Written Answers of 24 April 1990

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out the arrangements governing repayment schemes relating to prescription charge repayments for policemen, firemen and their families.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Police regulations and the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades (NJC) scheme of conditions of service provide for the reimbursement of certain National Health Service charges incurred by police officers and local authority fire fighters. These are charges for drugs, medicines and appliances or for dental treatment incurred under sections 77 to 79 of the National Health Service Act 1977 as amended.

  The NJC scheme, but not police regulations, also provides discretion for fire authorities to reimburse certain other medical costs in the interests of efficiency. Arrangements for reimbursing charges do not extend to the families of police officers unless they are also members of the service or to the families of firefighters.

  Prisoners' Earnings
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the range of weekly earnings for prisoners on standard piece rate.

  Mr. Mellor
  Under the standard piece rate scheme, individual inmates are paid according to their own output or that of a group and may earn up to a maximum of £3·95 per week.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the maximum earnings of a remand prisoner.

  Mr. Mellor
  In certain very limited circumstances a remand prisoner may earn up to £5·87 per week (the maximum for a sentenced prisoner), but generally the maximum weekly pay is £2·25.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the range of weekly earnings for prisoners on the modified piece scheme.

  Mr. Mellor
  The modified piece work scheme is an incentive earnings scheme applied to certain workshops and parties with a designated working week of 23 hours or more. The pay range for production workers is from £3·18 to £5·87 per week and for support workers from £2·23 to £5·27 per week.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish for each of the last five years the number of successful prosecutions for not possessing a valid television receiver licence, separately distinguishing Wales and England.

  Mr. Mellor
  Information supplied by the national television licence records office is given in the table. The data are based on the areas covered by each television licence inquiry office. The Llandudno office covers part of England and the Shrewsbury office covers part of Wales.

  Offenders found guilty of television licence fee evasion

  Financial year

  England

  Wales

  1984–85

  95,335

  6,521

  1985–86

  106,482

  8,737

  1986–87

  153,593

  11,115

  1987–88

  140,536

  9,845

  1988–89

  152,194

  10,516

  1989–901

  149,008

  11,047

  1 Provisional.

  Penal Establishments
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles are currently being held in prison department establishments; in which establishments and in which wings of those establishments they are situated; whether juveniles are at all times separated from young adult or adult offenders; and whether unconvicted juveniles are separated from convicted prisoners.

  Mr. Mellor
  For the number of juveniles and the establishments in which they were held I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 23 April at column 24. Details of the location of each juvenile within the establishment are not recorded centrally. The table, however, gives the readily available information about accommodation for juveniles in the establishments concerned.

  In local prisons and remand centres male juveniles are at all times separated from adult prisoners and, so far as is practicable, are accommodated separately from young adults. Unconvicted prisoners are separated from convicted prisoners so far as this can reasonably be done, but mixing under close supervision may occur for certain regime activities such as education. Wherever possible, convicted juveniles are accommodated in separate wings or discrete units.

  In the female prison system sentenced female juveniles are held in establishments which also house young adult and adult female offenders, but their sleeping accommodation is in areas specifically designated for young offenders. Unconvicted female juveniles are not held in prison custody.

  Prison service establishments in England and Wales which held juveniles on 31 December 1989; by establishment and locations in which juveniles are held.

  Establishment and type

  Location

  Remand centres:

  Brockhill

  A, B, C or D wing

  Cardiff

  3 or 4 landing

  Dorchester

  D wing

  107

  Establishment and type

  Location

  Feltham

  Nightingale, Heron or Jay

  Glen Parva

  Unit 8, 9 or 12

  Hindley

  A, B or C wing

  Hull

  B wing

  Latchmere House

  A wing

  Low Newton

  A, B, C or D wing

  Manchester

  Remand centre

  Norwich

  Remand centre

  Pucklechurch

  A, B or C wing

  Risley

  Remand centre

  Swansea

  Young Offender Unit

  LOCAL PRISONS:

  Bristol

  No specific information

  Brixton

  B or C wing

  Holloway

  Level 4 or 5

  Manchester

  E or G wing

  Oxford

  Hospital

  YOUNG OFFENDER INSTITUTIONS:

  Aylesbury

  B or G wing

  Bullwood Hall

  No specific information

  Campsfield House

  Juveniles only

  Deerbolt

  On units 1–7

  East Sutton Park

  No specific information

  Everthorpe

  Ss. Andrew, Patrick, David and George wing/unit

  Feltham

  Nightingale, H or J unit

  Finnamore Wood

  (1 wing)

  Glen Parva

  No specific information

  Hollesley Bay

  Deben unit

  Kirklevington

  Juveniles only

  The Mount

  Ellis or Brister House

  New Hall

  No specific information

  Northallerton

  B wing

  Portland

  Hardy or Nelson House

  Stoke Heath

  No specific information

  Styal

  No specific information

  Swinfen Hall

  No specific information

  Wellingborough

  No specific information

  Werrington

  North, North West, West or South West dormitory

  Whatton

  The junior wing

  Welsh Courts
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of males under the age of 17 years remanded in custody in remand centres from Welsh courts during 1988;

  (2) what was the total number of males under the age of 17 years who were made subject to unruly certificates from Welsh courts during 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question from the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) on 8 March 1990 at column 821.

  1 February 1990

  1 March 1990

  1 April 1990

  15 April 1990

  Total population

  441

  451

  433

  347

  (a) awaiting a court hearing1

  192

  206

  187

  111

  (b) awaiting sentence2

  55

  60

  56

  21

  (c) young offenders3

  80

  92

  88

  0

  1 Includes adult and young offenders, convicted unsentenced and inmates on remand. The number of sentenced inmates subject to a further court appearance is not recorded centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  2 Includes young and adult convicted unsentenced.

  3 Includes remand, convicted unsentenced and sentenced.

  Puppy Farms
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning puppy farms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Following the Adjournment debate on 21 December initiated by the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams), I have received a number of representations on this subject from a variety of sources, including hon. Members, local authorities and members of the public. I am conscious of the need to ensure that all dog breeding establishments comply with the requirements of the law.

  Katyn
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the events of Friday 12 April, whether the circumstances surrounding the massacre of Katyn are no longer within the ambit of the War Crimes Bill provisions.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government welcome the recent acknowledgement by the Soviet authorities concerning responsibility for the Katyn massacre. We are unaware of any allegations that any of the perpetrators of the massacre may now be living in the United Kingdom, and there is therefore no reason to broaden the terms of the Bill.

  Cardiff Prison
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners Cardiff prison is designed to accommodate.

  Mr. Mellor
  Prior to the recent disturbances at Cardiff, the certified normal accommodation was 252 in the local prison and 85 in the remand centre. Some 95 places have since been lost in the local prison, but should be repaired and available for use within the next four weeks.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were accommodated at Cardiff prison on 1 February, 1 March, 1 April and 15 April, respectively, and how many on each occasion were(a) awaiting a court hearing, (b) awaiting sentence and (c) young prisoners.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is set out in the table below:

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Home Improvements
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps his Department and/or the Northern Ireland Executive have taken to encourage and assist elderly home owners to take up repair/improvement grants to bring their homes up to acceptable standards;

  (2) which voluntary organisations have been providing services on an agency basis to the Housing Executive, in encouraging and assisting elderly home owners to take up repair/improvement grants to bring their homes up to acceptable standards; how long such arrangements have been in operation; and in which areas of Northern Ireland they have operated.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  These matters fall within the day-to-day administration of the renovation grants scheme by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I understand that it is estimated that 40 per cent. of applicants for repair grants are elderly and in 1989 the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's priority groups for receipt of such grants was extended to include the elderly. There is a disproportionately lower number of improvement grant applications from the elderly and this reflects not only the financial difficulties facing them but the disruption caused by improvement work.

  The Northern Ireland Housing Executive provides advice and guidance via its network of local grants offices throughout the Province to elderly home-owners wishing to take up repair and improvement grants to bring their homes up to acceptable standards. In response to the level of demand the executive also provides a dedicated home improvements for the elderly service in three of its six regions (Belfast, south-east and north-east) through which assistance is provided at each stage in the grants process from preliminary inspection through to completion. A similar type of service is also available to rural dwellers in the executive's west region.

  Voluntary organisations continue to play a vital role in providing assistance to elderly and disabled home owners. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is currently finalising an agreement with Fold Housing Trust for a "Care and Repair" agency service which is intended to provide a comprehensive service of advice and assistance to the elderly, disabled and those in financial hardship. Within the next 18 months this service is expected to be made available throughout the Province and initial estimates are for an annual turnover of around 400 cases of which approximately 200 would be grant-aided.

  Until now voluntary organisations have provided a home improvements for the elderly service on an agency basis in various parts of the Province as follows:

  (i) from 1982 Fold Housing Trust has provided a service in the south-east and north-east regions;

  (ii) from 1982 to 1987 the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations provided a service in the Belfast area; and

  (iii) from January 1988 Shelter (NI) has provided a service in the Strabane and Londonderry areas.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many miles of hedgerows have been removed, and how many miles planted(a) since 1 January 1960 and (b) since 1979.
  110
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information is not available because grants for the removal of hedgerows stopped a number of years ago.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conclusions he has reached on the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the bus services in Northern Ireland provided by Ulsterbus Ltd. and Citybus Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have today placed in the Library of the House the initial response produced by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and the bus companies, to the report submitted by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in June 1989.

  I am grateful to the commission for the comprehensive review it carried out and the series of 58 recommendations it made. The commission found an effective, low-cost and lean organisation with short chains of command supported by loyal, hard-working and often courageous staff. The report noted the high level of civil disorder with which the companies have had to cope, reflected in the destruction of over 1,100 buses since 1969. It especially commented on the dedication of staff at all levels in maintaining services in the face of severe harassment.

  The commission confirmed that the companies do not operate against the public interest. The report contained 58 recommendations most of which have been accepted and, where appropriate, are being implemented. This should result in a marked improvement of services to the public and the management of the companies. The companies are still considering the feasibility of a few recommendations.

  The Department continues in dialogue with the companies about the implementation of the recommendations and I will report on progress to the House in due course.

  Lough Foyle
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the area of land lost to the sea between the estuary of the River Roe and Magilligan Point during the last(a) five years, (b) 10 years, (c) 15 years and (d) 20 years; what evidence he has on changes in the rate of erosion; what evidence he has on the long term change in the level of the land above sea level in that area; and whether he has any approaches to the EEC for funding for coastal protection works to protect the environment of the Lough Foyle foreshore.

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

  The expenditure necessary to stop erosion on this portion of the Lough Foyle coast could not be justified as the cost of coastal protection works would be greatly in excess of the value of the land at risk, consequently EC funding has not been sought.

  Police Rent Allowances
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of(a) uprating rent allowance for the Royal Ulster

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  Constabulary by the index agreed by the police negotiating board and (b) by the movement in the retail price index since the force maximum was last reviewed.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The actual indices for the period 1 April 1988 to 1 April 1990 are not yet available, but it is estimated that uprating by the index recommended by the PNB would cost approximately £5·8 million and uprating by the retail prices index would cost approximately £5 million.

  Farm Woodlands Scheme
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to improve uptake under the farm woodlands scheme.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 18 April 1990]: The farm woodlands scheme has, since its inception, had extensive advisory and media coverage and will be widely publicised again in August-September prior to the new planting year.

  The scheme as it is administered in Northern Ireland is, for all practical purposes, identical with the scheme in the rest of the United Kingdom with the same terms and

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  New (excl Imports)

  Imported new from ROI (not previously registered)

  B as per cent, of A and B

  Registered in ROI prior to importation to NI

  D as per cent, of A and B and D

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Private cars

  1984

  57,107

  5,285

  8·47

  1

  —

  1985

  55,599

  4,328

  7·22

  1

  —

  1986

  53,019

  872

  1·61

  1

  —

  1987

  53,769

  221

  0·40

  595

  1·09

  1988

  55,051

  380

  0·68

  2,085

  3·62

  1989

  53,520

  133

  0·24

  3,203

  5·63

  Light goods (not over 1,525 kg used for commercial purposes)

  1984

  3,533

  869

  19·74

  1

  —

  1985

  3,818

  662

  14·77

  1

  —

  1986

  3,312

  237

  6·67

  1

  —

  1987

  3,334

  278

  7·69

  1

  —

  1988

  3,129

  267

  7·86

  1

  —

  1989

  2,994

  300

  9·10

  1

  —

  Heavy goods vehicles (over 1,525 kg)

  1984

  1,953

  5

  0·25

  1

  —

  1985

  2,503

  6

  0·23

  1

  —

  1986

  2,238

  1

  0·04

  1

  —

  1987

  2,173

  4

  0·18

  1

  —

  1988

  2,183

  712

  24·59

  1

  —

  1989

  2,201

  794

  26·51

  1

  —

  1 Figures not available.

  Fish Stocks
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show how many cases of pollution of rivers and lakes were known to him in each of the last three years; how many in each year resulted in fish kill; and how many of these cases were the result of pollution by(a) the Department of the Environment and (b) the Department of Agriculture.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 19 April 1990]: The number of pollution incidents investigated on behalf of the Department of the Environment by the Fisheries
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  conditions. The scheme is being kept under review throughout the United Kingdom and any measures adopted to improve uptake will apply in Northern Ireland.

  Vehicle Imports
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table of how many motor vehicles, what types and class, were imported as(a) new vehicles and (b) secondhand vehicles into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the total sales of (i) new vehicles and (ii) secondhand vehicles this represents in each class and type in each year, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 19 April 1990]: The Department of Environment for Northern Ireland does not hold information about actual sales of new or second-hand vehicles.

  The information set out in the tables relates to vehicles registered for the first time in Northern Ireland and vehicles imported as new or having previously been registered and used in the Republic of Ireland.

  Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland and the Foyle Fisheries Commission over the last three years and the number of associated fish kills are as follows:

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Pollution incidents

  995

  1,001

  903

  Fish kills

  33

  27

  57

  Pollution investigations were also undertaken by environmental health (rivers) officers who act in conjunction with the fisheries bodes as required. We are unable to identify incidents directly attributable to the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. For the

  113
  three years in question there were 39, 32 and 36 incidents respectively reported which involved sewage or water treatment works.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been carried out into the stocks of brown trout in Lough Neagh over the past decade; and where the results of such research have been published.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 19 April 1990]: None that I am aware of.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the stocks of brown trout in Lough Neagh are now higher or lower than was the case five years, 10 years and 15 years ago; and whether the size and weight of the fish has increased or decreased.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 19 April 1990]: In the absence of any research into the stocks of brown trout in Lough Neagh and detailed catch statistics from fishermen, it is not possible to state whether the stocks of brown trout are now higher or lower than was the case five years, 10 years and 15 years ago or whether the size and weight of fish has increased or decreased.

  The spawning record shows that there are fluctuations from year to year in the number of redds counted in the various tributaries of the Lough Neagh catchment, but as a general guide they do not indicate any long-term trend in the overall state of the stock.

  A copy of the spawning record is provided at table V in the 1988 annual report of the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Belfast Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the police and Army security operation mounted for the visit to Belfast of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Eire; and whether any part of the cost will be met from(a) European Community funds, (b) the Eire Government and (c) the Institute of Directors.

  Mr. Cope
  The extra cost of the police operation could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. None of the cost will be met from European Community Funds, the Government of the Republic of Ireland or the Institute of Directors. The cost of the Army operation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Woburn House, Millisle
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of carpeting, furnishing and general refurbishment of Woburn house, Millisle, when it was decided to use it as a prison officers' school; how many staff are employed; and what is the number of recruits in training.

  Mr. Cope
  Woburn house became the Northern Ireland prison service college on 12 January 1981. As payment records are not retained beyond the minimum of seven years in accord with Her Majesty's Treasury regulations the information required is not available.

  As at 19 April 1990, there was a total of 54 staff employed at the prison service college, Woburn house,
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  Millisle. There are presently 24 recruits in full-time training at the college—21 males and three females. Other part-time and short courses are run at the college as well.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any valuation was made of the woodworking and other equipment formerly housed at the young offenders centre, Millisle, before it was disposed of when the centre was transferred to Hyde park, Purdysburn.

  Mr. Cope
  The available records relating to the equipment and machinery used for vocational training at the borstal at Millisle indicate that the bulk of these items were transferred to the new young offenders' centre at Hydebank Wood and to Lisnevin training school. A few items which were not required, were disposed of under the Government regulations covering the disposal of surplus equipment. As detailed financial records for this period some 10 years ago no longer exist, it is not possible to say what the value of these items were.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Small Firms
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Government are taking to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on small firms.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government recognise that the burden of complying with regulation is greater for small firms. The deregulation initiative, co-ordinated by my Department, therefore takes particular account of their problems. Additional departmental deregulation reviews under the rolling programme and wider cross-departmental work on, for example, simplification of small company accounts, which I announced on 21 December last, promise useful improvements in the regulatory environment. Recent studies by my Department of the problems of getting established in particular sectors will help us target future deregulatory activity more effectively.

  Examples of recent action which should help small firms include the Department of Employment's easing of restrictions on the employment of women and young people and publication of their "self-employment starter pack". Also, important changes were announced in the Budget, including a new scheme of comprehensive bad debt relief and an increase in the VAT registration threshold. My own Department has simplified the provisions for shareholder information and streamlined radiocommunications licensing.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in Scotland applied for assistance under the Department of Trade and Industry's enterprise initiative between April 1988 and April 1989, and from April 1989 to date; and how many companies in Scotland were actually given assistance under the scheme during each of these periods.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The enterprise initiative is a comprehensive package of DTI services, including the consultancy initiatives, regional selective assistance (RSA), regional enterprise grants (REG), collaborative
  115
  research programmes, the small firms merit award for research and technology (SMART), the enterprise and education initiative, the managing into the '90s programme and the export initiative.

  Applications for assistance are only made under project—based programmes. The information requested for Scotland under these programmes is as follows:

  1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989

  1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  Consultancy initiatives:1

  Applications

  1,529

  1,405

  Projects approved

  1,299

  1,162

  Regional selective assistance:

  Applications

  255

  313

  Projects approved

  221

  242

  Regional enterprise grants:

  Applications

  482

  673

  Projects approved

  226

  432

  Smart:2

  Applications

  74

  196

  Projects approved

  9

  20

  1 The consultancy initiatives also provides assistance in the form of a business review which is provided to 98 per cent, of applicants.

  2 SMART is a competition-based programme. Due to a change in the closing date for the 1990 competition, the 1989–90 statistics include the applications for the two years competitions, but only one year's winners, as the 1990 winners have yet to be announced.

  Accounting Practices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policies regarding off-balance sheet financing schemes.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 4 April at column 621.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of his Department's criticisms of the standard of audit work done by major auditing firms, he will issue statements to warn investors of the quality of work done by such firms.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. It is for investors to form their own view about those criticised in reports of inspectors which my Department has published.

  CCAB Ltd.
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether following the letter dated 16 November 1989 from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, he has examined the annual report and accounts filed by CCAB Ltd.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is planning to cease using the auditing firms criticised by his inspectors as auditors for the public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  When making or approving such appointments my Department takes all relevant factors into account.

  Institute of Chartered Accountants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish any comments made by his Department on the draft syllabus published by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. It would not be appropriate to do so.

  Company Directors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations from the Bank of England concerning the encouragement or otherwise of the appointment of non-executive directors by major companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Bank of England has over a long period encouraged the appointment of non-executive directors and this is also the Department's policy.

  Libya
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his current estimate for the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Libya.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information on the value of United Kingdom visible trade with Libya is published in the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, Business Monitor MM20", table lb.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to bring in regulations to define private persons in the sections of the Companies Act 1989 which restrict actions for damages under section 62 of the Financial Services Act 1986; and what consultations he has carried out on such regulations.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department will undertake public consultation on its proposals for defining private investor before making the relevant regulations under section 193 of the Companies Act 1989. The intention is to commence such consultations shortly.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many actions for damages under section 62 of the Financial Services Act 1986 have been brought; by whom; and with what result.

  Mr. Redwood
  Actions under section 62 of the Financial Services Act 1986 are private actions for damages, and as such my Department would not necessarily expect to hear of such cases. In the only instance of which I am aware, the case was decided against the plaintiff.

  Education-Business Partnerships
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have for local education-business partnerships and for the teacher placement service.

  Mr. Ridley
  I am pleased to announce on behalf of myself and my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Employment, that the Government intend to support local education business
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  partnerships across the country. The new partnerships will build on the work already done under the enterprise and education initiative, TVEI and compacts, and foster the development of the work-related aspects of the national curriculum.

  Partnerships involve local education and business interests in work that brings schools and other educational institutions, industry and commerce closer together for the benefit of young people and the economy.

  The Government also intend to build wherever possible on existing partnership work. Where they are in a position to make effective proposals, the new training and enterprise councils will be offered the first opportunity to lead and co-ordinate the development of this activity; otherwise, other local bodies and organisations will be invited to bid for this role.

  There will be a development phase over the next 12 months in which my colleagues and I will collaborate closely. The Foundation for Education Business Partnerships, which has been established by industrial and education interests to foster partnership activity will be kept closely in touch.

  Financial support will come initially from my Department. With the formation of partnerships from April 1991, the Department's Training Agency will take the lead.

  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland will make separate announcements about their arrangements for partnerships.

  The teacher placement service will continue. Arrangements for its future administration will be developed together with those for local partnerships.

  Mergers
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement concerning his policy on referring completed mergers to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Ridley
  Section 64(4) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 provides that I may refer a qualifying merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) within six months of the date of the completion of the merger or the date on which material facts about the merger are made public or made available to me or to the Director General of Fair Trading. In addition, I am required, under section 64(5) of the Act, to make my decision on whether or not to refer the merger as soon as is reasonably practicable.

  Many mergers are either made public or discussed with the Director General of Fair Trading before they take effect. But when a merger is completed before any such announcement or discussion, I am anxious to be in a position as soon as possible to decide whether it should be referred to the MMC. In such cases therefore I shall be looking to the director general for early advice, and to the companies concerned for their cooperation with his Office to enable him to give it. If, in such a case, I had reason to believe that the merger could raise competition or other public interest issues, and that the director general's inquiries were not being answered fully and promptly, I would not allow the lack of full information to deter me from requiring an investigation by the MMC.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the number of companies which his Department have prosecuted for the failure to meet the disabled employee quota since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  There have been no prosecutions since 1979 against companies that failed to fulfil their obligation under the quota scheme established by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much Government assistance has been given to Liverpool through housing investment programmes(a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  Details of the allocations made to Liverpool city council since 1978–79, the first year in which housing investment programme allocations were made, are listed below. Since 1981–82 authorities have been able to augment the borrowing power of their HIP allocations by using the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts. For 1990–91, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation does not convey borrowing approval directly.

  Housing investment programme allocations for Liverpool city council

  £ thousand

  1978–79

  35,460

  1979–80

  42,430

  1980–81

  47,230

  1981–82

  39,788

  1982–83

  49,337

  1983–84

  41,850

  1984–85

  38,499

  1985–86

  31,000

  1986–87

  27,500

  1987–88

  25,300

  1988–89

  20,588

  1989–90

  123,207

  1990–91

  233,687

  Notes

  1 Provisional.

  2 Initial allocations only.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 5 April given by the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central, if he will list the public meetings held by or attended by the Leeds Development Corporation to which he refers.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The development corporation has held and attended public meetings with the local business community about the planning framework for the Calls and Riverside area and with residents of Armley, Kirkstall and Beza road, Hunslet.

  The planning meetings of the development corporation are also open to the public.

  Earthquake
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by location the damage that was recorded in the counties of Yorkshire and Humberside after the earthquake that was felt in these areas on 2 April and the seismographic scale.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No comprehensive list of damage caused by the Bishops Castle earthquake of 2 April 1990, exists at present. Information on damage and other felt effects is being collected by the British Geological Survey under the United Kingdom seismic monitoring and information service which is funded by a number of organisations including the Natural Environment Research Council and my Department. The survey has yielded about 6,000 replies so far and further information is being received daily.

  It will be several months before all of the information has been studied in detail, but preliminary analysis indicates that little or no damage occurred in Yorkshire and Humberside. The earthquake measured about 5·4 on the Richter seismographic scale.

  Kilbury Sewage Treatment Works
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to reply to a letter written on 27 February by the Staverton parish council about discharge consent standards at Kilbury sewage treatment works, Buckfastleigh, Devon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I wrote to Staverton parish council and to my hon. Friend on 23 April.

  Waste
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what examination he is making of alternatives to the source separation of the waste stream prior to recycling; if he has any information concerning the effect mechanical separation would have on the percentage of refused derived products from waste; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of source separation of the domestic waste stream on the ability to recycle domestic waste output; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list those local authorities in England and Wales that his Department is aware of that currently recycle all or part of the domestic waste stream, using the mechanical sorting of waste as opposed to source separation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This information is not available at present but is currently being sought from local authorities through a comprehensive survey of their recycling activity. Issues relating to the collection and sorting of waste are being considered by the advisory group on recycling jointly run by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Refuse-derived Fuel Pellets
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much public money has been spent on plants sponsored by his Department investigating the 120
  manufacture and use of refuse-derived fuel pellets; if he will list the performance figures from those plants; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list such private sector research of which he is currently aware into the manufacture and use of refuse derived fuel pellets; and if he will undertake a comparative study between their findings and data from plants sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  About £12 million has been spent by my Department between 1974 and 1986 on pilot schemes for the manufacture and use of refuse-derived fuel pellets. The results have been published by the Warren Spring laboratory, for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible. Technical problems have now largely been solved, but further work is needed on marketing. Any comparison of these results and private sector research results would be a matter for prospective purchasers of equipment.

  Housing Transfers
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the outcome of the arrangements to transfer the housing stock of Rochesterupon-Medway city council, he will revise his guidelines regarding voluntary transfers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Our criteria remain those set out in the guidelines, "Large Scale Voluntary Transfers of Local Authority Housing to Private Bodies", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy not to approve any future proposal by Rochester-upon-Medway city council to transfer its housing stock to another landlord which is not accompanied by financial assistance to the tenants' association to emply independent financial and legal advice.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Any local authority wishing to dispose of tenanted housing must comply with the requirements of schedule 3A to the Housing Act 1985. The Secretary of State will consider whether the authority has, in his view, met these requirements before deciding whether to give consent to the disposal. It is for the authority to decide whether it will provide tenants with financial assistance for obtaining external advice.

  Hillingdon Vehicle Maintenance Department
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds he used his powers under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 to compel the London borough of Hillingdon to close its vehicle maintenance department.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton on 13 March at column 189.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the National Rivers Authority for additional staffing and resources; and if he will make a statement.
  121
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The National Rivers Authority is currently preparing its first corporate plan. My officials are in discussion with the authority about this and about resources generally. The Government are committed to ensuring the NRA has the necessary resources to carry out its functions effectively. Grant in aid to the NRA for 1990–91 is £93 million.

  Sports Clubs (Rate Relief)
  Mr.. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many councils have agreed to grant discretionary rate relief to sports clubs for the year 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  The information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. Authorities will not necessarily yet have dealt with all applications for relief. We intend, however, to collect later in the year information about the use that authorities have made of their discretion.

  Ozone Levels
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in the light of his Department's news release of 3 August 1989, no public announcement was made in respect of ozone levels on 17 March and 18 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  In accordance with the Department's news release of 3 August 1989, information on ozone levels occurring on 17 and 18 March, and also 31 March and 1 April was available from the Department's press office the morning of the day after the episode commenced. No journalist asked for this summary.

  Petrol
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to assess(a) the level of carcinogens and (b) the health risks associated with the carcinogens produced by (i) leaded and (ii) unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department funds a substantial programme of research investigating pollution emissions from vehicles using leaded and unleaded petrol. Special emphasis is placed upon organic micro-pollutants, including benzene.

  The evidence on human exposure to these pollutants provided by this research will be evaluated by the Department of Health for possible health effects.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his meeting at Sandringham in Norfolk with European Commissioners; and whether he discussed rain forest issues.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales invited Sr. Ripa di Meana, European Commissioner for the Environment, and Mr. Ray McSharry, European Commissioner for Agriculture, to visit Sandringham on 19–20 April. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I were also invited. Discussions were wide ranging.

  Victoria Tower
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to undertake the restoration of the stonework to the Victoria tower at the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I am pleased to announce that a contract for the repair and restoration of the stonework on the Victoria tower and the south elevation of the Palace of Westminster overlooking Victoria tower garden was let to John Laing Construction Ltd. shortly before Easter. Work will start later this month. It will take four years to complete at a cost of some £7 million.

  The placing of this contract marks the start of the final stage of the restoration of the exterior of the Palace of Westminster which began in 1981. It is intended to follow on with the restoration of the stonework of the internal courtyards.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement of 3 April on charge capping, what were his decisions in relation to capping Lambeth borough council for 1990–91.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  On the basis of the principles that I adopted for inner-London boroughs, Lambeth's revised budget of £293·9 million is, in my opinion, excessive. On 10 April, I therefore designated the authority for charge capping in accordance with those principles, and proposed a cap of £285·1 million, a reduction of £8·8 million or £51 per adult. I am satisfied that, on the basis of the information available to me, the proposed cap is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of Lambeth. The authority has 28 days, beginning on 10 April 1990, in which to let me know whether it accepts the proposed cap or, if not, what alternative cap it is proposing together with the reasons for it.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of people who will be required to pay standard community charge in respect of second homes in each local authority in England.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: This information is not available.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there are any circumstances under which those residing on islands would qualify for a reduction in their community charge bills; and whether such residents qualified for a reduction under the old domestic rating system.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: The qualifying conditions for a reduction in community charges, either through community charge benefit, student status or transitional relief apply equally to residents on islands as to residents on the mainland. Under the old domestic rating system, the same principles in respect of rebates and reliefs applied.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent estimate of the total expenditure on the collection of the poll tax(a) in Scotland in the year 1989–90 and (b) in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales in the year 1990–91.
  123
  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: The Government's latest estimate for collecting the community charge in England in 1990–91 is £400 million. The cost of community charge collection in Scotland and Wales are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales respectively.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to fix the maximum standard community charge at nil for empty dwellings in England and Wales on agricultural or forestry land.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: We have prescribed nine classes of property in respect of which no standard charge is payable. We have also given wide discretion to local authorities to specify additional classes of property for special treatment. Local authorities could, if they saw fit, specify a class of property relating to empty agricultural dwellings for which a lower multiplier would be applied. However, such a discretion may be exercised only before the start of the financial year in which it is intended to operate.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to change the arrangements whereby local authorities may fix a standard community charge on self-catering holiday cottages, chalets and the like, with an impact above the level of current rates on farm income from this source.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: A standard charge will be payable in respect of self-catering accommodation only if the property is to be treated as domestic property, does not give rise to business rates and if no person has his or her sole or main residence there. In such circumstances, unless the local authority had chosen to specify such a class of property for special treatment, the property would be subject to the standard charge in the same way as other qualifying properties. A property will be subject to business rates if it is available for letting commercially for short periods of 140 days or more per year to individuals whose sole or main residence is elsewhere.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take either to secure the retention of the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit or to provide for the environmental protection of south Yorkshire as far as the tipping, storage and management of harmful or toxic waste is concerned.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I were concerned to receive notice of the intention of Sheffield and Doncaster to withdraw from the voluntary agreement on waste regulation in South Yorkshire with effect from 1 April 1991. We believe that satisfactory arrangements for the management of hazardous waste within the metropolitan areas require effective co-operation between all the districts in these areas and that is why, in cases where voluntary agreements were not forthcoming in 1985, statutory arrangements were introduced under the Local Government Act 1985. Consequently, I would hope that Sheffield and Doncaster will reconsider their position
  124
  in relation to the voluntary agreement. In the meantime, I have asked Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to let me have a full assessment of the position.

  Acid Deposition
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent assessment he has made of the effect of acid deposition on trees; what percentage of trees he estimates are(a) dying from (b) otherwise affected by acid deposition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 24 April 1990]: The Forestry Commission has carried out a national monitoring programme of annual tree health surveys since 1984. In 1989, tree health showed an overall improvement for the second year running.

  A study of the effects of air pollution, including acid deposition, on trees was carried out for the Department by the United Kingdom terrestrial effects review group (TERG). The report was published in July 1988 and copies placed in the Library of the House. It concludes that there is as yet no direct proof that air pollution is damaging trees in the United Kingdom, but that some forests are subjected to pollution climates which may be expected to cause stress.

  Further laboratory and field study data, including information from the Forestry Commission's programme, have become available since the publication of the TERG report which may enable more precise conclusions to be drawn. The Department has therefore set up a sub-group of TERG specifically to evaluate this new information. The group will report in January 1991.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) of 20 February,Official Report, column 656, if he will now make a further statement on the feasibility of compiling a register of contaminated land.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: I am sympathetic to the idea of compiling registers in appropriate form and expect to receive later this week, the report of the internal working party which has been looking at this. I will announce my proposals at the earliest opportunity.

  Environmental Research
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much, for each year from 1980 to 1989, inclusive, was spent by his Department on environmental research to meet(a) United Kingdom needs, (b) European needs, and (c) global needs.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: The expenditure of the Department of the Environment on environmental research to meet United Kingdom needs between 1980 and 1989 is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1980–81

  24·1

  1981–82

  23·7

  1982–83

  21·3

  1983–84

  20·4

  125

  Year

  £ million

  1984–85

  20·8

  1985–86

  24·9

  1986–87

  25·7

  1987–88

  27·3

  1988–89

  29·9

  1989–90

  35·5

  None of the above expenditure has met European needs directly. The above expenditure does, however, cover research on global issues amounting to £190,000 in 1988–89 and £950,000 in 1989–90.

  Oil Spillage (Antarctic)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the pollution from oil spillage in the Antarctic.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  There are no comprehensive data on the quantities of oil spilled in the Antarctic. Overall the impact of oil pollution is believed to be insignificant. The British Antarctic Survey reports only three spills of any size from its operations within the last 10 years. None of these spills, of marine gas oil, amounted to more than six barrels and none had any recorded environmental impact.

  Following a number of reported incidents by other national operators in the Antarctic, notably the sinking of the supply vessel Bahia Paraiso, the Antarctic treaty consultative parties discussed at their 15th meeting in Paris in October 1989 the prevention, control and response to marine pollution. Recommendations passed included measures to prohibit certain discharges and disposal from vessels, requirements for vessels to comply with specific international conventions on vessel safety and pollution control and a requirement for Governments to increase mutual co-operation in hydographic survey and charting in Antarctic waters, to assist in navigational safety and environmental protection.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Libya
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of British nationals currently working in Libya; and what were the figures for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Not all British citizens in Libya register with the British interests section in Tripoli, but we estimate that since 1985 the British community there has numbered between 3,500 and 5,000.

  Peru
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has raised with the Peruvian Government the detention of Victor Taipe Zuniga, president of the National Mineworkers Federation.

  Mr. Maude
  No.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations 126
  he has made to the Peruvian Government about the detention of politicians, trade union leaders and trade union representatives.

  Mr. Maude
  We frequently raise with the Peruvian authorities the cases of individuals who have been detained or who have disappeared in Peru, including politicians and trade union leaders and representatives.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Peruvian ambassador; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met the Peruvian ambassador on 18 January, at a lunch given by the Latin American heads of mission in London, at which a wide range of issues were discussed.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised with the Peruvian Government the subject of the violation of human rights in that country.

  Mr. Maude
  We frequently stress to the Peruvian Government our support for democracy in Peru and our wish that human rights be fully respected.

  Uganda
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Ugandan High Commissioner; and whether at that meeting he raised the subject of claims for compensation on behalf of British citizens.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since his appointment last October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not had a formal meeting with the Ugandan high commissioner. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development raised this subject with President Museveni when she visited Uganda in March.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom Government and Uganda, (b) when they were signed and (c) when they are individually due for review or and renewal.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The main bilateral agreements signed by Her Majesty's Government with Uganda since 1986, when President Museveni came to power, are:(i) The Overseas Service (Uganda) Agreement; signed at Kampala 18 March 1986 and entered into force on 31 March 1986. Treaty Series/Command number not yet allocated. To be reviewed before 31 March 1991.
  The Public Officers' Pensions (Uganda) Amendment Agreement; signed at Kampala on 29 October 1987 and entered into force the same day. Treaty Series/Command number 057/1988 Cm. 145. To be reviewed as necessary.
  The United Kingdom/Ugandan Debt Agreement No. 3 (1987); signed at Kampala on 26 April 1988 and entered into force on 5 May 1988. Treaty Series/Command number 067/1988 Cm. 482. Under review.

  A number of aid agreements have also been concluded during the period.
  127
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have outstanding claims for compensation against the Government of Uganda.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No exact figure is available, but the Ugandan Government have reported that they have received slightly over 1,000 claims for compensation from persons in Britain. The majority of these will have been from British citizens and remain outstanding.

  Lithuania and Kashmir
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct his Department to convey to the official representatives of the Governments of the Soviet Union and India, respectively, the views of Her Majesty's Government on the demands for independence emerging from Lithuania and Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are in regular contact with both the Soviet and Indian Governments on the situations in Lithuania and Kashmir. Both Governments are well aware of our views on the issues arising.

  Iraq
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to raise at the United Nations the human rights record of the present regime in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have raised, and will continue to raise, our concerns about Iraq's human rights record, both directly with the Iraqi authorities and in all suitable international bodies. We expressed our views firmly at the recent UN Commission of Human Rights in Geneva.

  EC Foreign Ministers (Meeting)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the topics discussed, and conclusions reached, at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Community at Dublin castle on 21 April.

  Mr. Maude
  EC Foreign Ministers met in Dublin on 21 April to discuss preparations for the informal meeting of Community Heads of State or Government on 28 April. Ministers first considered the latest developments in Lithuania and the economic measures introduced by Moscow. The Twelve issued a statement expressing their serious concern and underlining that measures of a coercive nature could make no contribution to the search for a solution through dialogue. Ministers agreed to keep the situation and its policy implications under continuous review. An official working group will meet for this purpose this week.

  Ministers discussed the implications for the Community of developments in central and eastern Europe. They welcomed the prospect of German unification and the integration of GDR territory into the Community: the meeting on 28 April will discuss how to ensure this is achieved as quickly, fully and smoothly as possible. They also discussed—as will the meeting on 28 April—how best to ensure the healthy development of the Community's relations with other countries of central and eastern Europe, and envisaged a network of association agreements, tailored to the individual circumstances, and the pace of reform, in each of the countries concerned.

  Ministers also briefly discussed EC institutional reform, and the Franco-German proposal that Foreign Ministers should be asked to consider member states' ideas and report to the June and December European Councils. This issue, too, will be further discussed on 28 April.

DEFENCE

  Security Costs
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total cost of the security operation by Army and Royal Air Force personnel in connection with the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Belfast on Wednesday 11 April.

  Mr.. Archie Hamilton
  The armed forces in Northern Ireland provided military support as requested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. It is not our practice to detail the costs of military assistance provided for specific security operations in Northern Ireland.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish for each of the last 10 years (i) the number of low-flying Royal Air Force training aircraft that have crashed over Wales, (ii) the dates of those crashes, (iii) the number of casualties and (iv) the value of the aircraft lost.

  Mr. Neubert
  Details of major incidents involving RAF training aircraft flying at low level over Wales in the last 10 years are as follows:

  Date

  Aircraft type

  Casualties

  22 April 1982

  Hunter

  One major injury (RAF)

  No civilian casualties

  13 May 1982

  Jet Provost

  No casualties

  5 August 1982

  Hunter

  No casualties

  Two fatalities (one RAF

  and one Royal Brunei

  20 April 1983

  Gazelle

  Armed Service)

  No civilian casualties

  It is not our policy to publish unit production costs.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force pilots have been disciplined for flying below the minimum height while involved in training exercises over Wales.

  Mr. Neubert
  Very few complaints reveal irresponsible breaches of low flying regulations and, therefore, formal disciplinary action is infrequent. Since 1979, from when records are available, no Royal Air Force pilots have been formally disciplined for flying below the minimum height during training exercises over Wales.

  Armed Forces (Pay)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what percentage armed forces' salaries were abated in respect of imputed contributions to pensions in the armed forces in each year since 1960; and what information he has on previous years' abatements.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no abatement of the pay of members of the armed forces in respect of imputed contributions to pensions. However, in recommending rates of pay for the armed forces, the armed forces pay review body (AFPRB) makes an adjustment to comparator earnings to reflect its judgment on the additional pension benefit received by members of the armed forces compared with that available for civilian 130
  schemes. Between 1981 and 1986 that adjustment was set at 11 per cent.; since then it has been set at 10 per cent. The basis of these adjustments is explained in greater detail in the AFPRB's 10th and 15th reports, Commands 8241 and 9784.

  RNAD Milford
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on negotiations for the disposal and future use of RNAD Milford after 31 March 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence expects shortly to receive the report of the consultancy study, commissioned in conjunction with the Welsh Development Agency, into potential future uses for the RN armament depot at Milford Haven. In consultation with the Welsh Development Agency and the local authorities, we shall be carefully considering the options identified in the report and will be consulting the trade unions before a final decision is made.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the closure of RNAD Milford including the early retirement of staff, the transfer of staff to other MOD establishments and the job resettlement programme.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The closure programme for the royal naval armament depot at Milford Haven is proceeding to schedule, with the progressive transfer of the remaining tasks to the MOD's depot at Trecwn. Milford Haven is scheduled to close on 31 March 1991.

  The position of the 163 staff employed at the depot is as follows:

  (a) Thirty-three non-industrial and 42 industrial staff (total 75) are to transfer to the royal naval armament depot at Trecwn during the period leading up to March 1991.

  (b) Nine non-industrial and four industrial staff (total 13) are to transfer to other Government Departments during the period leading up to March 1991.

  (c) A total of 67 industrial staff are to be made redundant in two groups: 30 on 2 November 1990 and 37 in early March 1991. All staff being made redundant are being referred to the Manpower Services Commission jobcentre at Milford Haven under the job resettlement programme.

  (d) Seven industrial staff will be normally or medically retired before the closure date.

  (e) One non-industrial grade is currently seeking early retirement.

  Aircraft Shelters (RAF Stornoway)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of the hardened

  aircraft shelters to be installed at RAF Stornoway.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Tenders for this work have not yet been invited, and it is not our practice to disclose estimates for specific work projects which will be the subject of contractual negotiations.

  Iraq (Gun Order)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Ministers in his Department were first made aware of the Walter Somers export order for Iraq.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Earlier this month.

  Menwith Hill Base
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the works carried out at Menwith hill base during the past five years; what is the total cost and sources of payment for the work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: I understand that within the last five years five works projects have been completed at Menwith Hill station. Two involved improvements to operational buildings; a further two involved the provision of additional married quarters; and the final project was for the installation of additional generators. The projects were paid for by the United States Government and I am unable to comment on their cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  South Africa
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the political situation in South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  We welcome the recent announcement that President de Klerk will meet members of the ANC on 2 May. We hope that these discussions will lead to negotiations on the peaceful end of apartheid and its replacement by a system of government acceptable to all South Africans.

  Police
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the discussions with the Police Federation regarding the Police (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  The regulations laid on 9 March took account of representations made by my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and representatives of the staff side of the Police Federation, at a meeting with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary on 17 January. Since the regulations were laid, further representations have been made about the position of officers in forces whose maximum limits of rent allowance were last reviewed in 1988. As a result my right hon. and learned Friend has decided that the protected rent allowances in such cases should be increased in line with the movement in the retail prices index since the date of the force's last rent allowance review. Further amending regulations to give effect to that decision will be laid as soon as possible.

  Germany (Foreign Troops)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she intends to hold discussions in the near future with Chancellor Kohl and other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders concerning the present and future stationing of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation armed forces in the Federal Republic of Germany and the continuing presence of Warsaw Pact armed forces in the German Democratic Republic.

  The Prime Minister
  When I met Chancellor Kohl on 30 March, we agreed on the importance of keeping United 132
  States and other NATO forces in Germany, as well as the need to look at transitional arrangements for Soviet forces in the GDR. These issues will be discussed further at NATO meetings this summer.

  Chinese People's Republic (Ambassador)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last met the ambassador of the Chinese People's Republic; where the meeting took place; and if she will state the subjects discussed.

  The Prime Minister
  The Chinese ambassador called on me on 16 March at 10 Downing street. We discussed Hong Kong and other issues of common concern.

  Engagements
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 April.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. Later this afternoon I shall depart for Turkey to be present at the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April.

  European Council Meeting, Dublin
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister under what arrangements the forthcoming European Council Meeting in Dublin on 28 April was called; what procedural rules will apply; when the agenda will be announced; and if she will place in the Library any document presented to that meeting for its consideration.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: The meeting on 28 April is not a formal European Council, but a special informal meeting of Heads of State and Government. It was called to consider the implications for the Community of developments in central and eastern Europe, in particular, progress towards German unification. It will also look at preparations for the CSCE summit. There may be discussion of institutional reform. The agenda, and any papers, for discussion will be a matter for the presidency.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has as to the number of small businesses that will benefit as a result of the decision announced in his Budget statement to increase(a) the profits limit for corporation tax and (b) the limit for marginal relief.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is estimated that 20,000 companies will benefit from the increase in profit limits for the small companies' rate of corporation tax and associated marginal relief.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss of revenue if the 40 per cent. rate for capital gains tax were lowered to 25 per cent.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is estimated that the cost of charging all taxable capital gains realised by individuals in 1990–91 at
  133
  25 per cent. would be about £350 million. The estimate allows for some increase in disposals in response to the reduction in the effective rate of the tax but does not allow for possible short-term effects, nor for possible substitution by higher rate taxpayers of gains for income. No allowance has been made for any change in the treatment of capital gains of companies which are taxed within corporation tax.

  Taxation
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax payers there were in Scotland in each year from 1986–87 to the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lilley
  The estimated number of individuals resident in Scotland and liable to income tax is 2·04 million for 1986–87 and 2·16 million for 1987–88, the latest available year. Married women are included where their earned income exceeds the wife's earned income allowance and any personal allowances and relief's unused against the husband's income.

  Value Added Tax
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend VAT leaflet 700/11/88 to include a paragraph on not using VAT form 100 where deregistration applies.

  Mr. Major
  Customs and Excise is currently reviewing its published guidance and instructions relating to traders deregistering for value added tax following representations made by the right hon. Member to my noble Friend the Paymaster General. That review will consider whether leaflet 700/11/88 is the appropriate vehicle for guidance along the lines suggested.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the operation of the tour operators' margin scheme concerning the application of value added tax in relation to conferences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I am not aware of any recent representations.

  Budget Surplus and Deficit
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the budget surplus or deficit for each of the European Community countries, the United States of America and Japan for each of the last three years, on a comparable basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  Following is the data requested for the United Kingdom:

  United Kingdom general government financial balance deficit (−) or surplus (+)

  Per cent, of GDP

  1987

  −1·2

  1988

  +1·1

  1989

  +1·3

  Source: CSO.

  General government financial balances as a share of GDP for the United States, Japan and the other EC countries are published by the OECD in "Economic Outlook" December 1989.

  European Investment Bank
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since the inception of the scheme the total funds lent by the European investment bank; if he will show as a proportion of the total the amounts provided to businesses and others in each of the member states; whether the rules governing eligibility of loan finance from the European investment bank are identical in various member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 18 April 1990]: The European investment bank was set up in 1958. The membership of the bank has expanded as new members have acceded to the European Community—Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom in 1973, Greece in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986.

  Tables have been placed in the House Library which show the total of funds lent by the European investment bank including lending outside the European Community, the total of funds lent by the bank within the Community and the proportion of the total lent to the European Community provided to each of the member states. Records are available centrally only from the date when the United Kingdom joined the EIB and not for previous years. The rules governing access to European investment bank loan finance apply equally to each member state.

  Friendly Societies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many responses he received to the Green Paper on Friendly Societies; and how many were favourable to his proposals.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: To date, I have received around 60 written responses to the Green Paper. The proposals have been generally welcomed. I shall, of course, give all responses careful consideration.

WALES

  Toxic Waste Disposal
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish before the end of June his response to the report by the Committee on Welsh Affairs on toxic waste disposal in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  It is my right hon. Friend's intention to provide a considered response to all such reports within the shortest possible time scale.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the number of people in Wales who will (i) be eligible to pay the personal community charge, (ii) be eligible to pay the standard community charge, (iii) be eligible for the 80 per cent. rebate on the personal community charge, (iv) be eligible for the 20 per cent. rebate on the personal community charge and (v) be exempt from the personal community charge.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The available information is given in the table:
  135

  Number (to nearest thousand)

  People registered for the personal community charge1 2

  2,175,000

  Properties subject to the standard community charge1

  61,000

  Estimate of chargepayers expected to receive 80 per cent, rebate3

  320,000

  Estimate of chargepayers expected to receive rebate of less than 80 per cent.3 4

  230,000

  People exempt from personal community charge1

  39,000

  Notes:

  1 As at 1 December 1989.

  Local authority

  Number of domestic hereditaments at April 1989

  Number of non-domestic hereditaments at April 1989

  Number of electors1

  First column as a percentage of third

  Cost of rate collection per elector2

  £

  Alyn and Deeside

  27,319

  3,826

  56,681

  48

  2·17

  Colwyn

  23,295

  3,427

  43,454

  54

  3·89

  Delyn

  25,342

  3,685

  51,531

  49

  3·47

  Glyndwr

  17,156

  3,271

  32,800

  52

  5·27

  Rhuddlan

  22,074

  3,387

  44,436

  50

  4·19

  Wrexham Maelor

  45,131

  7,227

  89,680

  50

  4·40

  Carmarthen

  21,725

  3,424

  42,867

  51

  5·39

  Ceredigion

  26,626

  4,780

  52,086

  51

  4·38

  Dinefwr

  15,264

  2,500

  30,358

  50

  3·72

  Llanelli

  30,508

  4,172

  58,994

  52

  3·41

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  28,631

  5,090

  53,225

  54

  3·27

  South Pembrokeshire

  16,708

  3,634

  31,787

  53

  4·28

  Blaenau Gwent

  31,312

  5,640

  59,253

  53

  3·70

  Islwyn

  25,663

  4,408

  51,176

  50

  3·42

  Monmouth

  29,508

  5,058

  59,899

  49

  3·22

  Newport

  52,606

  8,509

  96,516

  55

  4·28

  Torfaen

  35,826

  7,750

  69,563

  52

  3·52

  Aberconwy

  22,538

  4,502

  42,746

  53

  6·57

  Arfon

  23,678

  3,906

  42,194

  56

  5·85

  Dwyfor

  13,609

  3,109

  22,060

  62

  6·35

  Meirionnydd

  16,173

  3,708

  25,724

  63

  1·98

  Ynys Môn

  29,031

  4,676

  53,721

  54

  6·09

  Cynon Valley

  26,661

  3,663

  49,653

  54

  3·67

  Merthyr Tydfil

  23,577

  4,059

  44,613

  53

  7·15

  Ogwr

  50,593

  7,023

  102,147

  50

  1·92

  Rhondda

  32,011

  4,947

  60,404

  53

  5·30

  Rhymney Valley

  39,126

  5,705

  77,730

  50

  4·46

  Taff Ely

  36,214

  5,741

  70,683

  51

  9·49

  Brecknock

  16,544

  3,713

  32,502

  51

  4·43

  Montgomeryshire

  21,330

  4,757

  41,023

  52

  4·14

  Radnorshire

  9,830

  2,367

  18,636

  53

  4·94

  Cardiff

  110,676

  15,934

  215,013

  51

  6·44

  Vale of Glamorgan

  43,356

  6,164

  86,197

  50

  5·42

  Port Talbot

  20,440

  3,107

  40,529

  50

  4·84

  Lliw Valley

  24,625

  3,194

  48,115

  51

  3·60

  Neath

  25,926

  3,471

  51,710

  50

  4·58

  Swansea

  73,489

  8,696

  144,909

  51

  4·06

  Total Wales

  1,134,121

  182,230

  2,194,615

  52

  4·59

  1 As shown on the electoral register which came into effect on 16 February 1989.

  2 Cost information relates to 1989–90 and includes both the costs of domestic and non-domestic rate collection; separate information is not available for these two categories.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received, since occupying his present post, on the effect on home ownership of high interest rates.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  This information cannot be supplied as no record is kept, but I am pleased that home ownership has substantially increased during my period of office.
  136
  2 Including students.

  3 In 1990–91. It is not possible to provide estimates of those eligible for rebates.

  4 It is not possible to estimate the number of people eligible for or receiving a 20 per cent rebate on the personal community charge.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail the(a) number of ratepayers and (b) number of electors in each Welsh local authority area in 1989–90 together with the percentage that the number of ratepayers represented as a proportion of total electors for each local authority; and if he will give the cost of collecting the rates per head of ratepayers in 1989–90.

  Mr. Peter walker
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Health Service Funding
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has commissioned on past patterns of fund-raising and charitable giving and the potential for future income from such sources in order to inform policy-making by health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Monday 23 April.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the costs of the Health Service were
  137
  met by charitable donations and fund-raising in each of the past 10 financial years (a) in Wales as a whole and (b) in each health authority district in Wales.

  Subscriptions, donations and fund-raising

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–891

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Clwyd

  92,158

  121,318

  114,969

  162,018

  179,622

  197,634

  181,249

  216,667

  318,933

  401,910

  Dyfed/East Dyfed

  126,701

  169,692

  212,308

  211,101

  192,740

  176,787

  178,259

  235,905

  240,990

  420,712

  Gwent

  44,870

  43,361

  70,873

  83,594

  101,669

  93,745

  173,114

  181,499

  274,380

  339,995

  Gwynedd

  38,211

  50,264

  59,097

  66,772

  121,449

  110,957

  229,483

  204,720

  201,816

  249,027

  Mid Glamorgan

  58,644

  147,378

  189,608

  162,514

  130,560

  195,727

  226,667

  293,804

  454,664

  376,798

  Powys

  27,855

  27,606

  29,389

  56,523

  45,373

  58,034

  55,488

  57,819

  74,115

  198,414

  South Glamorgan

  60,187

  102,274

  314,438

  165,334

  185,692

  182,437

  251,987

  345,310

  392,284

  435,370

  West Glamorgan

  75,212

  68,979

  125,570

  133,695

  178,797

  274,084

  182,207

  297,926

  307,858

  265,885

  Pembrokeshire2

  —

  —

  —

  78,214

  78,537

  74,789

  79,781

  132,231

  203,075

  142,225

  Health Promotion Authority for Wales

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  192,384

  222,075

  Wales

  523,838

  730,872

  1,116,252

  1,119,765

  1,214,439

  1,364,194

  1,558,235

  1,965,971

  2,660,499

  3,052,411

  Notes:

  1 Latest year for which figures currently available.

  2 Pembrokeshire figures included within Dyfed figures prior to reorganisation in 1982–83.

  It should be noted, however, that trust fund income may be used for various purposes, depending on the respective deeds of trust applying to individual trust funds. Thus some of the above income will have been used for the benefit of staff as well as for the provision of equipment, vehicles, furnishings and so on to enhance patient services. It should also be noted that information on any donations or proceeds from fund-raising which are not associated with authorities' trust funds is not available centrally, since it is not recorded in the authorities' statutory accounts. It is therefore not possible to say what proportion of the costs of providing health services over the past 10 years has been met by funds from charitable sources.

  Industrial Land Sales
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take appropriate measures to ensure that the speeding up of the Welsh Development Agency's programme of selling off parcels of industrial land to the private sector will not mean that companies renting factories on this land will face increased charges from new landlords.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The level of rents charged by the private sector is a matter for commercial judgment based on prevailing market conditions. The Welsh Development Agency itself currently seeks to obtain the best price practicable in negotiating both rents and sales for its property and has for some time sought to operate on a commercial basis wherever possible.

  Moreover, tenants rights are unaffected by a change of ownership and they also have statutory protection through the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954 which provides recourse to arbitration if settlement of rent cannot be achieved between the parties.

  Estuarial Crossings
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those estuarial crossings in Wales for which a toll is charged and those for which no toll is made.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  There is no definitive list of estuarial crossings in Wales readily available. The following crossings are tolled:
  138
  Mr. Grist
  The information requested, as recorded in health authorities' trust fund accounts, is as follows:

  The information requested, as recorded in health authorities' trust fund accounts, is as follows:

  River estuary

  Cleddau Bridge

  Cleddau

  Penmaenpool

  Mawddach

  Barmouth Bridge (footbridge)

  Mawddach

  Penrhyndeudraeth

  Dwyryd

  Porthmadog

  Glaslyn

  Road Improvements, Pembroke
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail all road improvement schemes currently under construction in the former county of Pembroke together with their cost and target date for completion.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Three schemes are currently under construction:

  Schemes

  Estimated cost £ milliion

  Expected completion date

  A40 Haverfordwest eastern by-pass

  3·9

  Autumn 1990

  A40 Green Bower to Pricketts Gate

  0·448

  Summer 1990

  A40 East of Pricketts Gate

  0·289

  Autumn 1990

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of all road improvements completed by the Welsh Office in the former county of Pembroke in each year since 1979, together with the cost of each scheme.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Major schemes completed since 1979 are as follows:

  Year and schemes

  Cost

  (£ million)

  1979 A477 Castell Heli bridge

  1·4

  1984 Kilgetty-Stepaside by-pass

  14·2

  1987 A40 Pengawse hill diversion

  3·9

  1987 A40 Treffgarne quarries

  1·2

  1988 A40 Haverfordwest relief road phase I

  9·3

  In addition a number of smaller schemes have been completed on the A40, A477, A4076 and A40/A487 at a total cost of some £6 million.

  Local Authorities Land Holdings
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total amount of vacant land held by each Welsh local authority, the percentage this represents of each local authorities total land holding and as a percentage of the total land within each authority's area, and the estimated value of the vacant land held by each local authority together with the measures being taken by his Department to encourage local authorities to release such land.

  Mr. Grist
  Information on local authorities' total land holdings and on the value of registered land is not available centrally. Information summarising the Department's land registers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Measures to encourage the disposal or bringing in to use of authorities' vacant land include incentives for disposal available under the capital and revenue finance systems, the public accessibility of the land register and of individual owners' registers, publicity given to the public right to order disposal, and in appropriate cases directions under section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to take steps to dispose of particular sites. We are currently considering what further measures might be appropriate to reduce the amount of public sector vacant land.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the number and percentage of people in Wales whose first language is(a) Welsh and (b) English; and how many in each case speak only one language.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Information is not collected in the form requested in that the census does not ask about a person's first language or any language other than English or Welsh. However of the 2·6 million people, aged three and over, usually resident in Wales at the time of the 1981 census, 503,549 or 19 per cent. were recorded as Welsh speaking and of these 21,283 or 0·8 per cent. were recorded as not speaking English.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra resources are to be made available to recruit and train additional staff to teach through the medium of Welsh to meet the requirements of the new national curriculum in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  A wide range of measures have been introduced to increase the supply of both Welsh medium teachers and teachers of the Welsh language. These include:(i) the Welsh teacher training incentive supplement scheme introduced in 1988 on a trial basis to attract Welsh speaking graduates to train for Welsh-medium secondary teaching by making a supplementary grant of £1,200 available. This pilot scheme is to be extended for a further two years and will include primary courses;
  (ii) increasing the amount of money available for LEA in-service training for Welsh from £233,000 to £900,000. This comprises the training of teachers transferring from English-medium to Welsh-medium teaching and teachers with limited knowledge of Welsh who wish to teach it as a second language within the national curriculum.
  140
  (iii) support for the `athrawon bro' mobile teaching force which will be worth some £1 million in 1990–91 and will have an increasingly important role to play in preparing primary school teachers for the demands the national curriculum imposes;
  (iv) £116,000 being made available to four local authorities in Wales under the teacher recruitment category of the education support grant scheme to support the development of schemes to increase the recruitment of former teachers and mature entrants to teaching. The overall objective is to improve the recruitment of Welsh and Welsh-medium teachers in primary schools and the recruitment of teachers in shortage subjects including Welsh and Welsh-medium teachers in secondary schools;
  (v) new criteria for the training of primary teachers requires all initial teacher training institutions in Wales to provide opportunities for students to learn the Welsh language while they are training to become primary teachers and to have instruction in the methodology of teaching the language. As an interim measure the Department is providing £110,000 to institutions to enable them to provide additional Welsh language instruction. In the longer term institutions will look to their funding bodies to provide the necessary funds.
  (vi) grant support of £47,000 to enable Trinity college, Carmarthen to develop courses for the teaching of Welsh to infant teachers and juniors teachers. In addition, grant of £29,000 has enabled the North East Wales institute to develop a training course for Welsh-speaking secondary teachers who are not at present teaching the language to enable them to do so.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to lay the draft measure dealing with the subject of a new Welsh Language Act submitted to the Welsh Office by the Welsh Language Board in November 1989.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The draft Bill proposed by the Welsh Language Board is currently receiving detailed consideration.

  Asthma
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the funding agencies responsible for financing research into asthma and other related illnesses in Wales since 1986.

  Mr. Grist
  Research into asthma is carried out at the asthma research unit based at Sully hospital. Funding for this unit is made available from the South Glamorgan health authority. The Medical Research Council is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research in England and Wales; their remit extends to research into asthma.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the amounts, on an annual basis, allocated by the Government for research specifically into asthma in Wales since 1986.

  Mr. Grist
  Asthma research is currently being conducted at the asthma research unit funded by South Glamorgan health authority. No other research specifically into asthma in Wales has been funded by this Department since 1986. Research into asthma has, however, been supported under the joint England and Wales programme of health research, some under the auspices of the medical research council.

  Paediatricians
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of paediatricians engaged permanently by the area health authorities in Wales, who have undertaken specific and specialised training in the detection and treatment of respiratory diseases in young children.

  Mr. Grist
  At 30 September 1988 there were 39 consultants and 101 junior hospital doctors1, excluding locums, employed by health authorities in Wales in paediatric specialties2. Respiratory disease in young children form a very substantial part of the illness treated by paediatricians, all of whom undertake specific training in the detection and treatment of these diseases.
  1 Includes house officers, senior house officers, registrars, senior registrars, associate specialists and senior hospital medical officers.
  2 The specialties of paediatrics, paediatric neurology and paediatric surgery.

  Contaminated Land
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when it is planned to update the register of contaminated land in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The need to update the Welsh Office survey of contaminated land will be considered in the context of the response to the Environment Committee's first report recommendation to require local authorities to compile their own registers.

  Flooding
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list any measurements currently being made of average sea levels in Wales; and whether these can be compared with similar measurements made in previous years.

  Mr. Grist
  A national tide gauge network, capable of accurately measuring mean sea levels, was set up more than 30 years ago and has been continually maintained and updated since then. The network is operated and data is collected by the Proudman oceanographic laboratory of the natural environment research council with funding by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Development Department.

  Four of the 32 gauges are located in Wales, at Holyhead, Fishguard, Milford Haven and Swansea while others at Hilbre Island, Avonmouth and Ilfracombe provide data relevant to Wales. In addition, there are several other tide guages around the coast from which intermediate data can be obtained.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those coastal regions of Wales believed to be most vulnerable to inundations of sea water in the event of breaches of sea defences.

  Mr. Grist
  All coastal regions that lie below the highest sea level in their vicinity are at some risk of being inundated by sea water in the event of breaches of sea defences. The most significant such areas in Wales are parts of the north Wales coast, the Caldicot and Wentlooge levels and lands bordering the major estuaries, for example, Afon Glaslyn, Afon Mawddach, Afon Dyfi and Lougher inlet.

  Sewerage
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is planned to review the question of ownership and adoption of sewerage systems serving existing and planned private housing developments in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  No.

  Imported Waste
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to instruct all importers of waste material which is intended for disposal in Wales to provide publicly-available details of the pedigree and exact chemical composition of the material concerned.

  Mr. Grist
  Control over the disposal of imported waste material is the responsibility of waste disposal authorities.

  Teachers
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are to be taken to improve the recruitment of graduates into the teaching profession and to stem the further loss of men and women leaving the profession.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  We have introduced a number of measures to ensure that teaching remains an attractive career for graduates. The bursary scheme to attract students in the shortage subjects is being extended this year to include modern foreign languages. The bursaries have been increased from £1,300 to £1,500 with that for physics increased to £2,000. "Taster" courses are being run for mature people and others to encourage entry or return to teaching. These courses include seminars on subject content and delivery in teaching and information sessions on pay, conditions and career opportunities. 116,000 is being made available to four LEAs in Wales to support the development of schemes to increase the recruitment of former teachers and mature entrants to teaching. TASC (teaching as a career) has been established to promote teaching as a career and improve recruitment practices among local education authorities and initial teacher training institutions. One of the key areas addressed by the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions was the issue of attracting graduates. The IAC recommendations mean that the starting salary for a good honours graduate will be at least £10,500.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his maximum and minimum estimate of the number of people in Wales in part-time employment who are counted twice in the employment totals.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Labour force survey estimates of the number of people in part-time employment and with a second job, which are subject to large sampling errors, suggest that there were about 18,000 such persons in 1989. Maximum and minimum estimates are not available.

  Radioactivity
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of(a) farms, (b) sheep and (c) acres currently subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
  143
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Restrictions affect approximately 416 holdings, 300,000 sheep and 210,000 acres in Wales.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in each county in Wales for(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in Wales for (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990 including the number of sheep with levels of radioactivity (i) over 4,000 bq/kg, (ii) 3,000 to 3,999 bq, (iii) 2,000 to 2,999, (iv) 1,000 to 1,999, (v) 500 to 999, and (vi) below 499; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The results of my Department's monitoring of sheep for radioactivity, including live-monitoring of sheep leaving the restricted area in north Wales, are published regularly and copies placed in the Library of the House. Some of the published information is in the form requested by the hon. Gentleman. Where it is not, it could be put in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in slaughterhouses in each county in Wales in each year since 1986; how many were found to be above the 1,000 bq/kg limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A pilot programme of monitoring sheep carcasses at slaughterhouses has been in operation in north Wales since March 1989. In Clwyd some 2,300 have been monitored and in Gwynedd some 4,500; all were below 1,000 bq/kg.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Single-sex Schools
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in respect of each of those local education authority maintained single-sex secondary schools in Merseyside and Greater Manchester which have been closed since 1985, he will list (i) the gender of pupils, (ii) the maintaining local authority and (iii) the number of pupils on roll at the most recent convenient date before closure.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The maintained single-sex secondary schools in Merseyside and Greater Manchester which have closed since 1985 and the number of pupils on roll before closure are as follows:

  Maintained single-sex secondary schools in Merseyside and Greater Manchester which have closed since 1985

  Pupils on roll in January preceding closure date

  Boys' schools

  Boys

  Girls

  MERSEYSIDE

  Knowsley

  Knowlsey St. Kevins R.C. Boys1

  803

  3

  Liverpool

  Anfield County Comprehensive

  1,075

  —

  Alsop Boys Comprehensive

  1,002

  —

  Collegiate Boys Comprehensive

  522

  —

  Liverpool Institute Boys High

  396

  —

  Hillfoot Mey Boys Comprehensive

  519

  —

  144

  Pupils on roll in January preceding closure date

  Boys' schools

  Boys

  Girls

  St. Helens

  Campion R.C. High School

  318

  —

  West Park R.C. High School

  661

  —

  Wirral

  Bebington Boys Secondary School1

  557

  —

  The Henry Meoles School1

  759

  —

  Bishop Challoner R.C. High School1

  573

  —

  GREATER MANCHESTER

  Manchester

  St. Marks R.C. High School1

  609

  —

  St. Pius R.C. High School1

  535

  —

  Stockport

  Stockport School1

  989

  3

  Trafford

  Stretford Grammar for Boys1

  316

  —

  Urmston Grammar for Boys1

  377

  —

  1 Closed for the purposes of amalgamation.

  Maintained single-sex secondary schools in Merseyside and Greater Manchester which have closed since 1985

  Pupils on roll in January preceding closure date

  Girls' schools

  Girls

  Boys

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  Knowsley St. Gregory's R.C. girls1

  612

  —

  Liverpool

  Stanley Park girls comprehensive

  960

  —

  Aigburth Vale girls comprehensive

  634

  —

  Liverpool Institute girls high

  301

  —

  Queen Mary girls comprehensive

  1,015

  —

  St. Helens

  Mount Carmel R.C. high

  320

  —

  Notre Dame R.C. high

  773

  —

  Sefton

  St. Augustine's R.C. high1

  369

  —

  Wirral

  Bebington girls secondary school1

  823

  4

  Okley school1

  612

  —

  The Marian R.C. high school1

  512

  —

  Greater Manchester

  Manchester

  The Hollies R.C. high school1

  739

  —

  St. Joseph's R.C. high school1

  444

  —

  Stockport

  Priestnall school1

  889

  —

  Trafford

  Urmston girls grammar1

  487

  —

  Stretford girls grammar1

  435

  —

  1 Closed for the purposes of amalgamation.

  Education Costs
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the average cost, per student across all subjects, of education(a) in United Kingdom universities as a whole, (b) in United Kingdom
  145
  polytechnics as a whole, (c) in Scottish universities, (d) in English universities, (e) in Welsh universities, (f) in English polytechnics and (g) in the Polytechnic of Wales.

  Mr. Jackson
  Non-university higher education in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. I shall reply to the hon. Member on the other parts of his question as soon as possible.

  International Baccalaureate Examination
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of(a) independent, (b) local authority and (c) grant-maintained schools which offer pupils the international baccalaureate examination; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs.. Rumbold
  This information is not collected centrally.

  City Technology College, Brighton
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what price was paid by the city technology college trust for the purchase of the site for the proposed city technology college, Brighton; and how much of this price was paid for or guaranteed by public funds.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A sum of £2.3 million net, excluding legal expenses, has been paid from public funds for the acquisition of the proposed CTC site in Brighton. The site is held by the CTC trust.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what undertakings were given by Mr. Ivor Revere, managing director of Greenleaf Planters, a subsidiary of South Weald Properties, in respect of his financial support for the proposed city technology college at Woodingdean, Brighton; what sum or sums he pledged; and what has been paid over.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Mr. Revere undertook to donate £1 million in support of the Brighton CTC. Mr. Revere has now withdrawn from his original undertaking without having made any payment.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a city technology college at Woodingdean, Brighton.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The proposal to establish a city technology college in Brighton is under review because of the withdrawal of the principal sponsor. I hope to make a statement shortly.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what checks are made of the bona fides of potential donors to city technology colleges.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The CTC trust has the responsibility of identifying and putting forward potential sponsors. Detailed discussions then take place between the Department, potential sponsors and the CTC trust. If the project is to proceed, written heads of agreement are thereafter established.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is receiving or has received advice on the electricity privatisation from any accountancy firm, which has been criticised by the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have nothing further to add to the answers given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 19 December 1989 and 21 February 1990.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline the proposals that exist for the reorganisation of the four state-owned companies operating nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Energy and for Scotland announced proposals on 9 November 1989 to create separate nuclear generating companies from the assets of the CEGB and SSEB. Both companies, Nuclear Electric plc and Scottish Nuclear Ltd., were successfully vested at the end of March this year. There are no plans to change the present ownership of any of the nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom.

  Electricity (Distribution Companies)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what consultation he has had with large industrial users of electricity about a review of the 15 per cent. upper limit of the distribution companies' market share that can be captured by National Power and PowerGen before 1994;

  (2) if he intends to review the 15 per cent. upper limit on the market share of (a) all, (b) any one or (c) any group of the 12 electricity distribution companies that can be captured by National Power and PowerGen from 1990 to 1994.

  Mr. Baldry
  The application, enforcement or amendment of licence conditions are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply under the appropriate provisions of the licences and the Electricity Act 1989.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has consulted the Director General of the Office of Electricity Regulation on the possibility of raising or reviewing the 15 per cent. upper limit on each of the 12 electricity distribution companies' market, that can be captured before 1994 by National Power and PowerGen.

  Mr Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has discussed various aspects of the new regulatory regime with the Director General of Electricity Supply on a number of occasions.

SCOTLAND

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list local authorities' expenditure by service for each Scottish region from 1979–80 to the most recent estimates available, at constant prices and in percentage terms.
  147
  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave on Monday 23 April 1990.

  Scottish Pride
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consultations he has had on the report by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland entitled "The Scottish Pride Study";

  (2) what steps he has taken to ensure that the commercial relationship between the Scottish Milk Marketing Board and Scottish Pride meets the requirements of European Community legislation; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) when he expects to make a decision on the report by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, entitled "The Scottish Pride Study", which was placed in the Library on 18 May 1988.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland published a report on the commercial activities of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board in May 1988, investigating in particular the extent to which the activities were on an equal footing with those of the independent dairy companies, as required by European Community legislation. My noble Friend the Minister of State has since met the chairman of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board and the president of the Scottish Dairy Trade Federation to discuss the report, and officials of the Department have also held discussions with the two bodies concerned. These discussions are continuing.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of non-white personnel currently employed by the Scottish ambulance service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information about the number of non-white personnel is not available.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the location and status of waste disposal sites in Scotland by waste disposal authority, waste type, town, location of facility, name of facility and land size.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  District and islands councils as waste disposal authorities maintain public registers which provide up-to-date information on waste disposal activities in Scotland. The full data requested are not held centrally.

  A survey by the Scottish Development Department in 1989 indicated that licences and council resolutions had been issued in respect of 835 waste disposal facilities in Scotland. Of these, 700 licences and resolutions related to landfill sites and the balance to other operations such as incinerators, transfer stations, baling plants and civic amenity sites.

  The table gives the number of open and closed landfill sites and other types of facility for each waste disposal authority.
  148

  Landfill sites

  District/Islands council

  Open

  Closed

  Other waste disposal facilities

  Berwickshire

  3

  0

  0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  5

  2

  0

  Roxburgh

  3

  0

  0

  Tweeddale

  1

  1

  0

  Clackmannan

  7

  3

  1

  Falkirk

  19

  5

  9

  Stirling

  8

  0

  1

  Annandale and Eskdale

  3

  3

  2

  Nithsdale

  6

  0

  1

  Stewartry

  10

  2

  0

  Wigtown

  9

  0

  1

  Dunfermline

  19

  6

  2

  Kirkcaldy

  17

  6

  1

  North East Fife

  10

  2

  4

  Aberdeen

  16

  4

  6

  Banff and Buchan

  19

  10

  6

  Gordon

  12

  4

  1

  Kincardine and Deeside

  9

  7

  0

  Moray

  9

  2

  5

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  2

  2

  0

  Caithness

  7

  1

  1

  Inverness

  1

  1

  2

  Lochaber

  8

  2

  0

  Nairn

  0

  0

  0

  Ross and Cromarty

  5

  3

  0

  Skye and Lochalsch

  3

  0

  0

  Sutherland

  8

  0

  3

  East Lothian

  10

  6

  1

  Edinburgh

  13

  15

  7

  Midlothian

  9

  12

  0

  West Lothian

  19

  14

  3

  Argyll and Bute

  1

  0

  2

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  0

  0

  1

  Clydebank

  l

  3

  1

  Clydesdale

  8

  3

  0

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  9

  6

  1

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  3

  3

  1

  Cunninghame

  16

  7

  8

  Dumbarton

  5

  1

  4

  East Kilbride

  10

  1

  2

  Eastwood

  3

  1

  2

  Glasgow

  17

  24

  16

  Hamilton

  10

  0

  3

  Inverclyde

  4

  4

  4

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  4

  3

  2

  Kyle and Carrick

  4

  3

  1

  Monklands

  6

  6

  1

  Motherwell

  8

  3

  7

  Renfrew

  17

  15

  3

  Strathkelvin

  13

  5

  1

  Angus

  11

  6

  0

  Dundee

  6

  3

  4

  Perth and Kinross

  24

  8

  4

  Orkney

  15

  4

  2

  Shetland

  6

  0

  3

  Western Isles

  7

  0

  5

  478

  222

  135

  Education Service
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for local education and business partnerships and for the teacher placement service in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has announced today the Government"s decision to support local education business partnerships across the country. This will build on the work already done under the enterprise and education initiative, TVEI and compacts in Scotland. The
  149
  teacher placement service is also to continue, and arrangements for its future administration will be developed together with those for local partnerships.

  Partnerships involve local education and business interests in work that brings schools and other education institutions, industry and commerce closer together for the benefit of young people and the economy. I propose to ensure that these arrangements are built wherever possible on existing partnership work in Scotland. Our approach will be slightly different from that in England and in Wales to reflect the different circumstances affecting education and business links. I intend to invite interested parties, including the local enterprise companies if they wish, to submit proposals to lead and co-ordinate partnership activity in their areas. My aim will be to ensure the selection of the body with the most appropriate experience and best equipped to deliver a service effectively in each area. The Industry Department for Scotland will continue to be closely involved in the development of these arrangements.

  There will be a development phase over the next 12 months in which my colleagues and I will collaborate closely. Support will come initially from the Department of Trade and Industry. With the formation of partnerships from April 1991 responsibility will pass to the Department of Employment's Training Agency with the Industry Department for Scotland maintaining a close involvement.

  Region

  Year

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Total

  Borders

  42

  34

  12

  5

  9

  102

  Central

  24

  33

  54

  46

  —

  157

  Dumfries and Galloway

  25

  25

  32

  44

  9

  135

  Fife

  21

  36

  30

  52

  10

  149

  Grampian

  24

  28

  30

  29

  7

  118

  Highland

  64

  31

  39

  57

  13

  204

  Lothian

  17

  9

  20

  27

  —

  73

  Strathclyde

  41

  28

  39

  49

  6

  163

  Tayside

  30

  20

  40

  50

  10

  150

  Western Isles

  48

  13

  7

  4

  —

  72

  Orkney and Shetland

  39

  29

  25

  28

  5

  126

  Total

  375

  286

  328

  391

  69

  1,449

  Only one reading was found to be above the 1,000 bq/kg limit, in 1986 in the Western Isles.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of(a) farms, (b) sheep and (c) acres currently subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of 74 farms, approximately 64,000 sheep and about 66,000 acres are currently subject to restrictions.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in each county in Scotland for(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in Scotland for (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990 including the number of

  Bail Applications
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of cases in which bail was(a) applied for and (b) granted, by sheriff court area, in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report tables for the Scottish Development Agency comparable to tables 15.2.4 and 15.2.5 in Public Expenditure to 1992–93: A Commentary on the Scotland Programme, but covering the years 1984–85 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Development Agency does not record financial information on its activities in the form requested, but I have asked the agency to consider whether and how much information can be provided in that form. I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Radioactivity
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in slaughterhouses in each county in Scotland in each year since 1986; how many were found to be above the 1,000 bq/kg limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information for each region in Scotland is set out in the table

  sheep with levels of radioactivity (i) over 4,000 bq/kg, (ii) 3,000 to 3,999 bq, (iii) 2,000 to 2,999, (iv) 1,000 to 1,999, (v) 500 to 999, and (vi) below 499; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The results of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland's monitoring of sheep for radioactivity, including live-monitoring of sheep in the Scottish restricted areas and slaughterhouse monitoring of sheepmeat, are published regularly and copies are placed in the Library of the House. Some of the published information is in the form requested by the hon. Member. Where it is not, it could be put in that form only at disproportionate cost.

  School Buildings
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what published comments have been made by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in Scotland on the condition of school buildings.

  Mr. Lang
  Most of the reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate on individual schools contain comments on the state of the accommodation. The reports are published and copies are in the Library.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information on class sizes resulted from the 1989 school census.

  Mr. Lang
  Information about class sizes obtained from the 1989 school census is not yet ready for publication and will be included in statistical bulletins to be published later in the year.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average sizes of classes in(a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) science subjects and (d) history, geography, modern studies, home economics, physical education, technical education and modern languages in SI to S6 in 1989.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is not yet ready for publication. Information about class sizes in secondary schools in 1987, by subject, was published in SED statistical bulletin No. 14/C7/1989, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Child Care Policy, Fife
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has met Sheriff Brian Kearney during the inquiry into child care policy in Fife region.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: No.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the findings from the inquiry into child care policy in Fife will be made public; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when the inquiry into child care policy in Fife will be completed; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will make a statement on progress being made by the inquiry into child care policy in Fife region;

  (4) when he is likely to receive the findings of the inquiry into child care policy in Fife from Sheriff Brian Kearney.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: I understand that Sheriff Kearney has reached an advanced stage in taking evidence but he is not yet able to indicate a final date for submission of his report. When the Secretary of State receives the report, he will decide whether to make its findings public.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the reasons why the inquiry into Fife regional council which was to be completed within three months from 1 March 1989 has now been running for over 12 months.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: It is for the chairman of the inquiry to determine the procedures necessary for carrying it out and to judge the length of time needed to explore the issues fully.
  152
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of the inquiry into child care policy in Fife and indicate who will pay the costs.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: Since the inquiry is still in progress, it is not possible to estimate its costs reliably. When he has received the report of the inquiry, the Secretary of State will decide, in accordance with the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, whether to hold Fife regional council liable to pay all or part of the expenses of the inquiry.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Flood Defence
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the effects on the flood defences around the Wash of storms of the nature of those in January and February but with the wind veering by five degrees at high tide.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am advised that the prevailing winds were such during the storms of January and February that there would have been no significant effects on the flood defences around the Wash had the wind veered by five degrees.

  The state of flood defences, including sea walls, is continually monitored by the responsible authorities and close liaison is maintained by my river and coastal engineers with the authorities, particularly the National Rivers Authority, who undertake most of the works.

  Orchards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the percentage of orchards in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland which would qualify for the European Community grubbing-up scheme on the basis of the criteria of (i) under 15 years old and (ii) more than 400 trees per hectare density.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is not possible to estimate the proportion of the orchards which would be eligible under the EC Commission's proposal for grubbing-up scheme without disproportionate cost.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his meeting at Sandringham in Norfolk with European Commissioners; and whether he discussed rain forest issues.

  Mr. Gummer
  His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales invited Mr. Carlo Ripa di Meana, European Commissioner for the Environment and Mr. Ray Macsharry, European Commissioner for Agriculture, to visit Sandringham on 19–20 April. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I were also invited. Our discussions covered a wide range of issues.

  Deer Meat
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce compulsory inspection of deer meat intended for human consumption; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The European Commission has published proposals for health rules governing game which, among other things, would require inspection of deer meat intended for human consumption. In advance of decisions in Brussels we have encouraged local authorities to introduce inspection procedures for farmed deer slaughtered in abattoirs.

  The production of deer meat, in common with all other food sold for human consumption, is subject to the general provision of the Food Act 1984 and the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970.

  Radioactivity
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of(a) farms, (b) sheep and (c) acres currently subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 November 1989 at column 136.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in each county in England for(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the total number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in England for (a)1986, (b)1987, (c)1988, (d)1989 and (e)to date in 1990 including the number of sheep with levels of radioactivity (i) over 4,000 bq/kg, (ii) 3,000 to 3,999 bq, (iii) 2,000 to 2,999, (iv) 1,000 to 1,999, (v) 500 to 999 and (vi) below 499; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The results of my Department's radioactivity monitoring in sheep, including live monitoring in Cumbria under the "mark and release" scheme, spatial surveys of sheep in and around the restricted area, slaughterhouse monitoring and laboratory analysis of tissues from sheep carcasses, are published regularly and copies placed in the Library of the House.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in slaughterhouses in each county in England in each year since 1986; how many were found to be above the 1,000 bq/kg limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Since the introduction of our programme of slaughterhouse monitoring in February 1989, the following numbers of sheep carcasses have been monitored:

  Cumbria

  Lancashire

  Total

  1989

  5,405

  5,101

  10,506

  11990

  1,637

  1,758

  3,395

  1To 31 March.

  None have been found above the 1,000 bq/kg limit. This programme supplements the continuing live
  154
  monitoring mark and release scheme for all sheep moved out of the restricted areas. We continue to monitor to make sure that no consumer need have any concern whatsoever.

  Farms
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has any plans to introduce definitions of small, medium and large farms.

  Mr. Curry
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 April 1990, c. 447]: For the purposes of economic and statistical analysis, the initial farm business surveys undertaken for the Department show farm incomes according to farm size. The size is measured in financial terms and based upon standard gross margins per hectare of crops and per head of livestock.

  Dumping at Sea
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to prevent the dumping by ships in(a) United Kingdom and (b) international waters of prohibited materials; and what estimate he has of the total tonnage of material so dumped.

  Mr. Curry
  Dumping at sea is controlled in the United Kingdom by part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, under which a licence is required for disposal operations. The Act's requirements apply to all vessels dumping in United Kingdom waters, and more widely to British vessels and to vessels loaded in the United Kingdom. The ban on dumping without a licence will be extended to all vessels in United Kingdom continental shelf waters by the Environment Protection Bill currently before Parliament. Licensed disposal operations are inspected, and samples of waste are analysed, to enforce the legislation.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has introduced regulations to implement the provisions of annex V of MARPOL 73/78—the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships 1973, as amended by the 1978 protocol. The regulations which came into force on 31 December 1988 enforce restrictions on the disposal of garbage into the sea and include a complete ban on the discharge of plastics. These regulations apply to all United Kingdom-registered ships and to foreign-registered ships while in United Kingdom waters.

  From time to time reports are received of illegal dumping, normally of unlicensed rather than prohibited materials. All such reports are investigated but it is not possible to give any estimate of the tonnage involved.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by year for the last 10 years for the Doncaster area, the number of(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals for (i) disability allowance and (ii) mobility allowance.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that the Department does not hold the information on social security appeal
  155
  tribunals in the format requested. National administrative statistics for appeal tribunals are not available for areas smaller than a social security region.

  The tables give the details requested for social security appeal tribunals (SSATs) for the north-east region from 1984 until the nine-month period ending 30 September 1989—the latest figure available. SSATs decide non-medical appeal questions. Medical questions are decided by medical appeal tribunals (MATs), but the details requested are not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member when they are.

  Social Security appeal tribunals in north-east England

  Disablement Benefit appeals heard and decided

  Mobility Allowance appeals heard and decided

  Claimant successful

  Nine months ending 31 December 1984

  115

  2

  Year ending 31 December 1985

  140

  4

  Year ending 31 December 1986

  156

  6

  Year ending 31 December 1987

  141

  5

  Year ending 31 December 1988

  165

  1

  Nine months ending 30 September 1989

  134

  6

  Claimant unsuccessful

  Nine months ending 31 December 1984

  184

  52

  Year ending 31 December 1985

  238

  125

  Year ending 31 December 1986

  253

  234

  Year ending 31 December 1987

  261

  219

  Year ending 31 December 1988

  326

  207

  Nine months ending 30 September 1989

  207

  149

  Disability
  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 National Instutite for the Blind; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Royal National Institute for the Blind 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 institute's comments in carrying forward the detailed work on our proposals.

  Region

  Number of Donations

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Northern

  131,947

  133,544

  128,321

  120,878

  122,267

  Yorkshire

  154,905

  149,128

  146,119

  134,463

  133,088

  Trent

  174,425

  169,680

  174,976

  186,605

  197,746

  East Anglia

  87,650

  86,393

  90,012

  91,536

  92,195

  North West Thames

  189,246

  190,048

  199,731

  193,372

  192,004

  North East Thames

  136,647

  138,875

  136,722

  135,439

  142,716

  South East and South West Thames

  302,097

  282,738

  277,696

  268,585

  282,188

  Wessex

  95,719

  94,088

  93,990

  95,931

  95,484

  Oxford

  119,689

  111,129

  104,609

  104,537

  107,805

  South Western

  170,859

  168,169

  175,570

  180,057

  182,008

  West Midlands

  200,128

  199,389

  199,290

  199,320

  216,485

  Mersey

  117,589

  121,642

  123,190

  112,659

  108,387

  North Western

  181,638

  180,133

  181,587

  176,843

  176,328

  Wales

  96,087

  94,104

  96,637

  94,091

  92,109

  Total

  2,158,626

  2,119,060

  2,128,450

  2,094,316

  2,140,810

  Income Support
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current calculation of the value to all categories of income support recipients of all rebates for community charge in all Welsh district council areas based on the charges now published.

  Mrs. Shephard
  I regret the information requested is not available.

  Spending Power
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East,Official Report, 19 February, columns 554–58, what information he has as to the number of families in each category, for each earnings level, at the latest convenient date.

  Mrs. Shephard
  The information requested is not available.

HEALTH

  Blood Donation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current restrictions are in force in respect of people wishing to donate blood.

  Mr. Freeman
  Healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60 are generally accepted as donors and those who have been regular donors can continue to donate up to the age of 65.

  Individuals at risk of AIDS or hepatitis B or any other disease transmissible by blood are excluded. Visitors to those parts of the world where certain diseases such as malaria are endemic are deferred for an appropriate period.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year for the past five years and by regional blood transfusion service, the number of blood donations given.

  Mr. Freeman
  The number of donations made in the regional blood transfusion centres for the past five years is given in the table:
  157
  Mr" Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will show, by regional blood transfusion service, the frequency with which donors are requested to attend;

  (2) if he will list by regional blood transfusion service the number of donors, by blood group, for the latest available date.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year for the last 10 years and by regional health authority, the take-up of hepatitis B vaccine.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advertising campaigns are being prepared by his Department, concerning the problems of bringing to public awareness the low take-up of the hepatitis B vaccine among high-risk groups; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department recognises the seriousness of hepatitis B. A new edition of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's memorandum, "Immunisation Against Infectious Disease", will be published shortly and this includes advice on hepatitis B. The Health Education Authority is currently reviewing all its publications on sexually transmitted diseases, including information on hepatitis B.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth will receive a reply to his letter dated 23 February refering to Dr. Sylvia Cree of Wolston.

  Mr. Freeman
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replied yesterday.

  Pulse Dye Laser
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if funds are to be made available to help specialist hospitals to meet the costs of installing and operating pulse dye lasers to help cure disfiguring facial birthmarks.

  Mr. Freeman
  Health authorities are free to purchase equipment of this kind from their cash allocations. At present pulse dye lasers are more costly than argon lasers but this situation can be expected to change significantly in the next year or two as this new technology develops.

  St. Catherine's House, Kingsway
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the public inspection rooms at St. Catherine's house, Kingsway; and whether he has any proposals to improve them, including the provision of refreshment and other facilities.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have received no representations during recent months concerning the public search room at St. Catherine's house. At the end of 1989 the Registrar-General published the findings of a survey of users of the facilities provided, entitled "Attitudes to the 158
  Public Search Room" and we have now placed a copy in the Library. The survey revealed that a number of improvements were suggested by visitors, but more than three quarters of those responding expressed general satisfaction with the service and facilities provided.

  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, which is responsible for the public search room, is seeking new premises in central London in anticipation of the expiry of the lease of St. Catherine's house later this decade. The views expressed by regular visitors will be taken into account in the quest for new premises but I regret that it is not possible to provide refreshment facilities at St. Catherine's house.

  Census Information
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will consider reducing the time limit from 100 years to 80 years or less under which census information on individuals is kept secret, for the benefit of genealogical research.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. Census records in England and Wales are closed to public inspection for a period of 100 years to fulfil confidentiality assurances given to the public when a census is taken. This period comes near to ensuring that information is not disclosed about living people. However, with the consent of the person concerned or a direct descendant, or the next of kin if the person has died childless, researchers may be informed of the age and place of birth of an individual as recorded in the censuses of 1891 and 1901. These concessions do not extend beyond 1901 because of the stricter confidentiality assurances given in later censuses.

  Car Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adverse effects of(a) increased benzene concentration levels in the atmosphere arising from the increased use of lead-free petrol and (b) the decreased lead levels arising from reduced use of leaded petrol.

  Mr. Freeman
  The increased use of lead-free petrol is not expected to result in a significant increase in benzene concentrations in the atmosphere.

  As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 3 November 1989 at column 350, the levels of benzene in petrol are regulated under an EC directive. Because the exposure to lead and benzene from petrol is so low and the health effects attributable to these exposures difficult to measure, reliable comparative assessments are not possible. Since 1974 it has been the policy of successive Governments to contain and reduce exposure to lead wherever practicable. The Government will be participating in the European Communities review of benzene in petrol which will include the health implications of such use.

  Hearing Aids
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on the proposals outlined in his reply of 27 July 1989,Official Report, columns 918–919, on provision of hearing aids; and if he will make a statement.
  159
  Mr. Freeman
  The Department issued a consultation paper earlier this month inviting comments on the proposed arrangements for setting up and evaluating a number of pilot projects based on the direct referral of patients from their general practitioner to the hospital audiology service. It also invites comments on issues relating to the training of NHS and private sector audiology staff and the provision of commercial hearing aids under the NHS. The consultation paper has been drawn up with the help of outside experts, including two from the audiology field, an ear nose and throat consultant, a community physician and representatives from Mersey regional health authority and the private and voluntary sectors. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library. Some of the pilot projects, to which the paper refers, will involve contracts between health authorities and the private sector as well as the provision of some part of the hospital audiology service in a community-based setting. We expect to start the projects in the early autumn.

  GPs (Contract)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions there are under the new contract for general practitioners to refuse to add new patients to their lists if(a) women refuse to have cervical smear tests and (b) parents refuse to have their children immunised.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The new contract does not affect the long-standing right of a general practitioner to decide whether or not to accept a patient on to his or her list. GPs have never been required to have or to state a reason for removing a patient from their list or refusing to accept a new patient on to their list. However, to refuse patients solely because they do not wish to be immunised or have a cervical smear test is most unprofessional and suggests a remarkable lack of responsiveness to the needs and wishes of the patient. I am sure that the professional bodies would support the Government in condemning such action.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the changes in waiting lists for each district health authority within the East Anglian region during the period 1979 to 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 18 April 1990]: The available information is given in the tables. Due to NHS restructuring in 1982, comparable figures are available only for the districts shown in the tables.

  In-patient waiting list, by district health authority, East Anglian regional health authority, as at 30 September, 1979 and 19891

  District Health Authority

  1979

  19891

  Change

  Change Per cent.

  Peterborough

  3,530

  4,829

  1,299

  36·8

  Norwich

  7,665

  10,177

  2,512

  32·8

  Great Yarmouth

  3,621

  3,940

  319

  8·8

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  3,073

  2,799

  −274

  −8·9

  1 Less self-deferred cases.

  Source:

  SBH2O3 return 1979.

  KHQ7,7a returns 1989.
  160

  In-patient cases treated, surgical acute sector1 by district health authority. East Anglian regional health authority, 1979 and 1989

  District Health Authority

  1979

  1989

  Change

  Change Per cent.

  Peterborough

  11,704

  18,412

  6,708

  57·3

  Norwich

  26,424

  34,408

  7,984

  30·2

  Great Yarmouth

  7,058

  11,118

  4,060

  57·5

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  8,676

  10,240

  1,564

  18·0

  1 General surgery.

  Source:

  SH3 return 1979.

  SH3a return 1989.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the awards given to voluntary organisations under section 64 procedure for the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 February 1990, c. 122]: The grants awarded in 1989–90 are listed in the table:

  Grants to voluntary organisations under S64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968—general scheme (subhead E2(1)A) 1989–90

  £

  Access Committee (England)

  90,000

  Action for Victims of Medical Accidents

  20,000

  Action on Smoking and Health

  241,500

  Adfam

  18,375

  Advance

  33,000

  Age Concern

  252,000

  Age Exchange Theatre Company

  10,000

  AIDS Ahead

  40,000

  AIDS Care Education and Training (ACET)

  50,000

  Alcohol Concern

  583,000

  Aled Richards Trust

  7,500

  Alzheimer's Disease Society

  130,000

  Amarant Trust

  13,000

  Amnesia Association

  8,000

  Anorexic Family Aid

  29,000

  Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

  14,790

  Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

  2,500

  Association of Professions for the Mentally Handicapped

  7,000

  Association of Residential Communities for the Retarded

  20,000

  Association to Combat Huntington's Chorea

  20,000

  Babylife Support Systems

  8,000

  Black HIV Network

  20,000

  Body Positive

  30,000

  Breakthrough Trust

  40,000

  Breastcare and Mastectomy Association of Great Britain

  15,000

  Bridge

  50,000

  British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering

  285,000

  British Association for Counselling

  28,000

  British Association for Services to the Elderly

  12,000

  British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (BASPCAN)

  23,125

  British Association of Cancer United Patients (BACUP)

  15,000

  British Association of the Hard of Hearing

  50,000

  British Council of Organisations of Disabled People

  30,000

  British Fluoridation Society

  30,000

  British Infertility Counselling Association

  3,500

  British Institute of Industrial Therapy

  25,000

  British Institute of Mental Handicap

  35,000

  British Kidney Patient Association

  25,000

  British Organ Donor Society

  5,000

  Brittle Bones Society

  8,000

  Brook Advisory Centres

  45,000

  Campaign for the Mentally Handicapped

  20,000

  161

  £

  Cancer Help Centre

  12,000

  Cancerlink

  10,000

  Carers National Association

  82,500

  Catholic Child Welfare Council

  1,750

  Catholic Marriage Advisory Council

  42,200

  Centre on Environment for the Handicapped

  82,010

  Chest, Heart and Stroke Association

  50,000

  Child Accident Prevention Trust

  93,500

  Child Care

  152,500

  Childline

  82,200

  Child Poverty Action Group

  17,000

  Child Psychotherapy Trust

  28,750

  Children's Legal Centre

  41,500

  Children's Society

  10,000

  Chinese Health Information Centre

  26,430

  Christian Concern for the Mentally Handicapped

  11,000

  Coeliac Society

  14,500

  Community Hygiene Concern

  14,800

  Community Service Volunteers

  6,200

  Compassionate Friends

  20,000

  Contact

  30,000

  Contact a Family

  95,000

  Cope

  1,600

  Coronary Prevention Group

  70,000

  Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People

  60,000

  Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme Ltd.

  80,000

  Cruse

  131,100

  Cry-Sis

  4,000

  Demand

  9,000

  Dial UK

  45,000

  Disability Alliance

  25,000

  Disabled Living Centres Council

  20,000

  Disabled Living Foundation

  326,000

  Disabled Living Services Manchester

  16,000

  Disablement Income Group

  33,000

  Downs Syndrome Association

  15,000

  Elizabeth Fitzroy Homes

  25,000

  Endometriosis Society

  10,000

  Ethnic Study Group

  67,625

  Extend

  25,000

  Family Holiday Association

  7,000

  Family Planning Association

  130,000

  Family Policy Studies Centre

  108,339

  Family Rights Group

  42,500

  Family Service Units

  240,000

  Family Welfare Association

  96,450

  First Key

  11,572

  Foundation for Conductive Education

  24,200

  Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths

  15,000

  Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development (Forward)

  20,000

  Friends for the Young Deaf

  10,000

  Frontliners

  101,811

  Gingerbread

  78,000

  Good Practice in Mental Health

  80,000

  Haemophilia Society

  15,500

  Headway Association

  40,000

  Herpes Association

  7,500

  Holiday Care Service

  17,500

  Home Start Consultancy

  67,500

  Homes for Homeless People

  48,000

  Horticultural Therapy

  58,500

  Housing Campaign for Single Homeless

  36,500

  Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence

  324,000

  Institute of Transcultural Health Care

  13,990

  International Social Service

  47,500

  International Society for Alternative and Augmentative Communication (ISAAC)

  4,000

  In Touch

  2,500

  Iris Fund

  2,500

  Joint Committee on Mobility for the Disabled

  1,100

  Kids

  25,000

  Kids Clubs Network (was Nat Out of School Alliance)

  95,400

  Kings Fund Centre

  16,000

  La Leche League of Great Britain

  7,390

  Landmark South London HIV Centre

  72,000

  162

  £

  L'Arche Ltd

  12,000

  Leisure Link

  7,500

  London Black Women's Health Action Project

  3,000

  London Lighthouse

  300,000

  MacFarlane Trust

  100,000

  Mainliners

  30,000

  Manic Depression Fellowship

  10,000

  Marie Curie Memorial Foundation

  10,000

  Maternity Alliance

  37,000

  Mencap

  250,000

  Menieres Society

  5,000

  Mental After Care Association

  50,000

  Mental Health Film Council

  45,000

  Mental Health Foundation

  50,000

  Mildmay Mission Hospital

  130,000

  Miscarriage Association

  4,000

  Mobility Information Service

  7,000

  Motor Neurone Disease Association

  10,000

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association

  10,000

  Nafsiyat

  15,000

  National Aids Trust

  204,964

  National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare

  15,000

  National Association for Mental Health (Mind)

  439,790

  National Association for Patient Participation

  6,000

  National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  290,000

  National Association for the Childless

  33,000

  National Association for the Limbless Disabled

  15,000

  National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital

  90,000

  National Association of Family Based Respite Care

  14,792

  National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends

  24,000

  National Association of Voluntary Hostels

  5,250

  National Association of Young People in Care

  5,000

  National Asthma Campaign

  10,000

  National Back Pain Association

  21,000

  National Childbirth Trust

  70,930

  National Childminding Association

  110,000

  National Children's Bureau

  370,790

  National Childrens Home

  8,750

  National Citizens Advocacy

  20,000

  National Community Health Resource

  61,545

  National Council for One Parent Families

  150,000

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations

  106,425

  National Federation of Kidney Patients

  10,000

  National Fostercare Asociation

  100,000

  National Information for Parents of Prematures (NIPPERS)

  10,000

  National Information Forum

  16,000

  National Institute for Social Work

  187,500

  National Joint Emergency Committee (Red Cross/St. John Ambulance)

  25,000

  National Organisation for Counselling Adoptees and Parents (NORCAP)

  8,000

  National Osteoporosis Society

  20,000

  National Playbus Association

  57,880

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  91,000

  National Self Help Support Centre

  40,000

  National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

  325,000

  National Stepfamily Association

  10,000

  National Toy Libraries

  45,000

  National Youth Bureau

  69,000

  Neurofibromatosis Association (LINK)

  5,000

  New Horizons Trust

  10,000

  Newcastle upon Tyne Council for the Disabled

  10,000

  Northern Schizophrenia Fellowship

  27,500

  North Lambeth Day Centre Ltd.

  2,667

  North Regional Association for the Blind

  62,097

  North West Fellowship

  30,000

  Ockenden Venture

  186,866

  One to One

  23,500

  Outset

  25,000

  Overseas Doctors Association

  17,000

  Pain Relief Foundation

  8,500

  Parent to Parent Information on Adoption Services

  6,500

  Parentline Opus

  40,000

  163

  £

  Parents Against Injustice (PAIN)

  24,000

  Parents for Children

  48,500

  Parkinsons Disease Society

  13,375

  Partially Sighted Society

  10,000

  Patients Association

  24,876

  Phobic Action

  20,000

  Phobics Society

  7,500

  Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied

  30,000

  Positively Women

  25,000

  Pre-School Playgroups Association

  410,000

  Prince of Wales Advisory Group on Disability

  62,500

  Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Disabled

  36,000

  Rainer Foundation

  8,000

  Rape Counselling and Research Project

  25,000

  Rathbone Society

  20,000

  Raynauds' Association Trust

  6,000

  Research Council for Complementary Medicine

  20,000

  Research Trust for Metabolic Diseases

  5,000

  Restricted Growth

  6,500

  Richmond Fellowship

  97,000

  Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)

  233,000

  Royal National Institute for the Blind

  270,000

  Royal National Institute for the Deaf

  40,000

  Samaritans

  155,000

  Save the Children Fund

  923,309

  Scoliosis Association UK

  1,000

  Sense (NADBRH)

  45,000

  Sequal

  40,500

  Sexual and Personal Relationships of the Disabled

  36,000

  Shape

  3,650

  Sickle Cell Society

  25,000

  Society of Voluntary Associates

  2,550

  South Regional Association for the Blind

  107,381

  Spinal Injuries Association

  25,000

  St. Christopher's Hospice Information Service

  24,289

  St. Katherine Housing Trust

  18,000

  St. Mungo Housing Trust (Severe Weather Payment)

  1,186

  Standing Committee on Sexual Abuse of Children (SCOSAC)

  20,000

  Standing Conference on Drug Abuse (SCODA)

  277,000

  Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association

  30,000

  Support After Termination for Abnormality

  5,000

  Tay Sachs and Allied Diseases Association

  1,000

  Terence Higgins Trust

  450,000

  Thalassamenia Society

  15,000

  Tibbie Trust

  1,500

  Tripscope

  4,000

  Tuberous Sclerosis Association

  2,000

  Turning Point

  110,000

  Twins and Multiple Births Association

  5,000

  Vitiligio

  4,000

  Vocal

  15,000

  Voice for the Child in Care

  10,000

  Voluntary Council for Handicapped Children

  60,000

  Voluntary Organisations Liaison Committee for Under Fives

  36,000

  Volunteer Centre

  12,500

  Walsingham Community Homes

  10,000

  Wessex Rehabilitation Association

  10,000

  Westminster Pastoral Foundation

  70,000

  Widows Advisory Trust

  18,000

  Winged Fellowship Trust

  15,000

  Women's Aid Federation (England)

  110,000

  Women's Health Concern

  20,000

  Women's National Cancer Control Campaign

  74,500

  Womens Therapy Centre

  15,000

  Working Mothers Association

  15,000

  Young Minds

  10,000

  Total paid

  15,049,069

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Statutory Instruments (Committees)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the estimated cost of the sitting of the First Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, held on 28 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  It is not possible to identify separately such costs.

EMPLOYMENT

  Eastern Bloc Tourists
  Mr. Butterfill: T
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans his Department has to support schemes to attract tourists from eastern bloc countries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The British Tourist Authority has increased the resources in its London and Frankfurt offices in order to attract more tourists from eastern Europe. The authority is also developing programmes aimed at key segments of this market, including business travel, language and other educational activities as well as at general visitors.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Franks: T
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage United Kingdom unemployment has fallen since June 1987.

  Mr. Howard
  Since June 1987, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom has fallen by 44 per cent.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the fall in the rate of unemployment since July 1986.

  Mr. Howard
  In March 1990 the rate of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 5·6 per cent., compared with a rate of 11·3 per cent., in July 1986, a fall of 5·7 percentage points.

  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the number of unemployed in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth, respectively, for 1985 and the latest available statistics.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the London boroughs requested in March 1985 and March 1990:

  Unemployed claimants in the following local authority districts (not seasonally adjusted)

  March 85

  March 90

  Lambeth

  25,680

  13,378

  Southwark

  20,590

  11,354

  Wandsworth

  16,556

  7,707

  Note: Direct comparisons over the period cannot be made due to the changes in compilation of the unemployment count.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is(a) the United Kingdom unemployment rate and (b) the European Community average unemployment rate.
  165
  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest comparable data show that the standardised seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is 5·7 per cent. compared to an EEC average of 8·6 per cent.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of employment in the north-west of England.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In December 1989, the civilian work force in employment in the north-west of England stood at 2,866,000. This represents an increase of 342,000 or 14 per cent. since March 1983.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the east midlands.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In March 1990 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the east midlands was 95,200, a drop of 23,200 or 19·6 per cent. compared with a year ago.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the increase in the work force in employment in the United Kingdom since March 1983.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In December 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 27,077,000, the highest level ever. This represents an increase of 3,513,000 or 15 per cent. since March 1983.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the increase in the work force in employment in the year September 1989 represents women.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the year to September 1989 women accounted for 68 per cent. of the increase of work force in employment in the United Kingdom.

  Retraining
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to improve retraining opportunities for those in work.

  Mr. Howard
  Training through life is necessary for all those at work and to maintain Britain's competitiveness. The main responsibility must lie with employers. They will receive support through the network of training and enterprise councils I have established and through the action programme to encourage investment in people being developed by the national training task force and other business organisations.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total expenditure planned for his Department in the 57 urban programme authority areas.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department will spend around £1·1billion in the urban programme authority areas during 1990–91 to help inner city residents through employment, training and enterprise measures.

  Community Industry Scheme
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional resources he intends to give to the Yorkshire and Humberside region to extend and improve the community industry scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department contracts with Community Industry Limited to deliver the community industry scheme. It is up to the company to decide how resources are allocated on a regional basis. The scheme plays a valuable role in helping up to 7,000 disadvantaged young people a year aged 16 to 19 to obtain and retain employment.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total estimated expenditure on employment training in 1989–90 and 1991–2.

  Mr. Howard
  Expenditure on employment training (ET) in 1989–90 is estimated to be £1,112 million. For 1991–92 planned expenditure is £1,180 million.

  Mr. Leight
  on To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve the employment training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood) on 5 March 1990,Official Report, column 507.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what procedures are undertaken when an employment training manager withdraws from employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Immediate action is taken by the Training Agency to ensure that trainees continue to receive their training with another training manager in the same locality and to secure the recovery of any outstanding public moneys.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training agents and training managers are involved in employment training; and how many of them meet approved training organisation criteria.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 31 March there were 194 training agents and 1,378 training managers involved in employment training. They are required to achieve approved training organisation status by the end of a two-year assessment. Those providers who started employment training in September 1988 are due to achieve approved training organisation status by September 1990.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the public expenditure per trainee on employment training in 1989–90; and what it will be in 1990–91 in Scotland.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Estimated public expenditure per trainee week on employment training in 1989–90 in Great Britain is £104. Regional ET plans for 1990–91 are for internal management information purposes only.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome
  167
  of the meeting held on 19 April between the Minister of State, Department of Employment and representatives of the voluntary sector on the changes to employment training.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: I had an encouraging and helpful discussion with representatives of the voluntary sector.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will ensure that every young person reserving a training place under the announced pilot schemes for training credits will have any additional costs met by either his employer or by the local training and enterprise council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  In the prospectus "Training Credits for Young People", in which I invite training and enterprise councils (TECs) to bid to run pilot credit schemes, I have made clear that any training costs additional to those shown on the face of the credit are to be met either by the employer or the TEC. Young people will not have to meet such additional costs themselves.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional funds the Government are making available to fund the training credit pilot schemes announced on 27 March.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training credit pilot schemes will be funded through: planned resources for youth training; transfer to the Training Agency of relevant provision previously made through the revenue support grant in respect of part-time courses of education and training for 16 to 18-year-olds; additional funding available specifically for credit arrangements, amounting to £12 million in 1991–92 and £25 million per year in subsequent years.

  Disability
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of firms with more than 20 workers employ fewer than their quota of 3 per cent. registered disabled people and have no permit to do so.

  Mr. Eggar
  In June 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 19·3 per cent. of firms with 20 or more workers employed less than 3 per cent. people with disabilities and did not have a permit to do so.

  Employers who are below quota and without permits have not necessarily committed an offence unless they have engaged a person who was not registered as disabled when a suitable registered disabled person was available.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce the results of his Department's review of services to people with disabilities.

  Mr. Eggar
  As I announced in my reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 12 March >Official Report, column 135, the consultative document which will give the results of the review will be published as soon as account can be taken in it of the results of the survey of people with disabilities in the labour market which my Department has commissioned. We anticipate that we will be in a position to publish the consultative document in June this year.
  168
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future of the quota system in respect of the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  The quota scheme is among the matters being considered in the internal review of services to people with disabilities which my Department has been undertaking. We anticipate that we will be in a position to publish a consultative document with the results of the review in June this year.

  Employment Medical Advisory Service
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the staffing of the employment medical advisory service within the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1990, there were 134 staff in post in the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what concessions he plans for companies prepared to fund more training through the training and enterprise council structure.

  Mr. Howard
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget speech on 20 March that any individuals or companies who donate funds to training and enterprise councils to support their activities will be able to claim tax relief on these contributions.

  This concession is a significant step forward in encouraging contributions to training and enterprise councils from local businesses.

  Mr. Carttiss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have received contracts enabling them to become operational.

  Mr. Howard
  Operational contracts have now been signed with 12 training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department intends to monitor the quality of training provided by TECs.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) will be required to set out their strategy for ensuring the quality of training in their corporate and business plans. These plans will form part of a TEC's contract with my Department and will be subject to regular performance monitoring. In addition the training standards advisory service will be appraising the quality of training provision offered by TECs.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what mechanisms are in place to enable regular financial monitoring of training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs), under their contract with the Secretary of State for Employment, will be required to produce regular management and financial information on their performance and activities. Details of these requirements are set out in the TEC's operating agreement, a copy of which is available in the Library.
  169
  The TECs will also publish annual reports and will be subject to independent audit by my Department and the National Audit Office.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had from TEC board members on the funding of TECs.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have received a number of representations from training and enterprise council (TEC) board members on general funding issues. The TECs will receive agreed resources to carry out their plans and my officials are currently negotiating with a number of TECs as they prepare their corporate and business plans about the resources that will be made available.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what original level of overall funding to the TEC network was outlined by his Department; and what is the latest figure.

  Mr. Eggar
  The prospectus for training and enterprise councils, "Training and Enterprise Councils: A Prospectus for the 1990s", indicated that TECs would have executive responsibility for almost £3 billion of public expenditure. The level of provision for training and enterprise programmes in 1990–91, including an estimate of spending through the TEC network is given in the supply estimate 1990–91, class VI Department of Employment (242-VI).

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure he has for the number of training and enterprise councils now in the development phase.

  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have received development funding.

  Mr. Eggar
  Sixty-seven training and enterprise councils (TECs) have been awarded development funding to date. Of these, operational contracts have now been signed with the first 12 training and enterprise councils.

  TVEI
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total expenditure planned by the Government on the technical and vocational education initiative over the next 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government currently plan to spend £801 million on the technical and vocational education initiative (TVEI) over the financial years 1990–91 to 1997–98. A total of £421 million has already been spent on the pilot-preparatory phase and on extending TVEI to all schools and colleges.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the statement by the right hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Cope),Official Report, 17 January 1989, column 141, what conclusions he has come to on the implications of the judgment in the Derek Cain case for health and safety on YTS schemes; how many families were contacted with regard to compensation following his review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 2 February 1989,Official Report, columns 336–37 and 11 April 1989, Official Report, column 809.
  170
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what resources have been given to the Health and Safety Executive to implement the COSHH regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 February 1990,Official Report, column 556.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the Health and Safety Executive; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission and the director general of the Health and Safety Executive on 31 January when a range of matters relating to the responsibilities of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive were discussed.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many custodial sentences were given for Health and Safety offences instigated by the Health and Safety Executive for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since 1974, two cases prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive have resulted in suspended custodial sentences.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many field inspectorate staff there were on 1 March 1987, 1988 and 1989, within the Health and Safety Executive, how many trainee inspectorate staff there were on these dates; and what was the number of workplaces registered with each inspectorate on these dates.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not all available for the precise dates requested. On the nearest available dates, the information is given for those factory, agricultural, mines and quarries inspectors working from district or area offices. Field inspectors do not include nuclear installations or specialist inspectors.

  Composite

  Year

  Inspector Numbers

  Number of trainees in total1

  Number of workplaces as registered at 31 March

  1 March 1987

  727·5

  2117

  719,738

  1 March 1988

  716·0

  102

  707,444

  1 March 1989

  729·5

  99

  3692,078

  1 There are no trainee grades for mines and quarries inspectors.

  2 This includes figures for the factory inspectorate at 31 March.

  3 This includes agricultural premises registered in July 1989.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors there were in the Health and Safety Executive on 1 March 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, in the(a) nuclear, (b) mines, (c) quarries, (d) agriculture, (e) factory, (f) industrial air pollution, (g) explosives and (h) specialist inspectorates; and what was the total number of Health and Safety Executive inspectors on each of these dates.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows (1 March figures):

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  (a)

  Nuclear

  102

  118

  131·5

  163

  (b)

  Mines

  66

  63

  57

  46

  (c)

  Quarries

  16

  11

  12

  13

  171

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  (d)

  Agriculture

  164

  151

  155

  161

  (e)

  Factory

  561·5

  546

  560·5

  575·5

  (f)

  Industrial air pollution1

  37

  —

  —

  —

  (g)

  Explosives2

  16

  13

  13

  11

  (h)

  Specialist2

  208·5

  201·5

  197

  194·5

  Total HSE inspectors3

  1,241

  1,170·5

  1,188

  1,230

  1 The industrial air pollution inspectorate transferred to the Department of Environment on 1 April 1987.

  2 Explosives inspectors work alongside other specialist inspectors in HSE's technology division.

  3 The total number of HSE inspectors includes those working outside inspectorates eg, contributing to policy, standard work etc.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give(a) the number of cases brought to magistrates courts by the Health and Safety Executive between 1974 to 1989 and (b) the number of cases brought to Crown courts between 1974 to 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available. Figures available to date for informations laid, are for the year 1988–89. In that year, of the informations laid in England and Wales by the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates, 1,990 were heard in the magistrates courts and 66 in the Crown court.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give(a) the number of female inspectors as a proportion of all inspectors within the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the number of ethnic minority groups as a proportion of all inspectors, for 1974 to 1989 inclusive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since 1 August 1975, the total number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive, the number of female inspectors, and the number of female inspectors expressed as a percentage of the total are as follows. Earlier figures are not available.

  Total inspectors in HSE

  Female inspectors included in total

  Female inspectors as per cent, of total

  11975

  1,014

  57·5

  5·7

  21976

  1,091·5

  67·5

  6·2

  1977

  1,352·5

  68

  5

  1978

  1,389·5

  79

  5·7

  1979

  1,426·5

  98

  6·9

  1980

  1,444·5

  108

  7·5

  1981

  1,404

  102·5

  7·3

  1982

  1,323·5

  85·5

  6·5

  1983

  1,276·5

  77

  6

  1984

  1,239

  74

  6

  1985

  1,266

  84

  6·6

  1986

  1,231·5

  87·5

  7·1

  1987

  1,204·5

  97·5

  8·1

  1988

  1,165

  93·5

  8

  1989

  1,182·5

  106

  9

  1990

  1,239

  118

  9·5

  1 (1 August).

  2 (1 April).

  Information on the ethnic origins of inspectors in HSE is available from 1988. Provision of the information by staff is voluntary. Details of those inspectors who responded to ethnic minority surveys are as follows:
  172

  Total respondents

  Respondents from ethnic minority groups included in total

  Percentage of respondents in ethnic minority groups

  11988

  1,076

  6

  0·6

  1989

  1,057

  6

  0·6

  1 December.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each year from 1974 to 1989, the number of Health and Safety Executive field inspectors(a) appointed, (b) resigning and (c) retiring.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information available is given for those factory, agricultural, mines, quarries and industrial air pollution inspectors working from district or area Offices. Field inspectors do not include installations or specialist inspectors.

  Year

  Number appointed3

  Number resigned3

  Number retiring3

  11979

  n/a

  14

  3

  1980

  n/a

  21

  19

  1981

  n/a

  26

  28

  1982

  n/a

  13

  21

  1983

  n/a

  9

  24

  1984

  n/a

  13

  23

  1985

  36

  19

  28

  1986

  72

  20

  22

  11987

  44

  37

  32

  1988

  52

  30

  19

  1989

  74

  28

  23

  1 Figures relate to period July-December only.

  2 The industrial air pollution inspectorate transferred to the Department of the Environment on 1 April 1987.

  3 Centrally held information is not available for before 1985 (appointments) or July 1979 (resignations and retirements).

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the(a) number of cases brought to court by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the number of successful prosecutions for 1974 to 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available. However, the table shows the number of informations laid and convictions obtained since 1975.

  Informations laid by HSC/enforcing authorities (excluding local authorities), 1975–1988/894

  Date of hearing

  Number of informations laid

  Of which convictions

  11975

  2,956

  2,732

  11976

  2,174

  2,010

  11977

  2,814

  2,546

  11978

  2,603

  2,364

  21979

  2,427

  2,227

  21980

  2,624

  2,416

  31981

  1,892

  1,654

  31982

  2,351

  2,065

  1983

  2,238

  1,941

  1984

  2,209

  1,944

  1985

  2,321

  1,915

  1986–87

  2,199

  1,771

  1987–88

  2,337

  2,053

  41988–89

  2,334

  2,079

  1 Informations laid by Her Majesty's factory inspectorate only.

  2 Informations laid by HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates.

  173
  3 Informations laid by HSE's factoryk agricultural and mines and quarries inspectorates.

  4 Provisional.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of workplaces that last received preventive inspection within(a) the past year, (b) two years, (c) five years and (d) 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The table shows the total number of preventative inspection visits made by the Health and Safety Executive's factory, agricultural, mines, quarries and specialist inspectors for the periods for which information is available:

  Period

  Number of inspections

  1 April 1988–31 March 1989

  158,860

  1 April 1987–31 March 1989

  317,964

  1 April 1986–31 March 1989

  481,641

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of
  State for Employment what was the budget for the Health and Safety Committee and Health and Safety Executive for each year from 1974 to 1989; what was the amount as a proportion of total public expenditure in each year; and what was the amount in real terms with 1974–75 = 100.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The level of gross financial provision to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, for each year from 1974 to 1989 is shown in the table, expressed(a) in cash terms (b) at 1974–75 price levels and (c) as a percentage of total public expenditure.

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (£)

  (£)

  1974–75

  13,320

  13,320

  0·031

  1975–76

  27,922

  22,701

  0·052

  1976–77

  38,398

  26,802

  0·064

  1977–78

  44,413

  28,203

  0·070

  1978–79

  47,508

  27,555

  0·063

  1979–80

  56,843

  27,796

  0·063

  1980–81

  72,063

  31,275

  0·066

  1981–82

  81,303

  31,257

  0·067

  1982–83

  82,533

  30,224

  0·062

  1983–84

  89,361

  31,339

  0·064

  1984–85

  91,488

  30,566

  0·061

  1985–86

  96,585

  30,521

  0·061

  1986–87

  97,808

  29,831

  0·059

  1987–88

  102,341

  30,395

  0·059

  1988–89

  109,426

  30,092

  0·061

  For consistency, the figures have been adjusted to remove funds provided during 1981–82 to 1984–85 for HSE's dispersal to Bootle; and to remove provision in earlier years for the industrial air pollution inspectorate which transferred to the Department of Environment in 1987.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of doctors leaving the Health and Safety Executive for retirement or resignation reasons in 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1988, four doctors resigned and four retired. In the following year a further three resigned and two retired.
  174
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of inspectorate staff(a) retiring and (b) resigning from each Health and Safety Executive inspectorate within the last 12-month period.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested for the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 is as follows:

  Inspectors:

  Inspectorate

  (a) Retiring

  (b) Resigning

  Nuclear

  5

  2

  Mines

  7

  1

  Quarries1

  1

  1

  Agriculture

  5

  3

  Factory

  10

  27

  Specialists2

  6

  11

  1 From 1 October 1989 the quarries inspectorate was amalgamated with the factories and agriculture division.

  1 Includes explosives inspectors working in HSE's technology division.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of manslaughter charges in respect of health and safety offences for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The offence of manslaughter forms part of general criminal law and consequently the Health and Safety Executive's inspectors are not able themselves to initiate prosecutions for manslaughter. However. when appropriate, cases are passed to the Crown prosecution service for consideration. The Health and Safety Executive does not, therefore, keep the information requested.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the average fines at (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts in cases taken by the Health and Safety Executive in 1974 to 1989 inclusive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is available in the form requested only for 1988–89. In that year, provisional figures show that the average fines obtained by HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates in England and Wales were £505 in a magistrates court and £2,145 in the Crown court.

  Training Tax
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to introduce a training tax on the payroll of every enterprise in Britain.

  Mr. Eggar
  No. The most effective incentive for companies to train is a knowledge and understanding of their skill needs, not centralised regulation based on statutory powers.

  Tourism
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what impact tourism has made on employment in the west midlands.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information is not available in the form requested, but it is estimated that the number of employees in employment in the hotel and catering industry in the west midlands in December 1989 was 89,000—5,000 more than in December 1988.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to publicise the advantages for tourists of visiting areas outside the main tourist centres.
  175
  Mr. Nicholls
  From 1 April 1990, much of the work of the English tourist board has been devolved to the 12 regional tourist boards, together with substantially increased resources. This will enable the regional boards to market their regions more effectively, thereby encouraging the wider dispersal of tourism.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is published in table 8.1 of the April 1990 issue of Employment Gazette.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has commissioned any research into the effects of withdrawal of section 4 tourism grant funding on the tourism industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department has commissioned research to look at the progress of those tourism projects whose applications to the English tourist board could not be considered before the suspension of the section 4 scheme.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total increase in the numbers of self-employed in the periods(a) 1959 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The estimated number of self-employed in the United Kingdom rose from 1,906,000 in June 1979 to 3,241,000 in June 1989, an increase of 1,335,000 or 70 per cent.

  Estimates before 1970 are not strictly comparable with later figures due to a change in methodology. In 1969, there were an estimated 1,853,000 self-employed in the United Kingdom.

  Training Costs
  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will set out the weekly level of funding to cover training costs per youth trainees in 1989–90 and 1992–93 in 1990 prices.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Exchequer contribution towards youth training costs in 1989–90 and 1992–93 are set out in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93" (Cm. 1006).

  Additional funds will be made available to training and enterprise councils, and local enterprise companies in Scotland, and whose bids to pilot training credits for young people are accepted. These will involve a transfer of the appropriate proportion of relevant elements from the revenue support grant, and additional sums of £12 million in 1991–92 and £25 million in subsequent years.

  Factory Inspectorate
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to retain trained factory inspectorate staff within the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive has already taken measures to retain trained factory inspectorate staff. These include improved pay, particularly for basic grade inspectors and the introduction of a176
  flexible pay scheme which aims to reward good performance. Priority is also being given to creating improved career development and training opportunities.

  Job-related Training
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in the number of employers receiving job-related training between 1984 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Defining employers as self-employed people with employees, the number receiving job-related training in the four-week reference period of the labour force survey increased from 25,000 (2·8 per cent.) in 1984 to 56,000 (5·5 per cent.) in 1989.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how TECs and LECs will respond to the interests of small firms.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies will develop plans based on a sound assessment of local needs, including those of small firms.

  They will be directly responsible for major current programmes which help small firms and promote self-employment. These include the enterprise allowance scheme, business growth training and, except in Wales, business counselling for small firms. In Scotland, local enterprise companies will, in addition, provide a wide range of economic development and environmental improvement services.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received in respect of small firms and their opportunities to contribute to training.

  Mr. Eggar
  I receive a number of representations from the small firms sector concerning a range of topics including training. My Department helps small firms through a comprehensive package of training and business support. This includes the small firms service which dealt with some 300,000 inquiries in 1989 and provided 50,000 consultancies, the enterprise allowance scheme, which since its commencement in 1983 has helped over 500,000 unemployed people take up self employment, and business growth training, which has already provided 92,000 training opportunities since its start in April 1989. Training and enterprise councils are taking over the running and development of these and will introduce new services for small firms.

  Workplace Nurseries
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the Government's proposals to encourage an expansion in the provision of workplace nurseries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since the beginning of the year, Ministers in the Employment Department have answered six questions in the House, received 15 letters from hon. Members and 20 from members of the public on the subject of child care facilities including workplace nurseries.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are placed into jobs in each year by the employment service.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1989 the total number of people placed in jobs in Great Britain was 1,890,790.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to improve the work of the wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The councils are empowered to set minimum rates of pay in certain industries. Checks by wages inspectors show that compliance with wages councils orders is running at a very high level.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions for contravention of wages councils legislation there were in(a) the last three months, (b) the last six months and (c) the last 12 months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of prosecutions was as follows:

  (a) Four from 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1990

  (b) Six from 1 October 1989 to 31 March 1990

  (c) 13 from 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the establishments prosecuted for contravention of wages councils legislation under the Wages Act 1986 in 1989 together with(a) the number of charges levelled in each case and the charges on which they were prosecuted and (b) the number of employees underpaid in each prosecution for underpayment.

  Table 1—Establishments found failing to post wages council notices—1989

  Wages Councils

  London

  South East

  Eastern

  South West

  Midlands

  North West

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Aerated Waters

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Clothing Manufacture

  68

  3

  2

  8

  31

  53

  7

  9

  4

  185

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  8

  7

  2

  6

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  29

  Button Manufacturing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cotton Waste Reclamation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Flax and Hemp

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fur

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  4

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  1

  1

  2

  4

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  10

  Hairdressing Undertakings

  32

  41

  71

  72

  47

  90

  69

  47

  47

  516

  Hat Cap and Millinery

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Lace Finishing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Laundry

  2

  4

  —

  7

  3

  4

  —

  2

  11

  34

  Linen and Cotton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Handkerchief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Made-up Textile

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  7

  Ostrich and Fancy Feather

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Perambulator and Invalid

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Carriage

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  4

  3

  1

  —

  11

  Rope Twine and Net

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Sack and Bag

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Toy Manufacturing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Retail Non-Food Trades

  35

  172

  154

  299

  265

  346

  193

  93

  177

  1,734

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  65

  353

  313

  436

  462

  794

  387

  238

  289

  3,337

  Licensed Non-Residential

  21

  145

  170

  205

  187

  183

  73

  110

  147

  1,241

  Licensed Residential and Restaurant

  39

  112

  94

  185

  91

  111

  45

  63

  121

  861

  178
  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  Number of charges

  Charges prosecuted

  Number of employees underpaid

  Maurices Discount, Nottingham

  1

  1

  1

  Bishops of Swanage, Swanage

  1

  1

  1

  Ron Whites Fruit Basket, Southampton

  2

  2

  1

  Johns, South Ockenden

  1

  1

  0

  Kingfisher, Hull

  5

  5

  5

  Bhatias, Rochester

  5

  4

  2

  Record Stores, Rochester

  13

  9

  2

  Gosport RN Association Limited, Gosport

  3

  3

  3

  Grahams Transport Stop, Bridgewater

  2

  2

  2

  Franklins of Saltburn

  3

  3

  3

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown(a) by wages inspectorate division and (b) by wages councils, of establishments checked, and those found to be contravening wages council legislation in 1989, and the number of prosecutions under specific sections of the Wages Act 1986.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 29 March 1990,Official Report, columns 251–56, tables 2 and 4, which gives the numbers of establishments checked and those found to be paying less than the statutory minimum in 1989.

  The remainder of the information requested is given in the following tables:
  179

  Wages Councils

  London

  South East

  Eastern

  South West

  Midlands

  North West

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Unlicensed Place of Refreshment

  31

  71

  52

  128

  55

  88

  76

  27

  87

  615

  Total

  304

  910

  863

  1,354

  1,145

  1,686

  857

  593

  887

  8,599

  Table 2—Establishments found failing to keep adequate records of wages paid—1989

  Wages Councils

  London

  S. East

  Eastern

  S.West

  Midlands

  N.West

  Yorks and H'side

  North

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Aerated Waters

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clothing Manufacture

  3

  1

  —

  —

  4

  —

  1

  —

  2

  11

  Boot and Shoe

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Repairing

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Button Manufacturing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coffin Furniture and

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cerement Making

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cotton Waste

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Reclamation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Flax and Hemp

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fur

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hairdressing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Undertakings

  5

  12

  6

  4

  5

  10

  9

  6

  3

  60

  Hat Cap and Millinery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lace Finishing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Laundry

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3

  Linen and Cotton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Handkerchief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Made-up Textile

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Ostrich and Fancy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Feather

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Perambulator and

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Invalid Carriage

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail and Bespoke

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tailoring

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rope Twine and Net

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sack and Bag

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Toy Manufacturing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail Non-Food

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trades

  —

  47

  35

  26

  27

  51

  31

  16

  31

  264

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  5

  129

  96

  71

  93

  203

  103

  75

  82

  857

  Licensed Non- Residential

  4

  60

  49

  22

  34

  39

  17

  20

  18

  263

  Licensed Residential and Restaurant

  1

  30

  9

  16

  5

  13

  11

  6

  25

  116

  Unlicensed PI of Refreshment

  —

  21

  11

  15

  7

  20

  12

  4

  33

  123

  Total

  18

  301

  207

  155

  175

  336

  184

  127

  196

  1,699

  Table 3—establishments found failing to keep adequate records of hows worked—1989

  Wages Councils

  London

  South East

  Eastern

  South West

  Midlands

  North West

  Yorks and H'side

  North

  Scotland

  GB

  Aerated Waters

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Clothing Manufacture

  10

  5

  —

  3

  18

  26

  4

  2

  3

  71

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  5

  6

  2

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  4

  28

  Button Manufacturing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cotton Waste Reclamation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Flax and Hemp

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fur

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  1

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  7

  Hairdressing Undertakings

  9

  83

  102

  62

  35

  56

  59

  53

  62

  521

  Hat Cap and Millinery

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  180 181

  Wages Councils

  London

  South East

  Eastern

  South West

  Midlands

  North West

  Yorks and H'side

  North

  Scotland

  GB

  Lace Finishing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Laundry

  —

  2

  1

  1

  1

  2

  —

  2

  7

  16

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Made-up Textile

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Ostrich and Fancy Feather

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Perambulator and Invalid Carriage

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  5

  Rope Twine and Net

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sack and Bag

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Toy Manufacturing

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Retail Non-Food Trades

  5

  209

  201

  199

  150

  216

  130

  84

  163

  1,357

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  28

  417

  370

  284

  242

  602

  267

  186

  261

  2,657

  Licensed Non-Residential

  16

  225

  198

  157

  147

  161

  72

  91

  134

  1,201

  Licensed Residential and Restaurant

  24

  123

  93

  126

  55

  87

  34

  46

  111

  699

  Unlicensed Place of Refreshment

  11

  63

  38

  76

  24

  56

  41

  19

  69

  397

  Total

  111

  1,141

  1,009

  911

  675

  1,211

  609

  487

  816

  6,970

  Table 4—Analysis of criminal prosecutions in 1989 under the Wages Act 1986

  Division

  Number of cases

  Wages Council

  Section of the Act under which prosecution taken

  South East

  2

  Retail Food

  Section 16 (Underpayment)

  1

  Retail Food

  Section 16 and Section 21 (Producing false records)

  1

  Licensed non-residential

  Section 16

  Eastern

  1

  Retail food

  Section 21 (Failing to produce records)

  South West

  1

  Retail non-food

  Section 16

  1

  Unlicensed Place of refreshment

  Section 16

  Midlands

  1

  Retail food

  Section 16

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  Retail food

  Section 16

  Northern

  1

  Retail non-food

  Section 16

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide breakdowns by wages inspectorate division of information given in the Official Report, 1 March 1989, columns 199–201, regarding the establishments underpaying and prosecutions for underpayment of wages councils rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 2 April 1990,Official Report columns 460–62.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the eradication of low pay.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 13 March 1990,Official Report, column 207.

  Workplace Training
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to establish a training body at every workplace in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. Employers are best placed to determine the most appropriate arrangements to ensure that the training they undertake meets their needs and the needs of their employees. Anything else would be as bureaucratic as it would be impracticable.

  Shell Site, Stanlow
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how often Health and Safety Executive officers have visited the Shell site at Stanlow.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Industrial Action
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many stoppages due to industrial action were recorded in January 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is provisionally estimated that there were 48.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the measures which he is taking to deal with long-term unemployment.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have in place an extensive range of employment and training measures which have helped to ensure that long-term unemployed people have benefited fully from the general fall in unemployment.

  Long-term unemployment has halved in the last two years and in that period has fallen faster than total unemployment. These measures are kept under regular review to ensure that they continue successfully and cost effectively to help long-term unemployed people back into work. Details of improvements to our counselling and advice services for unemployed people were provided in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 5 April 1990, Official Report, column 647.

  European Community Meetings
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Howard
  The next formal Council of European Community Employment Ministers will be on 29 May. The agenda has not yet been finalised.

  Redundancies, Merseyside
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives his Department is taking to replace the 3,000 jobs lost on Merseyside after the announcement of redundancies at Ford's Halewood plant.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Ford has announced that as part of the company's continuing efforts to improve efficiency and productivity, employment at Halewood will be reduced by 2,800 over the next five years.

  Government policies are aimed at developing an economic climate where industry and enterprise can flourish, thus allowing jobs to be created by the private sector, including jobs to replace those lost at Halewood.

  My Department operates a wide range of employment, enterprise, training and inner city measures to help the unemployed and others, including those made redundant at Halewood, find new jobs, retrain or set up businesses of their own.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have started on the enterprise allowance scheme since it began.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Over 500,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business under the 184
  enterprise allowance scheme since it began in 1982. This most substantial achievement is being marked at a special ceremony today.

  VAT
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the net increase per week in businesses registering for value added tax in(a) 1989 and (b) 1974 to 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1988, the latest year for which figures have been published by my Department, the net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses was an average of just over 1,200 per week. Early indications from data collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are that the net increase in 1989 was 1,500 a week. Between the end of 1974 and 1979, the number of businesses registered for VAT rose by an average of just over 300 a week.

  School-Industry Compacts
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what resources the Government are providing over the next four years to support school-industry compacts.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government are making available £7 million per year over the next four years towards the cost of developing and operating inner city compacts covering all urban programme authority areas in England, and designated priority areas in Scotland and Wales.

  Low Pay Unit
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received the most recent report from the low pay unit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend receives many reports from the low pay unit which he reads with interest.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the level of funding in 1990 prices for youth training in 1989–90 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Planned expenditure on youth training in 1989–90 and 1992–93, in 1990–91 prices, is £1,061 million and £716 million. Additional funds will be made available to training and enterprise councils, and local enterprise companies in Scotland, whose bids to pilot training credits for young people are accepted. These will involve a transfer of the appropriate proportion of relevant elements from the revenue support grant, and additional sums of £12 million in 1991–92 and £25 million in subsequent years.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the public expenditure per trainee in 1989–90 on youth training; and what it will be in 1990–91 in Scotland.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The gross public cost per trainee week on YTS in 1989–90 is estimated to be £50 per trainee week. Information about gross public costs per trainee week of youth training in Scotland in 1990–91 is not available.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss the employment aspects of the European Commission's range of social charter proposals.

  Mr. Howard
  The first formal proposals from the European Commission's social action programme are not expected to be published until May or June; substantive discussion of these proposals by the Labour and Social Affairs Councils is therefore unlikely to take place until the last quarter of the year.

  Training Allowances
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of representations he has received from Staffordshire in respect of his draft proposals to cut back funding for training allowances paid in respect of training and enterprise council allowances.

  Mr. Eggar
  No.

  Wages Inspectors
  Mr, Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil cases were taken by the wages inspectorate in each year since 1979.

  Mr, Nicholls
  The number of civil cases taken by the wages inspectorate was as follows:

  Cases

  1979

  6

  1980

  4

  1981

  4

  1982

  1

  1983

  6

  1984

  4

  1985

  0

  1986

  3

  1987

  1

  1988

  4

  1989

  0

  Mr.. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many individual workers' complaints were received by the wages inspectorate division; what percentage of workers' lodging individual complaints was found to be underpaid; in those cases where underpayment occurred, what was the amount of arrears(a) assessed, (b) paid and (c) unpaid in each case; how many employees were affected by contravention of wages council legislation in instances where an individual worker complained; and what fines were imposed after prosecution in each case, according to each contravention, in 1989;

  (2) what was (a) the total amount of arrears (i) assessed, (ii) paid and (iii) unpaid resulting from individual workers' complaints to the wages inspectorate in each year since 1979 and (b) the number of instances in which individual workers' complaints to the wages inspectorate resulted in criminal prosecution in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of complaints received by each wages inspectorate division in 1989 is given in the table.
  186
  The receipt of a complaint from a worker is only one of a number of circumstances which might cause the wages inspectorate to check the levels of pay at a particular establishment. The results of complaint inspections are not kept separately from the results of inspections which are conducted for other reasons, and the remainder of the information requested is not, therefore, available.

  Division

  Number of complaints received in 1989

  London

  68

  South East

  89

  Eastern

  64

  South West

  201

  Midlands

  145

  North West

  323

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  138

  Northern

  147

  Scotland

  246

  Total

  1,421

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many wages inspectors are currently in post; and how many are long term sick.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are currently 68 inspectors in post in Great Britain. Three are absent due to sickness which has lasted for three weeks or more.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what proportion of instances, in which a worker makes an individual complaint to the wages inspectorate, the complaint results in a visit by the wages inspectorate; in those instances in which a visit occurs, what is the average length of time between receipt of the complaint and the visit; and in those instances in which under payment is uncovered, what is the average length of time between the visit and the issue of a schedule of arrears to the employer.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The specific information requested is not available.

  All complaints made to the wages inspectorate result in a visit by an inspector, unless it is obvious from the information given by the worker at the outset that the complaint is groundless.

  Complaints are given priority over all checking work and inspectors endeavour to complete inspection action, including the issue of an assessment of arrears if appropriate, within four weeks.

  Training (North-West)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on proposals for training in the north-west.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 3 April my right hon. and learned Friend signed contracts with the Cumbria and South and East Cheshire training and enterprise councils in the north-west. These training and enterprise councils will be responsible for the provision of training and enterprise activities in their localities.

  Employment Agencies (Literature)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will permit sponsored and commercial employment agencies to deposit their literature at jobcentres for a trial period.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment service, which is responsible for jobcentres, became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the employment service agency's chief executive will be replying in writing to the hon. Gentleman.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists concerning levels of staffing in the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend has recently received a letter from the IPMS about staffing in the Health and Safety Executive.

  Children (Safety)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to tighten the laws governing the responsibility of owners of industrial and commercial premises to ensure that sufficient security arrangements exist to prevent children venturing into potentially dangerous situations on those premises.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974 already lays a duty upon every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way so as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employ are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. Such care would include the provision of adequate security arrangements if this was necessary to prevent risks to the public.

  Earnings
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time workers, by number and by percentage, earned less than the average earnings figure for all full-time workers in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: Based on the distribution of earnings in the 1989 new earnings survey sample, the estimated proportion of full-time employees in Scotland was 61 per cent. The proportion of full-time employees in Great Britain earning less than the equivalent average for Great Britain was also 61 per cent. Information for the United Kingdom is not readily available.

  Agricultural Inspectorate
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors have been employed in the agricultural division of the Health and Safety Executive for each year from 1975 to 1989; and if he will make a statement.
  188
  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: The number of agricultural inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive on 1 April in each year from 1976 was as follows:

  Inspectors

  11976

  5

  1977

  187

  1978

  186

  1979

  190

  1980

  178

  1981

  176

  1982

  166

  1983

  159

  1984

  154

  1985

  162

  1986

  163

  1987

  166

  1988

  158

  1989

  165

  1990

  171

  1Agricultural inspectors joined HSE from MAFF from March 1976, but the bulk of the field force was not in place until later in 1976.

  Quasi-religious Cults
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that the Training Agency vets education institutions before accepting advertising material from them, with a view to excluding any institution having links with quasi-religious cults.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: Steps are already being taken by the Training Agency to ensure that advertising received from educational institutions does not include any material from institutions having links with quasi-religious cults.

TRANSPORT

  Troop Transportation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the agreements and arrangements made with British civil air carriers for the transport of American troops and equipment in a period of rising international tension.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Details of plans for the movement of allied forces in a period of tension are classified.

  Radioactive Material
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any representations from Kernforschungszentrum, Karlsruhe, West Germany, regarding proposals for the transportation of spent radioactive fuel to the atomic energy research establishment at Dounreay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has not received any representations.

  Coal Imports (South Africa)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the last 10 years and by port the number of tonnes of coal imported from South Africa.
  189
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise figures for imports of coal consigned from South Africa for the last 10 years and by port are as follows:

  Thousand tonnes

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  London1

  —

  0·9

  —

  —

  —

  Colchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·2

  Shoreham

  1·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Southampton

  0·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Exeter

  —

  —

  —

  1·2

  18·1

  Teignmouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·5

  Watchet

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·4

  Avonmouth

  56·8

  76·2

  62·8

  44·1

  16·2

  Sharpness

  1·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  —

  1·7

  —

  —

  —

  Glasgow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22·5

  Grangemouth

  2·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  River Trent

  1·2

  —

  —

  —

  5·6

  Belfast

  1·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  64·7

  78·8

  62·9

  45·3

  67·5

  1 Including Tilbury.

  Thousand tonnes

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  London1

  10·8

  16·4

  5·3

  5·9

  —

  Colchester

  2·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Exeter

  11·0

  2·6

  2·8

  —

  —

  Teignmouth

  7·6

  —

  1·2

  3·2

  2·0

  Falmouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7·3

  Avonmouth

  72·7

  57·1

  15·9

  13·6

  29·0

  Swansea

  5·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greenock

  142·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirkcaldy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·5

  Tyne

  0·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Middlesbrough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17·0

  Hull

  —

  4·1

  —

  —

  —

  River Trent

  —

  —

  2·3

  19·2

  14·3

  Immingham

  41·8

  23·4

  —

  9·2

  —

  Boston

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·8

  Harwich

  —

  0·6

  —

  —

  —

  Belfast

  75·3

  2·0

  2·3

  11·5

  4·3

  Coleraine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·5

  Londonderry

  —

  —

  6·0

  3·3

  3·0

  Warrenpoint

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·8

  Total

  369·6

  106·2

  35·8

  66·0

  83·5

  1 Including Tilbury.

  Figures are not available by individual ports of coal originating from South Africa imported via third countries.

  Ferries
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to promote safety improvements on board ferries plying to and from British ports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government regard safety as an overriding priority on ferries, as on other means of transport. We have taken a number of steps to improve ferry safety in recent years. New legislation has been introduced, supplemented by increased numbers of random and unannounced inspections of both United Kingdom and non-United Kingdom ferries by Department of Transport marine surveyors. We have also required all United Kingdom flag ferries, irrespective of year of build, to meet the United Kingdom residual 190
  stability standards introduced for new vessels in 1980. These requirements exceed current international stability standards.

  In addition, we have recently published the results of an important research programme, which has considerable implications for ship design and stability standards. We intend to pursue the recommendations resulting from this research through the International Maritime Organisation, and have already taken steps to ensure the proposals are considered at the maritime safety committee in May.

  National Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received of new working practices and productivity improvements in ports formerly covered by the national dock labour scheme since the abolition of the scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 5 December 1989 to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman), at column 183.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects on the port of Southampton of the abolition of the national dock labour scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A total of 508 redundancies, on which the Department provides 50 per cent. of the costs of compensation, have taken place or been announced. The trading performance of the port since the dock labour scheme was abolished is a matter for Associated British Ports, Southampton.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to him by employers in dock areas since the abolition of the national dock labour scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None.

  Cycling
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards developing a network for longer distance cycling in London; and if he intends to extend the initiative outside London.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department has welcomed in principle the proposed development of a 1,000-mile strategic network of cycle routes for London.

  The idea of establishing a network has been promoted by the London Cycling Forum, of which the Department is a member. It is for individual highway authorities to develop those parts of the network which fall within their areas, but the Department is ready to help London boroughs with guidance and technical advice.

  The Department has already contributed towards the development of a cycle network in London by providing crossing points of trunk roads for cycle routes. We have also provided some cycle tracks on new trunk roads and additional cycling facilities on existing trunk roads

  In conjunction with the London planning advisory committee, the Department is organising a technical seminar to be held later in the year. This would be for London boroughs, and other bodies with an interest in providing cycling facilities in London.
  191
  The Department offers guidance to all local authorities on aspects of planning and designing facilities for cycling, through its traffic advisory unit and a wide range of publications.

  Ferry Fire
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the fire on board B & I ferry Norrona en route from Pembroke dock to Ireland on Monday 9 April, and the subsequent involvement of the rescue services.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  At 2319 GMT on 8 April, the Master of the B & I chartered ferry Norrona, outward bound from Pembroke Dock for Rosslare, called Milford Haven Coastguard reporting a fire on board. The Coastguard immediately scrambled a rescue helicopter from RAF Brawdy, launched St. Davids and Fishguard lifeboats and made arrangements for a fire-fighting team from Dyfed county fire brigade to be airlifted to the ferry. It then became known that there were injured persons on board requiring evacuation. Additional helicopter help was requested: a further one from RAF Brawdy and one, with a doctor on board, from RNAS Culdrose.

  Approximately one and a half hours after reporting the fire, the master indicated that it had been extinguished. The ferry returned to Pembroke Dock under her own power. The fire officers remained on board the ship up until she docked at 0315 GMT. Ambulances stood by at the dock to transport other injured persons to hospital.

  The cause of the fire is being investigated by an inspector from marine accident investigation branch and, as arson is suspected, by the police.

  Severn Crossings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the percentage distribution between the sources of finances offered by the European Investment Bank and other sources offered by the two consortia who bid for the construction of the second Severn crossing;

  (2) what toll levels, over what period and rate of inflation on the Severn crossings were offered by the Trafalgar house/Balfour Beatty consortium and the Laing/GTM Entrepose consortium;

  (3) whether there was any difference in the burden for bearing the risks of the growth of future traffic levels in the bids made by the two consortia who bid for the second Severn crossing;

  (4) whether he advised the Trafalgar House-Balfour Beatty consortium of his concern at the perceived financial risk relating to the subordinated debt of £60 million on the existing crossing during the assessment period of the bids for the second Severn crossing.

  Mr. Atkins
  Both the final two shortlisted consortia offered a range of alternative financing and tolling options within their privately financed proposals. Details of these must remain commercially confidential. All proposals were assessed on the basis indicated to the bidders in the Department's tender invitation document, which explained that risks would need to be evaluated.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the experience of Laing GTM Entrepose of constructing estuarial bridges comparable with the Severn bridge and in current work in infrastructure in the British private sector.
  192
  Mr. Atkins
  Following the assessment of tenders, my right hon. Friend was fully satisfied that the Laing-GTM consortium has the requisite experience and capability to construct the second Severn crossing.

  M11 Service Areas
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sites were given detailed evaluation for the establishment of a services area on the M11 motorway before Birchanger was nominated.

  Mr. Atkins
  In addition to Birchanger, 15 potential service area sites were examined between junctions 6 and 9 of the M11, at:

  Audley End Estate

  Wendens Ambo

  Whiteditch Farm

  Whiteditch

  Between Elsenham Station and Ugley Green (six sites)

  Parsonage Farm

  Sheering

  Moor Hall

  Junction 7

  North Weald Airfield

  These sites were first considered at various dates between 1966 and 1981 when the planning application was made. In 1988 each site was revisited by consultants to check that earlier assessments of them remained valid.

  Road Funding
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed level, at 1990 prices, of central Government funding for road improvements and new construction for each of the next three years; what proportion that will represent of total road spending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The proposed level of central Government funding for new construction and improvement of roads in Great Britain for the next three financial years at 1990–91 prices is:

  £ million

  1990–91

  1,818

  1991–92

  1,785

  1992–93

  1,828

  These figures include grants to local authorities for road construction and improvement. In addition, the financing costs of local authorities' use of credit approvals for road construction and so on, are taken into account in the determination of the standard service assessment on which the distribution of revenue support grant is based. Local authorities are free to undertake other local roads expenditure within their overall capital resources and it is therefore not possible to estimate what proportion of total road spending these figures will represent.

  The spending on new construction and improvement of trunk roads and motorways represents the following proportions of total spending on these roads:

  Percentage

  1990–91

  70·1

  1991–92

  69·5

  1992–93

  70·4

  193
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was invested by central Government, in each of the last five years at 1990 prices, in road improvements and new construction.

  Mr. Atkins
  In the last five financial years the total invested at 1990–91 prices by central Government in new construction and improvement of roads in Great Britain was:

  £ million

  1985–86

  1,211

  1986–87

  1,146

  1987–88

  1,227

  1988–89

  1,287

  1989–90

  1,509

  Rail Investment
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of British Rail's capital investment programme, in each of the last five years, has been funded by central Government; and how much that represented in each year at 1990 prices.
  194
  Mr. Portillo
  Table 7.33 in chapter 7 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93" (Cm. 1007) sets out British Rail's capital requirements and the internal and external resources from which these are met. "External finance" comprises subsidy paid by the Government and borrowing, principally from the National Loans Fund. We do not apportion particular forms of finance between investment and other expenditure. British Rail "rail" investment (which includes investment charged to revenue account) since 1985–86 is as follows, in £ million and at constant 1990–91 prices:

  Year

  Rail investment

  1985–86

  528

  1986–87

  511

  1987–88

  640

  1988–89

  647

  1989–90

  1675

  Note:

  1 Based on BR forecast.

  VICTORIA TOWER: RESTORATION
  VICTORIA TOWER: RESTORATION
  LAMBETH BOROUGH COUNCIL: CHARGE CAP
  LAMBETH BOROUGH COUNCIL: CHARGE CAP