Written Answers of 18 April 1990

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Solicitors
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General what advice has been given by the Lord Chancellor to judges about criticising solicitors from the bench without giving the solicitor an opportunity to be heard.

  The Attorney-General
  It would not be appropriate for the Lord Chancellor to issue advice to judges on a matter of this kind. However, in May 1989, the presiding judges of England and Wales issued a notice to all judges emphasising that, while the decision as to whether or not to criticise a solicitor in open court must be one for the discretion of the individual judge, there is and always has been an obligation on the judge both to give the solicitor an opportunity to be heard and to refrain from making criticism in open court until after the facts have been established.

  Burglary
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Attorney-General what guidance is given to magistrates as to whether magistrates courts or Crown courts are the appropriate courts for dealing with domestic burglary.

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to the relevant legal provisions, the decision whether an either-way offence should be tried summarily or committed to the Crown Court is one for the discretion of the court. However, the Lord Chief Justice has set up a working party under the chairmanship of Lord Justice Farquharson to consider what guidelines might properly be given to magistrates on the committal of either-way cases, including domestic burglary, to the Crown court.

  Social Security Appeals
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the average time which elapses between a letter seeking leave to appeal to the Social Security Commissioners and notification of the decision of the Social Security Commissioners.

  The Attorney-General
  The average in 1989 was 404 days.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has received to shorten delays in the appeal process through the Social Security Commissioners.

  The Attorney-General
  I have received none.

EMPLOYMENT

  National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am always prepared to see representatives of small business organisations who wish to meet with me.

  Training (Staffordshire)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current special training needs funding made in respect of each trainee in Staffordshire; if he will identify extra training resources required by those with special training needs; and what are the proposed figures for the forthcoming year in respect of each trainee in Staffordshire for special training needs.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Training Agency programmes allow training to be tailored to meet individual requirements, and funding depends on the nature and severity of each trainee's need. The figures for the forthcoming year are for agreement between individual training providers and the Training Agency's area office and, in future, the training and enterprise councils.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many severely disabled people have received help under the business on own account scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested about the number of severely disabled people helped under the business on own account scheme for each of the last five years is given in the table:

  Number of approvals

  1985–86

  5

  1986–87

  1

  1987–88

  6

  1988–89

  8

  1989–90

  7

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department has taken to ensure that 3 per cent. of its work force is registered disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The Employment Department group has developed a number of initiatives to attract, retain and develop more staff with disabilities, both registered and unregistered. Specific

  839
  measures include guaranteed interviews for registered disabled people with the minimum educational qualifications; surveys of the needs of staff with disabilities and appropriate remedial action; new guidance for management; the improvement of outreach to organisations of and for people with disabilities; the development of arrangements for staff with severe mobility difficulties to work at home, the routine consideration of access to buildings, training and developmental opportunities and the provision in operational plans for special aids and equipment.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to broaden the scope of the careers service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Earnings
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing average weekly earnings for men and women by(a) industry and (b) industrial sector for the years 1980–89.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is published in tables 79 to 82 of part C of the annual new earnings survey reports for full-time male and female adult employees, and in table 177 of part F for part-time female adult employees. Equivalent figures for part-time males are not available. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the numbers of men, the numbers of women, and the percentage of the population whose average weekly earnings are(a) £5, (b) £10, (c) £15, (d) £20, (e) £25, (f) £30, (g) £35, (h) £40, (i) £45, (j) £50, (k) £55, (l) £60, and (m) £65, or more below the average weekly, by industry sector for each of the years 1980 to 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The readily available information is published in tables 66 to 69 of part C of the annual new earnings survey reports for full-time male and female adult employees. Equivalent analyses for the weekly earnings of part-time employees are not available; the distribution of the hourly earnings of part-time adult women is published in table 172 of part F. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

  YTS
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the latest available figures for(a) fatal and (b) serious injuries among YTS trainees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short)Official Report, 26 March 1990, column 58.

THE ARTS

  Glory of the Garden Programme
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what further progress he has made with the Glory of the Garden programme.
  840
  Mr. Luce
  I have recently announced major changes in the structure of arts funding in the English regions. These will build on the changes begun in the Arts Council's Glory of the Garden initiative and will include a further substantial shift in grant-giving responsibilities from the Arts Council to the regions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Chinese authorities regarding the raid on the home and subsequent detention of Pastor Xiangao of Canton;

  (2) what representations he has made to the Chinese authorities regarding the persecution of the Church there; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Our inquiries indicate that Pastor Lin Xiangao has by now been released. We and our EC partners have again recently expressed our concern to the Chinese Government about freedom of religion and the treatment of the Church in China, and specifically about the arrest of certain Catholic priests last year.

  Casablanca
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the seizure of cargo from the vessel Casablanca at Puerto Cortes, in so far as British interests are involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We understand that on 22 March at Puerto Cortes, Honduras, part of the cargo of bananas of the Netherlands-registered vessel Casablanca was removed in pursuance of an order by a Honduran court in favour of a US-owned banana exporter against a Honduran grower, and that the bananas removed had been bought for a British company for export from Honduras. Another vessel experienced similar difficulties on 30 March. Her Majesty's ambassador has expressed to the Honduran authorities our concern over the disruption of trade and our hope that any legal problems can quickly be resolved, to enable trade to resume without hindrance.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures are followed when a pregnant woman in the detention camps in Hong Kong goes into labour.

  Mr. Maude
  All the centres have well-equipped clinics but they do not have facilities for child delivery. When a woman goes into labour an ambulance is called by the clinic staff and she is immediately transferred to a maternity home or hospital. The ambulance response times are very short.

  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many posts the Chinese Government have said they would not allow Hong Kong residents with British passports to occupy.

  Mr. Maude
  The Basic Law provides that certain principal posts in the Hong Kong special administrative
  841
  region should be restricted to Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of the special administrative region and who do not hold right of abode in any foreign country. Based upon the current establishment of the Civil Service, this would affect some 20 to 30 posts. In addition, the Basic Law places the same restrictions on members of the Executive Council and the President of the Legislative Council: it also limits the number of seats in the legislature which may be occupied by persons who are not Chinese nationals or who have the right of abode in foreign countries to 20 per cent.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition of terrorism his Department has developed for policy purposes.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We use as a general guide the definition assigned to "terrorism" in section 20 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.

  Lebanon (Hostages)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken in the last two months by the Government to try and free the British hostages held in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have continued the efforts described in the answer give by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30 January to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown). The hon. Gentleman may be sure that our work to secure the release of the British hostages will continue unabated.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange a meeting with Mr. Perez de Cuellar, secretary-general of the United Nations, to press for new international measures to secure the release of British hostages held in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are committed to ensuring that the plight of the hostages remains high on the international agenda. We are in regular touch with Mr. Perez de Cuellar and his staff on this and other issues.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans an early meeting with the successor to the present Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss British hostages in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are in close touch with the Archbishop of Canterbury and his staff about the British hostages in Lebanon. This will remain the case for as long as necessary.

  Iraq (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will instruct his Department to convey to the official representatives of the Arab League in London the views of Her Majesty's Government on the statement by the Arab League secretariat on 30 March supporting Iraq and criticising Her Majesty's Government regarding his statement in the House on 29 March on alleged attempts by Iraq to smuggle components for nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.
  842
  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have explained in detail to the Arab League Secretary-General in Tunis our position on the prevention of the illegal export of capacitors from Britain.

  Israel (Soviet Jews)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel, assuming the settlement of such emigrants within the borders of Israel prior to June 1967; and whether this policy has been made clear to the Arab League and to the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We warmly welcome the freedom of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel proper and elsewhere. The Arab League and the PLO are well aware that this is our view.

  Palestine (Terrorist Threats)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department will seek the co-operation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to investigate in order to establish whether any credence should be placed upon the threats of terrorist violence against Britain and other countries reported to have been made by the Islamic Army Front for the Liberation of Palestine on 31 March.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. The PLO does not include a group of this name.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department will seek the co-operation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in order to establish whether any credence should be placed upon the threats of terrorist violence against Britain and other countries reported to have been made by a group close to the Palestine Hamas Organisation calling itself the Organisation of Revolutionary Action—Arab Resistance Front on 31 March.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. The PLO does not include a group of this name.

  Jerusalem
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the statement of Mr. Yasser Arafat on 31 March, he will instruct Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tunis to ask the Palestine Liberation Organisation to specify what portions of Jerusalem should become Palestinian sovereign territory, and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on that matter.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are opposed to all unilateral moves to prejudice the final status of Jerusalem, which remains in our view to be determined by negotiation as part of a comprehensive peace settlement.

  Nepal
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has made to the Nepalese authorities regarding the imprisonment of the Rev. Charles Mendies.
  843
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Her Majesty's ambassador in Kathmandu raised the case specifically on 8 December 1989. We have regularly conveyed British concern about the treatment of Christians in Nepal to the Nepalese Government. My noble Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office discussed these issues during his visit to Kathmandu in late February.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support British embassies abroad are now giving to the Manchester British Olympic bid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  British missions abroad have been taking every opportunity to commend Manchester's bid to International Olympic Committee members. They have encouraged and helped IOC members to visit Manchester and have afforded every assistance to Manchester's Olympic bid committee members visiting their territories.

  European Council
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the criteria used in selecting the United Kingdom representative on the committee of permanent representatives to the European Council; and if he will list those who have represented the United Kingdom on COREPER since 1 January 1973.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom's permanent representatives to the European Communities since accession in 1973 have been:

  Sir Michael Palliser, 1971–75

  Sir Donald Maitland, 1975–79

  Sir Michael Butler, 1979–85

  Sir David Hannay, 1985 to date.

  All have been senior members of Her Majesty's diplomatic service with extensive experience of European Community affairs.

  Argentina
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meetings with the Argentine Foreign Minister.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had a friendly and businesslike meeting with Dr. Cavallo on 9 April. They discussed a range of bilateral issues including investment, co-operation against drug-related crime and fisheries conservation. They also signed a visa abolition agreement, which is due to enter into force on 8 June.

  There was no discussion of Falklands sovereignty.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Haberdashers' Aske's City Technology College
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the amount and date of any payments so far made by his Department to the Haberdashers' Company in respect of the costs of planning for the establishment of a Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college; and what further expenses in this respect he has agreed to meet.
  844
  Mr. MacGregor
  Payments of £37,732 were made to the Haberdashers' Company in February 1990, and payments of £16,982 have been authorised this month to date. I have so far agreed to pay the costs of a project director, educational consultants and legal fees in relation to the forthcoming establishment of a CTC company.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to accept the proposal by the Haberdashers' Company, in a letter dated 30 November 1989, that notwithstanding any future discontinuance of the proposed Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college, no obligation to repay capital grants should be imposed on the Haberdashers' CTC Company so long as the leased property in question continues to be used for educational purposes; and how this proposal accords with the provisions of section 105(5) of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The terms of the funding agreement made between myself and the Haberdashers' Aske's City Technology College Company in relation to the establishment of the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college will be in conformity with section 105(5) of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Haberdashers' CTC Company has yet been formed for the purposes of establishing a city technology college on the sites of the present Haberdashers' Aske's schools in Deptford.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Haberdashers' CTC Company has not yet been formed. I expect that a company will be formed by the early summer of this year, subject to the completion of the necessary processes.

  Traveller Children
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of traveller children attended(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the latest year for which figures have been collected: and how many children are in each category.

  Mr. MacGregor
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is proposing to take to ensure that in the year 1990–91 all traveller children attend school.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is the duty of parents to ensure that children of compulsory school age receive efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. It is for local education authorities to ensure that the parents of any children of compulsory school age in their area are fulfilling this duty.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total amount of grant sought by education authorities from his Department towards the education of travellers' children for the year 1990–91; what were the criteria for awarding allocations; and what, in each case, was the percentage and the amount awarded against the bid.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Grant was sought to support expenditure of £13·8 million on the education of traveller
  845
  children in 1990–91. The draft circular issued in July 1989 indicated that in the case of satisfactory bids exceeding the total grant available, priority would be given, as far as possible, to the maintenance of existing special provision. A total of 57·6 per cent. of the expenditure sought has been approved. The percentage of individual LEA bids allocated and the consequent expenditure levels are as follows:

  LEA

  Per cent. of bid allocated

  Approved expenditure £000's

  Avon

  70·0

  260·1

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  Bedfordshire

  99·5

  207·1

  Berkshire

  95·6

  212·4

  Bolton

  0

  0

  Bradford

  96·7

  165·8

  Brent

  18·8

  26·7

  Bromley

  91·1

  84·1

  Buckinghamshire

  83·2

  245·5

  Bury

  39·7

  9·1

  Cambridgeshire

  84·4

  249·1

  Camden

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  Cleveland

  55·0

  62·9

  Cornwal

  0

  0

  Croydon

  0

  0

  Cumbria

  15·6

  13·8

  Derbyshire

  52·3

  145·2

  Devon

  99·4

  139·5

  Doncaster

  26·1

  58·1

  Dorset

  90·9

  57·0

  Durham

  23·7

  110·7

  Ealing

  9·1

  12·0

  East Sussex

  40·4

  54·4

  Essex

  95·8

  509·5

  Gateshead

  75·0

  35·8

  Gloucestershire

  41·9

  59·8

  Greenwich

  77·8

  75·4

  Hackney

  0

  0

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  13·1

  9·6

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  Haringey

  63·2

  78·1

  Harrow

  25·1

  40·7

  Havering

  32·8

  8·8

  Hertfordshire

  96·3

  600·2

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  Hounslow

  71·9

  96·1

  Humberside

  74·5

  226·7

  Kensington/Chelsea

  26·3

  8·0

  Kent

  13·1

  173·0

  Lambeth

  18·6

  16·5

  Lancashire

  95·4

  293·6

  Leeds

  68·7

  193·9

  Leicestershire

  28·7

  85·0

  Lewisham

  73·0

  49·0

  Lincolnshire

  97·8

  162·8

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  Manchester

  60·4

  286·1

  Newcastle

  34·8

  16·0

  Newham

  82·1

  46·8

  Norfolk

  33·9

  65·3

  North Yorkshire

  51·9

  105·0

  Northamptonshire

  78·3

  184·0

  Northumbria

  100·0

  32·0

  Nottinghamshire

  29·4

  28·8

  Oxfordshire

  98·5

  282·0

  Richmond

  73·0

  14·6

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  Salford

  0

  0

  Sefton

  47·4

  39·9

  Sheffield

  78·2

  156·4

  Solihull

  57·7

  22·1

  Somerset

  41·9

  58·6

  Southwark

  86·2

  200·5

  Suffolk

  82·2

  122·5

  846

  LEA

  Per cent. of bid allocated

  Approved expenditure £000's

  Surrey

  68·7

  322·9

  Tower Hamlets

  34·8

  17·8

  Trafford

  58·7

  19·2

  Wakefield

  79·0

  86·4

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  West Sussex

  71·6

  114·8

  Wigan

  55·7

  56·3

  Wiltshire

  51·1

  76·0

  Wolverhampton

  87·2

  739·1

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of traveller children for whom education authorities made applications for funding from his Department in 1990–91.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Approximately 13,900 traveller children were identified in the applications for funding. The information received from authorities was, however, incomplete.

  British Antarctic Survey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the decision was taken to approve the funding to the British Antarctic Survey for the construction of a hard rock airstrip at Rothera base in the Antarctic.

  Mr. Jackson
  Additional funds for the construction of the crushed rock airstrip at the British Antarctic Survey Rothera station were announced by my right hon. Friend on 8 November 1988 at columns 134–35. The final decision on the project was subject to the completion of a comprehensive environmental evaluation and the incorporation of agreed environmental protection clauses in any contract. The project was finally agreed by the natural environment research council in August 1989.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make it his policy to make funds forthcoming to enable the British Antarctic Survey to remove abandoned bases and British rubbish on Deception Island by(a) allocating new funds for this purpose and (b) using part of the £22 million currently designated for the construction of a hard rock airstrip at Rothera base; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Following the public expenditure autumn statement in 1989, a total of £250,000 was made available in each of the financial years 1990–1991 and 1991–1992, with £75,000 in subsequent years to assist the British Antarctic Survey with the improvement of waste disposal and environmental management at its existing bases and to assist with the clean-up of abandoned sites, including the one on Deception Island. Some of the £11·1 million allocated for the Rothera airstrip is also being used in minimising and monitoring the environmental impact of the construction.

  Displaced Persons
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local authorities have applied under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988 for grant to(a) finance existing provision for

  847
  refugees or displaced persons living in camps or reception centres and (b) finance new provision; how many of (a) and (b) have received grant; and what is the amount of grant allocated to each local authority.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The following local authorities have applied for grant to (a) finance existing provision for refugees or displaced persons living in camps or reception centres:Derbyshire, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey.
  (b) finance new provision
  Oxfordshire, Kirklees
  Derbyshire, Richmond and Surrey also applied for grant to expand their provision.

  All these authorities have received grant. Expenditure to be supported in 1990–91 is as follows:

  £000's

  Derbyshire

  35·2

  Kirklees

  26·7

  Oxfordshire

  15·8

  Richmond

  54·1

  Surrey

  39·0

  Manchester Education Authority
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his Department's meeting on 4 April with the deputation from Manchester education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I met a delegation from the authority on 4 April. The delegation drew to my attention a number of concerns, especially the level of Manchester's annual capital guideline for 1990–91. The Department has made careful note of the points raised at the meeting and will bear them in mind in future discussions with the authority.

  Voluntary Youth Organisations
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set the level of funding for 1990–91 for voluntary youth organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Department has allocated £2·1 million in grant aid to 67 national voluntary youth organisations for the 1990–91 financial year, for a range of programmes of work related to this Department's priority objectives for the youth service. The organisations concerned have been informed individually of their allocations.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the level of expenditure by local authorities on discretionary awards to 16 to 18-year-olds in 1987–88.

  Mr. Jackson
  For the academic year 1987–88, local authorities in England and Wales reported expenditure of nearly £38 million on lesser-value discretionary awards made under section 2 of the 1962 Education Act (as amended) to students aged 16 to 18.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to announce the remaining subject working parties for the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend gave him on 15 March 1990,Official Report, column 318.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the provision of funding for in-service training for teachers specialising in special needs subject areas for the years 1985–86 to 1989–90.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Under the local education authority training grants scheme and the in-service teacher training grants scheme which it replaced, funds have been made available in each of these years for the training of teachers in special needs areas. Under the previous scheme, the funding was intended to cover expenditure of about £1·98 million in 1985–86 and about £2·079 million in 1986–87 on training teachers in special educational needs in ordinary schools. Under the present scheme, the total amounts of expenditure eligible for support in the relevant national priority areas were as follows:

  (£000s)

  1987–88

  Special needs (schools)

  3,500

  Special needs (further education)

  500

  Total

  4,000

  1988–89

  Hearing impairments

  1,500

  Visual impairments

  600

  Severe learning difficulties

  2,200

  Designated teachers in ordinary schools

  1,240

  Special needs (further education)

  600

  Total

  6,140

  1989–90

  Hearing impairments

  1,700

  Visual impairments

  900

  Severe learning difficulties

  2,500

  Designated teachers in ordinary schools

  1,400

  Special needs (further education)

  600

  Total

  7,100

  Allergy Research
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research projects financed by the Medical Research Council are being carried out into allergies.

  Mr. Jackson
  The latest information available from the medical research council (MRC) indicates that in 1988–89 total expenditure on projects wholly or partly related to allergies was about £1 million. A full list of such projects funded in 1989–90 will be available from the MRC in July.

  Bradford Community College
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to make extra funds immediately available to Bradford community college to obviate reductions in the numbers of students enrolled at the college and redundancies of teaching staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Bradford's education component of its standard spending assessment (SSA) for 1990–91 is £179·7 million. Decisions about service budgets and the allocation of resources are a matter for the authority.

  Schools Budgets
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he has any proposals to ensure that schools operating local management of schools receive a very high proportion of the schools' budget; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to devolve the whole of the schools' budget to eligible schools operating under local management of schools; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what measures are in place on the proportion that local education authorities can retain of schools' budgets; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what powers he has to ensure that a high proportion of the schools' budget is administered by the schools themselves.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Statutory guidance on local management of schools states that local education authorities are expected to delegate to governors responsibility for the large majority of their expenditure on schools. Most of the resources held back at the discretion of local education authorities are subject to an initial overall ceiling of 10 per cent. of total spending, with a target of reducing this proportion to 7 per cent. within three years. We will review in the light of experience the limit on discretionary retention of resources, including the items of spending subject to this limit.

  Education Support Grant, Liverpool
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was available to Liverpool local authorities in education support grants in each of the last three years, and how much of the funding was taken up by Liverpool city council in each of those years.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The amounts of grant allocated to the local education authorities in the Liverpool area under the education support grants programmes for the last three years were as follows:

  £000

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Knowsley

  373·7

  541·0

  1,031·8

  Liverpool

  679·4

  941·5

  855·3

  St. Helens

  321·0

  455·6

  659·7

  Sefton

  154·6

  456·5

  519·8

  Wirral

  445·5

  521·6

  630·3

  The amount of grant claimed by Liverpool LEA in 1987–88 was £655,300 and in 1988–89 £896,300, representing a take-up of 96 per cent. and 95 per cent.
  850
  respectively of the LEA's approved allocations in those years. Figures for 1989–90 are not yet available, since a final claim for the last quarter of the financial year has not yet been submitted.

ENERGY

  Gas Tariffs
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will amend the Gas Act 1986 to reduce the 25,000 therm threshold for tariff control.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Government's views on the 25,000 therm boundary is included in its response to the recommendations of the second report of the Energy Select Committee on industrial gas prices.

  Electricity Bills
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what assessment has been made of the effect of offering rebates on domestic electricity bills to prospective shareholders of the distribution companies on(a) the number of applications for shares, (b) the unit price of electricity for non-shareholder consumers and (c) electricity conservation;

  (2) what proposals he has for offering rebates on domestic electricity bills to the prospective or actual shareholders of the electricity distribution companies; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether any rebate he proposes for shareholders, prospective or actual, of the electricity distribution companies on their bills will apply to business customers (a) under 100,000 kw, (b) under 1 mw, (c) over 1 mw and (d) over 50 mw.

  Mr. Baldry
  No decisions have yet been taken on any incentives that may be available to shareholders and customers of the electricity distribution companies.

  Electricity
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) of 2 april,Official Report, column 411, he will make it his policy to require the National Grid Company to purchase the renewables-sourced energy on behalf of public electricity suppliers in England and Wales.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the amount of renewables-sourced energy purchased by the public electricity suppliers in England and Wales in(a) 1995, (b) 2000 and (c)

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The amount of renewables-sourcesd electricity purchased by the public electricity suppliers during the lifetime of the non-fossil fuel obligation will be influenced by the level of the obligation, and applications to contract within the first NFFO renewables order are now being processed by the suppliers in consultation with my Department. A series of further tranches will be brought forward during the 1990s; these are currently expected to total some 600 mw. The amount of renewables-sourced electricity puchased outside the obligation is a commercial matter for the suppliers themselves.
  851
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the impact of the European Commission decision of 28 March approving the Government's non-fossil fuel obligation for the period 1990 to 1998 on the amount of renewables-sourced energy purchased by the public electricity suppliers of England and Wales in the year 2000.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Commission's decision to authorise aid in relation to United Kingdom nuclear electricity will mean that the amount of renewables-sourced electricity generating capacity will be significantly higher throughout the 1990s than if the non-fossil fuel obligation had not existed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the level of renewables-sourced energy purchased by the public electricity suppliers of England and Wales in the year 2000 and 2005 coming from(a) methane gas recovery from landfill, (b) refuse incineration, (c) small-scale hydro and (d) wind power.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Renewables technologies have the potential to make a substantial contribution to electricity generating capacity. My Department's most recent assessment of the extent of this contribution is set out in Energy Paper No. 55, copies of which are in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Nuclear Installations (Safety Reviews)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the final reports of the current long-term safety reviews on(a) Dungeness A, (b) Hinkley Point A and (c) Trawsfynydd.

  Mr. Baldry
  I understand that the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate is currently undertaking detailed assessment of the long-term safety reviews prepared by the licensee at Dungeness A, Hinkley Point A, and Trawsfynydd. The inspectorate's findings will be published over the next nine to 18 months.

  Radioactive Gas Emissions, Sellafield
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment has been made of the extent to which the operation of the Pond 5 fuel-handling plant and the actions of staff at Sellafield have met health and safety requirements on each occasion that there has been an emission of radioactive gas from the pond arising from chemical reactions or works being carried out in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Baldry
  I understand that during the operation of this plant there has been no incident which has led to significant emissions of radioactive gas.

  Energy Technology Reports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the main conclusions of the Energy Technology Support Unit report on environmental and economic implications of small scale CHP; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The report, the third in the energy and environment paper series by the Department's chief 852
  scientist's group at ETSU, examines the possible environmental and economic potential of small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) in Britain, and considers the realistic contribution that it might make to the abatement of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. The broad conclusions of the report are that, in the longer term, there is a realistic prospect that small-scale CHP could provide electricity equivalent to about 10 per cent. of current demand, and that this would cut United Kingdom carbon dioxide emissions by 4 per cent.

  I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the main conclusions of the Energy Technology Support Unit report on the abatement of gaseous emissions by energy-efficient lighting; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The report from the Department's chief scientist's group at ETSU, assessed the scope for using existing technologies to improve the energy efficiency of lighting in the United Kingdom. The broad conclusions are that, using cost effective measures, 8 per cent. of United Kingdom electricity demand could be saved; that the minimum potential for reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) was calculated to be equivalent to 2 per cent. of current United Kingdom CO2 emissions; and that, including reductions in other gases such as methane, total emissions of greenhouse gases would be reduced by 1·4 per cent.

  I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Business Investment
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product was accounted for by business investment in 1989.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product was accounted for by business investment in 1989.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product was accounted for by business investment in 1989.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Business investment accounted for 13 per cent. of gross domestic product at current market prices in 1989.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of business investment during 1989 and 1988.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Business investment reached £56 billion in 1989, at constant 1985 prices, up from £51·5 billion in 1988. Between 1986 and 1989 business investment grew by over 40 per cent. in volume terms.

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from British industry regarding British entry into the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.
  853
  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of high interest rates on businesses.

  Mr. Ryder
  Interest rates have been set to put downward pressure on inflation, which is the greatest threat to the future prosperity of business.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing investment in(a) 1989 and (b)

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing investment in(a) 1989 and (b)

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Estimates of manufacturing investment for 1989 and 1982 are shown at table I of the GDP press notice (CSO(90)39) released on 16 March. Copies of the notice are available from the House of Commons Library.

  Manufacturing Industry (Labour Costs)
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the unit labour costs for United Kingdom manufacturing industry for the last three years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The figures for unit labour costs for the United Kingdom manufacturing industries are given in the table.

  Year

  Manufacturing Unit Labour costs 1985=100

  Percentage Changes

  1986

  104·6

  1987

  105·2

  0·6

  1988

  106·3

  1·0

  1989

  110·5

  4·0

  EC (Trade Balance)
  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information may be found in the monthly review of the external trade statistics and its 1989 mid-year supplement, available from the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database which may be accessed through the Library.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing output in(a) 1988 and (b)

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing output in(a) 1988 and (b)

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing output in(a) 1988 and (b)

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing output in(a) 1988 and (b)

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Figures on the level of United Kingdom manufacturing output are published in the monthly index of output of the production industries press notice, table 1.

  Training
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he expects his Budget to have on training.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor proposed a tax relief on business donations to the new training and enterprise councils, or TECS, most of which will be coming into operation over the next year. I expect this to encourage businesses to contribute more money to local training and enterprise initiatives.

  Football
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from football authorities about his Budget.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Football Association, the Football League and the Football Trust have expressed appreciation of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's proposal to reduce the rate of pool betting duty for the benefit of football supporters.

  Top Rate Tax
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) by how much revenue from top rate tax has risen in(a) percentage terms and (b) real percentage terms since the top rate was reduced to 40 per cent.;

  (2) by how much revenue from top rate tax has changed since the top rate was reduced to 40 per cent.

  Mr. Lilley
  Liability to income tax at rates of 40 per cent. and above is estimated to have increased by £3 1 billion between 1987–88 and 1990–91, an increase of 40 per cent. in nominal terms and 15 per cent. in real terms. The estimate is based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and is provisional. It reflects independent taxation and the allowances and thresholds proposed in the 1990 Budget.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many taxpayers he estimates would pay more in tax were the top rate to be raised from 40 to 50 per cent.;

  (2) how much revenue would be raised were the top rate of tax raised from 40 to 50 per cent.
  855
  Mr. Lilley
  The revenue yield in a full year at 1990–91 levels for income from an increase in the higher rate of income tax from 40 to 50 per cent. is estimated to be £3 billion; 1·7 million taxpayers would pay more tax. The estimates are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are provisional. They reflect independent taxation and the levels of allowances and thresholds announced in the 1990 Budget, but they exclude the consequential effects on capital gains tax and any behavioural effects.

  Investment Income
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue he estimates would be raised by a 7·5 per cent. investment income surcharge on investment income above(a) £5,000, (b) £2,500 and (c) £1,000 in 1989–90;

  (2) how much revenue he estimates would have been raised by a five per cent. investment income surcharge on investment income above (a) £5,000, (b) £2,500 and (c) £1,000 in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  Provisional estimates are as follows:

  Yield in a full year for 1989–90

  £ million

  Threshold

  Rate of surcharge

  £

  5 per cent.

  7·5 per cent.

  1,000

  1,000

  1,500

  2,500

  800

  1,200

  5,000

  600

  900

  Estimates are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are, therefore, provisional.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the revenue gain of a capital gains tax threshold of £2,500 in the last financial year.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is tentatively estimated that the full year yield of a reduction in the 1989–90 capital gains tax annual exempt amount to £2,500 would be of the order of £100 million. This estimate allows for some change in taxpayers' behaviour in response to the reduced annual exempt amount, but does not allow for possible short-term effects. No allowance has been made for any change in the treatment of capital gains of companies which are taxed within corporation tax.

  Environmental Quality
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the fiscal measures he has taken in his Budget on the quality of the United Kingdom environment.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the fiscal measures he has taken in his Budget on the quality of the United Kingdom environment.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Budget proposed a widening of the price differential between unleaded and 4-star leaded petrol from 14·2 to 15·6 a gallon (3·1 to 3·4p a litre). This will continue the process, begun in the 1987 Budget, of encouraging car drivers to switch to the use of unleaded 856
  petrol. The burden of taxation on motorists was also shifted from vehicle excise duty, which was frozen, to petrol usage; the duty was more than revalorised to compensate. The Budget also proposed that tax relief be made available for expenditure by waste disposal operators on preparing sites for waste disposal and making sites good after disposal operations have ceased. These measures will bring worthwhile environmental benefits.

  Duty-Free Allowances
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the travellers' allowance which at present applies to goods obtained outside the European Community.

  Mr. Ryder
  The allowances for goods obtained outside the EC derive from EC legislation. They include both quantitative limits on alcohol and tobacco, and a £32 value allowance for other items. The £32 value allowance has the limited purpose of waiving duty and tax on small purchases of a personal or souvenir nature. The Government have long supported Commission proposals to increase this very low allowance, but some member states have blocked any rise for fear of the increased revenue loss from cross-border shopping or through opposition to the availability of duty-free sales for intra-EC traffic, to which the same level of allowances applies.

  The Government remain committed to a substantial increase in this allowance.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the responsibilities of each of the deputy secretaries in his Department and the number and ranks of staff reporting to each.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are six deputy secretaries in the Treasury. Their responsibilities and the number of staff who report to them are as follows:

  Responsibilities

  Staff numbers

  Overseas Finance

  European Community Group

  Aid and Export Finance Group

  International Finance Group

  (Three Grade 3, Six Grade 5, and 63 other staff)

  72

  Public Finance

  Fiscal Policy Group

  Financial Institutions and Markets Group

  Monetary Group

  Public Sector Finance Division

  (Three Grade 3, Eight Grade 5, and 105½ other staff)

  116½

  Industry

  Public Enterprises Group

  Industry, Agriculture and Employment Group

  Home Transport and Education Group

  (Two Grade 3, Seven Grade 5, and 86 other staff)

  95

  Public Services

  Social Services and Territorial Group

  Local Government Group

  Treasury Officer of Accounts and Purchasing

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

  (Four Grade 3, Twelve Grade 5 and 489½ other staff)

  505½

  857

  Responsibilities

  Staff numbers

  Deputy Chief Economic Adviser

  Forecast and Analysis Group

  Medium Term and Policy Analysis Group

  Public Expenditure Economics Group

  (Three Grade 3, Seven Grade 5, and 46 other staff)

  56

  Civil Service Management and Pay (Responsibility of Second Permanent Secretary prior to January 1990)

  Management Policy and Running Costs Group

  Personnel Policy Group

  Pay and Industrial Relations Group

  Civil Service Catering Organisation

  (Three Grade 3, Nine Grade 5, and 1,102 other staff including 599 Industrials)

  1,114

  The remainder of the Department reports directly to the permanent secretary, the second permanent secretary (public expenditure) or the chief accountancy adviser. Staff in these areas total 1,169.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what aspects of the Brady plan to assist indebted Third world countries he envisages being implemented in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government support the strengthening of the debt strategy, agreed at the 1989 spring meetings of the IMF—IBRD, to allow limited use of fund and bank resources to support voluntary agreements between debtors and banks on commercial debt relief. The extent to which UK banks participate in these arrangements is a matter for their commercial judgment.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss Third world debt.

  Mr. Ryder
  My Right hon. Friend the Chancellor regularly meets the Government of the Bank of England. The discussions cover many subjects.

  Energy Prices
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effect of proposed price increases in the gas and electricity industries on the average household budget.

  Mr. Ryder
  The announced increases in gas and electricity prices for the coming year will add about 0.4 per cent. to the retail prices index once the tariffs have been fully implemented. The combined weight of gas and electricity in the RPI is 4.3 per cent.

  Employee Share Ownership Plans
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had about his proposals for ESOPs.

  Mr. Lilley
  My Right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget proposal for a new CGT rollover relief for those selling shares to ESOPs has been generally welcomed.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of mortgage payers in arrears on their payments of(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what are the comparable figures for 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Ryder
  The latest figures available are for the second half of 1989. They cover building societies and Abbey National plc. At the end of 1989 there were 58,380 mortgages six to 12 months in arrears and 12,100 were 12 months or more in arrear. The equivalent figures for the end of 1988 were 37,200 and 8,930 respectively and for the end of 1987, 48,220 and 13,000 respectively.

  Oil and Gas Revenues
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply by the right hon. Member for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison) on 29 March,Official Report, column 281, if he will list the revenues accruing to the Exchequer in respect of crude oil, natural gas liquids and gas for each of the years 1980 to 1989.

  Mr. Lilley
  Government revenues from United Kingdom oil and gas production cannot be apportioned between crude oil, natural gas liquids and gas. The available figures are as follows:

  £ billion

  Government revenues from United Kingdom oil and gas production2

  Gas Levy

  1980–81

  3·7

  —

  1981–82

  6·5

  0·4

  1982–83

  7·8

  0·5

  1983–84

  8·8

  0·5

  1984–85

  12·0

  0·5

  1985–86

  11·3

  0·5

  1986–87

  4·8

  0·5

  1987–88

  4·6

  0·5

  1988–89

  3·2

  0·4

  11989–90

  2·3

  0·3

  1 (provisional).

  2 Includes Royalty, Supplementary Petroleum Duty, Petroleum Revenue Tax and Corporation Tax (before ACT set-off).

  Invisible Trade
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the balance of payments for invisibles.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The invisibles balance was in surplus by £2·3 billion in 1989.

  Fire and Police Services
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact on income tax levels of transferring the full cost of fire and police services to central Government.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The impact on income tax of any transfer of local authority functions to central Government would depend on the extent to which revenue support grant was reduced. If grant were reduced by the
  859
  amount of expenditure transferred, there would be no impact on income tax. But if grant were left unchanged, central taxation would have to rise. If local authorities spent in line with total standard spending in England and Wales, and total current expenditure in Scotland, the total cost of the fire service (including civil defence) and the police service in 1990–91 would be around £5,900 million. If this expenditure were transferred to central Government, and specific grants withdrawn but no adjustment made to revenue support grant, this would imply an increase of about 2p in the basic rate of income tax.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Treasury if MIRAS were available at a basic rate of taxation equal to 18 per cent.

  Mr. Lilley:
  1f basic rate tax relief on mortgage interest payments were given at 18 per cent. rather than 25 per cent. in 1990–91, the direct cost of mortgage interest relief would fall by about £2·25 billion. This assumes that higher rate relief would continue to be given where appropriate at 15 per cent. above the basic rate relief. No allowance is made for any behavioural change.

  Taxation
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effective tax rate for an individual on(a) 1·5, (b) two, (c) 2·5 and (d) three times average income if no income tax or national insurance contributions were payable in respect of incomes under £3,500, if the current top rate of national insurance contributions were payable on all income above £6,000 and at 2 per cent. on income between £3,501 and £6,000 and if income tax were payable at 18 per cent. for £3,501 to £13,500, at 28 per cent. for £13,501 to £22,000, at 40 per cent. for £22,001 to £32,000 and at 50 per cent. on all income earned above £32,001.

  Mr. Lilley
  The average percentage rates of tax and NIC would be:

  Multiples of average earnings1

  1·5

  2

  2·5

  3

  27·4

  32·8

  38·0

  41·5

  1 Average earnings are those for full time males working a full week at adult rates in all occupations in 1990–91; £303·80 per week; in line with the assumptions in paragraph 3.02 of the 1989 Autumn Statement.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of collection as a proportion of revenue collected in respect of income tax; and if he will set out the figures for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Lilley
  The total cost of the administration and collection of income tax as a proportion of income tax receipts for the last 10 years for which final figures are available is as follows:

  Year

  Costs as percentage of receipts

  1979–80

  2·26

  1980–81

  2·40

  1981–82

  2·12

  860

  Year

  Costs as percentage of receipts

  1982–83

  2·17

  1983–84

  2·17

  1984–85

  2·25

  1985–86

  2·27

  1986–87

  2·29

  1987–88

  2·25

  1988–89

  2·24

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of collecting(a) income tax and (b) value added tax per pound collected in each year from 1986–87 to the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lilley
  The cost of collecting income tax and value added tax per pound collected is estimated to have been:

  pence

  Income tax

  VAT

  1986–87

  2·29

  1·03

  1987–88

  2·25

  1·02

  1988–89

  2·24

  0·95

  Shipping
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will offer ship owners tax incentives to make it worthwhile to invest in new and secondhand tonnage.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. The present capital allowances regime is already more generous than commercial depreciation for ships.

  Zambia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the status of Zambia's relations with the International Monetary Fund since 1985, listing periods when Zambia was in default on payments to the fund and periods when Zambia had no economic programme agreed with the fund.

  Mr. Ryder
  During 1985 and up to June 1986 there was no economic programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund, apart from one arrangement agreed in February 1986 which lasted two months. Zambia has been in arrears to the fund since June 1986. In March 1990 a fund-monitored programme was approved.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Central Statistical Office will now be producing the monthly tables of trade statistics previously issued by the Department of Trade and Industry; if the Central Statistical Office will continue to specify the extent of the United Kingdom's trade deficit or surplus which relates to trade with the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The enlarged Central Statistical Office took over responsibility for visible trade statistics on 31 July 1989. It continues to publish the monthly statistics of trade formerly issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, including table Al2 of the monthly review of external trade statistics which specifies the extent of the United
  861
  Kingdom's deficit or surplus with the European Economic Community. The information can also be found on the Central Statistical Office database, which may be accessed through the Library of the House.

  European Community Contributions
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if there have been any significant changes in the calculation and assessment of contributions to and receipts from the European Economic Community since the United Kingdom's net contribution for 1989 was last assessed at £1,966 million; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he anticipates that he will publish the 1990 statement on the Community budget; and if this document will include the latest calculation of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Economic Community in the calendar year 1989.

  Mr. Ryder
  The statement on the 1990 Community budget will be published within the next few weeks. It will include an outturn figure for the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget in 1989; and will explain the differences between that figure and the forecast published in last year's statement (Cm. 680).

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the difference between the level of inflation for 1990–91 allowed for in the Government's standard spending assessments for local authorities and the figure assumed in his Budget forecasts; and what the difference in expenditure would amount to if local authorities increased their expenditure in accordance with it.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: Standard spending assessments for local authorities, like the public expenditure plans, are set in cash terms, and do not make any particular allowance for inflation.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the 1 per cent. forecast increase in the retail price index attributed to the community charge arises from charge levels in excess of the Government's recommended poll tax figure.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: If local authorities had spent in line with standard spending

  Range of total income of individual (£ per annum)

  Loss due to freezing of higher rate threshold (£ million)

  Percentage of total tax loss

  Total taxpayers (000s)

  Percentage of total taxpayers in range

  Total NIC payers (000s)

  Percentage total NIC payers in range

  Less than 5,000

  —

  —

  2,960

  11·5

  3,660

  15·4

  5,000 to 7,500

  —

  —

  4,290

  16·6

  3,580

  15·0

  7,500 to 10,000

  —

  —

  4,330

  16·8

  3,820

  16·0

  10,000 to 12,500

  —

  —

  3,420

  13·3

  2,990

  12·5

  12,500 to 15,000

  —

  —

  2,980

  11·6

  2,730

  11·5

  15,000 to 20,000

  —

  —

  3,760

  14·6

  3,450

  14·5

  20,000 to 30,000

  60

  15·8

  2,630

  10·2

  2,390

  10·0

  30,000 to 50,000

  230

  60·5

  1,010

  3·9

  910

  3·8

  Over 50,000

  90

  23·7

  390

  1·5

  330

  1·4

  TOTAL

  380

  100·0

  25,770

  100·0

  23,870

  100·0

  862
  in England and Wales, and with total current expenditure in Scotland, the average community charge in Great Britain would have been around £266. This would have meant an increase of only about 0.1 per cent. in the level of the retail prices index.

  Earnings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for 1990–91 those ranges of earnings within which the burden of income tax plus national insurance is less than in 1978–79.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: Since income tax rates have been reduced and the main personal allowances increased by substantially more than the rate of inflation, taxpayers will now pay a lower proportion of their income in tax than in 1978–79 unless their incomes have risen even more rapidly than allowances. Average earnings have risen rather more than this.

  In 1990–91, for taxpayers of working age whose incomes have increased in line with earnings, average rates of income tax and national insurance contributions are lower than in 1978–79 for everyone except some married men with earnings up to and including three-quarters of the average. On the same basis, real take-home pay is higher than in 1978–79 at all levels of earnings.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will specify the distribution of gains in the Budget for each item where(a) tax or (b) national insurance changes were made other than normal indexation, according to income bands: less than £5,000 per year; £5,000 to £7,500; £7,500 to £10,000; £10,000 to £12,500; £12,500 to £15,000; £15,000 to £20,000; £20,000 to £30,000; £30,000 to £50,000 and above £50,000; and if he will indicate the percentage of total (i) tax and (ii) national insurance changes accruing to each group and the percentage of the total numbers of (1) taxpayers and (2) national insurance that each group comprises.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 4 April 1990] : Information relating to income tax rates and allowances and national insurance contributions is in the table. Losses result solely from the higher rate income tax threshold remaining at £20,700. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by income distribution of gains from the doubling of the blind person's allowance. Estimates are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are therefore provisional.

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the savings, in a full year at 1990–91 rates, of restricting all allowances and reliefs to the standard rate of tax; and if he will provide a breakdown by category of allowance and relief.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be gained by the Treasury if the higher rate of MIRAS were abolished.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 4 April 1990] : Estimates of the direct revenue yield in a full year at 1990–91 levels of income from restricting the main income tax allowances and reliefs to the basic rate of income tax are as follows:

  £million

  Personal allowances

  1,390

  Mortgage interest relief

  510

  Retirement annuity relief1

  110

  1 Including relief for retirement annuity payments made by employees.

  It would be premature to provide an estimate for employees superannuation and personal pension contributions, since this would depend on take-up. Nor is it possible to provide reliable estimates for the effects of restricting other smaller reliefs to the basic rate.

  The direct revenue yield from restricting all reliefs and allowances simultaneously to the basic rate is likely to be in the order of nearly £3 billion, somewhat more than the sum of the yields from restricting the reliefs and allowances separately; this is due to the cumulative effect of bringing more people into higher rate tax. About two thirds of those who would pay more tax as a result of this change are currently liable only at the basic rate.

  Estimates are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are provisional. No account is taken of possible behavioural changes or the effect on receipts of capital gains tax.

ENVIRONMENT

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from British industry about the uniform business rate.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), on 5 February 1990,Official Report, column 446.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the reasons for the difference in the rate poundage used for calculating the uniform business rate in Wales and in England.

  Mr. Chope
  The uniform business rate has been set, in the light of the revaluation of all non-domestic properties in England and Wales, at the level necessary to raise broadly the same income from the business community in 1990–91 as was raised in 1989–90. This resulted in a rate poundage of 34·8p in England, where the national average non-domestic rate poundage in 1989–90 was 258·3p and 36·8p in Wales, where the 1989–90 average was 283·4p.

  Tree Replacement
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that the Countryside Commission has adequate funds to enable it to respond in an effective manner to tree replacement programmes in England and Wales.

  Mr. Heathcoat Amory
  Total grant-in-aid to the Countryside Commission for the forthcoming financial year has been increased to £25·136 million. This sum includes provision of £2·88 million for the work of the commission's special unit—task force trees—set up to assist replacement planting of amenity trees lost in the storms of October 1987 and January this year. The commission's general programme includes further assistance for tree planting, but it is for the commission to determine detailed allocation of its resources.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether expenditure on rubbish collection, street cleaning and campaigns against litter will be excluded from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes unless it is deemed excessive;

  (2) whether expenditure on sheltering the homeless will be excluded from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes unless such expenditure is deemed excessive;

  (3) whether that expenditure for protecting children against abuse will be excluded from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes;

  (4) whether the expenditure of public funds for building indoor lavatories in state schools will be excluded from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes;

  (5) what categories of expenditure he will exclude from relevant expenditure for charge-capping purposes.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has not excluded any categories of an authority's expenditure for the purposes of his capping decisions which he announced to the House on 3 April.

  Mr. Robert Banks:
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, with their rates of community charge, those authorities which do not receive assistance from the safety net provisions and which also do not give to the safety net fund.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am arranging for copies of the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which have announced a community charge which is higher than that determined by the metropolitan borough of Rotherham.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now list the poll tax figure and safety net figure for every local authority.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities gave today to my hon. Friend for Harrogate (Mr. Banks).

  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information will be provided to him by
  865
  local authorities for the purpose of assessing the impact of the community charge on charge payers, by district, age and income.

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the level of local income tax which would be payable by(a) a man and (b) a woman on average earnings in 1989–90 and 1990–91 based on Kirklees council's planned budgets for those years.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 4 April 1990,Official Report, column 665.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the circumstances under community charge regulations in which there can be a personal community charge payer and a standard community charge payer living at the same address.

  Mr. Chope
  Liability to the standard community charge can arise only on the owner or lessee of a domestic property which is not used as the sole or main residence of another person or persons.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of administration and collection of the poll tax in 1990–91(a) in Greater Manchester and (b) in Manchester Withington; and what were the respective costs of administration and collection of domestic rates in 1989–90.

  Mr. Chope
  Information on the administration and collection costs of the community charge in 1990–91 is not yet available. Separate figures are not available for the cost of domestic rate collection, but the latest estimate provided by local authorities of the total cost of rate collection in 1989–90 is £11,332,000 for the Greater Manchester area. Figures for the Withington area of Manchester are not separately available, but the figure for Manchester city council is £2,467,000.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the budgeted spend for 1989–90 for each authority, with the equivalent spend uprated by inflation for 1990–91 and the community charge per adult such a spending programme would result in.

  Mr. Chope
  I am arranging for copies of the expenditure for 1989–90 for each authority to be placed in the Library of the House. Information about the assumed expenditure for 1990–91 and the resulting community charge per adult was placed in the Library on 11 January 1990.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost for each local authority of poll tax capping relating to(a) reviewing expenditure at service provision to meet his requirements and (b) preparing and sending out new poll tax bills.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) earlier today.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities known to 866
  him which have announced their intentions to extend beyond three months the period when a community charge is not payable in respect of empty and unfurnished property.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to him on 4 April 1990, Official Report, column 665.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the list provided in his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside, of 12 March,Official Report, column 105, of regulations governing the introduction of the community charge and the uniform business rate which have yet to be (a) laid before the House and (b) debated by the House.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The regulations still to be laid before the House are as follows:

  The Community Charge

  1. The form of substitute bills to be prescribed following a change in budget or precept.

  2. Adjustments to rates recoverable or written off after 1 April 1990 relating to earlier years.

  National Non-Domestic Rates

  3. Payment of interest on overpaid rates.

  The last debate on a negative resolution took place in the House on 26 March 1990, while an affirmative resolution was debated on 29 March 1990. None of the remaining regulations requires affirmative resolution.

  Tropical Rain Forests
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will institute a co-ordinated governmental review of adverse effects on tropical rain forests resulting from the tropical forestry action plan; if he will suspend funding for the tropical forestry action plan; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what input his Department has had into the tropical forestry action plan; and what account he has taken of recommendations about its effectiveness.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 5 April 1990,Official Report, columns 733-34.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much extra money will be available to Bournemouth borough council under his new proposals to tackle homelessness.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The extra £112 million resources for 1990–91 which I announced recently will go to local authorities in London and the south-east where. homelessness pressures, particularly the numbers in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, are greatest. Authorities outside this area, including Bournemouth, generally face less severe pressures of homelessness.

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

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Since my appointment to my present post I have made no official visit to Wales.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams dated 26 March concerning the position regarding the community charge facing Mr. R. J. Bray of Dovedale, Brixham.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 23 January referring to Mr. George Chadwick of Rugby.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 6 April.

  Caravan Sites (Bradford)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department gathered in the process of granting designation to the local authority on(a) the location of private caravan sites in Bradford, (b) by whom they are owned and managed, (c) who has applied to operate and manage additional private sites, (d) rentals being charged by private site owners and (e) rental charges levied by Bradford council at caravan sites owned by the council.

  Mr. Chope
  We are aware that there are two private gipsy caravan sites in the metropolitan district which can accommodate a total of 12 gipsy caravans and that the city council's policy will be to encourage provision of small-scale private sites. We have no detailed information on the operation of these sites or on rental charges levied by Bradford council at the caravan sites that it owns.

  Expenditure (Rotherham)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how he expects his decision on the new expenditure levels within the metropolitan borough of Rotherham will affect the work of this authority to promote the economic regeneration of the derelict or non-derelict areas of the borough;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to take steps to ensure that his recent decision to reduce the expenditure of the metropolitan borough of Rotherham will not affect the capacity of that authority or of the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit to maintain supervision of the public and environmental needs of the area concerned;

  (3) what is his estimate of the cuts in expenditure in 1990–91 which will now have to be made by the metropolitan borough of Rotherham in the fields of education, social services, highway maintenance, amenities and recreation, museums and libraries, environmental health and in the accommodation and housing provision for the elderly and disabled.

  Mr. Chope
  Spending priorities within any lower overall budget will be a matter for the metropolitan borough of Rotherham; as my right hon. Friend made clear to the House on 3 April, we are prepared to consider alternative proposals from Rotherham about the overall level of its budget.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the costs which will 868
  have to be met by the metropolitan borough of Rotherham in enabling it to implement his decision that the community charge shall be reduced.

  Mr. Chope
  As he informed the House on 3 April, my right hon. Friend estimates the costs of community charge capping will be about £200,000 per charging authority and that the total costs will be between £6 million and £7 million.

  Hospital Incinerators
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date all hospital incinerators are required to comply with the specifications contained in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution waste management paper No. 25 on clinical waste.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Department of the Environment waste management paper No. 25 is a technical memorandum providing general advice and guidance. Specific control of clinical waste incinerators with a capacity of more than one tonne per hour is exercised by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The inspectorate is also currently drawing up specific guidance on standards for smaller incinerators which we propose to schedule for local authority air pollution control under the Environmental Protection Bill. This guidance will be published before any incinerator is scheduled for local authority control, and authorities will be obliged to have regard to it in setting standards in legally binding authorisations for individual hospital incinerators.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the definitions that have been used by his Department to define a bathing beach since the 1976 Bathing Waters Directive of the European Commission was issued; and on what dates the definitions were changed.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The definition of a bathing water is given in article 1(2)(a) of directive 76/160/EEC. Further advice on relevant criteria for assessing whether waters should be identified under the bathing water directive was given by the Commission of the European Communities in October 1985, in an answer given in the European Parliament.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a revised version of table 3.5(a) in the 1989 Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics which would show a nothing found category separately from the total number of water pollution incidents.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Separately available figures for reported pollution incidents where nothing was found relate to the years 1986, 1987 and 1988 and are as follows:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Anglian

  —

  —

  —

  Northumbrian

  —

  53

  100

  North West

  579

  705

  798

  Severn-Trent

  —

  —

  —

  Southern

  147

  126

  227

  869

  1986

  1987

  1988

  South West

  145

  327

  374

  Thames

  367

  745

  551

  Welsh

  —

  —

  522

  Wessex

  241

  243

  259

  Yorkshire

  278

  415

  441

  England and Wales

  1,757

  2,614

  3,272

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a revised version of table 3.5(b) in the 1989 Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics, separately distinguishing for each category of pollution the nothing found column.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify in the Official Report, what footnote 4 should be for the Welsh Water Authority in table 3.2, on page 27 of his Department's Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics No. 12, 1989.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The footnote which was inadvertantly omitted from table 3.2 of the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics No. 12" referred to sewage treatment works in the Welsh Water area and should have been as follows:"The majority of the works with numerical consents which were not tested for compliance are understood to be small works for which the authority are asking for descriptive consents."

  Cleaning Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how and by whom cleaning services are provided to Wellbar house, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne.

  Mr. Chope
  Cleaning services at Wellbar house are currently contracted to ISS Servisystem Ltd. and the City and Suburban Window Cleaning Company Ltd.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what official research has been undertaken with local authorities' practices and policies with regard to mobile homes; and what conclusions have been drawn.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is currently engaged in research on the mobile homes sector including a postal survey of local authorities in England and Wales and physical and social studies of selected sites. We expect to have the full results of the research programme early next year.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of hedgerows have been removed and how many miles planted(a) since 1 January 1960 and (b) since 1979.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Various estimates have been made for past periods but none covers precisely the periods to which my hon. Friend refers.
  870
  A survey of landscape change in England and Wales carried out for my Department and the Countryside Commission in 1986 by Huntings Survey and Consultants Limited showed annual losses in England and Wales of some 2,600 miles of hedgerow between 1947 and 1969, 2,900 miles between 1969 and 1980, and 4,000 miles between 1980 and 1985. A postal survey of farmers on environmental topics carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1985 however showed annual losses of 500 miles between 1980 and 1985. The two surveys used different methodologies and neither can be regarded as definitive.

  Since 1973 grants have been available to farmers for planting of new hedgerows and for hedgerow laying. In the two years 1987 and 1988, grant was paid for the equivalent of almost 1,200 miles of new hedge planting.

  Work is continuing to improve information both on the rate of removal and on the extent of new planting.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had, and with whom, on the introduction of landscape conservation orders as a means of preserving hedgerows.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such discussions have taken place.

  Defective Housing, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is giving to Nottingham city council to rebuild those Tarran Newland design houses designated as defective in the Beechdale area of Nottingham.

  Mr. Chope
  Nottingham city council's housing investment programme allocation for 1990–91 took full account of the condition of the housing stock in its area. Where private owners of Tarran or Newland properties qualify for assistance by way of reinstatement an exchequer contribution of 90 per cent. is made.

  Caravan Sites
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether gypsies living on official local authority sites are subject to the payment of individual community charges; and whether those sites are classified as non-domestic premises.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: A caravan used as a sole or main residence is domestic property and its occupiers are liable to the personal community charge unless they are exempt. In general those parts of a caravan site consisting of non-domestic property are subject to business rates.

HEALTH

  South Manchester Health Authority
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds have been available within the South Manchester health authority in each of the past 15 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information regarding the number of hospital beds available within the South Manchester health authority is given in the table.
  871

  Average number of hospital beds available per day in South Manchester

  Year

  Beds

  1974

  2,387

  1975

  2,342

  1976

  2,409

  1977

  2,390

  1978

  2,454

  1979

  2,407

  1980

  2,423

  1981

  2,389

  1982

  2,401

  1983

  2,417

  1984

  2,355

  1985

  2,277

  11986–87

  2,187

  1987–88

  2,112

  1988–89

  2,068

  1 Change in 1985 from calender to financial years.

  Census Material
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between officials of his Department or of the census office and the Post Office about use of postal codes in the publishing of census material.

  Mr. Freeman
  Officials of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys hold regular meetings with the Post Office to discuss the maintenance of OPCS's central postcode directory, which is used by Government Departments and the Health Service to allocate data already held on a post code basis to administrative areas. The use to be made of post codes in statistics to be published from the 1991 census has not yet been discussed in detail at these meetings, although agreement has existed since 1985 that aggregates of post codes could be used to define areas for census statistics.

  Consultants (Merit Awards)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants who served on regional consultants and specialist committees receive merit awards on their retirement; and what percentage this is of all consultants serving on such committees.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally. The Government's White Paper "Working for Patients" proposes a number of reforms to the distinction awards system, including a proposal aimed at preventing awards being given close to retirement age. This is currently under discussion with the profession.

  Children (Illegal Employment)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest official estimate of the number of children illegally employed in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish an official estimate of the number of children engaged in illegal employment in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish official statistics on the number of children illegally employed in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
  872
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish official figures for the number of children illegally employed in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. Members for Glasgow, Pollock (Mr. Dunnachie) and for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 9 March 1990 at columns 893-94.

  Royal Colleges
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the presidents of the royal colleges; and what subjects will be discussed.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the presidents of the royal colleges; and what subjects will be discussed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Whilst no firm date has been set for the next meeting with the presidents of the royal colleges, the previous pattern of formal and informal meetings, either with individual presidents or collectively, is expected to continue, for discussing a range of important health issues.

  British Medical Association
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the president of the British Medical Association; and what he intends to discuss.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the president of the British Medical Association; and what he intends to discuss.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has no present plans to meet the president of the British Medical Association.

  Fluoride
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards the use of fluoride as a means of arresting and preventing dental caries; what evaluation he has made of its effectiveness as an agent; and what measures he is adopting to ensure that it is available to population groups most at risk.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's view is that fluoridation of drinking water constitutes a safe and effective means of reducing tooth decay. Evidence of the efficacy of fluoridation in this country is well documented and recent studies confirm the view that further reductions in caries levels in children's teeth, over and above the general decline in caries which has occurred, are achievable through fluoridation of domestic water supplies. These benefits are particularly cost effective in areas where caries levels are otherwise high.

  The Government believe it right that decisions on fluoridation should be taken at a local rather than national level. The Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 imposes a statutory duty on district health authorities to engage in widespread public consultation before any decisions on the implementation of fluoridation schemes are taken. While it is our general view that we should support local initiatives, it is the task of the district health authority to weigh the advantages of fluoridation when deciding to ask water

  873
  undertakers to fluoridate water supplies in the area. The final discretion whether to agree to fluoridation must, however, rest with water undertakers who need to be satisfied that the health authorities' proposals are technically feasible.

  Nurses
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the current levels of nurse staffing.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Responsibility for setting levels for nursing staff is a matter for individual health authorities, which determine those levels as part of the regular planning process, in the light of local needs and priorities and the available resources.

  Heart Transplants
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart transplant operations have been conducted in(a) Harefield hospital and (b) Papworth hospital in each of the last 12 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  Available information from Harefield and Papworth hospitals, for the 11 years from 1979 to 1989, is shown in the table.

  Harefield

  Papworth

  Heart

  Heart/lung

  Heart

  Heart/lung

  1979

  —

  —

  3

  —

  1980

  14

  —

  11

  —

  1981

  13

  —

  13

  —

  1982

  21

  —

  16

  —

  1983

  34

  1

  19

  —

  1984

  78

  7

  39

  3

  1985

  87

  31

  44

  6

  1986

  109

  42

  52

  10

  1987

  140

  55

  58

  15

  1988

  133

  69

  58

  22

  1989

  131

  53

  53

  17

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients who have undergone heart transplant operations in the last 12 years have died either as a primary or secondary result of cytomegalavirus.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Junior Hospital Doctors
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of junior hospital doctors in the Eastern region worked rotas of one in three or worse during the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and estimated for 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is not available in the form requested. We do, however, have a report from the East Anglian regional health authority on the results of our June 1988 initiative on junior doctors' hours. Some 40 per cent. of junior doctors in the region were on one in three rotas or worse in 1988. By September 1990, some 24 per cent. of junior doctors are expected to be on onerous one in three rotas or worse. This compares with an expected national total of around 13 per cent. on such rotas by that date.

  Allergies
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects financed by his Department are being carried out into allergies.
  874
  Mr. Freeman
  None. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 3 April 1990, at column 519.

  Christie Hospital
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the costs of providing treatment at Christie hospital will flow back to Christie hospital from those districts which purchase care from Christie hospital in circumstances in which Christie remains(a) a directly managed hospital or (b) a National Health Service trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is intended that contracts between purchasing authorities and hospitals, whether directly managed or under trust status, will cover the full costs of treatment.

  Haemophiliacs
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliac victims of HIV contaminated factor VIII have died from AIDS; and how many have died since November 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The total number of haemophiliacs with AIDS who have died up to the end of February 1990 is 118. Of that figure 11 have died since November 1989. It is not known how many died as a result of AIDS or from any other cause.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many writs from haemophiliac victims of HIV-contaminated factor VIII have been filed against his Department, regional health authorities and the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and how many were received(a) by 31 December 1989 and (b) since 1 January 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Health authorities are separately represented and the Department does not routinely receive information on the number of writs issued against them. I understand that 928 writs have been filed against the Department and Committee on Safety of Medicines, of which around 650 were received by 31 December 1989.

  Cosmetics
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has made an assessment of the health implications in respect of the clearance given for use as additives in cosmetics of(a) silver nitrate, (b) ammonia and (c) aluminium-based substances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No separate assessment has been made. Certain substances used in cosmetics are controlled by the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 2233) which implements European Council directive 76/768/EEC as amended by EEC directive 82/368/EEC and subsequent Commission directives. The regulations detail substances that are either not permitted in cosmetics or are permitted subject to specified restrictions. Colouring agents other than those used solely to colour hair, preservatives and UV filters are not permitted unless listed in the schedules to the regulations. Advice on the safety in use of substances used in cosmetics is provided by the EEC Scientific Committee on Cosmetology.
  875
  Silver nitrate, ammonia and aluminium based substances are allowed in cosmetics only up to specified limits and the products must be labelled as containing these substances. They are listed in schedule 2, part I of the regulations as
  "substances which cosmetics must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down."

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has made an assessment of the implications for human health of the clearance given to additives for use in cosmetics which are banned for use as additives in food products.

  Mr. Freeman
  Exposure to substances approved for use in cosmetics, that is those substances covered by the EEC cosmetics directives, is not comparable to exposure to approved food additives which are invariably ingested. Both are approved only after careful assessment of the health implications. If the hon. Member has any particular substance in mind perhaps he would let me know the details.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will outline his Department's responsibilities in respect of the safety of cosmetic products.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department of Health provides advice to the Department of Trade and Industry on all matters pertaining to the safety assessment of cosmetics. Also a toxocologist from the Department is a member of the EEC's Scientific Committee on Cosmetology, established under the terms of the cosmetics directives to advise on the toxicity of cosmetic ingredients and products.

  Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to meet the director of the centre for applied microbiology and research at Porton Down; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no immediate plans to do so. However, officials both of the Department, and of the public health laboratory service of which the centre forms a part, are in regular contact with the director.

  Correspondence
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now answer the letter to him from the hon. Member for Peckham of 26 March about community care services in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  I replied yesterday.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details about the consultation which will precede the establishment of self-governing trusts; and if he will give(a) when consultations will begin, (b) how long they will last for, (c) who will be involved, (d) how they will be monitored and (e) where the results will be published.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Applications for NHS trust status will not be invited until after parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation. The relevant region 876
  will publicise the proposals and make arrangements for consultation. It will be for regions to determine how best to do this. However, in general we would expect consultation to last for a period of three months. We expect regions to seek the views of those with an interest, particularly the health authorities concerned, staff at the unit, general practitioners, community health councils and the local community. Regions will forward applications, responses received during consultation, and any comments they may have on them to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State so that he can consider them with the application. If my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State decides to approve an application he will make an order to establish the trust.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cousins
  to ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the number of HIV-positive persons, (b) the number of AIDS patients and (c) the number of deaths from AIDS in each year and in total to the latest available date both for the United Kingdom and for each National Health Service region since the AIDS epidemic began; and if he will show (i) the numbers of haemophiliacs so affected and (ii) the numbers of non-haemophiliacs so affected as a consequence of infected blood products.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The tables showing the information reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre and the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit have been placed in the Library. Numbers below 10 in tables showing AIDS data are represented by an asterisk in line with the procedure followed in reports under the AIDS (Control) Act, to safeguard confidentiality.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to repeat the waiting list initiative; and if he will make a statement about the previous initiative.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 30 March 1990, c. 370]: I understand that there was a misprint in the hon. Member's question as it first appeared on the Order Paper which rendered the reply inappropriate. A revised reply is as follows.

  The waiting list initiative is being continued in 1990–91. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) on 18 January 1990 at columns 403-04. No decisions have yet been taken about whether to continue the initiative into 1991–92 and beyond.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Battle of the Boyne (Tercentenary)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the tercentenary of the battle of the Boyne will be officially recognised in Northern Ireland this year; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The 12 July 1990 will be a bank holiday in Northern Ireland, as in previous years.

  Substantial sponsorship has been provided for a major exhibition at the Ulster museum, entitled "Kings in

  877
  Conflict", which examines the roles of William the Third, James the Second and Louis the Fifteenth in Ireland in the 1690s.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether United Kingdom civil servants working in Northern Ireland operate under the same monitoring system and code of practice as that detailed in the written reply to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 21 February,Official Report, column 768.

  Mr. Cope
  All Northern Ireland employers are guided by the code of practice published by the Department of Economic Development on 31 December 1989 and subsequently adopted by the Fair Employment Commission as its first code of practice under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether members of harbour boards in Northern Ireland are considered as employees by the Fair Employment Commission in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: I am advised that the Commission has not examined the terms upon which members are appointed.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to rectify and monitor the religious imbalance amongst employees at principal officer grade and above in the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The results of monitoring and the measures being taken to provide equality of opportunity in the Northern Ireland civil service are published in the reports of its equal opportunities unit. Copies of these reports are in the Library. These give details about the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Discussions have already taken place with the Fair Employment Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission about the published findings and the future work programme of the equal opportunties unit. It has been agreed that the latter will focus on the level of representation of females and of Roman Catholics in the higher grades in the Northern Ireland civil service.

  Training
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what he is doing to co-ordinate the efforts of the departments of education and economic development on funding and training, to ensure that young people will receive training to equip them with skills and qualifications sought by employers.

  Mr. Needham
  The youth training programme is the joint responsibility of the Ministers responsible for the Departments of Education and of Economic Development and there are a number of working groups of senior officials from both Departments which meet on a regular basis to co-ordinate action.

  Executive Houses
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the executive houses at(a) Beechfield estate, Donaghadee and (b) Enniskeen estate, Craigavon were built; when the Northern Ireland Housing Executive carried out or proposes to carry out an improvement scheme to houses in both these estates; and why it was decided to give priority to Enniskeen estate.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The information that it would provide is that Beechfield estate was completed in 1965 and Enniskeen estate in 1971.

  Twenty-eight dwellings in Beechfield estate were fully improved in 1985 and a further 18 had central heating installed. Improvements to the remainder of the estate which have yet to be fully assessed are programmed to begin in the 1992–93 financial year. An external maintenance scheme is currently on site.

  Enniskeen estate had central heating installed in 1986 as part of the degasification programme. An external maintenance scheme was completed in 1987 and replacement kitchen units installed in 1989. No further improvements are programmed.

  Priorities within each Housing Executive region are determined on the basis of the Housing Executive's assessment of the needs of individual estates.

  Flooding (Donaghadee)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to take to stop the regular flooding at Church lane, Donaghadee, near the old people's home.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No buildings have been affected.

  From initial investigations it appears that the flooding is associated with an old culverted millrace which runs through the area. The millrace is not designated within the terms of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973. The Department of Agriculture is undertaking further investigations with a view to determining the nature and source of any drainage disability and the person(s) responsible for the millrace.

  Flooding, Omagh
  The Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons it was decided not to provide the statistical and technological investigations relating to the October 1989 flooding in Omagh to the development officer of Omagh district council.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Following flooding in October 1987 a consultant's report on the flood defences in Omagh was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. The report is private to the Department.

  The Department is in the final stages of consideration of the options contained in the report and proposals will be exhibited in line with normal consultation procedures at the offices of Omagh district council. The Department will discuss the proposal with the council at the appropriate time.

  Quarrying
  The Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of money paid in grants by the various departments of the
  879
  Northern Ireland Department of Environment to the quarrying, sand and gravel industries during the period the grant was available; and what was the breakdown of payments in the Mid-Ulster constituency.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment has paid no grants to companies in these sectors. During the past five financial years grants paid to the quarrying, sand and gravel industries in Northern Ireland by the Department of Economic Development were as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  3,482,376

  1986–87

  1,125,367

  1987–88

  160,736

  1988–89

  166,788

  1989–90

  38,681

  Total

  4,973,948

  The above figures include the following amounts which were paid to companies in the Mid-Ulster constituency:

  £

  1985–86

  136,462

  1986–87

  36,197

  1987–88

  6,212

  1988–89

  —

  1989–90

  —

  Total

  178,871

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the recently established nine posts of director within the Eastern health and social services board were filled; and how these positions differ in their range of management responsibilities and in salary from the posts that they replaced.

  Mr. Needham
  As the information requested is complex and detailed, my noble Friend Lord Skelmersdale will write to the hon. Gentleman direct.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are being made by the Eastern health and social services board, pursuant to the abolition of the area executive team with effect from 1 April to ensure that the day-to-day management of health and social services are maintained at high level.

  Mr. Needham
  The board's general manager will have a strategic management group consisting of nine headquarters directors to support and assist him in the management of the services. The recently appointed unit general managers took up their posts from 1 April 1990 and will each be responsible to the general manager for the management and provision of services within one of the nine units of management.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated additional cost in 1990–91 of the current restructuring of the Eastern health and social services board.

  Mr. Needham
  It is expected that the net effect of the restructuring will be that the board expects to maintain its administration costs at approximately 5 per cent. as in previous years.

  Enterprise Ulster
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many clients have been asked by Enterprise Ulster to supply additional materials during the course of a job so that it could be completed; and, where this has occurred, what checks were made to ensure that proper use was made of the materials originally supplied.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no figures available of the number of Enterprise Ulster clients who have been asked and agreed to the supply of additional materials during the course of a job.

  Strict checks are carried out by supervisory staff on all materials supplied and used.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements there are for Enterprise Ulster having been supplied with materials for a client job not all of which have been used to make a payment in lieu of the return of the material.

  Mr. Needham
  None. Any surplus materials are either returned to the client or, with his agreement, transferred to another job.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken to ensure that the practice of Enterprise Ulster in requiring clients to supply the materials needed for a particular job ensures efficient use of such materials and allows for proper stock control.

  Mr. Needham
  The use of materials, whether obtained by Enterprise Ulster or supplied by clients, is supervised, controlled and monitored by Enterprise Ulster's supervisors and area superintendents who are trained in efficient materials usage and stock control.

  Substitute Teachers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he received the details from Donaghadee high school of substitutes teaching in the school during the month of February; when the substitute teachers will be paid for their work during the month of February; and in which year such payments will be included for tax purposes.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Details of the substitute teachers employed in Donaghadee high school during the month of February 1990 were not received in the Department of Education until 21 March 1990. This was two weeks after the due date for receipt of such information and was too late for the normal pay date on 16 March 1990 or the supplementary payroll issued on 20 March 1990.

  Special arrangements have been made to issue payment by Friday 6 April 1990 to the substitute teachers for their work during the month of February 1990.

  The payment will be made in the 1990–91 tax year and will be included in that tax year for tax purposes.

  Enterprise Centres
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a list of enterprise centres in Belfast, together with the number of units and the percentage number of units occupied in each centre.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:
  881

  Enterprise centre

  Number of units

  Percentage occupied

  Brookfield Business Centre

  50

  92

  Farset Enterprise Park

  26

  39

  Glenwood Enterprises Ltd.

  36

  86

  Townsend Enterprise Park

  26

  100

  Westlink Enterprises

  31

  28

  Workwest Belfast

  15

  87

  Action Resource Centre

  12

  100

  West Belfast Enterprise Board

  11

  82

  Community Programmes, Belfast
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a list of programmes funded by BAT and Making Belfast Work, the name of the recipient community organisation and the expenditure involved in each case.

  Mr. Needham
  In view of the large amount of material involved, I will write to the hon. Member and place copies of the information in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the level of expenditure on income support for each social security office in Belfast for the years 1987–88, 1988–89 and from April to December 1989.

  Mr. Needham
  The available information is as follows:

  Weekly Expenditure

  Social Security Office

  Supplementary pension/allowance

  Income Support

  6 May 1987

  31 May 1988

  £

  £

  Andersontown

  286,905·02

  299,539·46

  Corporation Street

  371,623·59

  438,914·83

  Falls Road

  282,316·97

  327,328·97

  Holywood Road

  233,191·10

  284,933·05

  Knockbreda

  158,308·59

  160,504·29

  Homes for persons in need

  Nursing Homes

  Statutory

  Private

  Statutory

  Private

  Number of Premises

  126

  97

  —

  118

  Number of Places

  3,988

  1,285

  —

  3,353

  Notes:

  1. At 31 March 1989.

  2. At 31 December 1989.

  In addition, 40 voluntary homes for persons in need provide 1,271 places and 11 voluntary nursing homes provide 398 places.

  Standard weekly charges for statutory homes for persons in need range from £171 to £198 depending on the location of the home and whether it is accommodating elderly, disabled, mentally ill or mentally handicapped people.

  Residents who are unable to pay the standard minimum charge may pay a lesser amount, determined by their income. The minimum charge is £37·50 which is equivalent to the basic rate of retirement pension less the personal requirements allowance. A resident whose income is less than the basic rate of retirement pension may be entitled to income support to help with the charges.
  882

  Weekly Expenditure

  Social Security Office

  Supplementary Pension/allowance

  Income Support

  6 May 1987

  31 May 1988

  £

  £

  Shaftsbury Square

  191,528·10

  205,144·63

  Shankill

  122,455·27

  142,669·75

  Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry (5 per cent. sample)

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of child benefit paid out per constituency for each of the Belfast parliamentary constituencies for the years 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Public Expenditure Belfast
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he is able to make of the total amount of public expenditure per constituency for the four parliamentary constituencies in Belfast for the years 1982–83 to 1988–89 inclusive.

  Mr. Cope
  It is not possible for any reliable estimate of public expenditure per constituency in Belfast to be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) private and (b) public sector residential and nursing homes there are in Northern Ireland; what is the number of places provided in each sector together with the weekly charges; and how the charges are being met.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Up-to-date information about weekly charges in independent sector homes is not held centrally. Residents whose income is insufficient to meet the charges may be entitled to income support. As of 9 April 1990, the maximum weekly amounts of income support payable for accommodation and care range from £150 to £210 for homes for persons in need, and from £200 to £245 for nursing homes. In addition, a personal allowance of £10·55 is payable.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether in view of the increase in the number of residential and nursing homes for the elderly, he will arrange for greater involvement of local people in inspections of such homes and for reports of such inspections to be made to district councils and the units of management of the health and social services boards.
  883
  Mr. Needham
  In "People First", the Northern Ireland policy paper on care in the community in the 1990s, the Department of Health and Social Services has proposed that health and social services boards should set up area inspection units, independent of the day-to-day management of their own homes. They are to inspect and report on standards and quality of care in both statutory and independent sector homes and are to be accountable direct to the area general manager of the board. The units are to include inspectors recruited from outside the board's employment. The Department intends to issue detailed guidance on the establishment of such units and will consult a wide range of interests, including the boards and district councils, during its preparation. Furthermore proposals will issue shortly on the involvement of area health and social services councils in visiting such establishments.

  Local Government
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, following his consideration of responses to the local government consultative paper, he will be proceeding with legislation in the field of local government in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are proceeding with the preparation of a proposal for a draft Order in Council. It should be published for consultation before the end of this year. As indicated in the local government consultative paper, the measures proposed cover three areas of local government work:

  (i) the conduct of district council business;

  (ii) the administration of the environmental health and building control services; and

  (iii) competition in the provision of district council services

  We received over 60 responses to the local government consultative paper. All have been considered carefully. A number of changes to our proposals have been made as a result.

  The proposals were discussed by the chairmen of all the district councils in Northern Ireland, meeting under the chairmanship of Councillor Empey, the Lord Mayor of Belfast.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations are believed to have been responsible for the terrorist killings of Sam McClean and Harold Keys in the Irish Republic after 15 November 1985; and if anyone has been made amenable to the courts for these murders.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 23 March 1990]: Despite the best efforts of the Irish authorities I understand that no one has been made amenable to the courts for these callous murders. In the absence of a criminal conviction it is not possible to say who the murderers were, but in both cases the Provisional IRA is reported to have claimed responsibility.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations are believed to have been responsible for the terrorist killings of Cormac McCabe, John Reid, Stanley Hazelton and Seamus McAvoy in the Irish Republic prior to 15 November 1985; and if anyone has been made amendable to the courts for these murders.
  884
  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 23 March 1990]: Despite the best efforts of the Irish authorities I understand that no one has been made amenable to the courts for the callous murders of John Reid, Stanley Hazelton and Seamus McAvoy. The investigation into the murder of Cormac McCabe, which is believed to have taken place in Northern Ireland, was conducted by the RUC and has proved similarly inconclusive. In the absence of criminal convictions it is not possible to say who the murderers were, but in the cases of Mr. Reid and Mr. McAvoy the Provisional IRA is reported to have claimed responsibility.

  Fishing
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means his view on the total allowable catch of each species of fish taken in the areas of sea fished by Northern Ireland sea fishermen is put forward at meetings of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 March 1990]: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea deals with scientific stock assessments which form the basis of advice to the EC Commission, which then formulates proposals for total allowable catches (TACs) to the EC Council of Ministers. The setting of TACs takes place outside the ICES forum.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will carry out a cost benefit analysis on options for placing(a) the new scientific staff for the research vessel Lough Foyle and (b) the new scientific staff for the research vessel Lough Foyle plus the freshwater biological units staff in Coleraine with the existing fisheries research laboratory staff in (i) the existing fisheries laboratory building with necessary alterations and (ii) in the existing fisheries laboratory building and the existing drainage division building in Coleraine with any necessary additions for extensions of the latter building.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 March 1990]: Practical options for the establishment of a unified aquatic sciences research division on a single site were subject to investment appraisal before a decision was reached to relocate staff from Coleraine-Antrim to Belfast.

  The option of a unified division at the fisheries research laboratory at Coleraine was included in the investment appraisal, except that the incorporation of the drainage division office at Coleraine was not considered a viable option in terms of department planning.

  Results of the appraisal showed that over a 25-year period, relocation of staff from Coleraine and Antrim to Belfast, and the location of the scientific staff from the research vessel on the same site would have the lowest discounted net cost compared with other options. This decision is now being put into effect. Further cost-benefit analyses are not contemplated.

  Detainees
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons(a) have been detained under terrorism provisions in police custody since October 1989 and (b) have been refused access to a solicitor under section 15 of the Emergency Provisions Act 1987.
  885
  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 3 April 1990]: Three hundred and sixty-one persons were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 between the period 1 October 1989 to 31 December 1989. No person was detained during this period under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1987; and no one was refused access to a solicitor.

  Statistics in respect of 1990 are not yet available.

  Local Authority Funding
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for each of the last five years the sums made available to promote each of the major towns in each of the 26 council areas; and what funds he intends to make available for this purpose over the next three years in each case.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 April 1990]: The information is as follows:

  Year

  Belfast £

  Londonderry £

  Other district towns

  1986–87

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1987–88

  30,000

  nil

  nil

  1988–89

  74,000

  nil

  nil

  1989–90

  80,000

  4,000

  nil

  1990–91

  82,000

  4,000

  nil

  1991–92

  84,000

  10,000

  nil

  1992–93

  86,000

  25,000

  nil

  1993–94

  88,000

  10,000

  nil

  Lough Foyle
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decrease there has been in the area of farms whose land borders on Lough Foyle between the estuary of the River Roe and Magilligan Point since statistics were first collected; and what is his estimate of the present-day value of the land lost during that period.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 3 April 1990]: The information requested is not available.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he(a) has had any survey carried out or (b) is aware of any other scientific survey of the intertidal zone off the shore of Lough Foyle between the estuary of the River Roe and Magilligan Point to determine whether that zone has experienced changes in the animal life and vegetation in the last 25 years; whether he has any record of changes in the type of beach from mud to sand; and what changes have been noted in the number and species of bird life in the area over these periods.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 3 April 1990]: The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has not undertaken, nor is it aware of other bodies having undertaken, any survey to determine changes in the animal life or vegetation of the intertidal zone between the Roe estuary and Magilligan point. The Department did commission a survey of the intertidal fauna of the entire Northern Ireland coastline. This was a baseline survey and did not refer to any previous work.

  Bird counts have been undertaken by other bodies, but the Department does not have details of these counts and has no information on fluctuations in numbers of the various species. The Department does not have any record of changes in the type of beach from mud to sand.

  European Community Assistance
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the criteria which applicants will have to satisfy when applying for European grant assistance under each of the headings outlined in the Northern Ireland community support framework document.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The primary requirement for applicants is that their proposals should comply with the specific priorities identified by the EC Commission in its Community support framework for Northern Ireland. These call for: improvement of the physical and social environment; reduction in the effects of peripherality; diversification and strengthening of the industrial and tradeable services sectors; development of agriculture and tourism; and training to develop Northern Ireland's human resources. The funds available are, of course, limited, and proposals must also demonstrate value for money.

  The detailed project criteria form part of the various operational programmes currently being negotiated with the Commission. As these are agreed, the criteria will be made known to those wishing to put forward proposals. Work is also in hand on application guidelines which will be circulated to local partners, and to others on request.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the current negotiations between his Department and the European Commission in relation to European funding.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: Negotiations with the Commission on the Northern Ireland Community support framework were completed in December last year. Since then, negotiations continue on the content of the various earning programmes to be supported from our allocations from the three structural funds. Other, special. programmes may also be funded from outside member state allocations and officials are discussing with the Commission how Northern Ireland can best benefit from them. These measures include, of course, the transfrontier programme on which we and the Government of the Republic of Ireland are jointly negotiating with the Commission.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of financial assistance received by(a) each Northern Ireland Government Department, (b) each district council in Northern Ireland and (c) other organisations from European Community sources, in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: Northern Ireland's largest single source of funding from the European Community is the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. However, the bulk of such receipts are centrally disbursed, by the intervention board for agricultural produce, and details of payments are not generally maintained on a regional basis. There are numerous other sources of EC grant and although, in most of these cases, figures for the Province as a whole are available they are not analysed on the basis sought. Nevertheless it has been possible to construct a table showing for the last three financial years (aggregated) the amounts of structural fund money

  887
  received by the various Northern Ireland departments, by the district council sector and by other bodies. The details are as follows:

  Financial Years

  Northern Ireland Departments

  DANI £ million

  DED £ million

  DOE £ million

  DHSS £ million

  DENI £ million

  District Councils £ million

  Others £ million

  Total £ million

  1987–88 to 1989–90

  24·1

  139·2

  18·4

  4·6

  23·5

  11·9

  81·2

  302·9

  (These figures are provisional; their accuracy depends upon 1989–90 receipts being finalised.)

  In so far as it would be feasible, the further detail requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Cerebral Palsy
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many children are registered with the Eastern health and social services board who have cerebral palsy in the age groups(a) under five years, (b) five to 16 years, (c) 16 to 24 years and (d) 24 years and over;

  (2) how many children are registered with the Southern health and social services board who have cerebral palsy in the age groups (a) under five years, (b) five to 16 years, (c) 16 to 24 years and (d) 24 years and over.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: There is no requirement upon the health and social services boards to maintain registers of people suffering from cerebral palsy. Although various professional officers and departments hold relevant information, these records can be collated only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Local Government Finance (Rebates)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many single parent householders in Scotland are(a) in receipt of maximum 80 per cent. poll tax rebates and (b) eligible for poll tax rebate at less than the maximum rate in 1989–90;

  (2) how many single pensioners in Scotland are (a) receiving the maximum 80 per cent. poll tax rebates and (b) eligible for poll tax rebate at less than the maximum rate in 1989–90.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest estimates are in the table.

  Community Charge Rebates: Scotland 1989–90

  Number receiving maximum rebate

  Number receiving less than maximum rebate

  Single parent householders

  70,000

  10,000

  Single people aged 60 or over

  150,000

  100,000

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the estimate of the number of people in Scotland likely to take up their entitlement to poll tax rebate in 1989–90; and what sum of money was allocated for this purpose.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government do not make forecasts of the numbers entitled to benefits. Estimates of 888
  those entitled to community charge rebates will be able to be made retrospectively, when data from the relevant family expenditure survey becomes available. However, in the 1989–90 spring supply estimates (HC 231-XV 88-89) it was estimated that the number of charge payers in Scotland receiving community charge rebates was rather more than 1 million. The total local authority expenditure on rebates was estimated to be £201 million, of which £194 million was met through central Government subsidy.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will indicate the number of people in(a) Alyn and Deeside, (b) Clwyd and (c) Wales who will qualify for poll tax rebate following the rise in the capital disregard to £16,000.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The models used by this Department produce estimates of the numbers of people expected to receive community charge benefit, not of numbers who may be eligible.

  (a) and (b)—Reliable estimates of number of recipients cannot be provided on the detailed regional basis requested by the hon. Member.

  (c)—The latest estimate of the number of individual chargepayers in Wales who will receive community charge benefit is 541,000 in 1990–91.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on domestic rate rebates in Scotland in 1987–88 and 1988–89; how much was spent on poll tax rebates in Scotland in 1989–90; and what is planned expenditure on poll tax rebates in Scotland in 1990–91.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest estimate of spending on domestic rate rebates in Scotland is £212 million in 1987–88 and £168 million in 1988–89. The 1989–90 community charge rebate expenditure in Scotland is estimated to be £222 million and the planned expenditure for community charge benefit in 1990–91 is £232 million.

  Disability
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants would qualify for the severe disability premium if it were to be awarded to people receiving attendance allowance and who do not have a carer who receives invalid care allowances for looking after them.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make available to the House the report of the Minister with responsibility for the disabled on the groups he met and the projects he visited during his visit in 1989 to the United States of America.
  889
  Mr. Scott
  The purpose of my visit to the United States of America between 29 July 1989 and 3 August 1989 was to look at ways in which the Federal Government, state governments, welfare organisations and major employers were working to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through education, health and employment programmes. I regret that a formal report of the visit is not available.

  Following meetings in New York, Washington, Baltimore and San Fransisco, my trip culminated in a visit to the California relay system (CRS) in Los Angeles. The CRS provides an unlimited access service which enables people with a hearing impairment to communicate via the telephone network with a hearing person, and is therefore operating on a similar way to the telephone exchange for the deaf operated by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf in London and Glasgow. Both the British and Californian systems provide a valuable service for people with a severe hearing impairment.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has received to "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The association has submitted a detailed written response, and it was represented at a meeting I held on 5 April with the Disability Benefits Consortium to discuss "The Way Ahead." We shall give careful consideration to all the association's comments in carrying forward the detailed work on our proposals.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much child benefit has been paid in each of the parliamentary constituencies of Wales for(a) 1983 and (b) 1988–89.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information relating to child benefit in Great Britain cannot be sub-divided beyond England, Scotland and Wales. The amount of child benefit expenditure for Wales is estimated to have been £204·4 million in 1983–84 and £234·0 million in 1988–89.

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he proposes to extend the age restriction on qualification for mobility allowance beyond the present limits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We intend to incorporate mobility allowance in the new disability allowance from April 1992. Like mobility allowance, the disability allowance will be awarded only in respect of disability occurring before age 65, but there will be no upper age limit for payment provided the criteria continue to be met. When the disability allowance is introduced, we intend to remove the upper age limit for payment of mobility allowance to people who are already receiving it.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what alterations are envisaged in the introduction of the disability allowance to ensure an efficient assessment procedure and minimise distress to the claimant.
  890
  Mr. Scott
  We are considering the assessment procedures for the disability allowance. We shall be concerned to devise procedures which are efficient, and accessible and helpful to claimants.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average number of weeks that lapses between a claim and the date of notification of the decision to the claimant in respect of allowances for(a) mobility, (b) attendance and (c) severe disablement.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest available information is as follows:

  Weeks

  Mobility allowance (March)

  7·0

  Attendance allowance (March)

  7·6

  Severe disablement allowance (February)

  12·1

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time elapsing between a letter of appeal and refusal of mobility allowance and notification of the decision of the adjudicating medical authority.

  Mr. Scott
  The average time taken between receipt of an appeal to a medical board against a decision on a mobility allowance claim and notification of the decision is currently 11·6 weeks.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time elapsing between a letter of review after refusal of attendance allowance and notification of the decision of the attendance allowance board.

  Mr. Scott
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time which elapses between a letter of appeal against a refusal to severe disablement allowance or refusal of mobility allowance after a medical board and the medical appeal tribunal hearing.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest available figures are for the quarter ending on 30 September 1989. During that period, the average time taken between the date of lodgement of an appeal to a medical appeal tribunal and the hearing was 20·8 weeks for severe disablement allowance claims and 16·2 weeks for mobility allowance claims.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the reply of 2 April, if he will obtain from his Department's local management information on how many of his departmental staff in Bradford, since 1979, have been given permission exceptionally to hold a financial interest in private residential or nursing homes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No members of staff have sought permission.

  Pensions
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the payment of state pensions by means of automatic cash dispensers.
  891
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no such plans.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from community charge payers in Barrow about advice by the Barrow district council concerning community charge benefit following the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No representations on any advice given by Barrow district council have so far been received.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the amount of community charge benefit which will accrue to a household, assuming that transitional relief does not apply, where the earnings of the couple are £160 and £50, respectively, the community charge is £420 per person and the said persons are(a) a married couple or (b) two persons not falling within the category of cohabiting or married couples; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Assuming the figures quoted refer to earnings net of tax and national insurance contributions,(a) a married couple with combined net earnings of £210 per week would not qualify for community charge benefit, and (b) of two single people not living together as husband and wife with net earnings of £160 and £50 per week respectively, the former would not qualify for community charge benefit and the other would qualify for £5·20 per week.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to adjust the arrangements for community charge benefit so that married couples who are both employed may be treated in the same way as persons living in the same accommodation who are not married and not regarded as cohabiting couples; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no such plans. The structure of community charge benefit is designed to ensure that the recipients' net income, after paying their community charge, is no lower than if they received income support. The assessment rules therefore follow those for income support in assessing married couples differently from two single people who are not living together as husband and wife.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, by regions and by amounts, as much information as is available to him about the take-up so far of poll tax benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department does not make forecasts of the number of people entitled to income-related benefits. Take-up estimates are made as and when they can be derived from historical survey data. Take-up estimates for community charge benefit will not be available before 1992.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the latest below average household income tables.
  892
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Within the next few weeks.

  Seafarers
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce a special social security scheme for those engaged in the seafaring industry.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no plans to change the social security arrangements for those who work in the seafaring industry. Foreign-going mariners and share fishermen are already subject to special rules in respect of benefit entitlement and contribution liability.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much extra revenue would be raised by his Department if the upper earnings limit on national insurance contributions were abolished on the basis of existing scales.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  If the upper earnings limit for employees' national insurance contributions were abolished it is estimated that the extra revenue raised at current rates would be £2·45 billion. This assumes that an upper limit would be retained for contracting-out and that all contributions above that limit would be at the full not contracted-out rate.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much revenue would be raised if national insurance contributions were chargeable at current rates on investment income above a national insurance contribution threshold of £3,500.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  If national insurance contributions were charged at the employees' main percentage rate of 9 per cent. on all investment income over £3,500 per year, including that of pensioners, it is estimated that the revenue raised at current rates would be about £1·53 billion. This estimate is based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and is therefore provisional.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to a pensioner with an investment income of(a) £5,000, (b) £10,000 and (c) £1,000 as a result of the imposition of national insurance contributions on all investment income at current rates of national insurance contributions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Pensioners do not currently pay national insurance contributions, but if such contributions were charged at the employees' main percentage rate of 9 per cent. on all investment income the cost to a pensioner would be as shown in the table.

  Investment income (£)

  National insurance contribution (£)

  5,000

  450

  10,000

  900

  1,000

  90

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to a pensioner with an investment income of(a) £3,500, (b) £5,000 and

  893
  (c) £10,000 as a result of imposing national insurance contribution charges on all investment income above £3,000 and above £3,500.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Pensioners do not currently pay national insurance contributions but if such contributions were charged at the employees' main percentage rate of 9 per cent. on all investment income above £3,000 and above £3,500 the cost to a pensioner would be as shown in the table.

  National Insurance contributions

  Investment income

  Ceiling of £3,000

  Ceiling of £3,500

  £

  £

  £

  3,500

  45

  nil

  5,000

  180

  135

  10,000

  630

  585

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost, per week, to individuals on(a) 1·5, (b) two, (c) 2·5 and (d) three times average incomes, if the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions were abolished on the basis of the existing scales.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The table shows the extra cost per week to the individuals concerned assuming that an upper limit was retained for contracting out and that all contributions above that limit would be at the full not contracted-out rate.

  Average male full time1 earnings

  Extra cost per week £

  X 1·5 (£450)

  9·00

  X 2 (£600)

  22·50

  X 2·5 (£750)

  36·00

  X 3 (£900)

  49·50

  1 Assumed as £300 in 1990–91 for illustrative purposes.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what assumptions as to the number of people qualifying for radiation exposure payments and the rates of such payments the estimated cost of the proposed new clause 8 to the Social Security Bill given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 28 March,Official Report, columns 636-37, was based.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  For the purposes of the estimate, it was assumed that 1,000 people might be eligible under the terms of the proposed new clause and that payments would be equivalent to the maximum allowable rates of industrial injuries benefits.

  Unemployment Cost
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate for the total costs to the Exchequer of the average unemployed adult including payment of benefits, lost taxes and other taxes.
  894
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: In 1989–90 the estimated average weekly benefit cost for unemployed people receiving benefit was £61·80. Estimates of tax revenue forgone are not available.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the value of single payments made between(a) April 1988 and March 1989, and (b) between April 1989 and the most recent practicable date, in each case both as a total sum and by DSS regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The regional variations and total amounts of single payment awards made between April 1988 and March 1989 and April 1989 and February 1990 are shown in the table.

  April 1988 to March 1989 £

  April 1989 to February 1990 £

  North-East

  5,893,635

  13,742

  Midlands

  6,486,899

  38,729

  London North

  3,818,883

  19,408

  London South

  3,252,343

  10,807

  Wales and South-Western

  3,426,565

  10,622

  North-West

  11,014,049

  66,815

  Scotland

  18,517,967

  73,779

  Totals

  52,410,341

  233,902

  Spending Power
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures, similar to those in his Department's tax/benefit model table, showing net weekly spending power for a lone mother with two children aged four and six years under the benefit system as uprated in April 1990 and in each of the following circumstances(a) not working, after one year on benefits, (b) earning £20 a week from part-time working and (c) working full-time and earning (i) £60, (ii) £70, (iii) £80, (iv) £90,(v) £100, (vi) £110 and (vii) £120 per week.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: The information is in the tables. It should be noted that the results in the tables remain arbitrary. They cannot reflect, except by chance, the actual circumstances of particular people and cannot claim to be representative of the population at large. The tables use hypothetical rents so they do not reflect the full range of housing costs which people can pay.

  Single person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Net Income (after housing costs) (£Pw)

  (a) Not working1

  76·22

  (b) Earning £20 per week part-time

  91·22

  1 There is no longer a difference in the amount of benefit paid after one year.

  895

  (c)—Earnings and benefits family head in full-time work as at April 1990

  Single person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Basic tax rate = 25 per cent.

  Tax threshold=£90·87

  Total net income on income support =£106·41

  Net income after rent and community charge on income support=£76·22

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Community charge

  Community charge rebate

  Net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  Deduction rate(per cent.)

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  52·70

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  130·62

  100·43

  73·0

  70·00

  0·00

  3·08

  66·92

  46·33

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  133·35

  103·16

  73·0

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  39·96

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  136·08

  103·89

  73·0

  90·00

  0·00

  4·88

  85·12

  33·59

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  138·81

  108·62

  74·0

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  28·81

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  140·85

  110·66

  80·0

  110·00

  4·78

  6·68

  98·54

  24·19

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  142·83

  112·64

  80·0

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  19·57

  20·10

  23·48

  0·00

  6·71

  0·00

  144·81

  114·62

  80·0

  Notes to tables:

  1. Based on methods and assumptions used in Tax Benefit Model Tables.

  2. A community charge of £350 for each adult is assumed throughout.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables, similar to those in his Department's tax/benefit model table, showing net weekly spending power for each of a single wage married couple(a) with two children aged four and six years and (b) with three children aged three, eight and eleven years, earning (i) £60, (ii) £70, (iii) £80, (iv) £90, (v) £100, (vi) £110, (vii) £120, (viii) £130, (ix) £140, (x) £150, (xi) £160, and (xii) £170 under the benefit system as uprated in April.

  (a)—Earnings and benefits family head in full-time work as at April 1990

  Married couple with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Table II

  Basic tax rate= 25 per cent.

  Tax threshold=£90·87

  Total net income on income support= £128·58

  Net income after rent and community charge on income support=£91·68

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Community charge

  Community charge rebate

  Net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  Deduction rate (per cent.)

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  52·70

  14·50

  23·48

  6·99

  13·42

  6·93

  138·94

  102·04

  95·0

  70·00

  0·00

  3·08

  66·92

  46·33

  14·50

  23·48

  5·22

  13·42

  6·52

  139·49

  102·59

  95·0

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  39·96

  14·50

  23·48

  3·44

  13·42

  6·11

  140·03

  103·13

  94·0

  90·00

  0·00

  4·88

  85·12

  33·59

  14·50

  23·48

  1·67

  13·42

  5·70

  140·58

  103·68

  95·0

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  28·81

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  5·40

  140·65

  103·75

  83·0

  110·00

  4·78

  6·68

  98·54

  24·19

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  5·10

  142·33

  105·43

  83·0

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  19·57

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·80

  144·01

  107·11

  83·0

  130·00

  9·78

  8·48

  111·74

  14·95

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·50

  145·69

  108·79

  82·0

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  10·33

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·21

  147·38

  110·48

  83·0

  150·00

  14·78

  10·28

  124·91

  5·71

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  3·91

  149·06

  112·16

  83·0

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  1·09

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  3·61

  150·74

  113·84

  83·0

  170·00

  19·78

  12·08

  138·14

  0·00

  14·50

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  2·79

  155·43

  118·53

  44·0

  (b)—Earnings and benefits family head in full-time work as at April 1990

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and 11

  Table II

  Basic tax rate=25 per cent.

  Tax threshold=£90·87

  Total net income on income support=£149·68

  Net income after rent and community charge on income support=£112·78

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Community charge

  Community charge rebate

  Net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  Deduction rate (per cent.)

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  66·85

  21·75

  23·48

  4·94

  13·42

  6·42

  157·82

  120·92

  94·0

  70·00

  0·00

  3·08

  66·92

  60·48

  21·75

  23·48

  3·17

  13·42

  6·05

  158·37

  121·47

  95·0

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  54·11

  21·75

  23·48

  1·40

  13·42

  5·64

  158·92

  122·02

  95·0

  90·00

  0·00

  4·88

  85·12

  47·74

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  5·23

  159·84

  122·94

  78·0

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  42·96

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·92

  161·57

  124·67

  83·0

  110·00

  4·78

  6·68

  98·54

  38·34

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·63

  163·26

  126·36

  83·0

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  33·72

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·33

  164·94

  128·04

  83·0

  130·00

  9·78

  8·48

  111·74

  29·10

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  4·03

  166·62

  129·72

  83·0

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  24·48

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  3·74

  168·31

  131·41

  83·0

  150·00

  14·78

  10·28

  124·94

  19·86

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  3·44

  169·99

  133·09

  83·0

  896
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: The information is in the tables. It should be noted that the results in the tables remain arbitrary. They cannot reflect, except by chance, the actual circumstances of particular people and cannot claim to be representative of the population at large. The tables use hypothetical rents, so they do not reflect the full range of housing cost which people can pay.
  897

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Community charge

  Community charge rebate

  Net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  Deduction rate (per cent.)

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  15·24

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  3·14

  171·67

  134·77

  83·0

  170·00

  19·78

  12·08

  138·14

  10·62

  21·75

  23·48

  0·00

  13·42

  2·84

  173·35

  136·45

  83·0

  Notes to tables (a) and (b):

  1. Based on methods and assumptions used in tax benefit model tables.

  2. A community charge of £350 for each adult is assumed throughout.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Racial Discrimination
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many members of police forces have been dismissed or required to resign for racially discriminatory behaviour since the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Statistics are not collected about the use in disciplinary proceedings of specific items in the police discipline code. It is not therefore possible to say how many officers have been found guilty of racially discriminatory behaviour, or how they were punished. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Male Prisoners (Night Attire)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what night attire is provided for male prisoners.

  Mr. Mellor
  Pyjamas are available for those inmates who wish to wear them.

  Disciplinary Adjudications (Prisons)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects a report will be published on the experiment in three prisons whereby legally qualified clerks attended disciplinary adjudications.
  Mr. Mellor: A pilot scheme to provide qualified clerks to assist at board of visitors' adjudications is under way in 13 establishments and is being independently monitored. We expect to receive a report of that monitoring by the beginning of 1991 and hope then to publish it.

  Penal Establishments
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether research is being undertaken to ascertain the number of people released from long-stay mental hospitals who are in prison department establishments.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Home Office has commissioned no research specifically on that precise issue but has granted facilities at Leeds prison to assist the Leeds Eastern health authority in one of its projects to ascertain what happens to former long-stay patients.

  The extensive checklist used by the research team from the Institute of Psychiatry, university of London, commissioned to produce a psychiatric profile of the sentenced prison population includes the question of in-patient psychiatric history. The institute is scheduled to submit its report at the end of the year.

  Overseas Residents
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate, by country, the number of overseas residents who are eligible to register to vote in British general elections.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table gives an estimate of the number of British citizens living in each country who are likely to have spent fewer than 20 years there. The figures may include people who left the United Kingdom more than 20 years ago, or who were not registered as electors in the United Kingdom when they left as adults, and so do not qualify to register as overseas electors.

  Estimates of the number of British citizens who have lived in each country abroad for less than 20 years.

  Country

  Number

  Algeria

  210

  Angola

  40

  Antigua

  50

  Argentina

  2,500

  Ascension

  160

  Australia

  550,000

  Austria

  4,500

  Bahamas

  2,500

  Bahrain

  5,500

  Bangladesh

  410

  Barbados

  2,000

  Belgium

  20,000

  Belize

  300

  Bermuda

  3,500

  Bolivia

  150

  Botswana

  4,000

  Brazil

  6,550

  Brunei

  1,450

  Bulgaria

  60

  Burma

  30

  Canada

  1,025,000

  Canary Islands

  22,500

  Cayman Islands

  2,000

  Chile

  1,250

  China

  480

  Colombia

  1,000

  Congo

  60

  Costa Rica

  200

  Cuba

  10

  Cyprus

  8,000

  Czechoslovakia

  30

  Denmark

  8,000

  East Germany

  70

  Ecuador

  480

  Egypt

  2,200

  E1 Salvador

  60

  Ethiopia

  300

  Falkland Islands

  500

  Fiji

  400

  Finland

  300

  France

  315,000

  Gabon

  200

  Gambia

  30

  Ghana

  500

  899

  Country

  Number

  Gibraltar

  5,500

  Greece

  9,000

  Grenada

  300

  Guatemala

  20

  Guinea

  50

  Guinea-Bissau

  20

  Guyana

  150

  Honduras

  180

  Hong Kong

  18,000

  Hungary

  450

  Iceland

  400

  India

  6,980

  Indonesia

  2,500

  Iraq

  1,000

  Israel

  50,000

  Italy

  28,800

  Ivory Coast

  9,300

  Jamaica

  1,500

  Japan

  200

  Jordan

  1,000

  Kenya

  8,000

  Kiribati

  45

  Korea

  480

  Kuwait

  6,000

  Lebanon

  320

  Lesotho

  360

  Liberia

  400

  Libya

  4,500

  Luxembourg

  2,000

  Macao

  90

  Madagascar

  100

  Malawi

  4,000

  Malaysia

  2,340

  Malta

  2,000

  Mauritius

  690

  Mexico

  1,300

  Mongolia

  10

  Montserrat

  20

  Morocco

  440

  Mozambique

  500

  Nepal

  500

  Netherlands

  20,000

  New Zealand

  750,000

  Nicaragua

  250

  Nigeria

  4,700

  North Yemen

  70

  Norway

  6,500

  Oman

  4,500

  Pakistan

  550

  Panama

  20

  Papau New Guinea

  4,000

  Paraquay

  150

  Peru

  500

  Phillipines

  910

  Poland

  100

  Portugal

  9,000

  Qatar

  4,000

  Republic of Ireland

  150,000

  Rumania

  2

  St. Helena

  100

  St. Kitts

  100

  St. Lucia

  400

  St. Vincent

  160

  Saudi Arabia

  23,000

  Senegal

  90

  Seychelles

  300

  Singapore

  5,000

  Solomon Islands

  400

  Somalia

  150

  South Africa

  210,000

  South Korea

  800

  Spain

  59,000

  Sri Lanka

  1,000

  Sudan

  1,000

  Swaziland

  2,000

  Sweden

  10,000

  Switzerland

  22,050

  Syria

  400

  900

  Country

  Number

  Tanzania

  1,360

  Thailand

  2,000

  Tonga

  100

  Trinidad

  600

  Tunisia

  200

  Turkey

  1,000

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  200

  Uganda

  670

  United Arab Emirates

  23,500

  Uruguay

  120

  USA

  470,000

  USSR

  800

  Vanuatu

  450

  Venezuela

  2,000

  Vietnam

  20

  Virgin Islands

  350

  West Germany

  59,300

  Yugoslavia

  200

  Zaire

  200

  Zambia

  4,700

  Zimbabwe

  5,000

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many overseas residents, by country, are currently registered to vote in British elections; and if he will give the equivalent figures for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The number of attestations of overseas electors' declarations carried out by consular officials in each country is available centrally for 1986, the first year of operation of the overseas franchise introduced by the Representation of the People Act 1985, and is given in the following table; this information is not available for subsequent years. The total number in 1986 was slightly greater than the total number who were registered that year (11,100), since a number of declarations were either not received by the electoral registration officer or were rejected.

  Overseas electors, 1986

  Country

  Number of attestations

  Afghanistan

  9

  Algeria

  7

  Angola

  4

  Anguilla

  3

  Antigua and Barbuda

  18

  Argentina

  2

  Australia

  228

  Austria

  78

  Bahamas

  71

  Bahrain

  127

  Bangladesh

  22

  Barbados

  31

  Belgium

  324

  Belize

  7

  Bermuda

  34

  Bolivia

  3

  Botswana

  142

  Brazil

  74

  Brunei

  127

  Bulgaria

  4

  Burma

  3

  Cameroon

  19

  Canada

  52

  Cayman Island

  34

  Chile

  5

  China

  63

  Colombia

  5

  Congo

  1

  901

  Country

  Number of attestations

  Costa Rica

  8

  Cuba

  2

  Cyprus

  193

  Czechoslovakia

  2

  Denmark

  36

  Dominica

  5

  Ecuador

  8

  Egypt

  83

  Equatorial Guinea

  1

  Ethiopia

  36

  Falkland Islands

  24

  Fiji

  57

  Finland

  14

  France

  507

  Gabon

  24

  Gambia

  11

  German Democratic Republic

  2

  Federal Republic of Germany

  344

  Ghana

  33

  Gibraltar

  14

  Greece

  148

  Grenada

  10

  Guatemala

  4

  Guyana

  6

  Hong Kong

  304

  Iceland

  1

  India

  43

  Indonesia

  145

  Iran

  6

  Iraq

  34

  Ireland, Republic of

  58

  Israel

  54

  Italy

  222

  Ivory Coast

  21

  Jamaica

  36

  Japan

  114

  Jordan

  47

  Kenya

  179

  Kiribati

  331

  Korea, Republic of

  44

  Kuwait

  135

  Lesotho

  40

  Liberia

  20

  Luxembourg

  46

  Madagascar

  4

  Malawi

  54

  Malaysia

  147

  Malta

  59

  Mauritius

  18

  Mexico

  15

  Mongolia

  1

  Montserrat

  2

  Morocco

  15

  Mozambique

  14

  Nepal

  43

  Netherlands

  243

  New Zealand

  141

  Nigeria

  80

  Norway

  138

  Oman

  332

  Pakistan

  37

  Papua New Guinea

  215

  Paraguay

  9

  Peru

  45

  Philippines

  62

  Poland

  18

  Portugal

  113

  Qatar

  193

  St. Helena

  8

  St. Kitts and Nevis

  2

  St. Vincent

  15

  Saudi Arabia

  811

  Senegal

  38

  Seychelles

  10

  Sierra Leone

  55

  Singapore

  284

  Solomon Islands

  36

  902

  Country

  Number of attestations

  Somalia

  2

  South Africa

  499

  Soviet Union

  11

  Spain

  1,532

  Sri Lanka

  38

  Sudan

  14

  Swaziland

  23

  Sweden

  53

  Switzerland

  206

  Syria

  2

  Tanzania

  82

  Thailand

  84

  Tonga

  2

  Trinidad and Tobago

  23

  Tunisia

  15

  Turkey

  45

  Uganda

  35

  United Arab Emirates

  459

  United States of America

  656

  Uruguay

  4

  Vanuatu

  13

  Venezuela

  19

  Virgin Islands (British)

  2

  Yemen Arab Republic

  26

  Yemen, Peoples Democratic Republic

  6

  Yugoslavia

  5

  Zaire

  18

  Zambia

  102

  Zimbabwe

  92

  12,266

  Security Industry
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the working group on the self-regulation of the security industry submitted its report; and whether he will place this report in the Library.

  Mr. John Patten
  The working group submitted its report last July. Its recommendations are being considered within the Home Office.

  Racially Motivated Crimes
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in each of the past 15 years for each category of racially motivated crimes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is not collected on the number of prosecutions for offences which were racially motivated. The research and planning unit of the Home Office published in 1989 a paper, No. 54, on "Racially motivated incidents reported to the police", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Cheltenham Conference (Security)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the cost of the policing operation to protect the Prime Minister when she addressed the Conservative party in Cheltenham on 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Chief Constable of Gloucestershire that the estimated additional cost of policing the Conservative party conference in Cheltenham was £120,000 over the three days.

  Leicestershire Police Authority
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional support he is proposing to offer the Leicestershire police authority to meet its extra policing requirements.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has approved 53 additional police posts for the Leicestershire constabulary for 1990–91. The police authority has applied for 25 police posts for 1991–92. This will be considered, with the advice of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, along with the applications from other police authorities. The aim is to announce decisions on force increases in the autumn.

  Vehicle Removal
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East of 30 March,Official Report, column 373, if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the daily average of vehicles recorded as parked unlawfully in Green street and Katherine road in the London borough of Newham and as to whether he has any proposals to increase the number which are removed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner that no specific records are kept of the average number of unlawfully parked vehicles in these roads.

  Routine enforcement action is undertaken by traffic wardens and police officers, usually by issue of a fixed penalty notice. However, there will be many instances where illegally parked vehicles will be driven away before an officer is able to issue a notice.

  The removal of illegally parked vehicles will continue to be arranged subject to traffic conditions and the availability of resources. There are no plans at present to increase the number of vehicle removals in the specified roads.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Gower on 5 March regarding staffing at Swansea prison.

  Mr. Mellor
  I replied to the hon. Member on 6 April.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the letter sent to him on 24 February by the hon. Member for Gower regarding his constituent from West Cross, Swansea.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I replied to the hon. Member on 5 April.

  Serious Disorder, London
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to make an early decision as to whether events on Saturday 31 March in London constituted a riot for Riot Damages Act purposes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The receiver for the Metropolitan police district is satisfied that the terms of the Riot 904
  (Damages) Act 1886 apply. The Metropolitan police announced on 2 April that any person who believed that they had a claim for damage to a house, shop or building or any property in such premises should make a claim to the receiver, G9 branch, 2 Bessborough street, London SW1V 2JF within 14 days of the disturbance on 31 March, or submit notice of intention to make such a claim.

  Parking Offences
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many motor vehicles were towed away for fixed penalty offences in London in 1989;

  (2) how many motor vehicles were wheel-clamped in London in 1989;

  (3) how many vehicles towed away in London in 1989 were towed away for (a) dangerous parking, (b) obstruction, (c) restricted street offences, (d) parking in designated parking bays and (e) parking in residents' parking bays;

  (4) how many vehicles wheel-clamped in London in 1989 were clamped for (a) dangerous parking, (b) obstruction, (c) restricted street offences, (d) parking in designated parking bays and (e) parking in residents' parking bays.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner that during 1989 a total of 149,666 vehicles were wheel-clamped and 116,315 vehicles were removed for illegal parking in London.

  Information about the number of vehicles wheel-clamped or removed for specific offences could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  As a matter of police policy, fixed penalty notices are issued to all vehicles before wheel-clamping. In the case of vehicles which are removed for parking offences, although the great majority are issued with a fixed penalty notice, there are certain circumstances where the issue of a fixed penalty is not appropriate because of the seriousness of the offence.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are used by the Metropolitan police for the priorities for the wheel-clamping and removal of motor vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Wheel-clamping and vehicle removal operations are used by the Metropolitan police as an aid to the enforcement of parking regulations.

  Guidelines are issued to all officers engaged on these duties. In areas where wheel-clamping is authorised, any offending vehicle may be clamped or removed. Police officers are expected to exercise discretion as to whether wheel-clamping or removal is the desirable course of action dependent upon prevailing circumstances. A vehicle would not normally be clamped if it is parked in a position which causes serious obstruction or danger to other road users, or if it is parked in a bus lane, bus stop or cab rank, on the approach to or exit from a pedestrian crossing, adjacent to a fire exit or across an access used by emergency vehicles or leading to private premises.

  In order of priority, enforcement action is concentrated on those vehicles which are causing danger, obstruction, parked illegally in restricted areas or parked illegally in permitted parking places.

  Personal Injury
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage of all crimes represented by crimes of violence and of road accidents involving personal injury in each of the county police areas in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Waddington
  The information requested on crimes of violence is given in the following table. Information on road accidents is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport.

  Violence against the person as a percentage of total recorded crime in non-metropolitan police force areas.

  Police force area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Percentages

  Avon and Somerset

  3·3

  3·3

  3·5

  4·1

  5·0

  Bedfordshire

  4·9

  4·4

  4·7

  5·0

  5·2

  Cambridgeshire

  3·8

  4·0

  4·6

  4·9

  5·8

  Cheshire

  4·2

  4·1

  4·3

  5·0

  5·4

  Cleveland

  3·6

  3·4

  3·7

  4·1

  4·1

  Cumbria

  3·8

  3·7

  4·8

  5·7

  6·3

  Derbyshire

  4·6

  4·7

  5·2

  6·6

  6·7

  Devon and Cornwall

  3·8

  3·6

  3·9

  4·8

  5·0

  Dorset

  2·7

  2·6

  3·1

  3·5

  3·5

  Durham

  3·8

  3·7

  4·5

  4·9

  5·2

  Dyfed-Powys

  4·5

  5·0

  5·4

  6·3

  8·2

  Essex

  3·8

  3·6

  4·4

  5·5

  5·0

  Gloucestershire

  3·1

  3·1

  2·9

  3·5

  3·7

  Gwent

  5·5

  5·4

  6·0

  7·3

  7·8

  Hampshire

  3·2

  3·3

  3·4

  4·0

  4·1

  Hertfordshire

  3·4

  3·4

  3·9

  4·5

  4·5

  Humberside

  5·3

  5·0

  5·6

  6·2

  6·3

  Kent

  2·9

  3·2

  3·8

  4·1

  4·5

  Lancashire

  2·9

  2·7

  3·1

  3·4

  3·2

  Leicestershire

  4·4

  4·3

  4·6

  5·2

  5·1

  Lincolnshire

  4·1

  3·7

  4·2

  4·9

  5·2

  Norfolk

  2·9

  2·7

  3·4

  4·2

  4·1

  Northamptonshire

  3·8

  4·3

  4·8

  5·4

  5·4

  North Yorkshire

  3·1

  3·6

  3·8

  4·4

  5·0

  North Wales

  4·8

  4·7

  5·3

  6·2

  6·5

  Nottinghamshire

  5·6

  5·7

  6·2

  6·4

  6·9

  South Wales

  2·8

  2·8

  3·1

  3·3

  3·8

  Staffordshire

  7·4

  6·8

  7·0

  7·9

  8·7

  Suffolk

  4·2

  4·0

  4·8

  5·1

  5·4

  Surrey

  4·0

  3·9

  4·9

  5·5

  5·2

  Sussex

  3·1

  3·4

  3·6

  4·0

  4·4

  Thames Valley

  3·0

  2·9

  3·3

  3·8

  3·7

  Warwickshire

  3·3

  3·4

  3·6

  4·4

  4·5

  West Mercia

  4·3

  4·4

  4·5

  5·4

  6·0

  Wiltshire

  4·9

  4·7

  5·8

  6·2

  7·2

  Probation Service
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the discussion paper on the probation service and the independent sector, foreshadowed in chapter 10 of the Green Paper, "Supervision and Punishment in the Community", will be available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The discussion paper "Partnership in Dealing with Offenders in the Community" was published yesterday; a copy has been placed in the Library. It has been distributed to probation services and other criminal justice agencies, and to a wide range of voluntary and other organisations. Further individual copies may be obtained, free of charge, by writing to:

  Room 440

  Criminal Justice and Constitutional Department

  Home Office

  50 Queen Anne's Gate

  London SW1H 9AT

  Tyre Dumps (Fires)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans exist to deal with a major fire at a major tyre dump in Britain.

  Mr. Waddington
  It is the duty of each fire authority to make provision for firefighting purposes in its area, and to ensure that its fire brigade has adequate and efficient fire cover arrangements. These would include contingency plans for all significant fire risks such as those inherent in major tyre dumps for which the fire service has available special techniques. Typically, a comprehensive contingency plan would also detail arrangements for liaising with the police and the other emergency services, and for the evacuation of the area should the situation require it.

  Rule 43 Prisoners
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate a review of the policy of holding prisoners subject to rule 43 protection in the same buildings as other prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Prisoners segregated under rule 43 for their own protection are housed in separate buildings where it is practicable to do so. At most establishments, however, this is not feasible because of the relatively small numbers of such prisoners and the need to make maximum use of the limited accommodation available.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what power the Police Complaints Authority has to investigate events occurring before its establishment in April 1984.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 gives the Police Complaints Authority no investigative powers, but vests it with considerable powers to supervise investigations into complaints or, in some circumstances, into incidents which have not been the subject of a complaint. The Act precludes the authority from supervising the investigation of any matter which occurred before its establishment on 29 April 1984.

  Police Equipment
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide full details of the names and sponsors of the international police equipment conference.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The international police exhibition and conference (IPEC) is organised by a private company, Major Exhibitions and Conferences Ltd., for which my right hon. and learned Friend has no responsibility.

  Fraud Squads
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in respect of the fraud squad within each police force in England and Wales (i) the number of officers allocated to the fraud squad, (ii) the number of fraud squad officers as a percentage of the total number of police officers in each force, (iii) the planned numbers in the fraud squad for each force up to
  907
  the year 2000, (iv) the number of prosecutions for fraud for the latest available date, (v) the number of convictions for fraud for the latest available date and (vi) the amount spent on computer hardware and software during the year 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The future allocation of officers to specific duties is an operational matter for each chief officer of police. Information on computer expenditure by fraud squads is not available and would be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 30 March 1990 at column 631 for the remainder of the information requested.

  Radio Stations
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the new franchises which the shadow Radio Authority has advertised for in respect of(a) the numbers of franchises to be issued and (b) the date when the franchises are to take effect;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the recent announcement by the Independent Broadcasting Authority that it is inviting letters of intent for new radio franchises.

  Mr. Mellor
  The shadow Radio Authority has invited letters of intent from prospective licensees to assist in the process of drawing up a plan for the introduction of new independent stations. This exercise will give the authority an indication of the geographical spread of demand for new services, and the nature of that demand. The number of new licences which will be advertised in due course will be determined by factors such as local audience demand, financial viability, frequency availability and the extent to which the range and diversity of listener choice would be enhanced. In the course of the 1990s several hundred new services of various sizes could gradually emerge across the country. Advertising of licences for specific services will start when the Radio Authority is formally established in January 1991, if Parliament approves the provisions of the Broadcasting Bill.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proposed licence fee for the radio stations franchised by the shadow Radio Authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Bill the Radio Authority will be expected to receive its income from licence fee revenue. The authority aims to operate a differential scale of fees for the various services which it will license, but has yet to determine what those fees should be. We propose to amend the Broadcasting Bill in order to require the Radio Authority to publish its tariff of licence fees.

  Detective Inspector Paul Matthews
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Chief Constable of the West Midlands for a report as to whether any complaint has been received against former Detective Inspector Paul Matthews regarding his role in the case against Malcolm Herring.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that such a complaint has been received, and that it is being investigated by the 908
  team led by Mr. Donald Shaw, Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

  Prisoners' Earnings
  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average weekly earnings of prisoners in England and Wales.

  Mr. Mellor
  Following a recent increase in inmates' earnings, it is estimated that average weekly pay in 1990–91 for inmates in England and Wales (including those who are unoccupied) will be about £2·80. All convicted inmates, as well as those unconvicted inmates who offer themselves for work, receive a basic weekly payment of £1·75 whether occupied or not. A range of flat-rate, piece-rate and incentive pay schemes provide opportunities to earn up to a maximum of £5·87 per week in certain workshops and kitchens.

  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is(a) the average and (b) the maximum weekly earnings of a prisoner undertaking group I, group II and group III employment, respectively.

  Mr. Mellor
  With effect from 9 April 1990, the weekly rates under the flat rate scheme for inmates in England and Wales are as follows:

  Average £

  Maximum £

  Group I

  2·95

  3·55

  Group II

  2·75

  3·35

  Group III

  2·55

  3·15

  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the hourly overtime rate for prisoners' work.

  Mr. Mellor
  The rate is 8p.

  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly rate of earnings paid to prisoners for whom no work is available.

  Mr. Mellor
  With effect from 9 April 1990, £1·75.

  Extradition
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (i) those countries within the European Community which will extradite their nationals to the United Kingdom when charged with fraud-related offences committed here and (ii) those countries within the European Community to which the United Kingdom would extradite British nationals resident here to face charges of fraud committed in those countries.

  Mr. John Patten
  Fraud is included as an extraditable offence in all the bilateral treaties between the United Kingdom and the other members of the European Community, and is also covered by the backing of warrants procedure which operates between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

  The United Kingdom, which has very limited extra-territorial jurisdiction, is prepared (subject to the circumstances of the case and our treaty arrangements

  909
  with the country concerned) to extradite United Kingdom nationals to stand trial in the place where the offence was committed. This contrasts with the position in many civil law countries, which have wide extra-territorial powers to prosecute for offences committed outside their territory, but which are restricted constitutionally from extraditing their own nationals. The United Kingdom's extradition arrangements with the member countries of the European Community reflect this difference of approach.

  Under the treaties with Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Portugal and Spain, the United Kingdom may extradite nationals to stand trial abroad, but those countries have discretion to refuse the extradition of their nationals here. The Netherlands are in a broadly similar position, although an amendment to their domestic law in 1981 now permits the extradition of a Dutch national here if the Dutch authorities are satisfied that there is sufficient guarantee that the offender would be returned to serve any prison sentence in the Netherlands. The Luxembourg treaty expressly prohibits the extradition of their nationals, while allowing United Kingdom nationals to be extradited there. Three further treaties, with Denmark, Greece and Italy, prohibit the extradition of nationals in either direction, so that the United Kingdom cannot at present extradite United Kingdom nationals to those countries. (This limitation on United Kingdom freedom of action will be removed later this year when the United Kingdom ratifies the European convention on extradition, which will take the place of existing extradition treaties with convention countries.) There are no restrictions on the extradition of nationals in either direction between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Neil Larkman
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the inquest into the death of Neil Larkman at Swansea prison on 4 November has not yet taken place; and why the original date was deferred.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The conduct of an inquest is a matter for the coroner, who has informed me that the inquest into the death of Neil Larkman began on 22 March when the evidence of several witnesses was heard. The hearing was then adjourned at the request of solicitors acting for Mr. Larkman's family because two witnesses failed to appear. The coroner has now issued subpoenas for their attendance at a resumed hearing on 3 May.

  Armley Prison
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were in Armley Prison on the night of Monday, 2 April and Tuesday 3 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  On the mornings of Tuesday 3 April and Wednesday 4 April 1,311 and 1,273 prisoners respectively were held at Her Majesty's prison Leeds. Population figures are not collated separately for the evening.

  Manchester Prison
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners during the recent disturbances at Her Majesty's prison, Manchester escaped outside prison boundaries; and how many of such prisoners were recaptured.
  910
  Mr. Mellor
  No prisoners have escaped from Manchester prison during the recent incident.

  Bramham Moor Hunt
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the circumstances resulting in the deaths of four horses at the Bramham moor hunt's point-to-point meeting at Wetherby racecourse on Saturday 31 March.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: No. These are matters for the responsible authorities.

  Victim Support, Newcastle
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards victim support schemes in east Newcastle.

  Mr John Patten
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The Home Office pays grant in aid (£3·7 million in 1989–90 and £4·5 million subject to parliamentary approval this year) to Victim Support headquarters for the benefit of local victim support schemes. The grant is administered by the funding panel of Victim Support in accordance with agreed criteria which provide for payment of salaries or running costs. I understand that salaries grant is paid for two posts in the east Newcastle scheme. Responsibility for the funding of one of these posts was taken over from the local authority from 1 April 1989.

TRANSPORT

  Maritime Safety
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has prepared a paper for presentation to the International Maritime Organisation requesting urgent consideration of the application of a revised standard of damage stability to all existing roll-on roll-off passenger ships, as recommended by the steering committee of the roll-on roll-off ferry safety research programme; and when in May the maritime safety committee of the International Maritime Organisation will meet.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department has already submitted a paper to the 58th session of the maritime safety committee of the International Maritime Organisation, which takes place from 21 to 25 May 1990. Our paper sets out the work and recommendations of the ro-ro safety research programme, and proposes that"the Committee consider the adoption of a standard of residual stability for existing ro-ro ferries higher than that now required by the Convention",
  and will include the steering committee and overview reports.

  Marchioness
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further grant to the Marchioness disaster fund to cover the cost of legal representation of the relatives of the victims at the forthcoming inquest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr McLoughlin
  I announced on 18 October 1989 that the Government had contributed £125,000 to the
  911
  Riverboat Trust Fund set up by the mayor of Southwark, following the Marchioness disaster. Payments from the trust are matters for the trustees within the terms of the deed of trust, and I see no reason for a further contribution to the fund for the suggested purpose.

  Toton Goods Yard
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chief executive of the British Rail Property Board to discuss the use of British Rail land at Toton for Transport related uses.

  Mr. Portillo
  No; this is a commercial matter for British Rail.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will obtain a copy of the Halcrow Fox Consulting Engineers report on the viability of access to the Toton goods yard through existing transport routes;

  (2) what proposals he has to develop road and rail links between the A52 and the proposed Toton international freight terminal;

  (3) what steps he is taking to ensure that an international freight terminal for the east midlands is built at Toton goods yards on land currently owned by British Rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  The responsibility for planning international rail freight services rests with British Rail. Any road implications of particular proposals will be considered by my Department in due course.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what correspondence he has received from Nottinghamshire county council, Mr. Cedric Ford and the Nottinghamshire chamber of commerce regarding delays in the freeing of derelict land in the ownership of British Rail in the Toton area.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am not aware of any such correspondence.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 239, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full report on the test carried out by the railways inspectorate into the safety effects of the incapacitation of one-person operation train drivers.

  Mr. Portillo
  No tests were carried out by the inspectorate; it observed the exercise carried out by London Underground Ltd. The chief inspecting officer of railways was satisfied by the result.

  Sub-standard Shipping
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the powers that exist at present to eliminate sub-standard shipping from entering ports in the United Kingdom; and if he has any plans to amend those powers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The United Kingdom, with 13 other European countries, is a signatory to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on port state control, under which foreign ships using its ports are subject to inspection to 912
  check compliance with the requirements of the international maritime conventions. Each signatory country should achieve an annual total of inspections corresponding to 25 per cent. of the estimated number of individual foreign merchant ships which enter its ports during a 12-month period; the United Kingdom has always exceeded 25 per cent. In practice, this should result in an inspection rate of around 85 per cent. of all individual ships using ports in the region.

  The Department's marine surveyors possess substantial powers to ensure that deficiencies found on ships are rectified. These powers include the sanction of detention in cases where the deficiency is serious and clearly hazardous to safety, health or the environment: the owner or master may also be prosecuted. I have no immediate plans to seek amendments to the present powers.

  Merchant Fleet
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of merchant vessels in the United Kingdom fleet(a) today and (b) 15 years ago; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the decline.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of merchant vessels—over 500 gross registered tonnes—in the United Kingdom fleet, including Crown dependencies, but excluding British dependent territories overseas at 28 February 1990 were as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1975

  1,776

  1990

  444

  The number of ships on the United Kingdom register reduced as a consequence of the general decline in world shipping from the economically unsustainable levels of the 1970s. Changes in trading patterns, notably arising from adjustments to oil price increases, particularly affected the United Kingdom tanker fleet. Additionally, British operators have withdrawn from less profitable shipping sectors and concentrated on the higher value-added sectors.

  Merchant Fleet
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of officers and ratings employed on British merchant ships(a) today and (b) in 1975; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the decline.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The most recent figures are as follows:

  Officers and ratings employed in the United Kingdom shipping industry: 1975, 1989

  31 December 1975

  31 December 1989

  Officers

  35,815

  8,573

  Ratings

  33,524

  11,953

  Note: Figures derived from General Council of British Shipping statistics.

  The number of jobs on British merchant ships reduced with the decline in the British world fleets from the

  913
  economically unsustainable levels of the 1970s. Automation and new technology have further reduced the number of crew required.

  Coastal Trading
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to eliminate from coastal trading the ships of countries which do not allow British ships access to their coastal trades.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. The adoption of such a policy would be against our aim of promoting competition in shipping markets and reducing transport costs. My right hon. Friend is pressing his colleagues in the Transport Council of the European Community to reach early agreement to the liberalisation of all Community coastal and offshore trading. However, as a last resort we would consider using the powers under the 1988 Merchant Shipping Act to introduce a test of establishment for any operator trading in United Kingdom coastal waters.

  Chemical Discharge, Salisbury
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the Health and Safety Executive on the discharge of chemicals by British Rail on to private land in Salisbury on 5 and 6 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  On 6 March, BR staff applied the locally stored pesticides to brambles. Shunting staff considered the brambles to be a safety hazard. Subsequently, the chemicals were spread by the wind on to some nearby private properties causing damage to plants, grass and herbage. The environmental health officer wrote to all households in the vicinity warning them not to eat any produce from the affected gardens. I understand the two herbicides involved, Atlacide and Borocil, are MAFF approved products, but their effects could persist for some time.

  British Rail has accepted full responsibility for the incident and is, I understand, in touch with local people to discuss compensation. An officer of the railway inspectorate is investigating the matter and will decide whether any further action is necessary.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Training
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people from developing countries have been financed to come to the United Kingdom for training for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The number of overseas students in this country under United Kingdom Government support schemes for the years 1979 to 1988 is estimated as follows. Some schemes are recorded only on a financial year basis. Where this is so the number for the financial year (for example) 1983–84 has been counted as 1983.

  Number

  1979

  16,021

  1980

  14,433

  1981

  13,755

  1982

  12,639

  1983

  15,460

  1984

  17,587

  1985

  16,731

  1986

  16,952

  1987

  18,764

  1988

  19,544

  Water and Sewerage Projects
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many water supply and sewerage projects have been financed by the Overseas Development Administration for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A total of 62 projects in the water supply and sewerage sectors were financed during the years 1980–88, some of which have spanned more than one year. This includes projects committed before 1980.

  The numbers of new commitments in these sectors each year were:

  Number

  1980

  1

  1981

  9

  1982

  0

  1983

  3

  1984

  3

  1985

  3

  1986

  4

  1987

  4

  1988

  6

  The figure for 1989 is not yet available.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the major projects currently being undertaken by the Natural Resources Institute.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Natural Resources Institute aims to alleviate poverty and hardship in developing countries by increasing the productivity of their renewable natural resources. It does this by supporting projects which help to increase agricultural productivity and farmer income through the more effective use and management of resources; develop robust, cost-effective solutions to pest management problems, paying particular attention to 916
  environmental safety and user needs; and reduce crop losses and improve the supply and quality of food and cash crops in the domestic and export markets of developing countries.

  I shall send the hon. Member a copy of the framework document of the Natural Resources Institute, together with the latest annual report, which reviews major projects. Both documents are in the Libraries of the House.

  Energy Projects
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will outline the Overseas Development Administration's current policy towards providing advice and finance for new energy projects in developing countries;

  (2) which organisations in Britain provide advice to the Overseas Development Administration on energy policy in developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The policy of the Overseas Development Administration towards providing advice and finance for new energy projects in developing countries is based on the assessment, case-by-case, of several factors. These include economic appraisal of the energy supply-demand situation; the scope for increase in the technical and economic efficiency of existing energy supply and use systems; social and environmental issues; and the need to ensure the reliability and sustainability of energy supplies.

  In making such assessments, the ODA draws on the advice of its own substantial body of economic, engineering, natural resources, and social development advisers, supplemented by that of British consultants as necessary. In addition, the Administration keeps in touch with national and international expertise in British industry, academic bodies; the World Bank; regional development banks; the United Nations Environmental Programme and the development assistance committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  Women
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the ways in which the Government is specifically assisting women in developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our booklet "Women, Development and the British Aid Programme", published in March 1989 copies of which are in the library, explains our women in development policy and how we are helping women in developing countries. I have today sent the hon. Gentleman a copy.

  Anniversary Review
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to his Department of producing the booklet, "British Overseas Aid—Anniversary Review 1989".

  Mrs. Chalker
  It cost £105,000 to produce 20,000 copies of the anniversary review 1989 at a unit cost of £5·25.

  Kenya
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what types of project are being financed by the Overseas Development Administration in the Embu, Meru and Isiolo districts of Kenya.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have been assisting Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands development strategy by funding projects to stem environmental deterioration and to improve the productivity of the land in the drier areas of Embu, Meru and Isiolo districts. Under these projects £3·7 million has been committed for soil and water conservation, forestry development, livestock improvement and goat and sheep improvement.

  We have also recently completed the financing of the construction and equipping of a 160-bed district hospital at Isiolo at a cost of over £3 million; we are continuing to help, for example, with the provision of technical co-operation.

  Aid Shipments
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce a policy of using only British ships for the shipment of United Kingdom aid cargoes.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. Government policy is that aid cargoes should be shipped in accordance with normal commercial competitive practice and not directed to ships or companies of any particular flag or country. This policy is designed to ensure value for money for the aid programme.

  Vietnam
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer concerning the lack of a shadow programme between Vietnam and international financial institutions,Official Report, 2 April, column 889, if he will define the term shadow programme and give any examples of countries that have previously established such programmes.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The term "shadow programme" refers to programmes of economic reform undertaken by a number of countries which have fallen into arrears on repayments due to the IMF, World Bank and regional development banks and have been declared ineligible for further lending. After approval by the IMF's executive board, these programmes are known as fund-monitored programmes (FMPs). They have specific targets and performance criteria, as in any normal IMF programme, but do not include any access to IMF resources. The purpose of an FMP is to allow a country to establish a track record of economic reform as a condition for international assistance with the clearance of arrears and for resumption of access to IMF lending. FMPs were agreed for Guyana in April 1989, Somalia in July 1989, and Zambia in March 1990. The executive board has not yet approved an FMP for Vietnam.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Sierra Leone currently has(a) arrears owed to the International
  918
  Monetary Fund, and (b) an economic programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund; and whether there is currently a British aid programme in Sierra Leone.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Yes, Sierra Leone has arrears to the International Monetary Fund amounting to $91 million at the end of March 1990. There is currently no economic programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund, but discussions with the fund and the World Bank are taking place.

  The current British programme to Sierra Leone comprises technical co-operation and training; expenditure in 1989–90 amounted to some £1·6 million.

  Zambia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether United Kingdom aid to Zambia has ceased at any point since 1985.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. Gross annual United Kingdom bilateral aid to Zambia since 1985 has been:

  £ million

  1986

  35·351

  1987

  25·349

  1988

  16·683

  The 1989 figures are not yet available. As I announced on 5 April, we intend to provide a further tranche of £30 million in balance of payments support in 1990 to assist the implementation of the economic recovery programme agreed with the IMF, in addition to our ongoing technical co-operation programme.

  ACP Debt
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the Minister for Overseas Development on 2 April,Official Report, column 415, when and in which forum a decision is expected to be taken on cancelling outstanding repayments owed by ACP countries under the STABEX system; what is the estimated amount of such outstanding repayments; and whether Her Majesty's Government is in favour of their cancellation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The ACP-EC Council of Ministers is responsible for resolving this issue. A decision was not reached at its recent meeting in Fiji, and the matter is now unlikely to be formally settled until next year's meeting. In the meantime, no repayment of the sums involved, some 90 million ecu—around £70 million—will be required. A final decision will be taken in the preparation for next year's meeting.

SCOTLAND

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sources of local authority income which have financed total local authority expenditure for each region in Scotland for every year since 1979–80 in constant prices and percentage terms.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The figures are given in the table. They have been converted to 1988–89 prices using the gross
  919
  domestic product deflator. Amounts for rate and revenue support grant are final amounts or those applying to the most recent order. Figures for non-domestic and domestic rates are derived from data published in rating review for the relevant years up to 1988–89. For 1989–90 and 1990–91 amounts of non-domestic rate income and community

  Rate Support Grant

  Non-Domestic Rate Income

  Domestic Rates

  Total

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  1979–80

  Borders

  40·614

  74·2

  7·530

  13·8

  6·577

  12·0

  54·721

  Central

  83·315

  57·9

  43·834

  30·5

  16·783

  11·6

  143·932

  Dumfries and Galloway

  53·403

  72·7

  11·139

  15·2

  8·879

  12·1

  73·421

  Fife

  111·977

  67·0

  34·804

  20·8

  20·317

  12·2

  167·098

  Grampian

  162·117

  62·9

  64·241

  24·9

  31·447

  12·2

  257·805

  Highland

  97·281

  75·5

  20·368

  15·8

  11·260

  8·7

  128·909

  Lothian

  252·395

  58·5

  115·978

  26·9

  63·363

  14·7

  431·736

  Strathclyde

  996·116

  71·9

  252·944

  18·3

  136·408

  9·8

  1,385·468

  Tayside

  139·460

  67·5

  43·254

  20·9

  23·906

  11·6

  206·620

  Orkney

  9·157

  42·9

  11·026

  51·7

  1·159

  5·4

  21·342

  Shetland

  11·551

  45·1

  13·249

  51·7

  0·811

  3·2

  25·611

  Western Isles

  26·351

  87·1

  2·744

  9·1

  1·161

  3·8

  30·256

  1980–81

  Borders

  41·705

  71·5

  8·865

  15·2

  7·725

  13·3

  58·295

  Central

  86·564

  58·2

  44·287

  29·8

  17·882

  12·0

  148·733

  Dumfries and Galloway

  53·725

  70·7

  12·211

  16·1

  10·066

  13·2

  76·002

  Fife

  113·949

  63·5

  40·697

  22·7

  24·880

  13·9

  179·526

  Grampian

  163·786

  62·1

  67·181

  25·5

  32·881

  12·5

  263·848

  Highland

  98·623

  72·0

  24·640

  18·0

  13·746

  10·0

  137·009

  Lothian

  250·737

  53·4

  139·186

  29·6

  79·744

  17·0

  469·667

  Strathclyde

  1,038·548

  68·3

  308·514

  20·3

  173·340

  11·4

  1,520·402

  Tayside

  140·773

  65·9

  46·089

  21·6

  26·862

  12·6

  213·724

  Orkney

  10·142

  48·4

  10·222

  48·8

  0·582

  2·8

  20·946

  Shetland

  12·769

  26·3

  34·366

  70·9

  1·366

  2·8

  48·501

  Western Isles

  27·137

  84·6

  3·436

  10·7

  1·487

  4·6

  32·060

  1981–82

  Borders

  41·707

  68·8

  10·143

  16·7

  8·787

  14·5

  60·637

  Central

  84·553

  53·8

  51·605

  32·9

  20·926

  13·3

  157·084

  Dumfries and Galloway

  53·716

  68·5

  13·545

  17·3

  11·158

  14·2

  78·419

  Fife

  113·177

  60·2

  46·053

  24·5

  28·869

  15·4

  188·099

  Grampian

  165·917

  61·0

  71·273

  26·2

  34·794

  12·8

  271·984

  Highland

  96·747

  67·0

  30·700

  21·2

  17·062

  11·8

  144·509

  Lothian

  195·921

  39·0

  193·716

  38·6

  112·738

  22·4

  502·375

  Strathclyde

  1,002·856

  62·3

  383·143

  23·8

  224·544

  13·9

  1,610·543

  Tayside

  140·219

  60·6

  56·696

  24·5

  34·320

  14·8

  231·235

  Orkney

  9·904

  47·5

  10·341

  49·6

  0·613

  2·9

  20·858

  Shetland

  13·051

  27·2

  33·835

  70·5

  1·133

  2·4

  48·019

  Western Isles

  27·850

  81·3

  4·516

  13·2

  1·897

  5·5

  34·263

  1982–83

  Borders

  41·857

  68·3

  10·303

  16·8

  9·165

  14·9

  61·325

  Central

  82·471

  49·5

  58·755

  35·3

  25·243

  15·2

  166·469

  Dumfries and Galloway

  54·720

  63·6

  16·994

  19·8

  14·314

  16·6

  86·028

  Fife

  108·173

  55·7

  52·432

  27·0

  33·536

  17·3

  194·141

  Grampian

  156·627

  56·3

  80·563

  28·9

  41·271

  14·8

  278·461

  Highland

  97·667

  65·4

  33·766

  22·6

  17·926

  12·0

  149·359

  Lothian

  229·679

  47·2

  162·308

  33·4

  94·482

  19·4

  486·469

  Strathclyde

  998·191

  60·6

  403·543

  24·5

  244·401

  14·9

  1,646·135

  Tayside

  135·904

  58·1

  60·523

  25·9

  37·584

  16·1

  234·011

  Orkney

  9·363

  47·1

  9·848

  49·5

  0·666

  3·4

  19·877

  Shetland

  13·561

  27·7

  34·237

  70·0

  1·139

  2·3

  48·937

  Western Isles

  29·913

  81·4

  4·777

  13·0

  2·041

  5·6

  36·731

  1983–84

  Borders

  42·342

  71·7

  8·899

  15·1

  7·835

  13·3

  59·076

  Central

  82·989

  52·1

  53·871

  33·8

  22·490

  14·1

  159·350

  Dumfries and Galloway

  55·731

  66·9

  14·961

  18·0

  12·596

  15·1

  83·288

  Fife

  110·575

  56·3

  52·341

  26·6

  33·556

  17·1

  196·472

  Grampian

  163·977

  56·4

  85·612

  29·5

  41·095

  14·1

  290·684

  Highland

  99·360

  67·0

  32·121

  21·7

  16·793

  11·3

  148·274

  Lothian

  226·505

  51·5

  134·614

  30·6

  78·628

  17·9

  439·747

  Strathclyde

  995·009

  61·5

  389·194

  24·0

  234·943

  14·5

  1,619·146

  Tayside

  137·077

  58·8

  58·992

  25·3

  37·260

  16·0

  233·329

  920
  charge income are taken from the provisional outturn budget estimate returns made by local authorities by the Scottish Office. Domestic rates figures are net of domestic rate relief. All figures of domestic rate and community charge income are inclusive of rebates.
  921

  Rate Support Grant

  Non-Domestic Rate Income

  Domestic Rates

  Total

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  Orkney

  11·587

  56·9

  8·225

  40·4

  0·567

  2·8

  20·379

  Shetland

  12·929

  26·7

  34·264

  70·9

  1·150

  2·4

  48·343

  Western Isles

  29·711

  81·5

  4·681

  12·8

  2·082

  5·7

  36·474

  1984–85

  Borders

  40·613

  69·2

  9·600

  16·4

  8·441

  14·4

  58·654

  Central

  82·378

  52·2

  50·839

  32·2

  24·722

  15·7

  157·939

  Dumfries and Galloway

  53·192

  65·6

  15·097

  18·6

  12·833

  15·8

  81·122

  Fife

  96·967

  50·9

  56·876

  29·8

  36·800

  19·3

  190·643

  Grampian

  155·758

  55·7

  83·770

  29·9

  40·357

  14·4

  279·885

  Highland

  93·455

  65·2

  32·174

  22·4

  17·740

  12·4

  143·369

  Lothian

  210·524

  48·0

  143·054

  32·7

  84·487

  19·3

  438·065

  Strathclyde

  921·511

  59·9

  383·807

  24·9

  234·296

  15·2

  1,539·614

  Tayside

  128·654

  57·3

  58·823

  26·2

  37·062

  16·5

  224·539

  Orkney

  9·491

  47·3

  9·885

  49·2

  0·709

  3·5

  20·085

  Shetland

  12·636

  26·4

  34·011

  71·1

  1·184

  2·5

  47·831

  Western Isles

  29·934

  81·0

  4·826

  13·1

  2·180

  5·9

  36·940

  1985–86

  Borders

  40·248

  67·0

  10·765

  17·9

  9·039

  15·1

  60·052

  Central

  75·666

  50·7

  50·136

  33·6

  23·405

  15·7

  149·207

  Dumfries and Galloway

  51·242

  63·0

  17·182

  21·1

  12·930

  15·9

  81·354

  Fife

  97·471

  47·8

  68·217

  33·4

  38·335

  18·8

  204·023

  Grampian

  152·845

  55·2

  85·912

  31·0

  38·017

  13·7

  276·774

  Highland

  92·243

  64·2

  33·937

  23·6

  17·567

  12·2

  143·747

  Lothian

  205·753

  47·6

  138·377

  32·0

  87·936

  20·4

  432·066

  Strathclyde

  913·404

  60·0

  365·587

  24·0

  243·757

  16·0

  1,522·748

  Tayside

  131·170

  57·8

  57·924

  25·5

  37·803

  16·7

  226·897

  Orkney

  8·932

  43·5

  10·536

  51·3

  1·069

  5·2

  20·537

  Shetland

  11·907

  22·8

  38·721

  74·1

  1·609

  3·1

  52·237

  Western Isles

  28·911

  81·2

  4·575

  12·8

  2·120

  6·0

  35·606

  1986–87

  Borders

  41·780

  66·5

  11·216

  17·8

  9·881

  15·7

  62·877

  Central

  77·143

  50·3

  51·150

  33·3

  25·138

  16·4

  153·431

  Dumfries and Galloway

  54·533

  62·3

  18·387

  21·0

  14·610

  16·7

  87·530

  Fife

  95·238

  44·9

  77·028

  36·3

  39·884

  18·8

  212·150

  Grampian

  152·217

  52·2

  94·786

  32·5

  44·399

  15·2

  291·402

  Highland

  93·526

  62·3

  37·367

  24·9

  19·128

  12·8

  150·021

  Lothian

  182·777

  44·4

  139·219

  33·8

  90·083

  21·9

  412·079

  Strathclyde

  824·541

  55·2

  393·871

  26·4

  274·161

  18·4

  1,492·573

  Tayside

  129·595

  57·6

  56·930

  25·3

  38·568

  17·1

  225·093

  Orkney

  8·765

  43·2

  10·556

  52·0

  0·985

  4·9

  20·306

  Shetland

  11·565

  22·8

  37·632

  74·1

  1·613

  3·2

  50·810

  Western Isles

  31·153

  82·3

  4·527

  12·0

  2·166

  5·7

  37·846

  1987–88

  Borders

  44·124

  65·8

  11·948

  17·8

  10·961

  16·4

  67·033

  Central

  84·178

  49·5

  56·773

  33·4

  29·127

  17·1

  170·078

  Dumfries and Galloway

  58·470

  63·0

  18·971

  20·4

  15·438

  16·6

  92·879

  Fife

  85·736

  41·0

  80·950

  38·7

  42·526

  20·3

  209·212

  Grampian

  155·850

  51·6

  98·719

  32·7

  47·417

  15·7

  301·986

  Highland

  99·185

  60·7

  41·482

  25·4

  22·665

  13·9

  163·332

  Lothian

  190·086

  41·1

  163·137

  35·3

  109·476

  23·7

  462·699

  Strathclyde

  851·185

  52·7

  446·372

  27·6

  317·666

  19·7

  1,615·223

  Tayside

  132·100

  54·6

  63·738

  26·4

  45·951

  19·0

  241·789

  Orkney

  10·089

  51·9

  8·568

  44·0

  0·797

  4·1

  19·454

  Shetland

  11·843

  24·3

  35·256

  72·5

  1·558

  3·2

  48·657

  Western Isles

  32·134

  82·4

  4·589

  11·8

  2·271

  5·8

  38·994

  1988–89

  Borders

  44·008

  66·0

  11·648

  17·5

  11·057

  16·6

  66·713

  Central

  78·551

  47·7

  56·240

  34·2

  29·885

  18·2

  164·676

  Dumfries and Galloway

  57·227

  61·5

  19·490

  20·9

  16·399

  17·6

  93·116

  Fife

  105·635

  45·8

  81·804

  35·5

  43·035

  18·7

  230·474

  Grampian

  158·614

  50·3

  104·691

  33·2

  52·188

  16·5

  315·493

  Highland

  100·978

  62·7

  38·768

  24·1

  21·220

  13·2

  160·966

  Lothian

  187·897

  37·5

  183·967

  36·7

  129·751

  25·9

  501·615

  Strathclyde

  898·472

  54·8

  428·452

  26·2

  311·584

  19·0

  1,638·508

  Tayside

  139·187

  54·9

  65·019

  25·7

  49·224

  19·4

  253·430

  Orkney

  10·353

  53·3

  7·814

  40·2

  1·262

  6·5

  19·429

  922 923

  Rate Support Grant

  Non-Domestic Rate Income

  Domestic Rates

  Total

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  £million

  per cent.

  £ million

  Shetland

  11·945

  19·2

  48·079

  77·2

  2·291

  3·7

  62·315

  Western Isles

  31·439

  82·5

  4·431

  11·6

  2·225

  5·8

  38·095

  Revenue Support Grant

  Non-Domestic Rate Income

  Community Charge

  Total

  £m

  per cent.

  £m

  per cent.

  £m

  per cent.

  £m

  1989–90

  Borders

  47·218

  68·3

  9·565

  13·8

  12·353

  17·9

  69·136

  Central

  87·606

  50·8

  49·606

  28·8

  35·229

  20·4

  172·441

  Dumfries and Galloway

  60·946

  63·6

  16·644

  17·4

  18·269

  19·1

  95·859

  Fife

  110·175

  48·3

  69·189

  30·3

  48·695

  21·4

  228·059

  Grampian

  170·559

  53·4

  85·164

  26·7

  63·737

  20·0

  319·460

  Highland

  102·735

  63·8

  32·394

  20·1

  25·913

  16·1

  161·042

  Lothian

  204·251

  40·5

  151·883

  30·1

  147·731

  29·3

  503·865

  Strathclyde

  934·510

  57·6

  378·404

  23·3

  310·831

  19·1

  1,623·745

  Tayside

  145·968

  56·2

  57·934

  22·3

  56·064

  21·6

  259·966

  Orkney

  11·008

  56·8

  6·705

  34·6

  1·686

  8·7

  19·399

  Shetland

  18·886

  45·4

  21·011

  50·5

  1·685

  4·1

  41·582

  Western Isles

  33·136

  82·0

  4·695

  11·6

  2·582

  6·4

  40·413

  1990–91

  Borders

  50·589

  70·4

  9·417

  13·1

  11·860

  16·5

  71·866

  Central

  91·815

  53·3

  42·489

  24·7

  37·923

  22·0

  172·227

  Dumfries and Galloway

  66·468

  65·4

  16·972

  16·7

  18·163

  17·9

  101·603

  Fife

  113·708

  46·8

  73·916

  30·4

  55·545

  22·8

  243·169

  Grampian

  193·213

  60·4

  72·148

  22·6

  54·619

  17·1

  319·980

  Highland

  109·168

  65·5

  32·097

  19·3

  25·481

  15·3

  166·746

  Lothian

  206·404

  41·7

  135·937

  27·5

  152·752

  30·9

  495·093

  Strathclyde

  918·348

  57·4

  356·168

  22·3

  324·506

  20·3

  1,599·022

  Tayside

  154·278

  58·8

  52·364

  20·0

  55·736

  21·2

  262·378

  Orkney

  13·060

  63·2

  5·938

  28·7

  1·680

  8·1

  20·678

  Shetland

  27·040

  60·5

  16·353

  36·6

  1·285

  2·9

  44·678

  Western Isles

  34·549

  82·7

  4·312

  10·3

  2·917

  7·0

  41·778

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the most recent Government estimates of the cost to local authorities in Scotland of recovery of poll tax arrears.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel) on 15 January.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria his Department has given to assessors for assessing the commerciality of single self-catering units.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Regulations 1990, which came into force on 1 April, exclude from the definition of domestic subjects dwelling houses made available for letting, commercially, as self-catering accommodation for short periods amounting in aggregate to at least 140 days per year. This has the effect of rendering such properties liable to non-domestic rates. Implementation of the regulations is in the first place a matter for assessors, whose decisions regarding particular properties are subject to the normal appeal procedures.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list his latest estimate of the percentage of the community charge liability of chargepayers received by each charging authority for 1989–90.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally, but we understand that in 924
  most regions 85 to 95 per cent. of those eligible for the community charge have made some payment, with a figure of 98 per cent. in one area.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the accountancy firms used by his Department.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 December 1989 at column 50. The five firms used in 1989 were:

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Deloitte Haskins and Sells

  Ernst and Young

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Price Waterhouse

  Medical Treatment
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those medical conditions which cannot be treated by hospitals within Scotland but can be treated by hospitals within England.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None; although in practice patients' conditions requiring certain surgical procedures, for example heart and liver transplants and pancreatic implants, are currently treated in specialised units in England.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which hospital in Scotland has the longest waiting list for arthritic hip joint surgery; which has the lowest waiting period for arthritic hip joint surgery; and if he will specify the number of waiting days for each;

  (2) which hospital in Scotland has the longest waiting period for varicose veins surgery; which has the lowest waiting period for varicose veins surgery; and if he will specify the number of waiting days for each;

  (3) which hospital in Scotland has the longest waiting list for hernia operations; which has the lowest waiting period for hernia operations; and if he will specify the number of waiting days for each.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on waiting times for individual operations is collected centrally on an annual basis. That for 1988, the last year for which statistics are available, revealed the following:

  (a) Raigmore hospital, Inverness (Highland health board) had the longest median wait of 214 days for operations which are performed on arthritic hip joints. Stirling royal infirmary (Forth Valley health hoard) had the lowest median wait of 51 days.

  (b) Victoria hospital, Kirkcaldy (Fife health board) has the longest median wait of 803 days for varicose vein operations. Dr. Grays hospital, Elgin (Grampian health board) had the lowest median wait of 43 days.

  (c) Glasgow royal infirmary (Greater Glasgow health board) had the longest median wait of 124 days for hernia operations. Stracathro hospital, Brechin (Tayside health board) had the lowest median wait of 19 days.

  In all three instances, hospitals with less than 50 such cases were excluded.

  Rents-to-Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inquiries from tenants interested in purchasing their homes under the rents-to-mortgages scheme are now in the process of converting from rent to mortgage.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Homes is responsible for the processing of applications to purchase under the rents-to-mortgages scheme. As at 26 March Scottish Homes had received 839 inquiries from tenants interested in purchasing their homes under the scheme and at that date was processing 84 applications to purchase.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of inquiries from tenants interested in purchasing their homes under the rents-to-mortgages scheme for each Scottish Homes area office.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the source of inquiries under the rents-to-mortgages scheme is not held centrally. I have asked Scottish Homes to supply the information directly to the hon. Member.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether under the Scottish community charge regulations the 60-day period beyond which capital gains tax becomes chargeable upon the proceeds of the sale of a private home which is used in part as a bed-and-breakfast business refers to consecutive days or to the total in any one year.
  926
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply because of my responsibilities for the community charge in Scotland. I intend to write to my hon. Friend shortly about her question.

  New Towns
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what submissions he has received from individuals or organisations interested in taking over the development corporation housing stocks in each of the Scottish new towns; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  None.

  Bankruptcy
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the maximum hourly rate of remuneration that has been accepted as reasonable by the accountant in bankruptcy, in terms of section 53(4) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, being work reasonably undertaken by the trustee in sequestration.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The maximum hourly rate allowed by the accountant in bankruptcy other than in exceptional circumstances in assessing claims for the remuneration of trustees and their staff is the same as that published by the Law Society of Scotland in respect of charges by the legal profession for similar work. The present Law Society rate is £62.

  Books and Equipment
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide to the latest available date the figures for Scotland equivalent to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), of 13 February,Official Report, columns 142-44, on expenditure on books and equipment.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 14 February 1990,Official Report columns 190-92.

  Court Reporting
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Moray,Official Report, 2 April, column 474, he will list in the Official Report the names and addresses of organisations and companies which were successful in winning contracts for function of shorthandwriting in Scottish courts.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following four firms secured Government shorthand writing contracts for the period April 1990 to March 1992 in the Scottish courts:

  William Hodge (Shorthand Writers) Ltd.

  20 York Place

  Edinburgh

  William Hodge & Pollock Ltd.

  36 North Frederick Street

  Glasgow

  John Larking

  Coniston Bunch Lane

  Haslemere

  Surrey

  927

  Verbatim Reporters

  98 Hanover Street

  Edinburgh

  Roads
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's conclusions following consultation on the routes south of Edinburgh road study.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I announced today the results of our consultation exercise. Copies of the report on the consultation responses and on the Government's proposals in the light of them have been placed in the Library of the House. As with the original consultation paper, I have also arranged for a copy of the report to be sent to all Scottish Members.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish for each health board in Scotland(a) the net income from private patients and clinics and (b) the amounts written off in bad debts each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were prescription charges in Scotland in 1979; if he will list each subsequent increase; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: On 16 July 1979 the United Kingdom National Health Service prescription charge was increased from 20p to 45p. Since then the charge has been increased on 11 occasions to its present level of £3.05; the increases are listed in the table.

  This represents an increase of 237 per cent in real terms.

  Year

  Prescription Charge

  Cash Increase

  1979 (July)

  £0.45

  25p

  1980 (April)

  £0.70

  25p

  1980 (December)

  £1.00

  30p

  1982 (April)

  £1.30

  30p

  1983 (April)

  £1.40

  l0p

  1984 (April)

  £1.60

  20p

  1985 (April)

  £2.00

  40p

  1986 (April)

  £2.20

  20p

  1987 (April)

  £2.40

  20p

  1988 (April)

  £2.60

  20p

  1989 (April)

  £2.80

  20p

  1990 (April)

  £3.05

  25p

  Police Rent Allowances
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of(a) uprating rent allowance in the three police forces in Scotland whose rent allowance was last reviewed in 1988 by the index agreed by the police negotiating board and (b) by the movement in the retail prices index since their force maximum was last reviewed.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: If the formula proposed by the police negotiating
  928
  board for uprating the new housing allowance were used to uprate the rent allowances in payment on 31 March in the three forces concerned, the cost to public funds would be about £2 million in 1990–91; but no such course of action was proposed by the police negotiating board. My right hon. and learned Friend's decision to uprate rent allowances in the three police forces concerned by reference to the increase in the retail prices index is likely to cost about £0·84 million in 1990–91.

  Shellfish Harvesting, Solway Firth
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the findings of the recent research report to the Nature Conservancy Council on the effects of mechanised shellfish harvesting on the conservation of wildlife in the Solway.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: This report was prepared for the Nature Conservancy Council. I await its considered views and advice on the matter.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secrsetary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to control or prohibit potentially damaging operations in estuaries for the purposes of meeting Her Majesty's Government's obligations under the Ramsar convention on the conservation of wetlands of international importance.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: Sites selected for designation under the Ramsar convention will have previously been notified as sites of special scientific interest by the Nature Conservancy Council. They are protected under sections 28 and 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 against those potentially damaging operations specified by the council.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions currently exist to control mechanised shellfish harvesting in areas which meet the criteria for protection under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: Mechanised shellfish harvesting may be controlled through byelaws made by the Nature Conservancy Council in those areas which are national nature reserves. Local authorities have similar byelaw-making powers to control access in other areas.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the seaward limit of sites of special scientific interest notified in accordance with section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: I will write to the hon. Member.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to encourage the take-up of the hepatitis vaccine in Scotland, particularly among people in high-risk groups; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: Advice on hepatitis B vaccination is contained in the memorandum, "Immunisation against Infectious

  929
  Disease", which is prepared for the health departments by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation and is issued to all doctors in Scotland. The memorandum identifies the high-risk groups and gives advice on those to whom vaccination should be offered. A new edition of the memorandum, which will be issued shortly, will remind doctors of the high-risk groups.

  Guidance on measures for the protection of health care workers in hospital and the community against occupational infection with HIV and hepatitis viruses was issued on 5 April. The guidance, which is based largely on the advice of the expert advisory group on AIDS, draws attention to the joint committee's recommendations on immunisation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Official Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many(a) towns and (b) cities (i) in Britain and (ii) abroad she has visited in 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  My official duties involve visiting a considerable number of towns and cities. This year I have visited 12 towns and cities in the United Kingdom and two overseas, other than capital cities.

  Archbishop of Canterbury
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many official meetings she has had with the Archbishop of Canterbury since his appointment.

  The Prime Minister
  I have met the Archbishop of Canterbury on many occasions, whether formal or otherwise, during the last 10 years.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on recent representations she has received about the poll tax.

  The Prime Minister
  I continue to receive many representations about the community charge.

  Now that bills are arriving in people's homes they can see the substantial help that the Government are providing through grants, rebates and transitional relief. They can also see the link between their councils' spending plans and the level of the charge for their area.

  I share the concern of many over the unjustified high charges that have been set by some councils and I am confident that in the years ahead local electors will demand restraint. In the first year of the new arrangements however I warmly endorse the action of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in taking firm and immediate action against 20 authorities whose budgets are excessive.

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether it was with her authority that Mr. Charles Powell participated at a recent dinner with Mr. Aspinall, Sir James Goldsmith, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) and Conrad Black, to discuss the attitude of The Daily Telegraph towards her position as leader of the
  930
  Conservative party; and what consequences such participation by a civil servant has for the Armstrong guidelines on the role of civil servants.

  The Prime Minister
  The circumstances are not as the hon. Member describes them, and the issues in his question do not arise. The way in which the hon. Member attempts to vilify individual civil servants is deplorable.

  Speeches
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times, excluding Prime Minister's Question Time, she has spoken in the House in(a) debates and (b) statements, in each year since 1979; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is available in the Library of the House of Commons.

WALES

  NHS (Capital Allocations)
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes are taking place for capital allocation for the Health Service in Wales in 1991–92; for how long there will be transitional arrangements; and whether such arrangements will protect major schemes approved or commenced in each of the next three years.

  Mr. Grist
  The NHS and Community Care Bill proposes changes in the way in which health services will be funded and charged for. This requires a new approach to determining capital allocations which will take account of health authorities' role as procurers of services and that of hospitals as providers of those services. Authorities will be consulted soon on possible future arrangements. However, it is not intended to begin changing the basis for allocating capital resources until 1992–93 in view of the lead time required to adjust service plans accordingly.

  In addition, transitional arrangements will be introduced before the changes take their full effect with the aim of minimising disruption to health authorities' short term programmes and to protect existing contractual commitments. It is not possible to be specific about the length of time these arrangements will be required until the changes have themselves been agreed. For the same reason, it is not possible to confirm that all major schemes, other than those already subject to contractual commitments, will necessarily be protected under the transitional arrangements.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of capital allocation for the Health Service in Wales for 1990–91; and what is this in real terms after allowing for inflation in the construction industry taking 1982–83 as a base year.

  Mr. Grist
  The level of cash provision for capital spending in the NHS in Wales in 1990–91 is almost £95 million. It is not possible to say how much of this will be spent on new construction work as the provision includes £44·5 million which has been allocated to district health authorities for their discretionary use and it is possible that their plans for the use of these funds may have been varied since the submission of their 10-year capital programmes in April 1989. It also has to be borne in mind that the definition of capital expenditure within the Health Service
  931
  does not relate only to new construction and capital maintenance of buildings. It also includes the purchase of medical and information technology equipment, the purchase of vehicles and the salary costs and travel and subsistence expenses of health service staff wholly engaged on capital works. It is, therefore, not appropriate simply to apply the construction industry price index to total capital provision in order to establish its value at constant prices. Indeed, the real-terms value of any element of programme provision is best expressed in terms of its opportunity cost to the economy as a whole and therefore adjusted by reference to actual and forecast movements in general inflation using the GDP deflator. On this basis and taking 1982–83 as the base year, the real-terms value of capital provision for the NHS in Wales in 1990–91 is some £61·9 million. This compares with £47·7 million in 1982–83 which in real terms represents an increase of nearly 30 per cent.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he proposes to increase the financial allocation for Wales for the Health Service to fund the building of two general hospital developments, while at the same time meeting normal replacement and updating requirements and the funding for major computer acquisitions.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 11 January when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced the revenue and capital allocations to health authorities in Wales for 1990–91.

  I also refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 12 February in which my right hon. Friend announced the distribution of almost £10 million for schemes to be centrally funded under the programme for the valleys initiative. This included provision relating to the development of a new district general hospital to serve the Taff Ely/Rhondda area and the development of community hospitals at Ebbw Vale and Ystrad Fechan.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many general practitioner practices in each county in Wales will be eligible under his Department's criteria to become a fund-holding practice;

  (2) how many general practitioner practices in Wales will be eligible under his Department's criteria to become fund-holding practices.

  Mr. Grist
  It is not possible to place a figure on the number of practices meeting the eligibility criteria for fund-holding status. While each practice fund will require a minimum of 9,000 patients, smaller practices are enabled to group together to attain this number. In addition to its patient list size, each practice will need to demonstrate its ability to manage a practice fund.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he permits the use of capital receipts by health authorities in Wales to fund revenue spending; and if he will make a statement.
  932
  Mr. Grist
  Health authorities are permitted a degree of in-year flexibility in the use of their revenue and capital resources. An authority can vire up to 1 per cent. of its final approved revenue cash limit to capital, and conversely up to 10 per cent. of its final approved capital cash limit to revenue. In the event that an authority wishes to exceed its permitted virement limits, this may be allowed if the excess virement requirement can be contained within the all Wales virement totals.

  Health Expenditure
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the budget shortfall estimated by each health authority in Wales for the 1990–91 financial year.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to him on 28 March.

DEFENCE

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many managed conservations areas he has established; if he will list them; and if he will make a statement as to how he intends to protect their ecology.

  Mr. Neubert
  Conservation groups and focal points, several of which cover more than one establishment, are in existence at the locations across the defence estate listed in the table. Conservation groups include among their members both professional and amateur naturalists, including representatives of such bodies as the Nature Conservancy Council and county naturalist trusts. They provide advice upon how the ecology of the area should be protected and, where possible, enhanced. Account is taken of this advice in the management of the area concerned, to the maximum extent consistent with military requirements. Focal points exist at those establishments at which, although there is natural history interest, there is no formal conservation group.

  Aberporth RAE

  Aldermaston AWE

  Aldershot Training Areas

  Altcar TAVRA Ranges

  Amport House (RAF Chaplain's School)

  Ash Common Training Area

  Ashchurch CVD

  Ballykinler Ranges

  Barnham Training Area

  Barnsfield Heath

  Barry Buddon Training Area

  Barton Stacey Training Area

  Bassingbourne Training Area

  Bawdsey RAF

  Beaconsfield RAEC Centre

  Beckingham Ranges

  Bedford RAE

  Benbecula RA Ranges

  Bicester COD

  Bisley Ranges

  Blandford Camp

  Bordon Training Area

  Boscombe Down RAE

  Bourley Training Area

  Bovington RAC Centre

  Bracknell (Met Office)

  Bramley CAD

  Brampton RAF

  Braunton Burrows Training Area

  Broughton Moor RNAD

  933

  Browndown Training Area

  Burghfield AWE

  Caerwent RAF

  Camberley

  Cambridge HMS

  Canterbury Old Park Training Area

  Cape Wrath RN Ranges

  Carlisle RAF

  Castlelaw Ranges

  Castlemartin Ranges

  Catterick RAF

  Catterick Training Area

  Chatham (including: Brompton, Upnor, Hoo Salt Marshes, etc)

  Chattenden Woods

  Chepstow AAC

  Chertsey RARDE

  Chilmark RAF

  Chivenor RAF

  Christchurch RARDE

  Colchester Ranges and Training Area

  Cold Meece P and EE

  Coltishall RAF

  Coningsby RAF

  Coulport RNAD

  Culdrose RNAS

  Dartmoor (Willsworthy Training Area)

  Daedalus HMS

  Dean Hill RNAD

  Ditton Park ARE

  Dolphin HMS

  Donna Nook RAF

  Donnington COD

  Dover Training Areas

  Dreghorn Ranges

  Dryad HMS

  East Riggs Ammunition Depot

  Edzell RAF

  Elstead Training Area

  Ernesettle RNAD

  Eskmeals P&EE

  Farnborough RAE

  Feldom Training Area

  Fingringhoe Ranges

  Flowerdown

  Forest Moor HMS

  Fort George Training Area (Inverness)

  Fort Halstead RARDE

  Foulness Ranges (including Potton Island, Rushley Island, Havengore, etc)

  Frater RNAD

  Fylingdales RAF

  Garelochhead Training Area

  Glen Douglas

  Gosport RNAD

  Hamworthy RM

  Hankley Training Area

  Haslar RNH

  Hawley Training Area

  Holbeach RAF

  Holcombe Moor Training Area

  Hopwas Hayes Wood

  Horsea Island

  Hullavington RAF

  Hurn Test Site

  Hythe Ranges

  Inskip HMS

  Kineton CAD

  Kingsbury Wood

  Kinloss RAF

  Kirkudbright RARDE

  Lakenheath RAF (including Wangford Warren)

  Leek Training Area

  Leeming RAF

  Leuchars RAF

  Lichfield

  Linton-on-Ouse RAF

  Llanbedr RAE

  Long Marston Depot

  Longmoor Training Area

  934

  Longtown CAD

  Lossiemouth RAF

  Lulworth Ranges

  Lydd Ranges

  Machrihanish RAF

  Magilligan Point Training Area

  Marham RAF

  Mercury HMS

  Mere Ranges

  Mereworth Woods Training Area

  Milton Ranges

  Minley Training Area

  Mona RAF

  Morton on Lugg RAOC Depot

  Mount Batten RAF

  Mychett Training Area

  Nesscliffe Camp and Training Area

  Newtown IOW TAVR

  Oakington Barracks

  Ockley Training Area

  Otmoor TARVA

  Otterburn Training Area

  Pembrey RAF

  Pendine P and EE

  Penhale Training Area

  Pippingford Park Training Area

  Pirbright Ranges

  Plymouth (including RAF Mount Batten, Manadon)

  Portland RNAS

  Porton CDE

  Portsdown ARE

  Portsmouth Harbour (including Gosport, Frater, HMS Dryad)

  Predannack RNAS

  Proteus Training Area

  Purfleet Ranges

  Raleigh HMS

  Ripon Parks Training Area

  Rosyth Naval Base

  Salisbury Plain (Centre)—Larkhill Ranges

  Salisbury Plain (East)—Bulford Ranges

  Salisbury Plain (West)—Imber/Warminster Training Area

  Sandleheath

  Sandhurst RMA

  Saxa Vord RAF

  Sculthorpe RAF

  Sennybridge Training Area

  Shinfield Park (Met Office)

  Shoeburyness P and EE

  Shorncliffe Training Area

  Shrivenham RMCS

  Spadeadam RAF

  Stainmore Training Area

  Stanford Training Area

  Stornaway RAF

  Stradishall Training Area

  Strensall Training Area

  Swynnerton Training Area

  Tain RAF

  Theddlethorpe Dunes

  Thorney Island

  Thursley Training Area

  Trecwn RNAD

  Tregantle

  Uxbridge RAF

  Valley RAF

  Vernon HMS

  Wainfleet RAF

  Waltham Abbey RARDE

  Warcop Training Area

  Waterbeach Training Area

  Wattisham RAF

  Welbeck College

  West Freugh RAE

  West Moors RAOC

  Winterbourne Gunner NBC Centre

  Wittering RAF

  Woodvale RAF

  Woolmer Training Area

  935

  Worthy Down Camp

  Yardley Chase Training Area

  Yeovilton RNAS (inc: Breech Wood)

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to promote environmental awareness in the Ministry of Defence.

  Mr. Neubert
  As a result of action already taken, there is an enhanced level of awareness of the different ways in which the activities of the Ministry of Defence can impact on the natural environment.

  The essay on "Defence and the Environment" in chapter 4 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990 (CM 1022-I) gives examples of where this greater awareness has had beneficial consequences.

  More recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has charged me with responsibility for environmental issues throughout the Department, in support of the Government's overall environmental objectives.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being done on alternatives to paints harmful to marine life to prevent contaminated discharges in shipyards from entering estuarial waters.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Ministry of Defence is encouraging efforts by the paint industry into the research of environmentally acceptable toxins for anti-fouling paints and is undertaking trials of new products on the hulls of Her Majesty's ships.

  Until non-toxic alternatives are available, measures are being taken to prevent contaminated discharges from entering estuarial waters. The effectiveness of these measures has been confirmed by an extensive monitoring programme.

  The Ministry of Defence's work in this field is reported on at various international conferences and the work has received national and international recognition.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to recover chlorofluorocarbons from ships and submarines in dockyards.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is our policy as far as practicable to recover chlorofluorocarbons from ships and submarines in refit for recycling. In submarines, chlorofluorocarbons are already largely recovered for health and safety reasons. For surface ships, the policy will be introduced progressively.

  Biological Warfare
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has for his statement in the Defence Estimates that the legitimate spread of biotechnology for scientific and economic purposes has carried with it the potential for the diversion of equipment and expertise into offensive biological warfare programmes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Advances in biotechnology have facilitated the large-scale production of toxic materials, some for legitimate civil uses, which had hitherto been available only in minute quantities from natural sources. The equipment and expertise, together with a number of 936
  these materials, have the potential for diversion into military programmes; however, it would not be in the public interest for me to give further details. Our research into biological and toxic agents is entirely defensive, being aimed at the protection of our armed forces from any biological warfare threat, and is permitted under the 1972 biological and toxic warfare convention.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by which date he intends type 23 frigates will be fitted with integrated command and control systems.

  Mr. Neubert
  The type 23 frigate command system will enter service in the mid-1990s.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the areas in which covert surveys of low flying activity in particular areas has taken place in the last 12 months, giving the number of covert surveys made in each area.

  Mr. Neubert
  Between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 the RAF police carried out covert surveys of low flying activity in the following areas:

  Date

  Location

  25-27 April 1989

  Liskeard, Cornwall

  2-4 May 1989

  Gloucester, Gloucestershire

  8-11 May 1989

  Blencarn, Cumbria

  15-19 May 1989

  Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway

  22-26 May 1989

  Haddington, Lothian

  26-30 June 1989

  Knaresborough, North Yorkshire (Skyguard deployment)

  24-27 July 1989

  Earl Shilton, Leicestershire

  24-27 July 1989

  Market Bosworth, Leicestershire

  31 July-4 August 1989

  Penrith, Cumbria (Skyguard deployment)

  26-27 September 1989

  Glan Conwy, Gwynedd

  3-5 October 1989

  Alnwick, Northumberland (Skyguard deployment)

  30 January-1 February 1990

  Machynlleth, Powys

  5-9 March 1990

  Wetheral, Cumbria

  26-30 March 1990

  Hereford, Hereford and Worcester

  26-30 March 1990

  Alnwick area, Northumberland Kelso area, Borders (Skyguard deployment)

  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library the central records of the usage of the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Mr. Neubert
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the latest scheduled times of day for low level attacks during each Mallet Blow exercise since 1987; and at what times low flying activity in each of these exercises actually ceased.

  Mr. Neubert
  The scheduled and actual times when low flying ceased in Mallet Blow exercises since 1987 are as follows:

  Mallet Blow

  Scheduled

  Actual

  87/1

  17.30

  17.30

  87/2

  17.30

  17.30

  87/3

  21.10

  17.30

  937

  Mallet Blow

  Scheduled

  Actual

  88/1

  22.00

  17.30

  88/2

  17.30

  17.30

  89/1

  22.00

  22.00

  89/2

  17.30

  17.30

  90/1

  22.00

  21.50

  Night Flying
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on changes in the training requirement for night flying during Mallet Blow exercises since 1985;

  (2) what plans he has to extend the night flying period in future Mallet Blow exercises to a time later than that used during Mallet Blow 90-1.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) on 15 December 1987, column 124.

  War Medals
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider expanding the team responsible for the issue of war medals in order to satisfy existing claimants during the period of world war II anniversaries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are looking at ways in which the waiting time for applicants for world war II medals might be reduced. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to my hon. Friend when our studies are complete.

  Ship Charters
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce a policy of using only British ships for his Department's charters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is the Government's policy to charter vessels on the basis of availability, suitability and cost and, subject to these conditions, to give preference to British ship operators.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will set out the arrangements governing repayment schemes relating to prescription charge repayments for members of the armed services and their families.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Members of the armed forces who require emergency medical and dental treatment, outside the umbrella of service medical facilities, which necessitates the issue of prescriptions, may claim a refund of prescription charges through service channels.

  Dependants of service personnel are charged standard prescription rates when medication is provided from service facilities and pay National Health Service prescription charges in the normal way.

  Procurement Executive Airfields
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the representatives of the civilian work force at the aeroplane and armaments experimental establishment at Boscombe Down about the future of the procurement executive airfields.
  938
  Mr. Neubert
  My Department undertakes research and development flying at three procurement executive airfields at Bedford, Boscombe Down and Farnborough. My hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) informed the House on 15 December 1988, column 683, of our intention to conduct a study into the future requirements for these airfields.

  External consultants were accordingly commissioned in 1989, and they recently submitted their report to the Department. We are now considering the way ahead, with making the most cost-effective use of our facilities against a background of declining flying activity our highest priority.

  As part of our normal practice of keeping the work force fully informed of our intentions, the study's terms of reference, which included instructions to consult the trade unions and to take full account of their views, were passed to the appropriate trade unions. There will, of course, be full consultation with the trade unions and other interested parties before any final decisions are taken.

  Radiation
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what frequency individual dosimeters of refit workers are calibrated and checked.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: In accordance with IRR85, thermoluminescent dosimeters are calibrated on receipt and re-calibrated at regular intervals, at least every 50 read cycles, by the defence radiological protective service, a dosimetry service approved by the Health and Safety Executive. In addition, the absorbtion rate of these dosimeters is checked every month. Direct reading dosimeters are tested at least once every 14 months, also in accordance with IRR85.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what level and individual radiation dose exposure his Department initiates investigation of the cause of these dose exposures.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding reply 4 April 1990]: Investigations are carried out in accordance with the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how alpha radiation is monitored to and within specific human organs on individual refit workers; and what account is taken of radium daughter products occurring naturally;

  (2) what is the individual lung dose for submariners and refit workers arising from absorption of tritium;

  (3) what is the internal organ dose arising from absorption of the radionuclide cobalt-60;

  (4) what is the internal organ dose arising from absorption of the radionuclides strontium-90, caesium-137, carbon-14 and the isotopes of plutonium and uranium.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The results of routine monitoring of levels of the contamination in the working environment and where applicable, biological monitoring of personnel, confirm that there is no requirement to record radiation doses for submariners or workers at the royal dockyards arising from intakes of radioactive material. In the unlikely event of an accident or incident occurring in the workplace leading to any

  939
  suspicion of intake of radioactive material, special monitoring of the individual concerned would be undertaken.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation have been received from refit workers for radiation-induced illness; how many of these claims have been settled; and how many remain in dispute or progress.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: My Department has received a number of claims over the years from service and civilian employees for radiation-related illness, but it is not possible to identify, without disproportionate cost and effort, claimants who were engaged on refit work. Every claim received by the Department is dealt with on the basis of legal liability.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those refit workers subject to radiation doses in excess of 50 milliSieverts in a particular year received the greater part of such doses as a result of some incident or accident outside the range of normal refit operations; if he will describe such incidents; and what conclusions he has reached as to why such abnormal exposures occurred.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: In the period 1979–89, only one employee engaged on refit work has recorded as receiving an annual dose above 50 milliSieverts, which could not be sensibly attributed to

  Annex A

  Annual individual radiation exposure for workers at the Royal Dockyards

  Year

  Numbers of workers in dose ranges

  0 to 15 mSv

  15 to 20 mSv

  20 to 30 mSv

  30 to 40 mSv

  40 to 50 mSv

  Over 50 mSv

  1989

  1,306

  29

  31

  5

  1

  0

  (2,763)

  1988

  1,469

  18

  10

  0

  0

  0

  (2,862)

  1987

  1,781

  19

  5

  2

  0

  0

  (2,891)

  1986

  2,115

  53

  39

  5

  0

  0

  (2,560)

  1985

  2,093

  76

  62

  17

  0

  0

  (2,419)

  1984

  1,869

  111

  138

  52

  8

  1

  (2,190)

  1983

  2,090

  75

  86

  36

  29

  0

  (2,518)

  1982

  2,165

  85

  69

  14

  6

  0

  (2,672)

  1981

  1,997

  93

  133

  45

  11

  0

  (2,566)

  1980

  1,784

  85

  154

  89

  48

  1

  (2,877)

  1979

  1,469

  102

  125

  75

  66

  2

  (1,697)

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates when his Department's radiological protection measures and guidelines for submariners and refit workers were changed, altered or modified.
  940
  exposure arising from normal refit operations. The majority of his total assessed radiation dose of 88·10 milliSieverts arose from a single dose assessment of 83·75 milliSieverts from a dosimeter issued for use by that employee in June 1984. A local investigation concluded that the dosimeter had been exposed in the absence of the employee. Nevertheless, the recorded over-exposure was notified to the Health and Safety Executive and the assessed radiation dose remains on the record. Data for years earlier than 1979 are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of annual individual radiation exposure for refit workers in the bands 0 to 10, greater than 10 to 20, greater than 20 to 30, greater than 30 to 40, and greater than 50 milliSieverts, for all years since the onset of the naval nuclear propulsion programme.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: A breakdown of annual individual radiation dose for workers at the royal dockyards for each of the years 1979–89 is given in the following table. The figures shown in brackets are the number of additional employees monitored for exposure to ionising radiations by the local issue of direct reading dosimeters while employed under a written system of work. A more detailed or alternative breakdown of the figures and data for years earlier than 1979 can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: Within the Royal Naval submarine flotilla, detailed radiological protection instructions and training and qualification standards are promulgated in classified books of reference which are subject to regular update. The detailed

  941
  instructions were subject to complete reissue in 1985, following publication of the Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR85), and have been subject to minor amendments since that time. In addition to these specific instructions, nuclear submariners must also comply with general joint services instructions, which are also updated regularly in line with the promulgation of relevant national approved codes of practice.

  Within the royal dockyards, radiological protection aspects are covered by site-specific instructions and standing orders which are produced by the companies and are subject to statutory control. Where relevant, the specific MOD instructions are also compiled with by the contractor in accordance with the terms of the contract.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a definition of those personnel who are generally classed as refit workers who are involved in naval nuclear propulsion plant facilities and who are engaged on or involved with radioactive materials or radioactive processes.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The term "refit worker" is not a designation used by either MOD or its contractors. All personnel within the royal dockyards, who require access to controlled radiation areas as a result of their employment, are regarded as being occupationally exposed to radiation. It is in regard to this group that the radiation dose statistics are provided in answering the hon. Member's several other questions.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if in cases where refit personnel are subject to extraordinary radiation doses, such as in excess of 15 milliSieverts in a particular year, largely as a result of some incident or accident outside the range of normal refit operation, he will publish details of such incidents or cause them to be published in the Health and Safety Executive quarterly statement of nuclear incidents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: All exposures of 15 milliSieverts or more within any calendar year are subject to investigation in accordance with regulation 28(1) and (2) of the Ionising Radiations Regulations, with the objectives of triggering procedures to ensure that exposures are being kept as low as reasonably practicable. If an exposure greater than 30mSv in any calendar year occurs, the Health and Safety Executive is notified as required by regulations 13(f) of IRR 85.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the gross numbers of refit workers employed in the United Kingdom, in terms of years employed at each respective port or refit dockyard facilities.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The data are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The numbers of employees occupationally exposed to radiation at each royal dockyard since 1979 are shown in the table.

  Year

  Chatham

  Devonport

  Rosyth

  Total

  1989

  9

  2,394

  1732

  4,13

  1988

  10

  2,677

  1,672

  4,359

  1987

  12

  2,669

  2,017

  4,698

  1986

  17

  3,035

  1,720

  4,772

  942

  Year

  Chatham

  Devonport

  Rosyth

  Total

  1985

  19

  2,936

  1,712

  4,667

  1984

  22

  3,074

  1,273

  4,369

  1983

  447

  3,016

  1,371

  4,834

  1982

  1,246

  2,547

  1,218

  5,011

  1981

  1,456

  2,159

  1,230

  4,845

  1980

  1,915

  1,643

  1,480

  5,038

  1979

  1,008

  1,265

  1,263

  3,536

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what in-house radiological protection measures and guidelines are adopted for submariners and refit workers; and if these are in addition or supplementary to Ionising Radiations Regulations.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: Within MOD, radiation exposures continue to be authorised only on the basis that they are justified, comply with statutory limits, and are as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). Individual measures taken are often site-specific and, in the case of the royal dockyards, are the responsibility of the contractors, who are subject to the legislative requirements.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the accuracy of dosimeters worn by refit workers in terms of percentage of the recorded radiation dose.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The accuracy of the personal dosimeters worn by workers monitored for exposure to ionising radiation by the defence radiological protection service meets the criteria specified by the Health and Safety Executive in its "Guidance on the Approval of Dosimetry Services" under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985, part 1— external radiations.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average individual radiation dose, whole body equivalent, for all refit workers involved or who have been involved in the naval nuclear propulsion programme and associated facilities.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The average annual radiation doses to workers at the royal dockyards for each of the years 1979 to 1989 inclusive are shown in the following table. Data for years after 1986 have been included with the permission of the dockyard contractors. The data include doses to individuals working under a written system of work who were issued with direct reading dosimeters. Figures for years before 1979 are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Average annual radiation doses of refit workers

  Year

  Average annual dose (mSv)

  1989

  1·69

  1988

  1·26

  1987

  1·46

  1986

  1·82

  1985

  2·47

  1984

  3·82

  1983

  2·84

  1982

  2·34

  1981

  3·15

  1980

  3·60

  1979

  4·91

  943
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the distribution of total radiation exposure for refit workers in the ranges 0 to 5, greater than 5 to 10, greater than 10 to 15, greater than 15 to 20, greater than 20 to 25, greater than 25 to 30, greater than 30 to 35, greater than 35 to 40, greater than 40 to 45, greater than 45 to 50 and greater than 50 milliSieverts in terms of percentage of overall work force.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The distribution of total radiation exposures of those workers at the royal dockyards who have radiation dose records maintained on computer by the defence radiological protection service, is given in the table. A more detailed breakdown for employees ceasing radiation work before the date on which computerised record keeping was introduced is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Lifetime dose (milliSieverts)

  Numbers

  Percentage

  0 to 5

  2,318

  35·3

  5 to 10

  714

  10·9

  10 to 15

  485

  7·4

  15 to 20

  332

  5·1

  20 to 30

  463

  7·0

  30 to 40

  352

  5·4

  40 to 50

  255

  3·9

  50 to 100

  794

  12·1

  100 to 200

  574

  8·7

  Over 200

  283

  4·2

  Totals

  6,570

  100·2

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum radiation dose, rounded to the nearest milliSievert, received by any refit worker in one year during the last three decades; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: Rounded to the nearest milliSievert, 88 milliSieverts represents the highest recorded annual dose for any worker at the royal dockyards in the past 10 years. Data for earlier years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The circumstances of this exposure are described in my earlier reply to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum total radiation dose received by any refit worker over any period, or number of periods, spent as a classified radiation worker; and whether such an individual or individuals are still working as classified radiation workers within nuclear-propelled submarine refit facilities.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The maximum total radiation dose recorded for any worker at the royal dockyards registered in the defence radiological protection service's record keeping system is 775·95 milliSieverts. This total dose accrued over the period June 1953 to March 1982. The man is no longer working, having reached retirement age. Data for personnel ceasing radiation work before 1 January 1979 are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the standard radiation exposure measuring device,944
  issued to and worn by refit personnel during all refit operations; and whether the type of measuring device has changed since the onset of the naval nuclear propulsion programme.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The personal radiation dosimeter currently issued to radiation workers monitored for exposure to ionising radiation by the defence radiological protection service, an HSE approved dosimetry service, is the thermoluminescent dosimeter introduced in March 1983. Before this date, and from the onset of the naval nuclear propulsion programme, the photographic film dosimeter was used. Currently, a variety of direct reading dosimeters are used for the monitoring of employees.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total occupational, whole body equivalent, radiation exposure of all refit workers in the United Kingdom in milliSieverts, for each year since the onset of the naval nuclear propulsion programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: The cumulative radiation doses of all workers in the royal dockyards, for each of the years 1979 to 1989 inclusive, are shown in the table. These figures include the cumulative radiation doses of employees monitored for exposure to ionising radiations by the local issue of direct reading dosimeters within the refit yards. These latter figures have been supplied by, and are included with the permission of, the dockyard contractors, who assumed responsibility for health and safety of persons employed within the nuclear licensed sites at Rosyth and Devonport on 5 April 1987.

  Data for earlier years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Year

  Cumulative dose (MilliSieverts)

  1989

  6,978

  1988

  5,501

  1987

  6,837

  1986

  8,704

  1985

  11,536

  1984

  16,680

  1983

  13,734

  1982

  11,717

  1981

  15,276

  1980

  18,158

  1979

  17,378

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what limits are adopted for internal organ radiation dose exposure for refit workers.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: All dose limits adopted by the MOD and its contractors comply with the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 which are listed at schedule 1 of those regulations.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of refit workers are classified as radiation workers; and how these personnel are selected and deemed fit for classification.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: At present about 25 per cent. of workers at the royal dockyards are designated "classified". The criteria against which these employees are selected and designated as classified persons

  945
  are specified in regulation 9 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations. Certification that an employee is fit to be designated as a classified person is provided by an appointed doctor, in accordance with the requirement of regulation 9(3)(b) and regulation 16 of IRR85.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department maintains an agreement with the United States Department of Defence regarding transfer of information and data about nuclear submarine refit accidents, risk or safety of refit workers.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: No.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's research into morbidity and mortality among refit workers has considered genetic effects which have passed on to offspring due to exposure of refit workers to radiation in the normal course of their duties.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: No such research has been undertaken by my Department.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the refit personnel receiving doses in excess of 15 milliSieverts in two or more consecutive years, or three or more separate annual doses, were thereafter removed from the occupation or positions where they had been or likely would be in future, subject to such doses; and if these personnel were advised of the radiation risk they were undergoing.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 4 April 1990]: It is not my Department's policy, nor to my knowledge that of any other United Kingdom employer, to remove persons receiving, as a result of their occupational external exposure to ionising radiation, doses in excess of this level, whether in two or more consecutive years or in three or more separate annual doses. With regard to the hazards associated with working with ionising radiation, all personnel who are occupationally exposed receive such information, instructions and training as are required by regulation 12 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985. My Department ensures that such personnel have access to their individual radiation dose records, and receive

  Number of applications since start of scheme

  Grant aid

  Grant committed for future

  £ million

  £ million

  Capital Grants

  2,491

  2·884

  5·973

  Feasibility

  Study Grants

  191

  0·047

  0·131

  Marketing Grants

  43

  0·008

  0·124

  Farm Animal Welfare Council
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government value the Farm Animal Welfare Council's independent and authoritative advice very highly. The council has provided the impetus for many new welfare measures and will, I am sure, continue to lead the way in its future work.
  946
  appropriate counselling from specialist medical officers and health physics staff as deemed necessary or if requested.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance has been given to trading standards officers on how to detect irradiated food contravening the Trades Description Act.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance has been given to trading standards officers on how to detect irradiated food contravening the Trades Description Act.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance has been given to trading standards officers on how to detect irradiated food contravening the Trades Description Act.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am not aware of a need for specific guidance to local authority officers on this subject. The Government are, however, funding research on the development of detection methods.

  Hatcheries
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce new regulations regarding hatcheries.

  Mr. Maclean
  The measures relating to hatcheries, together with other parts of the salmonella control programme, are being kept under review.

  Farm Diversification
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the uptake of the grants available for farm diversification.

  Mr. Curry
  Uptake to the end of February 1990 was as follows:

  Local Government (Agricultural Land Holdings)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the acreage of agricultural land sold during the last financial year by local authorities.

  Mr. Curry
  Details for the last financial year (1989–90) are not yet available. In 1988–89 local authorities in England and Wales sold 887 hectares from their smallholdings estates.
  947
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average size of agricultural holding owned by local authorities in England and Wales; and what was the figure 10 years ago.

  Mr. Curry
  The average size of agricultural holdings owned by local authorities in England and Wales was 22·6 hectares in 1988–89 compared with 18·9 hectares in 1979–80.

  Agricultural Wages Board
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Curry
  None of the Ministers in the Ministry have met the chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to abolish the green pound by 1992.

  Mr. Curry
  As part of this year's farm price review the Commission proposed a further step towards the elimination of the gap between the market and green rates of exchange for the pound.

  Surplus Food and Wine
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise at the next meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers the provision made for the disposal of surplus food and wine in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  As my hon. Friend knows, the United Kingdom has taken the lead over a number of years in pressing for action to be taken to control the level of agricultural surpluses and the cost of the common agricultural policy. We have achieved considerable success and at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers we will be looking to maintain this progress.

  Avoparcin
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to complete the process of deliberations with the European Community over a starch refund under regulation 1009/86 in respect of Avoparcin.

  Mr. Curry
  Additions to the list of products eligible for the Community starch production refund are decided by the Commission using powers exercised under the management committee procedure. I understand that the Commission is considering possible additions to the list, including that of Avoparcin, but is not yet in a position to make any firm proposal to the cereals management committee.

  Countryside (Access)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on access to the countryside.
  948
  Mr. Maclean
  Under section 17 of the Agriculture Act 1986 we have to balance the interests of promoting an efficient agricultural industry, the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside and its enjoyment by the public. It is generally recognised that there is a delicate balance between the increasing demand for public access and its impact upon the countryside and farming. The Ministry's policies are designed to encourage farmers wherever practicable to provide for countryside recreation. To this end, grants are available under the farm diversification grant scheme for farm walks and nature trails and the Ministry, jointly with the Countryside Commission, has published a ploughing code which reminds farmers of their responsibilities in relation to rights of way. Furthermore, we support the Rights of Way (Agricultural Land) Bill, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh) which seeks to clarify the existing law on rights of way over agricultural land.

  Rabies
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 15 March,Official Report, column 241, how he proposes to implement his plan in the event of a rabies outbreak to bring about the destruction of foxes in the infected area; and what assessment he has made of the impact of any control methods on other animals and bird species.

  Mr. Maclean
  Action taken would depend on the circumstances and the geographical spread of any outbreak. Urban foxes might have to be controlled by shooting and trapping if poisoning were not possible but the main method of destroying foxes in an infected area would involve the use of poisoned bait. Trained Ministry staff would select and mark the baiting points and uneaten baits would be recovered and destroyed. Accidental casualties among other species would be kept to the minimum compatible with the task of stamping out any outbreak of rabies before it became established.

  'At the Farmers Service"
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost to public funds of producing the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/WOAD booklet, "At the Farmers Service"; how many copies were produced; how they are being distributed; and whether any charge per copy is being required of the recipients.

  Mr. Curry
  The new edition of "At the Farmers Service" was produced using desk-top publishing techniques to provide value for money and make future revisions easier. Production costs were £20,000 for 50,000 copies, giving a unit cost of 40p per copy. The booklet is distributed free to members of the farming community and other interested parties.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy of his Department's set-aside application forms in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes, I have done so.

  Healthier Eating
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much he has spent on research into healthier eating(a) within his Department and (b) to outside organisations for (i) 1989–90 and (ii) 1990–91; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how much money he intends to spend in the promotion of a healthier diet in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how much money was spent by his Department in the promotion of a healthier diet in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the publicity efforts of his Department to promote a healthier diet; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) whether he will launch a nationwide campaign to encourage a healthier diet, using leaflets for widespread distribution, and other promotional methods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department, the Department of Health and the Health Education Authority are now in the final stages of preparing a booklet setting out a simple set of dietary guidelines intended to help consumers choose an overall balanced diet. The guidelines are targeted in the first instance at those giving dietary advice, for example, health professional teachers and the media, but will apply to the general public. It is intended to adapt them for other specific audiences such as school children, the elderly and pregnant women.

  In addition to this specific initiative my Department monitors the nutritional quality of the household diet through the national food survey and provides essential information on the nutrient content of particular foods. We have produced the "Manual of Nutrition" which describes all the important nutrients, their roles in the body and the foods that provide them. We commissioned jointly with the Department of Health the "Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults" which will be published shortly. We also recognise the importance of food labels in providing information and have pressed for EC legislation which would require more nutritional information to be shown. Our free booklet "Look at the Label" on understanding food labels explains the significance of the nutritional declarations which are increasingly being made on food labels and relates them to dietary advice.

  The directly attributable cost of the guidelines to my Department was about £14,000 in 1989–90 and a further £20,000 has been allocated for 1990–91. The total cost of work to promote a healthy and nutritious diet cannot be separately identified, but the cost of "Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults" was over £1 million.

  In 1989–90 my Department spent £900,000 on research into applied nutrition and £200,000 on monitoring nutrients in food. This work was contracted with outside organisations. It represents only part of my Department's total research expenditure (£8·6 million) on food safety and hygiene which is carried out so that consumers may have a safe and nutritious food supply from which they may choose a healthy diet. Figures for 1990–91 are not yet available.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy in 950
  respect of those research projects which have been identified as near market which subsequently fail to attract industrial support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Near-market research that does not attract industry support will have to cease. Work that is close to commercial application should be funded by industry, which is the direct beneficiary and best able to judge priorities for this work. Public expenditure is better redeployed on basic science, strategic research and research aimed at benefiting and protecting the community at large.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 9 February,Official Report, column 824, which projects have so far attracted near-market funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The projects listed in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 9 February 1990 will be funded by my Department until their completion. This will be by 31 March 1991 or earlier as appropriate. The areas being researched by these projects have been identified as near market, that is, suitable for industrial funding. I am pleased to be able to say that the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) will be funding from 1990–91 onwards a programme of research that will cover many of these areas of research.

  Poultry
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander), 13 February,Official Report, column 200, what evidence he has that the security of poultry premises could be jeopardised by open registers; and if he will now review his decision.

  Mr. Maclean
  The decision to remove the provisions in question was based on general concern about security rather than specific threats. I am satisfied that the action taken was a sensible precaution which does not prejudice the effectiveness of the salmonella controls.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund grants have been paid to Unigate plc in respect of poultry processing plants.

  Mr. Curry
  No EAGGF grants have been paid to Unigate plc or any of its subsidiary companies in respect of poultry-processing plants.

  Soil Preservation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the survival of rendzina soils subject to arable cropping; and what information he possesses concerning their degradation.

  Mr. Curry
  The special problems of rendzinas, and other soil types in England and Wales, are well understood by soil scientists of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. These specialists are located at the regional offices and sub-centres of MAFF and WOAD, and are available to provide advice and information on all aspects of soil care to all who require it.
  951
  The Department continues to fund research on a very wide range of soil-related problems. The many facets of soil degradation, such as heavy-metal contamination, erosion and acidification, are included in these studies.

  Information is published in suitable format, for example, in scientific journals, from individual projects within this programme, as soon as conclusions can be drawn with confidence.

  In addition to the work funded by my Department, there is a large amount of information available from other sources, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. It would not be possible to draw all this together for presentation, except at inordinate cost.

  Agricultural Wages
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet representatives of the Agricultural Workers Union to discuss wages and conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Ministers from this Department have no plans at present to meet representatives of the Transport and General Workers Union agriculture sector trade group.

  Bovine Offal
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Truro, 2 February,Official Report, column 409, on what information he bases his statement that industry's policy is not to use those bovine offals currently banned for use in human consumption.

  Mr. Maclean
  The statement was based on the knowledge of the pet food industry that this Department has built up through its normal work in relation to this sector.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to conduct periodic surveys of broiler flocks to establish the incidence of salmonella.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: Under the Government's salmonella control programme measures are being taken to reduce the level of salmonella infection in the broiler production chain. The impact of these measures on the incidence of salmonella will be kept under review.

  Artioposthia Triangulata
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the spread and effects of Artioposthia triangulata in Northern Ireland;

  (2) what information his Department has as to how Artioposthia triangulata first entered Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what studies have been commissioned about the spread and effects of Artioposthia triangulata; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what studies his Department has commissioned into the effect of Artioposthia triangulata on the earthworm population of Northern Ireland and if he will make a statement.
  952
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The New Zealand planarian (flatworm), Artioposthia triangulata, has colonised Northern Ireland. It feeds on earthworms and may be capable of reducing populations. It is found in all counties in Northern Ireland and has been associated with the disappearance of worms from grassland.

  The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has a programme of research into the distribution and biology of Artioposthia triangulata in Northern Ireland. Associated with this research, scientists are also monitoring reported sightings elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Research is necessary to define both the threat and the need for control measures.

  Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning Grants)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about decommissioning grants available to fishing vessels and the amount put in by European Community sources for decommissioning for(a) Holland, (b) France, (c) Denmark, (d) the United Kingdom and (e) Spain.

  Mr. Curry
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1990, c. 990-01]: The information supplied by the Commission is as follows:

  £ million

  Denmark

  1·64

  France

  nil

  Netherlands

  1·87

  Spain

  nil

  United Kingdom

  nil

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  City Regulation
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on City regulation.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on City regulation.

  Mr. Ridley
  Regulation of investment business is, for the most part, the responsibility of the Securities and Investment Board, which is the designated agency under the Financial Services Act 1986. Other aspects of City activity are regulated under other arrangements, such as the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and the Banking Act 1987.

  Drink Prices
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the decision of the brewers to increase the price of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the decision of the brewers to increase the price of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the decision of the brewers to increase the price of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to the Office of Fair Trading.
  953
  Mr. Redwood
  No. We have introduced a number of measures to increase competition in this area, and the Office of Fair Trading is already taking steps to keep the situation under review.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the OECD countries which had a more favourable trade balance in manufactures than Great Britain in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the OECD countries which had a more favourable trade balance in manufactures than Great Britain in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest complete data refer to 1987 when 11 of the 23 OECD countries had surpluses or smaller deficits than the United Kingdom as a percentage of their total trade in manufactures.

  The list is as follows:

  Mr. Leadbitter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the OECD countries which had a more favourable trade balance in manufactures than Great Britain in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is in the following table:

  Trade in Manufactures1 1987

  Balance as a percentage of Total Trade2 in Manufacture

  Japan

  61·5

  Germany

  24·3

  Italy

  14·1

  Sweden

  6·5

  Finland

  4·1

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  3·4

  Switzerland

  0·7

  Ireland

  -0·5

  France

  -2·2

  Austria

  -4·2

  Netherlands

  -5·3

  United Kingdom

  -8·4

  Denmark

  -11·0

  Canada

  -12·0

  Portugal

  -14·3

  Spain

  -14·9

  Turkey

  -16·7

  Norway

  -30·9

  Greece

  -38·8

  New Zealand

  -54·1

  Australia

  -57·9

  Iceland

  -69·7

  Notes:

  1 Standard International Trade Classification, Sections 5 to 8.

  2 Exports plus imports.

  Source: OECD Series A.

  IT Skills Shortages
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the information technology sector on skills shortages.

  Mr. Forth
  There have been a number of representations from the information technology sector, in the past,954
  with regard to IT skills shortages. In recognising this my Department has supported a number of initiatives aimed at reducing such shortages, including support of up to £440,000 over three years for the recently launched Women into Information Technology (WIT) campaign where this support is appropriately matched by industry.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the information technology sector on skills shortages.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the information technology sector on skills shortages.

  Mr. Forth
  There have been a number of representations from the information technology sector, in the past, with regard to IT skills shortages. In recognising this my Department has supported a number of initiatives aimed at reducing such shortages, including support of up to £440,000 over three years for the recently launched Women into Information Technology (WIT) campaign where this support is appropriately matched by industry.

  My Department also has an Information Technology Advisory Board (ITAB) with representatives from industry, commerce and academia. One of the ITAB's support committees advises specifically on education and training and comments on IT skills issues.

  CBI Regional Bodies
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a regional body of the Confederation of British Industry; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Lambie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a regional body of the Confederation of British Industry; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a regional body of the Confederation of British Industry; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department maintains regular contact with the CBI at all levels on a wide range of matters relating to industry.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans to encourage research and development in information technology.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans to encourage research and development in information technology.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans to encourage research and development in information technology.

  Mr. Forth
  I am pleased to announce Government support of £34 million for new national collaborative research and development programmes in the following areas of IT: safety-critical software, the application of
  955
  parallel processing and open distributed processing. They will be jointly funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and the science and engineering research council.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the training of senior staff in the application of information technology.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the training of senior staff in the application of information technology.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the training of senior staff in the application of information technology.

  Mr. Forth
  No. I have nothing to add to my answers of 14 March 1990 at column 292.

  Office of Fair Trading
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the directors of the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the director of the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the director of the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend met the Director General of Fair Trading on 2 April. There are currently no further meetings planned with Ministers in this Department.

  National Economic Development Council
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department has frequent contacts with NEDO officials on a wide range of business matters and I last chaired the council on 4 April. I have no plans to meet the director general again at present.

  Glass Safety
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that all the conditions of BS 6262 on glass safety are made mandatory without delay.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that all the conditions of BS 6262 on glass safety are made mandatory without delay.
  956
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that all the conditions of BS 6262 on glass safety are made mandatory without delay.

  Mr. Forth
  I propose to approve British Standard 6262 (code of practice for glazing in Buildings) for the purposes of the general safety requirement under section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 on publication of amendments to this standard. The standard will specify the use of safety glass in features such as patio doors, panels beside doors and other low-level areas where the risk of injury is greatest.

  Textiles
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet his European counterparts to discuss the textile industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Industry Council which I attended discussed the Commission annual report on the state of the textile industry on 13 March. No further EC discussion has been arranged at the moment but the subject frequently comes up in bilateral contacts. In addition, my noble Friend the Minister for Trade is this week attending an informal meeting of world Trade Ministers in Mexico with Ministers from some other EC member states, which will review progress in the GATT Uruguay round including the negotiations on the future of the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet his European counterparts to discuss the textile industry.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet his European counterparts to discuss the textile industry.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Industry Council which my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry attended discussed the Commission annual report on the state of the textile industry on 13 March. No further EC discussion has been arranged at the moment but the subject frequently comes up in bilateral contacts. In addition, my noble Friend the Minister for Trade is this week attending an informal meeting of world Trade Ministers in Mexico with Ministers from some other EC member states, which will review progress in the GATT Uruguay round including the negotiations on the future of the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Poland
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give figures for the United Kingdom's trade balance with Poland.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will give figures for the United Kingdom's trade balance with Poland.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1989 the crude deficit in United Kingdom visible trade with Poland £134 million.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his assessment of the causes of the relative performance of each region in terms of constant value manufacturing output since 1979.
  957
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his assessment of the causes of the relative performance of each region in terms of constant value manufacturing output since 1979.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his assessment of the causes of the relative performance of each region in terms of constant value manufacturing output since 1979.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are many factors underlying regional performance, including the state of the world economy, and regional industrial structure. Recent indices show continuing growth in all regions of the United Kingdom.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss a range of topics concerning the regulation of financial services as frequently as is necessary. No date has been fixed for the next such meeting.

  Confederation of British Industry
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no immediate plans to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry when he chaired a meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 4 April 1990. The main items discussed on that occasion were business and the environment, the electronics industry and the United Kingdom's trade performance.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he first became aware of Dr. Barry Richardson's research into cot deaths; and what action he then took to alert the public.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he first became aware of Dr, Barry Richardson's research into cot deaths; and what action he then took to alert the public.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department of Health wrote to my Department about Dr. Barry Richardson's research on 7 June 1989. A copy of Dr. Richardson's report dated June 1989 was received on 12 June. As a direct result the laboratory of the Government chemist was asked to undertake a scientific assessment of this research work.

  In a written reply on 9 March, my hon. Friend the Minister for Health stated that a group of independent experts had been asked to investigate further claims by Dr. Richardson about emission of toxic gases from soiled mattresses taking account of the assessment still being carried out by the laboratory of the Government chemist.

  I shall await the findings of this expert working group to see if there are any implications for the use of fire-resistant treatments in the manufacture of nursery furniture.

  Manufactured Goods (Exports)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of exports of manufactured goods Japan in 1989.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of exports of manufactured goods to Japan in 1989.

  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of exports of manufactured goods to Japan in 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  The level of United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods to Japan in 1989 was £1,938 million, an increase of 29 per cent. over 1988.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in exports of manufactured goods to Japan since 1979.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in exports of manufactured goods to Japan since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  Exports of manufactured goods to Japan have risen from £481 million in 1979 to £1,938 million in 1989, an increase of 303 per cent.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in exports of manufactured goods to the European Community since 1979.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in exports of manufactured goods to the European Community since 1979.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in exports of manufactured goods to the European Community since 1979.
  959
  Mr. Redwood
  Exports of manufactured goods to the European Community have risen from £13 billion in 1979 to £38 billion in 1989, an increase of £25 billion.

  Invisibles
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects for British invisibles in the European market after 1992.

  Mr. Redwood
  The single market offers both a challenge and an opportunity to British business. This applies to businesses generating invisible trade as much as to those generating visible trade. The opportunities are great: according to estimates published by the Commission in "European Economy" in March 1988, the Community services sector is expected to contribute about 30 per cent. of the gains from the completion of the single market. The outcome for British invisibles will depend on the dynamic response of individual businesses.

  Consumer Guarantees Bill
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has had on the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has had on the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has had on the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Forth
  At the Committee Stage of the Bill I undertook to inform members of the Committee of the representations I had received about various aspects of the Bill, where I had the agreement of the parties concerned to do so. This I have done. Further representations received since Committee were made in confidence and it would be inappropriate to give details of them.

  Consumer Demand
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect he expects falling consumer demand to have on British industry.

  Mr. Redwood
  Prospects for the economy to mid-1991, including manufacturing production, are contained in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1990–91 laid before the House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 March 1990. Chart 3.8 of that statement forecasts continuing growth in consumer expenditure in 1990 and the first half of 1991, but at a slower rate than in 1988 and 1989. The forecasts suggest maintained levels of manufacturing production in 1990 and modest growth of 0·75 per cent. in the first half of 1991.

  Product Safety
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to how many cases have been brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 concerning product safety which were already covered by an approved standard.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to how 960
  many cases have been brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 concerning product safety which were already covered by an approved standard.

  Mr. Forth
  Enforcement of the safety provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 is mainly the responsibility of the trading standards departments of local authorities. A number of suppliers have been successfully prosecuted for breaches of the general safety requirement, but information is not available on whether these cases involved an approved standard.

  West Germany
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with West Germany.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with West Germany.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with West Germany.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1989 United Kingdom imports from West Germany were £20 billion; United Kingdom exports to West Germany were £11·1 billion. Invisible trade is not separately recorded by country.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the United Kingdom balance of trade with West Germany in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1989 imports of manufactured goods from West Germany exceeded United Kingdom manufactured exports to that country by £9·6 billion. Invisibles are not separately recorded by country.

  Post Office
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Post Office.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Post Office.

  Mr. Forth
  I will next meet the chairman of the Post Office, Sir Bryan Nicholson, on 4 May.

  Tin Mining
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the tin mining industry in Cornwall.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The respective managements have decided to cease operations at the Geevor tin mine immediately and at the Wheal Jane tin mine at the end of the year. These decisions appear inevitable given the prevailing low tin prices and the absence of indications of the substantial and sustained improvement in the tin price required for these mines to continue in production.

  The remaining tin mine, South Crofty, has been the subject of a major capital investment programme designed to lower costs. This had been assisted by substantial DTI

  961
  loans. That investment programme, and the geological conditions of the mine, mean that South Crofty is better placed to withstand low prices.

  Shipbuilding
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway).

  Exporters
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the recent performance of United Kingdom exporters of goods and services.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have seen a significant and sustained growth in the United Kingdom's export performance. The value of non-oil exports doubled between 1979 and 1988. They increased again by 16 per cent. in 1989. In the three months to February, the value of goods exported was 5 per cent. higher than in the previous three months. This is a remarkable success, achieved in the face of increasingly strong competition, on which British exporters of goods and services are to be congratulated.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any new proposals to assist British exporters.

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any new proposals to assist British exporters.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave on 14 March to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) at columns 477–79.

  Engineering Products
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in engineering products.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in engineering products.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in engineering products.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The crude deficit on the balance of trade for engineering products was £8·2 billion in 1989.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regional selective assistance grants and regional development grants were awarded to firms in the north-west of England in 1988–89, at what cost to his Department.
  962
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the financial year 1988–89 my Department made offers of regional selective assistance for 340 projects, and approved regional development grants under the revised scheme for 2,036 projects, in the north-west region. The value of these offers and proposals was £133·4 million which is the amount expected to be paid if the projects proceed as planned.Note: The north-west region includes the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester arid Merseyside and the High Peak district of Derbyshire.

  Car Manufacturers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the major car manufacturers; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the major car manufacturers; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Secretary of State and I regularly meet the major car manufacturers to discuss a variety of issues.

  Footwear
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the footwear industry regarding import penetration of the United Kingdom footwear trade.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have received a small number of representations about footwear issues, including the level of footwear imports.

  EC Trade and Industry Ministers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his counterparts in the European Community; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his counterparts in the European Community; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  I maintain regular contacts with my opposite numbers in the European Commission across a wide range of issues.

  Government Special Shares
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has any plans to extend the use of Government special shares.

  Mr. Redwood
  The government have a general prejudice against the creation of special shares, but recognise that a special share may be warranted by the particular circumstances of a privatised company. Each case is assessed on its merits.

  Steel
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the steel industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the steel industry in the United Kingdom.
  963
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) earlier today.

  West German Trade and Industry Minister
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met his West German counterpart; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  I last met my West German counterpart, Dr. Haussmann, at the Anglo-German summit on 30 March. A range of issues were discussed.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the proportion of larger building societies having tied arrangements with insurance companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  Eight of the 10 largest building societies have a "tied" arrangement with a single insurance company. However, seven of these eight also operate an independent financial adviser arm.

  Sir Leon Brittan
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Vice-President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Ridley
  I maintain regular contacts with my opposite numbers in the European Commission across a wide range of issues.

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the trade deficit.

  Mr. Redwood
  Exports from the United Kingdom are running at record levels. The present deficit has been caused by excessive growth in domestic demand in relation to domestic industrial capacity. It is therefore a macro-economic problem which will be resolved by the sound macro-economic policies which the Government are pursuing.

  Stock Exchange
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the stock exchange; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  Ministers meet the chairman of the stock exchange whenever appropriate to discuss topics of mutual interest.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the European Economic Community countries with which the United Kingdom had a trade surplus in manufactured goods in 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1989 the United Kingdom had a manufacturing trade surplus with Ireland, Spain and Greece.

  RECHAR Scheme
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many jobs have been lost because of coal mine closures in the south Leeds area since 1 January 1984; if the RECHAR grants scheme can be applied to this area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will consider in any further discussions with the European Commission on RECHAR allocations that area of the Normanton constituency which is the former coal mining area of south-east Leeds, for allocation of grant; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list the areas which have been allocated grants through the RECHAR system.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The south-east Leeds area lost approximately 3,000 coal mining jobs since 1 January 1984. The Government have therefore already proposed to the European Commission that it should be among the areas to benefit from the RECHAR initiative for European structural fund grants to coal-mining areas. The Commission's decision is due by 27 April.

  Recycling
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the research and development projects being undertaken by his Department and related agencies into recycling, giving the cost of each project.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has commissioned a range of projects to aid the development of its policy on recycling. Some have been placed with Warren Spring laboratory, including an examination of present market barriers to recycling in the United Kingdom, and others with management consultants, including investigations into CFC recovery, recycling and destruction, and into the problems of scrap tyre disposal. The Department believes that those companies and organisations directly involved in materials recycling should themselves be the prime initiators of R and D in this area, but stands ready to consider helping worthwhile projects.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many animal experiments for cosmetics took place in the United Kingdom in 1978, 1988 and 1989; if these exceed in number the essential minimum referred to by him in his reply to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 6 March,Official Report, column 588; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Statistics on the safety testing of cosmetics and toiletries are published by the Home Office. The latest information is contained in table 3 of the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 1988" and similar information was published in previous years. The number of procedures carried out for the safety testing of cosmetic substances is determined by the requirements of current regulations which are kept to the minimum essential for consumer safety.

  Unigate plc
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants in aid have been paid to Unigate plc in respect of poultry-processing plants.
  965
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  St. Ivel Farm Foods Ltd. (formerly Unigate Poultry Ltd.), a subsidiary of Unigate plc, is receiving regional aid in respect of a poultry processing plant at Scunthorpe.

  Payments of regional development grant towards the project have totalled £3,729,000 to date. The company also accepted an offer of £10,558,000 of regional selective assistance and the first payment of grant under that offer was made in the quarter January to March 1989.

  Details of the RDG payments and the RSA offer were published in British Business in accordance with standing arrangements.

  Cosmetics
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's policy in respect of the number of clearances given to additives for use in cosmetics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The "positive" or approved lists of colourants, preservatives and ultra filters are agreed by member states at Brussels on the advice of the EC scientific committee on cosmetology. Since these are potentially more hazardous classes of ingredients the SCC normally asks for a full range of animal test data to safeguard the user.

  ECGD (Relocation)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it a criterion for the privatisation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department that the consequent relocation of offices from Cardiff, should take into account areas in Wales of high unemployment and poverty.

  Mr. Ridley
  There is currently no proposal for relocating the offices away from Cardiff nor do I expect one: but this would be a matter for the management after privatisation.

  London United Investments
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to satisfy himself that the accounts of London United Investments plc in respect of the financial years ended in 1988 and 1989 showed a true and fair view of the profit and loss accounts and balance sheets and complied with the Companies Acts.

  Mr. Redwood
  The accounts of London United Investments plc for 1987 and for 1988 were audited by Messrs. Peat, Marwick, McLintock who reported that the financial statements of the company gave a true and fair view of its affairs and had been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and that the consolidated financial statements had been properly prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985 applicable to insurance companies.966
  The group's accounts for 1989 are not yet due. In another answer to my hon. Friend today I have set out the action taken by my Department.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department first sought an actuarial report by Tillinghast into the insurance liabilities of London United Investments plc or its subsidiary companies; what were the dates when the report or reports were received by his Department; what were the dates when his officials took action on each report; and what was the nature of the action taken in each case.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department required an actuarial report into Walbrook and its subsidiaries in January 1989. This report by Tillinghast was received in June 1989. The Department after consulting the Government Actuary's Department put various questions to LUI in August and September 1989. In October the DTI told LUI that it would require a further actuarial report covering all the United Kingdom insurance subsidiaries and that the Department needed to discuss a substantial reduction in the new business taken on by Walbrook. None of the other United Kingdom insurance companies in the group were authorised to take on new insurance business. The second actuarial report has not yet been received by LUI. The regulatory action to stop new business being taken by Walbrook, announced at 8.30 am on 26 March, was on the basis of Tillinghast's preliminary work which Schroders, the recently appointed merchant bank advisers to LUI reported to the Department on Saturday 24 March 1990.

  Illegal Profits
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to provide that anyone, including financial institutions, who knowingly conceals the origins of illegal profits, will face a fine or imprisonment.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is already a serious offence to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking and terrorist funds, and there are extensive powers both to enable the police and customs officers to investigate such activities and to require banks and other financial institutions to report suspicious transactions to those authorities. The powers to combat drug money laundering have been further strengthened by the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990, which also contains provisions to prevent drug traffickers evading the controls on money laundering by importing or exporting their proceeds in the form of cash.

  It is also an offence to handle stolen goods or the proceeds of stolen goods; and those who do so may be held to have acted as accessories, conspirators or aiders and abetters in relation to the crime. Additionally, part VI cif the Criminal Justice Act 1988 frees banks and others from obligations of confidentiality when they report voluntarily transactions involving funds which they suspect are derived from criminal activity.

  CYPRUS: TALKS BREAKDOWN
  CYPRUS: TALKS BREAKDOWN
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE DEPLOYMENT BY USA: IMPLICATIONS
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE DEPLOYMENT BY USA: IMPLICATIONS
  ABM DEFENCE SYSTEMS: POLICY
  ABM DEFENCE SYSTEMS: POLICY
  NITRATES: PILOT SCHEME
  NITRATES: PILOT SCHEME
  CROWN ESTATE PAVING COMMISSIONERS
  CROWN ESTATE PAVING COMMISSIONERS
  CGT INDEXATION RELIEF WITHDRAWAL
  CGT INDEXATION RELIEF WITHDRAWAL
  ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN ARTS FESTIVALS: COSTS
  ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN ARTS FESTIVALS: COSTS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE/DOMESTIC RATE COMPARISON
  COMMUNITY CHARGE/DOMESTIC RATE COMPARISON
  BUSINESS RATE AND UBR COMPARISONS
  BUSINESS RATE AND UBR COMPARISONS
  HONG KONG: BALANCE OF TRADE WITH UK
  HONG KONG: BALANCE OF TRADE WITH UK
  PRISONERS' UNOCCUPIED HOMES: COMMUNITY CHARGE
  PRISONERS' UNOCCUPIED HOMES: COMMUNITY CHARGE
  PRISONERS' UNOCCUPIED HOMES: RATES
  PRISONERS' UNOCCUPIED HOMES: RATES
  STAMPS WITHOUT VALUE INDICATOR
  STAMPS WITHOUT VALUE INDICATOR
  COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES: TRADE WITH UK
  COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES: TRADE WITH UK