

    11

    47

    November

    73

    4

    13

    94

    December

    33

    4

    0

    39

    Crisis Loans 1989

    January

    20

    2

    1

    38

    February

    19

    0

    0

    24

    March

    22

    1

    1

    58

    April

    27

    0

    1

    41

    May

    21

    0

    1

    44

    June

    28

    3

    1

    61

    July

    30

    1

    0

    60

    August

    21

    3

    2

    82

    September

    16

    0

    0

    52

    October

    17

    2

    1

    55

    696

    Lone parents

    Disabled

    Pensioners

    Unemployed

    November

    19

    0

    0

    49

    December

    8

    1

    0

    42

    Mr. McLeish
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amounts of social fund budgeting and crisis loans outstanding for each month in 1989 for the Leven, Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Social Security office.

    Mr. Scott
    [holding answer 26 March 1990]: The information given in the table represents the provisional amounts outstanding on the last day of each calendar month.

    1989

    Budget loans

    Crisis loans

    (£)

    (£)

    Leven

    January

    52,563·52

    6,297·83

    February

    63,544·73

    6,258·66

    March

    68,537·83

    6,726·50

    April

    71,611·65

    6,955·27

    May

    73,977·50

    7,122·63

    June

    73,017·27

    7,017·27

    July

    78,216·31

    6,951·29

    August

    79,517·10

    7,655·51

    September

    75,753·29

    8,097·69

    October

    76,736·58

    7,654·35

    November

    86,429·02

    8,750·99

    December

    86,973·78

    8,644·66

    Dunfermline

    January

    67,246·52

    11,537·70

    February

    83,566·82

    12,367·44

    March

    97,512·92

    15,107·08

    April

    101,245·75

    18,349·62

    May

    103,645·04

    19,611·94

    June

    98,957·80

    20,305·59

    July

    101,249·86

    21,211·71

    August

    99,349·26

    21,267·69

    September

    93,082·53

    21,681·80

    October

    99,147·63

    21,892·93

    November

    105,879·19

    22,775·03

    December

    104,953·74

    22,377·97

    Cowdenbeath

    January

    49,392·03

    7,168·26

    February

    53,251·22

    7,038·70

    March

    54,467·45

    7,057·49

    April

    53,759·24

    7,448·10

    May

    59,750·70

    9,043·62

    June

    58,617·41

    9,333·20

    July

    56,545·92

    9,374·68

    August

    57,175·58

    9,891·57

    September

    54,927·22

    9,405·62

    October

    55,617·72

    10,583·48

    November

    55,925·95

    10,831·85

    December

    59,162·71

    10,655·93

    Kirkcaldy

    January

    140,197·49

    7,189·66

    February

    157,793·09

    9,977·93

    March

    176,368·69

    13,905·46

    April

    185,456·24

    16,897·26

    May

    194,855·49

    18,563·63

    June

    197,111·36

    19,673·15

    July

    203,872·02

    19,649·12

    August

    216,603·23

    20,937·19

    September

    218,780·52

    20,117·60

    October

    214,305·20

    19,793·41

    November

    217,396·08

    22,343·70

    December

    203,458·70

    21,563·54

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Namibia
    Mr. Hunter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Namibian independence.

    Mr. Boyes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with the independent Namibia.

    Mr. McCartney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with the independent Namibia.

    Mr. Wilson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on relations with Namibia.

    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with independent Namibia.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs represented the Government at the Namibian independence celebrations on 21 March, and met President Nujoma and other Ministers. We strongly supported Namibia's entry into the Commonwealth. My right hon. Friend opened the new British high commission in Windhoek on 21 March and announced £10 million in bilateral aid over the next three years. We are also helping Namibia with military and police training, at President Nujoma's request.

    Sir David Steel
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks he has had with the Government of Namibia about the status of Walvis bay.

    Mr. Hurd
    Walvis bay was one of a number of subjects discussed during my meeting with President Nujoma in Windhoek on 21 March.

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from Namibia for assistance in negotiations for the future of Walvis bay.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    The future of Walvis bay is a matter for discussion between the new Namibian Government and the Government of South Africa. We have not been asked to intervene in these negotiations.

    Mr. Malcolm Bruce
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks the Minister has had with the Namibian Government on their economic situation.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had wide-ranging talks with President Nujoma during his recent visit to Windhoek for the Namibian independence celebrations. They discussed economic issues, mainly in the context of Namibia's priority for aid.

    South Africa
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the Commonwealth in ending apartheid in South Africa.
    698
    Mr. Waldegrave
    We believe that the international community, including the Commonwealth, should make a positive and practical response to the important changes taking place in South Africa.

    Mr. Canavan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the Government of South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met President de Klerk, Mr. Pik Botha and other South African Ministers in Cape Town on 19 March. They had useful talks which reinforced our views that the South African Government are committed to fundamental reform. He urged them to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible. He also met several opposition leaders in South Africa and saw some of the 250 aid projects which Britain is supporting to help prepare black South Africans for the future after apartheid. He made it clear to everyone he met that our aim is to see apartheid abolished and to help the development of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic South Africa.

    German Unification
    Mr. Skinner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the West German Foreign Minister regarding reunification; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the West German Foreign Minister during the Anglo-German summit on 30 March, where they had useful discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including the external aspects of German reunification. They meet frequently and shall certainly do so again at, for example, NATO and EC meetings.

    Mr. Wareing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the two plus four conference on the unification of Germany.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    Preparatory talks at official level were held in Bonn on 14 March in accordance with the mandate given by the Foreign Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, France, United Kingdom, USSR and United States in Ottawa on 13 February. Officials discussed procedural questions and the agenda of future meetings. The next meeting will take place after the formation of a new German Democratic Republic Government.

    Mr. Dykes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's response to steps towards German reunification following the East German election results on 18 March.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    We have welcomed the GDR elections on 18 March as a great day for Europe and East Germany. We hope the two plus four talks can get down to substantive business as soon as the new democratically elected GDR Government are formed.
    699
    Mr. Hind
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to meet the Foreign Minister of East Germany to discuss German unification; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    After the appointment of a new Foreign Minister for East Germany, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs looks forward to discussions of matters of mutual interest. He would, in any case, expect to meet him/her at the first meeting at ministerial level of the two plus four talks on the external aspects of German unification, for which, as yet, no date has been set.

    Ivory
    Miss Hoey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of the stockpiled ivory in Hong Kong.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    The latest available figure for the current stock of elephant ivory held in Hong Kong (to the nearest tonne) is 472 tonnes, 356 tonnes of which are available for trading.

    EC Policies
    Mr. Knox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he intends to place before his European Community partners for the development of Community policies.

    Mr. Maude
    We have taken the lead in the Community on a wide range of issues, among them giving effect to the detailed measures called for in stage 1 of the Delors report on economic and monetary union; the development of policy towards eastern Europe, strengthening the partnership between the US and the Community and urging rapid progress towards completing the single market.

    We shall press our EC partners to continue to give top priority to completion of the 1992 programme, and to maintaining an outward-looking and liberal Community, in line with the commitments which we have secured in successive recent European Councils.

    Hong Kong
    Mr. Andrew MacKay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Hong Kong.

    Mr. Maude
    I shall be visiting Hong Kong from 7 to 11 April.

    Drugs Trade
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he intends to give to south Asian countries in their attempt to curb the international drugs trade.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    South Asia, as the principal source of heroin reaching the United Kingdom, is a priority area for our drugs-related assistance. We are currently funding large-scale, drugs-related projects, in both Pakistan and India, managed by the United Nations fund for drug abuse control.

    German Democratic Republic
    Mr. Barry Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what message has been sent by his Department to the victors in last month's general election in the German Democratic Republic.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    We would expect to send a message to the new Foreign Minister of the GDR once a Government have been formed. We have welcomed the elections as a great day for Germany and for Europe.

    Mr. Watts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the elections in the German Democratic Republic.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    The elections in East Germany on 18 March were, as confirmed by foreign observers, free, fair and well organised. We have welcomed the elections as a great day for Europe and for Germany.

    Brazil
    Mr. Wallace
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Brazil about their development of ballistic missiles.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    None.

    United Nations (Human Rights)
    Mr. Bill Michie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the last meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

    Mr. Eastham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the last meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    The Commission on Human Rights is the major United Nations forum for discussion of human rights issues. At its last session from 29 January to 9 March it discussed a very large number of human rights problems and, in particular, adopted resolutions critical of the human rights situations in a number of countries. The wide range of views represented at the commission meant, however, that on a number of issues it did not go as far as we would have wished.

    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking following the last meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    As a member of the commission the United Kingdom delegation played an active part in its work. We shall continue our efforts to promote respect for human rights and to urge compliance by all states with their international obligations.

    Romania
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take all possible steps to encourage free and fair elections in Romania.
    701
    Mr. Waldegrave
    We wish to encourage free and fair elections in Romania. To promote this we invited a group of members of the Romanian political parties to visit the United Kingdom in March to study our political and electoral systems. We hope to fund the visit to Romania of a group of up to 12 local government officers to observe the election campaign and poll on 20 May. We also welcome the decision of the IPU to send observers, and are encouraging the Romanians to invite observers from the Council of Europe. We have also contributed 118 tonnes of paper to a wide range of political parties for their use in the election campaign.

    China
    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any current plans to visit Peking.

    Mr. Maude
    No.

    Central America
    Mr. Bradley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet members of the Government of the United States to discuss human rights in central America.

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the members of the Government of the United States to discuss human rights in central America.

    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet members of the Government of the United States to discuss human rights in central America.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    We have regular discussions with the United States Administration on a wide variety of subjects, including central America.

    Eastern Europe (Electronics)
    Mr. Stern
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the consolidated reports of observers sent to recent east European elections.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    I will gladly arrange for any such reports to be placed in the Library.

    Baltic States
    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with officials and Ministers of the Soviet Union and Lithuanian Governments about the future of thë Baltic states.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    We have recently taken a number of opportunities to make our concerns known to the Soviet Union. We have emphasised that it is vital that progress should be made through dialogue between the Soviet authorities and the Lithuanians, and that a settlement should be reached which is acceptable to both sides and which enables the Lithuanian people to decide their own future. We have stressed the need for restraint on all sides.

    Mr. Anthony Coombs
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the right to self-determination of Estonia and the other Baltic states.
    702
    Mr. Waldegrave
    We have received a number of representations about Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from individuals and interest groups in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Our views are clearly on record.

    Mr. Atkinson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any recent requests from the Baltic states in support of self-determination; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    Our criteria for recognition of a state were set out in an answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 19 March. Our support for the right of the Baltic peoples to decide their own future is clearly on record.

    Nicaragua
    Mr. Norris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the handover of power to the new democratically elected Government of Nicaragua is proceeding satisfactorily.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    Preparations for the transfer of power appear to be going well. The agreement of 27 March between transition teams clarifies some important points, notably on civilian control of the army. The agreement of 23 March between Contra leaders and representatives of the new Government on demobilisation of the Contras also gives grounds for optimism. We are, however, disturbed by reports that the Sandinistas are distributing weapons to loyal followers, stripping Government assets, depleting reserves, and voting for themselves privileges and immunities.

    Middle East
    Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

    Mr. Latham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the peace process in the middle east.

    Mr. Ernie Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to further peace in the middle east.

    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of peace negotiations in the middle east.

    Mr. Corbett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of peace negotiations in the middle east.

    Mr. Watson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress towards a peace settlement in the middle east.

    Mr. David Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to help advance the peace process in the middle east.
    703
    Mr. Waldegrave
    We aim to encourage a dialogue between Israel and representative Palestinians as the first step towards a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the peace process with King Hussein last month and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had a useful meeting with Mr. Bassam Abu Sharif on 1 March. We look forward to the formation of a new Israeli Government able to carry the process forward. We continue, in the meantime, to work for the improvement of conditions in the occupied territories.

    Sri Lanka
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Sri Lanka about human rights.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    The British high commissioner in Colombo most recently raised the subject with President Premadasa on 28 February. The Sri Lankan Government are in no doubt of our concern.

    Cuba
    Mr. Janman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet President Castro of Cuba.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans.

    Cyprus
    Ms. Armstrong
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Cyprus following the breakdown of the United Nations talks.

    Mr. Maude
    We have worked actively to promote the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 649 on Cyprus. In line with it, we will continue to support UN efforts to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus dispute.

    NATO
    Mr. Moss
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the result of the East German elections for the NATO alliance.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    NATO has long supported the cause for freedom in the German Democratic Republic and throughout eastern Europe. We welcome the democratic election in the GDR. The establishment of a genuine democracy there will contribute to stability and security in Europe. We stress the crucial importance of continued German membership of NATO.

    Cameroons
    Mr. Fraser
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the application for the Cameroons to join the Commonwealth.
    704
    Mr. Waldegrave
    I have nothing to add to the reply I gave in response to a similar question from the hon. Member on Wednesday 13 December 1989.

    Hungary
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the elections in Hungary.

    Mr. Simon Coombs
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the elections in Hungary.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    We welcome Hungary's free and democratic elections on 25 March. They are an important milestone in the development of a pluralist democracy. We look forward to the formation of a new Government after the second round of elections on 8 April and to continued good relations.

    Sir Russell Johnston
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be able to meet a representative of the new Hungarian Government.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs looks forward to early contacts with the new Hungarian Government once formed, but has no firm plans as yet.

    European Parliament
    Mr. Butler
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to promote representation within the European Parliament based on a proportional ratio of population to seats.

    Mr. Maude
    The allocation of seats in the European Parliament has been the subject of negotiations within the framework of successive treaties since that of 1951 establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, under which the original Common Assembly was set up. Relative population has become the principal factor in determining the allocation of seats.

    Vietnam
    Mr. Fearn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks the Minister has recently had with NGOs about the situation in Vietnam.

    Mrs. Chalker
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 12 March. ODA is in close touch with the NGOs. They have recently submitted proposals for projects in the areas from which most of the boat people have come. These are receiving careful consideration.

    Taiwan
    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Taiwan; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Maude
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to do
    705
    so; in 1950 we ceased to recognise the nationalist authorities as the Government of China; since that date it has been our policy to have no formal dealings with the authorities in Taiwan.

    Vietnamese Boat People
    Mr. Ted Garrett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

    Mr. Eadie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

    Mr. Maude
    For the first time since May 1987, there is now a sustained net outflow of Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong. But it is too soon to know whether there will be another large influx into Hong Kong this year.

    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on living conditions in the closed camps for Vietnamese boat people.

    Mr. Maude
    The standard of living conditions in Hong Kong's 10 detention centres depends to a large extent on the degree of overcrowding. At present there are 44,000 Vietnamese boat people living in these detention centres, which have a combined design capacity of 43,000 places. A further 5,000 places will become available during May to accommodate the new influx which it is feared will arrive in the coming months.

    The UNHCR provides a full range of services to all detention centres through programmes operated by voluntary agencies. These services include education for children and adults, medical and family planning services, social work and welfare services.

    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve conditions in the closed camps for Vietnamese boat people.

    Mr. Maude
    Following the influx of 34,000 Vietnamese boat people in 1989, the Hong Kong Government have constructed new accommodation providing a total of 23,000 places. This has eased the overcrowding and has led to a significant improvement in conditions. In 1989–90 the total cost of providing asylum in Hong Kong was about £90 million. Of this, Her Majesty's Government provided £21 million to cover part of the cost of the building programme.

    Jacques Delors
    Mr. McFall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet Jacques Delors, and what matters he hopes to discuss.

    Dr. Kim Howells
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the President of the European Commission; and what matters he hopes to discuss.
    706
    Mr. Sean Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the President of the European Commission; and what matters he hopes to discuss.

    Dr. Godman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet Jacques Delors; and what matters he hopes to discuss.

    Mr. Maude
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs next expects to meet the President of the Commission at a meeting of Foreign Ministers on 21 April, at which the special informal meeting of EC Heads of State or Government on 28 April will be discussed.

    Council of Ministers
    Mr. David Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the General Affairs Council of Ministers meeting of 2 to 3 April.

    Mr. Frank Cook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the General Affairs Council of Ministers meeting of 2 to 3 April.

    Ms. Short
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the General Affairs Council of Ministers meeting of 2 to 3 April.

    Mr. Maude
    The Council which my right hon. Friend and I attended considered preparations for the inter-governmental conference due to open before the end of the year, and Herr Genscher reported on recent developments in Germany. The Commission reported on talks in Tokyo on EC/Japan trade; and on progress in EC/EFTA discussions; and on the signature of a trade, commercial and economic agreement with Czechoslovakia. We proposed that all quantitative restrictions on imports from Czechoslovakia should be removed from 1 July.

    The council discussed work on immigration problems, and member states' policies on visas for eastern Europe. My right hon. Friend argued for further measures of Community support to the black population of South Africa, and a trade and co-operation agreement with Argentina was signed.

    Ministers of the Twelve agreed, at my right hon. Friend's suggestion, to issue a further statement on Lithuania, urging restraint and dialogue as the way to achieve an outcome acceptable to all.

    Irish Republic
    Mr. Gow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Foreign Minister of the Irish Republic about the claim of articles 2 and 3 of the Republic's constitution and of the Irish Supreme Court to jurisdiction over part of Her Majesty's dominions.

    Mr. Hurd
    We are in regular touch with the Irish Government. A judgment of the Irish Supreme Court cannot affect Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom in international law. Irrespective of articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution, both
    707
    Governments are agreed that any change in the status of Northern Ireland would come about only with the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland.

    Chancellor Kohl
    Mr. Snape
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet Chancellor Kohl, and what issues he hopes to discuss.

    Mr. Maude
    My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Chancellor Kohl at the Anglo-German summit on 30 March. At that meeting the two sides had a useful and wide-ranging discussion on matters of mutual interest, including the external aspects of German unification.

    We remain in close contact with the Federal German Government. Our next meeting with Chancellor Kohl is likely to be at the EC summit in Dublin on 28 April.

    Mr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed during his recent meeting with Chancellor Kohl on 29 and 30 March.

    Mr. Maude
    A range of issues were discussed during Chancellor Kohl's visit on 29 and 30 March, including German unification, NATO matters, Lithuania, South Africa and the European Community.

    Anti-Semitism
    Mr. Janner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding anti-semitism in eastern Europe.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    We of course deplore anti-semitism in all its forms and will do all we can to counter it. Our embassies are monitoring the situation in eastern Europe carefully. Although some incidents have been reported, we think that there has been no general increase in anti-semitism in the area, although the free atmosphere has allowed it to be expressed more openly. We will be glad to have the hon. and learned Member's own assessment after his forthcoming visit to the area.

    Nelson Mandela
    Mr. Adams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet Nelson Mandela, and what matters he hopes to discuss.

    Mr. Worthington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to have discussions with Nelson Mandela; and what issues will be raised.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    When they met briefly in Namibia on 21 March, Mr. Mandela told my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that he hoped to have a further meeting before long. My right hon. Friend looks forward to discussing with him the recent positive developments in South Africa, and the best way to maintain a process of peaceful change.

    Bulgaria
    Mr. Amos
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria to discuss ways in which the United Kingdom can assist in the establishment of democracy; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans to meet the Bulgarian Foreign Minister again. They met in Ottawa in February and had a useful discussion. I met Mr. Dimitrov in Sofia also in February and at the recent Council of Europe Ministers meeting in Lisbon. A group of Bulgarian politicians recently visited London under the auspices of the Great Britain-East Europe Centre and the IPU to study our democracy in action. We greatly welcome progress towards democracy in Bulgaria and hope the election to be held on 10 June will be completely free and fair.

    EC Organisations (Siting)
    Mr. Day
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for Britain's bid for the siting of the European Environment Agency and the European bank for reconstruction and development.

    Mr. Maude
    We continue to pursue vigorously our bids to have the European Environment Agency and the European bank for reconstruction and development located in the United Kingdom. Both our candidates, Cambridge and London respectively, have an excellent case and are strong contenders.

    Cambodia
    Mr. Geraint Howells
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent diplomatic efforts Her Majesty's Government have made to find a solution to the situation in Cambodia.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 26 March by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

    Anglo-German Summit
    Mr. Gregory
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the Anglo-German summit on 30 March.

    Mr. Temple-Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the Anglo-German summit on 30 March.

    Mr. Maude
    At the Anglo-German summit in London on 30 March, my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had useful discussions with their German opposite numbers on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. The successful occasion underlined our close relations with the Federal Republic of Germany, one of our most important allies and partners.

    Lithuania
    Mr. Salmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration the British Government have given to their relations with Lithuania and the Soviet Union.

    Mr. Andrew Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration the British Government have given to their relations with Lithuania and the Soviet Union.

    Mrs. Margaret Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration the British Government have given to their relations with Lithuania and the Soviet Union.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    We support the right of the Baltic peoples to decide their own future, and have welcomed the considerable progress made in the past two years.

    In view of recent developments in Lithuania, we think it vital that restraint should be shown on all sides and that progress should be made through dialogue between the Soviet authorities and the Lithuanians. We attach particular importance to the repeated statements by the Soviet leadership that there is no question of use of force. We have made clear our concerns to the Soviet authorities.

    Herr Genscher
    Mr. Adley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet Herr Genscher; and what he proposės to discuss.

    Mr. Maude
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the West German Foreign Minister during the Anglo-German summit on 30 March, where they had useful discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including the external aspects of German reunification. They meet frequently and shall certainly do so again soon at, for example, NATO and EC meetings.

    UN Peacekeeping Forces
    Mr Livsey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what budget Her Majesty's Government set for this year's contribution to United Nations peacekeeping forces' activities.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    The 1990–91 supply estimates published in March 1990 seek provision of £34·680 million for the United Kingdom's contribution to specific United Nations peacekeeping operations. In addition, a small number of United Nations peacekeeping operations are financed directly from the United Nation's regular budget.

    Kuwait
    Mrs. Fyfe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Kuwait Government; and what matters were discussed.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister at the EC/GCC ministerial meeting in Muscat on 17 March where Foreign Ministers of both groupings discussed issues of common interest. His last bilateral meeting with a Kuwaiti Minister was in November 1989 with the Minister of the Interior.

    Council of Europe
    Mr. Hardy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy as to whether the wider role which the Council of Europe has recently developed should lead to an acceptance that it be involved in formal and continuing consideration of at least some aspects of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    Both the Council of Europe and the CSCE have crucial roles in furthering democratic values in Europe. These roles should complement and not duplicate one another. The Council of Europe's special ministerial meeting in Lisbon on 23-24 March agreed that the Council of Europe should be represented in a member state's delegation at the forthcoming CSCE conference on the human dimension in Copenhagen.

    Foreign Policy
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many volumes of the series on British foreign policy 1945–55, "Documents on British Policy Overseas," have been produced; how many copies have been distributed to(a) United Kingdom embassies or diplomatic missions abroad and (b) United Kingdom universities and research institutes; how many departmental staff or consultants to his Department are employed on preparation and production of the series; and what has been the cost to date in current prices of the series.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    The series "Documents on British Policy Overseas," announced in the House of Commons by Sir Alec Douglas-Home on 2 July 1973, is a collection of the most important documents in the archives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office relating to British policy overseas, and is regarded as an indispensable source for British foreign policy in the period from 1945 to 1955.

    The following eight volumes have been published so far:
    Series I (1945–50)
    Volume I The Conference at Potsdam, July-August 1945 (HMSO, 1984) £85.
    Volume II Conferences and Conversations 1945: London, Washington and Moscow (HMSO, 1985) £75.
    Volume III Britain and America: Negotiation of the United States Loan, August-December 1945 (HMSO, 1987) £35.
    Volume IV Britain and America: Atomic Energy, Bases and Food, December 1945-July 1946 (HMSO, 1987) £35.
    Volume V Germany and Western Europe, 11 August-31 December 1945 (HMSO, 1990) £55.
    Series II (1950–55)
    Volume I The Schuman Plan, the Council of Europe and Western European Integration 1950–1952 (HMSO, 1986) £70.
    Volume II The London Conferences, 1950 (HMSO, 1987) £35.
    Volume III German Rearmament, 1950 (HMSO, 1989) £39.

    British embassies and diplomatic missions abroad do not receive copies of DBPO, but information material is sent to overseas posts and copies of the volumes are available on loan from the FCO library. In cases where a volume is of particular current relevance to an embassy a copy may be supplied for retention.

    United Kingdom universities and research institutes purchase their copies of DBPO.

    DBPO is produced by a small team of independent historians working in the historical branch of the library and records department of the Foreign and

    711
    Commonwealth Office. The editorial staff, who also provide historical advice within the FCO, comprise two editors, two assistant editors and three research assistants. No consultants are employed.

    The costs of the printing and publication of DBPO are borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and are recovered by it as revenue from sales.

    Whitehead Detention Centre
    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking concerning the recent case of the suffocation of a child at birth due to lack of medical facilities at the Whitehead detention centre clinic; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Maude
    The Hong Kong authorities have recently completed a thorough investigation of this case.

    The medical evidence indicates that the child died at least 24 hours before the onset of labour and probably considerably earlier. The child did not suffocate at birth.

    The allegations of inadequate medical facilities are unfounded. Whitehead has a well-equipped clinic but it is the usual practice to transfer women in labour to a nearby hospital as happened in this case.

    Ministers' Meeting, Lisbon
    Mr. Atkinson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Lisbon.

    Mr. Maude
    I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Sir G. Finsberg) on 26 March.

    Indonesia
    Mr. Foulkes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on changes in the human rights situation in East Timor since January.
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    Mr. Sainsbury
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 29 March to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).

    Mr. Foulkes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the policy of the Indonesian Government towards people demonstrating in favour of independence from Indonesia.

    Mr. Sainsbury
    We have received written representations from two human rights organisations and several Members of Parliament.

    Correspondence (MEPs)
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989, that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.

    Mr. Maude
    Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice is to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way. We have received no such communications since 18 June 1989.

    A separate arrangement applies in respect of consular cases, under which our normal practice is to copy correspondence with MEPs to the appropriate hon. Member in view of the direct personal involvement in such cases of hon. Members' constituents.

  COMMUNITY CHARGE LIMITATION: LIST OF AUTHORITIES
  COMMUNITY CHARGE LIMITATION: LIST OF AUTHORITIES
  LEASEHOLD VALUATION DISPUTES
  LEASEHOLD VALUATION DISPUTES
  GREENHOUSE EFFECT: SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT
  GREENHOUSE EFFECT: SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT
  RATE AND COMMUNITY CHARGE COMPARISONS
  RATE AND COMMUNITY CHARGE COMPARISONS
  EC TRANSPORT COUNCIL MEETING, 29th MARCH
  EC TRANSPORT COUNCIL MEETING, 29th MARCH
  SIGNPOSTING OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS
  SIGNPOSTING OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS
  ROADS: CHANGE OF DESIGNATION
  ROADS: CHANGE OF DESIGNATION
  PRISONERS: WORK, EDUCATION AND TRAINING STATISTICS
  PRISONERS: WORK, EDUCATION AND TRAINING STATISTICS
  PRISONERS: EARNINGS
  PRISONERS: EARNINGS
  BIRMINGHAM, PENTONVILLE AND LEEDS PRISONS: CNA AND PRISONER NUMBERS
  BIRMINGHAM, PENTONVILLE AND LEEDS PRISONS: CNA AND PRISONER NUMBERS
  BIRMINGHAM, PENTONVILLE AND LEEDS PRISONS: PRISONERS' EMPLOYMENT
  BIRMINGHAM, PENTONVILLE AND LEEDS PRISONS: PRISONERS' EMPLOYMENT
  MR. JOHN STALKER
  MR. JOHN STALKER
  NORTHERN IRELAND: EDUCATION SUPERVISION ORDERS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: EDUCATION SUPERVISION ORDERS
  VIDEO RECORDINGS OF HOUSE OF LORDS PROCEEDINGS
  VIDEO RECORDINGS OF HOUSE OF LORDS PROCEEDINGS
  EQUAL PENSIONS TREATMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN: RESPONSE TO REPORT
  EQUAL PENSIONS TREATMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN: RESPONSE TO REPORT
  POTATOES: MARKET SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS
  POTATOES: MARKET SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS
  MANCHESTER OPTICIANS: INQUIRY RESULT
  MANCHESTER OPTICIANS: INQUIRY RESULT
  MEPs VISITING UK: FACILITIES
  MEPs VISITING UK: FACILITIES
  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MINISTERIAL VISITS
  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MINISTERIAL VISITS
  MEPs: BRIEFING ON GOVERNMENT POLICY
  MEPs: BRIEFING ON GOVERNMENT POLICY