Written Answers of 7 December 1990

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the results of research on the demographic and economic impacts of AIDS in developing countries are now available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Overseas Development Administration is funding two research projects on this topic, both based in Africa. They are "Analysis of the Demographic and Economic Impact of Aids in the Developing World" by Professor R. M. Anderson of Imperial College and "Community Coping Mechanisms in the face of exceptional Demographic Change" by Dr. Barnett and Professor Blaikie of university of East Anglia with Dr. Obbo. The results are expected to be published during 1991, but may not be conclusive.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  School Meals
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students attending colleges of further education, in each year since 1985, were in receipt of free school meals until they reached their 18th birthday, and were subsequently required to pay for school meals; and if he will take measures to ensure that all students, who otherwise qualify for free school meals, will not be disqualified on grounds of age.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of students in receipt of free school meals for the years 1985 to 1989 was as follows:

  Number

  1985

  1,300

  1986

  1,507

  1987

  1,958

  1988

  1,150

  1989

  1,026

  Information is not held about the number of such students who re-enrolled in the institutions in the following years and were required to pay for their meals. There are no plans to change the existing arrangements which give parity of treatment with pupils attending secondary schools.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of(a) physically disabled and (b) mentally disabled people living in Northern Ireland in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information available is given in the table. It should be noted that until 1987 information on the 210
  numbers of physically disabled, mentally handicapped and mentally ill people known to, or in contact with, the health and social services boards was collected on a calendar year basis. Since 1988–89 the information has been collected on a financial year basis and is restricted to include only persons in contact with the health and social services board during that year.

  Year

  Physically disabled

  Mentally handicapped

  Mentally ill

  1985

  37,895

  6,630

  5,038

  1986

  38,593

  6,610

  4,890

  1987

  40,498

  6,783

  5,143

  1988–89

  25,811

  6,651

  6,690

  The figures for 1989–90 have not yet been submitted by the health boards.

  Benefit Recipients
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals giving their normal occupation as farming, are receiving(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) unemployment benefit at each district office of the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  Although precise figures are not available, it is estimated there are about 1,000 people getting family credit whose normal occupation is farming. Information about the number of such individuals receiving income support is not available and information about the numbers receiving unemployment benefit could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of people, over the age of 65 years, living in Northern Ireland in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information, taken from the mid-year estimates of population, is as follows:

  Numbers

  1985

  186,800

  1986

  188,500

  1987

  190,900

  1988

  192,300

  1989

  194,000

  Figures for 1990 will not be available until mid-1991

  Home Help
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals received home help care in each health board area in Northern Ireland in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 4 December 1990]: The information requested is set out in the table:

  1986

  1987

  1988–89

  Eastern Board

  113,866

  213,358

  15,432

  Northern Board

  5,577

  5,271

  4,723

  Southern Board

  5,822

  6,251

  6,221

  Western Board

  4,632

  4,615

  4,497

  NI Totals

  29,897

  29,495

  30,873

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  1 Includes estimated number for 1 Unit of Management.

  2 Includes estimated number for 3 Units of Management.

  Data for 1986 and 1987 refer to recipients during year ended 31 December. Data for 1988–89 show recipients at 31 March apart from four (of the nine) units of management in the Eastern board which gave data for the calendar year 1988. Data for 1989–90 have not yet been submitted by the health boards.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Conservative Candidate, Cheltenham
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to prosecute Mr. Bill Galbraith of Cheltenham for comments he has made concerning the adoption of Mr. John Taylor as prospective Conservative candidate for Cheltenham; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Gloucestershire constabulary is conducting an investigation arising out of statements allegedly made by Mr. Galbraith. A report will in due course be submitted to the Crown prosecution service, which will consider whether to invite me to consent to the institution of proceedings for an offence under part III of the Public Order Act 1986.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  British Geological Survey
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply on 27 November,Official Report, column 374, if he will make a statement on the use to which the British Geological Survey's study of rock formation in England and Wales will be put.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The results of the systematic geological surveys of the United Kingdom carried out by the British Geological Survey are published in the form of geological maps, descriptive memoirs and reports. These have a wide range of applications including land use planning, mineral and groundwater resource assessment, engineering and geotechnical investigations and academic research.

  Zidovudine
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the information given in the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 15 December 1989,Official Report, column 832, and if he will make a further statement on the progress of the Medical Research Council/INSERM trial of Zidovudine.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Medical Research Council/ INSERM trial of Zidovudine is continuing. The number of participants enrolled to date is 831 in the United Kingdom and 803 in France.

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will take to implement the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council regarding the position of physical education and sport in the national curriculum.
  212
  Mr. Eggar
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the National Curriculum Council's advice on the curriculum for 14 to 16-year-old pupils. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 20 November 1990 at column 65.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the Government's total expenditure on sport for each of the last five years and as a total over the same period; and what measures he will take to increase Government assistance to sport over the next years.

  Mr. Atkins
  In England central Government's total expenditure or planned provision on sport through grant in aid to the Sports Council and the Department of the Environment's urban programme for the years 1985–86 to 1993–94 is:

  Sports Council Grant

  Urban Programme

  1985–86 outturn

  30·1

  24·7

  1986–87 outturn

  37·4

  21·3

  1987–88 outturn

  37·1

  25·2

  1988–89 outturn

  39·0

  17·8

  1989–90 outturn

  41·9

  15·5

  1990–91 estimated outturn

  43·7

  15·7

  1991–92 plans

  46·7

  15·9

  1992–93 plans

  47·4

  16·0

  1993–94 plans

  48·8

  16·1

  The Government also fund sport indirectly through other inner-city programmes and agencies and provide financial support for local authorities' revenue expenditure on sport through unhypothecated revenue support grant. In the light of recent departmental changes, I am considering what further steps may be taken to improve sport in schools.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will re-examine the allocation of teachers' hours in relation to extra-curricular activities in sport and recreation.

  Mr. Eggar
  The allocation of teachers' directed time is a matter for head teachers to decide.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will initiate a full assessment of the needs of physical education and training colleges, with particular reference to teacher training in team sports and other sporting skills.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to initiate such an assessment. As far as the content of initial teacher training is concerned, the Government's revised criteria for the approval of courses, announced in DES circular 24/89, require training institutions to prepare students to teach PE according to the requirements of the national curriculum.

  English (Second Language)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school students are estimated to have English as their second language.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Teacher Appraisal
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent consultations on school teacher appraisal.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I hope to make an announcement shortly, details of which will be placed in the Library at the earliest opportunity.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Office Space
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any estimate of the amount of office space taken up by filing cabinets and cupboards in hon. Members' offices.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information Technology
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) what assistance is available to hon. Members to move towards paperless offices;

  (2) what studies his office have carried out into the potential of compact disc technology to reduce paper use and the need for storage space in hon. Members' offices.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Assistance for Members who wish to establish computer and other information technology facilities in their offices is available in two forms. Advice on suitable equipment and procedures can be obtained from the computer officer. Advice on funding the cost of equipment from the office costs allowance is available from the Fees Office.

  The Services Committee's fourth report of last Session suggests ways in which information technology services in the House might be developed and funded.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Maude
  The ECOFIN Council met in Brussels on 3 December. The Minister for Corporate Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom.

  Further progress was made in discussions of the investment services directive and the money laundering directive was also discussed. These directives will both return to the Council for further consideration on 17 December.

  Over lunch there was a brief discussion of organisational issues in preparation for the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union. The possibility of additional assistance for the countries of eastern Europe and the Soviet Union was also raised. This will be discussed further at a special meeting of ECOFIN to be held on 10 December.
  214
  The arrangements for VAT controls after 1992 were also discussed and I explained that our consultations with industry were not yet complete. The Council heard statements from Germany and the Commission on the fiscal aspects of road transport.

  There was a short discussion of a Commission paper concerning the debt of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries accrued under previous Lome conventions. It was agreed that this should be considered further by ECOFIN in the new year.

  The Council also discussed a further report from the presidency on negotiations with the European Parliament about revisions to the financial perspective arising from German unification and the Gulf crisis.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest informal meeting of the European Community's economic and finance ministers.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Economic and Finance Ministers and central bank governors of the European Community met informally in Milan on 2 December. The Governor of the Bank of England and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The meeting began with a discussion of the state of the world economy and the possible need for additional assistance for the countries of eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The chairman of the Committee of Central Bank Governors presented the committee's draft statutes for a European system of central banks, which will be published shortly. I repeated our reserve on the imposition of a single currency and a European central bank. I emphasised, however, our hope and expectation that an agreement on economic and monetary union would be reached which would be acceptable to all members of the Community.

  There was also a short discussion of the economic situation in Greece.

  Treasury Accountants
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accountants in the Treasury received pay increases in excess of 25 per cent. in the pay settlement years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, taken individually.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no instances of accountants in the Treasury receiving increases in excess of 25 per cent. in respect of any of the pay settlement years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Transaction Costs
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods are available to reduce transaction costs short of a single currency.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Transaction costs are most effectively reduced through increased competition, co-operation between banks in developing systems of making payments and technological change.

  US Banking Crisis
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects for the British financial system of the banking crisis and the collapse of the savings and loans companies of the United States of America.
  215
  Mr. Maples
  The Government and the Bank of England have been closely following developments in the banking and savings and loan industries in the United States. The United Kingdom banking system is well capitalised and comprehensively regulated, and the US problems, particularly of the savings and loans, are the result of circumstances peculiar to the US which have no direct equivalent here.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ethnic monitoring his Department has carried out concerning value added tax raids.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs and Excise does not carry out VAT raids; it instigates investigations into VAT frauds. No monitoring of ethnic involvement is made in these investigations; each case is treated on its merits.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many value added tax raids have resulted in(a) arrests and (b) convictions in the last five years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  As stated, Customs does not carry out VAT raids. In the last five years investigations into VAT fraud resulted in(a) 348 arrests, (b) 1,070 convictions, and (c) 1,243 cases in which proceedings were compounded on payment of a penalty.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are employed by the value added tax section engaged in raids on factories and offices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs does not employ officers for specific types of VAT evasion. Its specialist VAT investigators undertake investigations of all types of VAT fraud.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many value added tax raids there have been in 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987 and 1986.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Again, Customs does not carry out VAT raids. The number of visits made in connection with VAT investigations where a search warrant was authorized are: 1986—figures not available, 1987—287, 1988—146, 1990—162.

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the Government's total income from(a) the football bettings duty and (b) the football industry as a whole for each of the past 11 years and as a total over the same period.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Receipts from pool betting duty are as follows:

  £ million

  1979–80

  136·1

  1980–81

  157·0

  1981–82

  176·0

  1982–83

  199·3

  1983–84

  204·9

  1984–85

  217·9

  1985–86

  235·2

  1986–87

  254·2

  1987–88

  277·0

  216

  £ million

  1988–89

  278·9

  1989–90

  303·8

  2,440·3

  Information about the total Exchequer income from the football industry is not available.

  Sporting Activities (Income)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the Government's total income from sporting activities for each of the past five years and as a total over the same period.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Building Works
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish tales showing(a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 5 December 1990]: The information is as follows:

  (a) The Treasury has not acquired any new buildings.

  (b) In view of (a), nil return.

  (c)

  11988–89

  1989–90

  21990–91

  £532,000

  £371,000

  £301,000

  These figures are for part II and part III services delegated to Departments under property repayment services rules.

  (d)

  11988–89

  1989–90

  21990–91

  £1,211,000

  £500,000

  £200,000

  1 Figures for previous years for the whole of the Treasury could not be obtained except at disproportionate costs.

  2 Forecast figures.

  These figures are for building renovation part I services for which the Treasury has paid from its departmental budget.

  Monetary Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies have been initiated by Her Majesty's Government or by the European Community of the tangible benefits to be derived from monetary union over those expected from the completion of the single market.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 6 December 1990]: The European Commission published in October 1990 a report entitled, "One market, one money: an evaluation of the costs and benefits of forming an economic and monetary union". The Government tabled an explanatory memorandum on the report on 5 November 1990. The autumn 1990 edition of the Treasury bulletin set out the Government's proposals for the establishment of a European Monetary Fund to manage a new common currency, the "hard ecu". These measures would be a powerful force for inflation convergence at the best Community performance.

TRANSPORT

  Ship Registration
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what talks he is planning to have with the General Council of British Shipping to discuss the trend in the tonnage of the ships registered in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the president of the General Council of British Shipping on 4 December, when a number of shipping issues were discussed.

  London Underground
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will call for a report as to how many trains were cancelled through Oxford Circus on the night of 4 December;

  (2) how many London Underground trains were cancelled on the night of 4 December.

  Mr. Freeman
  These are operational matters for London Underground Ltd.

  Relief Road, Manchester
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the public consultation to take place, in respect of the proposed Greater Manchester western and northern relief road.

  Mr. chope
  Spring 1991.

  Transport Expenditure, Scotland
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase transport expenditure in Scotland in the areas of responsibility under his Department.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 6 December 1990]: Over the next three years BR plans to spend over £30 million in 1990–91 prices on infrastructure in Scotland. Scotland will also benefit from other BR investment in both infrastructure and rolling stock. In addition, the Department will issue credit approvals for £1 million for Scottish local authority ports in 1991–92.

HEALTH

  NHS (Theft and Fraud)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of reported cases of theft and fraud in(a) the national health service and (b) the Norwich health authority in each year since 1979 showing (i) the total number of cases reported, (ii) the number of cases reported to police, (iii) the number of prosecutions and (iv) the number of convictions in each year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Table A provides information on the number of reported cases in the category of theft, fraud, arson, neglect of duty or gross carelessness as reported by Norwich health authority for the years since its inception in 1982, and corresponding data for all health authorities in England. No separate breakdown of fraud or theft is available.
  218
  Health authorities are required to report to the Department annually all instances of alleged fraud and data are shown in table B. Norwich health authority has made no reports of fraud since the authority's inception.

  Information on the number of theft cases reported to the police, prosecutions and convictions are not collected centrally by the Department.

  Table A

  Reported cases of loss of cash, equipment and property in stores arising from theft, fraud, arson, neglect of duty or gross carelessness in health authorities in England

  Number of cases

  Year

  Norwich health authority

  All health authorities

  1982–83

  70

  4,289

  1983–84

  85

  4,181

  1984–85

  65

  5,308

  1985–86

  76

  5,199

  1986–87

  59

  4,584

  1987–88

  37

  3,840

  1988–89

  35

  4,373

  1989–90

  33

  4,028

  Source: Annual Statement of Losses from Health Authorities for the relevant years.

  Table B

  Reported cases of fraud in health authorities in England

  Number of cases reported by health authorities

  Year

  Reported to police

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1982–83

  1

  1

  0

  1983–84

  0

  0

  0

  1984–85

  6

  6

  6

  1985–86

  6

  4

  4

  1986–87

  8

  7

  7

  1987–88

  7

  6

  6

  1988–89

  5

  3

  3

  1989–90

  4

  3

  1

  Incontinence
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly people he estimates are in need of incontinence aids; how many of such people are accommodated in residential nursing homes in(a) the public and (b) the private sector; and how many and what percentage of such persons in each sector receive such incontinence pads free of charge.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information about the demand for and supply of incontinence pads is not held centrally.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will issue guidance to all health authorities to provide incontinence pads to residents of homes for the elderly.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Guidance has already been issued to district health authorities advising them, at their discretion, to provide incontinence pads to people in residential homes.

  Rotherham Health Authority
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that resources are provided to meet the necessary costs of staff development within the area of the Rotherham health authority.
  219
  Mr. Dorrell
  The costs of staff development are met out of normal revenue funding for health authorities. It is a matter for Trent regional health authority to allocate resources to district health authorities in that region.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Authority Rent Arrears
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the 10 local authorities with the highest arrears as a percentage of the rent roll at the end of 1989–90;

  (2) what is the actual or estimated total figure for arrears of rent outstanding to all local authorities for the year 1989–90.

  Mr. Yeo
  Figures for the position at the end of 1989–90 are not yet available.

  An ordered table, showing cumulative rent arrears at March 1989 as a percentage of the rent roll for each English local authority, was placed in the Library on 3 April. Estimated total arrears for all English local authorities at the end of 1988–89 were £319 million.

  Waste Management
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who has primary responsibility for specifying the requirements for waste management practices at incinerator plant.

  Mr. Trippier
  Currently operations at incinerators are governed by the conditions of site licences granted by waste disposal authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution also has responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for the control of air pollution from all chemical incinerators, and other incinerators with capacities of over 1 tonne per hour; this control covers the whole process, including such matters as good housekeeping and training of operators. Local authority environmental health departments are responsible for the control of air emissions from other types of incinerator, under the Clean Air Acts and the statutory nuisance provisions of the Public Health Acts.

  When the new system of integrated pollution control is brought into effect under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will assume full responsibility for the control of all releases to the environment, whether to air, water or land, from incinerators with a capacity of over 1 tonne per hour. Air emissions from other incinerators will be controlled by local authorities at district level; waste regulation authorities will have responsibility for all other aspects of control. Regulations detailing the interface will be laid shortly.

  Air Pollution
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action local authorities are able to take to control air pollution from mobile plant; and if he will list all authorisations granted for mobile plant under the Environmental Protection Act, by local authority granting the authorisation and the contractor's principal place of business.
  220
  Mr. Trippier
  Under part I of the Environmental Protection Act, the powers available to control air pollution from processes prescribed for local authority control will be the same whether the process is fixed or mobile. Mobile processes will require an authorisation; the conditions included in such authorisations must secure the objectives specified in section 7(2) of the Act, including the use of BATNEEC to prevent or minimise emissions of prescribed substances.

  Part I of the Act will be brought into force from 1 April 1991. No authorisations have yet been granted.

  Environment Newsletter
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his departmental library subscribes to the fortnightly newsletter, "Environment Business".

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91(a) the amount of moneys paid to local authorities from the European regional development fund and (b) the amount which is taken into account under the additionality principle for basic credit approval purposes showing the totals for each local authority concerned and the programmes being financed.

  Mr. Portillo
  (a) Information on the amount of moneys paid to individual local authorities from the European regional development fund could be provided only at disproportionate cost and (b) EC grants enhance the national total available for distribution as credit approvals. In general that total is distributed to individual local authorities as basic credit approvals on the basis of their overall spending needs, without regard to whether expenditure is to be supported by EC grants. There is a limited exception for expenditure in the other services block where expected EC receipts are taken into account in distributing supplementary credit approvals.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislation, including statutory instruments, regarding the operation of the poll tax in 1991–92 has still to come before the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the estimated annual radiation dose equivalent uptakes in milliSieverts per annum by members of the public living near Bradwell and Dungeness nuclear power stations, arising from all sources of radiation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Doses to small groups of persons living close to the sites resulting from discharges to atmosphere of the radionuclide argon 41 are up to about 0·1 milliSieverts per annum. Doses from discharges via other environmental pathways are reported from time to time by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, copies of whose reports are placed in the Library of the House.

  Commonhold
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any assessment of the number of properties that would be eligible for inclusion in a new tenure of commonhold.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 5 December 1990]: No. The Building Societies Association estimates that there are up to 3,000,000 owners of leasehold flats who could be affected by commonhold legislation. We are unable to confirm that estimate, but comparison with the 1981 census count of leasehold householders suggests that it is on the high side.

  Departmental Appointees
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to(a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 5 December 1990]: Information about the number, and levels of remuneration, of people appointed to public bodies by my Department is given in the annual HMSO publication "Public Bodies". A copy of the current issue is held at the House of Commons Library and "Public Bodies 1990" will be published shortly. Information about reimbursements, such as travel and subsistence expenses, is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  The Gulf
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Prime Minister what urgent steps he has taken in order to assess the(a) economic, (b) financial and (c) humane costs of an armed conflict of Arab, British and American troops with Iraq; and what information Her Majesty's Government are gathering about the economic, social and political impact of such conflict upon non-oil producer countries in the third world and those in the middle east in particular.

  The Prime Minister
  We are doing everything in our power to contribute to a peaceful solution to the Gulf crisis based on the full implementation of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council. It is not possible to make exact predictions of the effects of hostilities in the manner suggested, should it be necessary to use force to eject Saddam Hussein.

  Latin America
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Prime Minister what support her Majesty's Government are giving to the call of Finance and Economy Ministers of Latin America to start negotiations with the European Community for a free trade accord.

  The Prime Minister
  No formal request for this purpose has been received by the Community. If one were, it would be carefully considered. The Government would play a full part in that process.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received concerning compensation for nuclear test veterans.

  The Prime Minister
  I have not, as far as I am aware, received any representations from nuclear test veterans. The Ministry of Defence has, however, received about 120 claims from individuals seeking compensation for damage to health allegedly due to participation in the United Kingdom's nuclear weapon test programme. In addition, a number of representations have been made by test veterans' organisations concerning compensation for their members.

  India
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit India.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans at present to visit India.

  Mr. John Hall
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer on 4 December concerning the case of Mr. John Hall,Official Report, column 172 if he will agree to meet Mr. Hall to discuss compensation.

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that Mr. Hall is in receipt of a war pension. He has made no claim for compensation other than this. Should Mr. Hall pursue a claim for compensation, Government officials would be happy to discuss the matter with him.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Strategic Mineral Stockpile
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement as to what makes up the constituents, and what is the purpose, of the strategic mineral stockpile.

  Mr. Leigh
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question about the contents of the strategic mineral stockpile on 16 November, at column 236. The stockpile was established originally as a contingency against short-term disruptions to certain industrial supplies.

  Environment Newsletter
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his departmental library subscribes to the fortnightly newsletter, "Environment Business".

  Mr. Leigh
  Yes: The library and information service of the Department of Trade and Industry does subscribe to "Environment Business".

  Legal Proceedings
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will state the nature of any legal proceedings under way, outstanding or stayed by a judge in the High Court which have been brought by his Department against either British Aerospace or Rover.
  223
  Mr. Lilley
  On 10 September, HMG served writs on Rover Group and British Aerospace to secure the repayment with interest of, respectively, £1·5 million and £42·9 million which had been ruled by the Commission to be unauthorised concessions in connection with the sale of Rover Group to British Aerospace. On 29 November British Aerospace and Rover Group made a successful application to the court for a stay in these proceedings pending the outcome of their application to the European Court of Justice to annul the Commission's requirement to repay.

  Unit Trusts and Life Assurance
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decision he has reached on the report by the Director General of Fair Trading on the rules made by the Securities and Investments Board concerning disclosure of information relating to the sale of unit trusts and life assurance products.

  Mr. Lilley
  In April, the Director General of Fair Trading reported to my predecessor on SIB's disclosure rules, introduced during 1989, applying to the sale of unit trusts and life assurance products. The director general concluded that certain of SIB's rules are likely to restrict or distort competition to a significant extent. Under the Financial Services Act, I have to decide whether or not I agree with the director general and, if I do, whether or not the anti-competitive effect is greater than necessary for the protection of investors.

  In view of the importance of this issue, my Department invited views from all interested parties to be sent to the Department by the end of September. I have taken account of these views in reaching my decision.

  I have concluded that SIB's disclosure rules, as currently drafted, are likely to restrict or distort competition to a significant extent. My main reason is that I consider that the present rules do not automatically provide the investor with the information he needs, and at an early enough stage, to make an informed investment decision. It is especially difficult for an investor to make a comparison between a purchase through an independent financial adviser (IFA) and a purchase through a tied agent.

  I have also concluded that the effect on competition is greater than necessary for the protection of investors.

  However, I know from the responses received during the consultation period that there are very real concerns about the effects of any new rules that might replace the existing ones. I appreciate these concerns. I also agree with the director general and with SIB in attaching importance to the maintenance of a healthy IFA sector.

  I am therefore asking SIB to propose changes to lessen the anti-competitive effect of the present rules but which take into account the desirability of:
  giving the consumer the comparable and timely information he needs in a form which is readily comprehensible;
  avoiding imposing unnecessarily burdensome costs on product providers; and
  ensuring that any changes to the rules on disclosure of commissions do not result in a distortion of competition between IFAs and tied agents.

  These are very complex issues which will require further work and consultation. SIB has already indicated considerable identity of view with the director general and has committed itself, with the self-regulating organizations
  224
  and other regulatory bodies, to an evolutionary approach to disclosure issues. I welcome this and the fact that SIB is already working, through its quality of information working party, to improve the information available, with a view to publishing proposals for comment by the summer of next year. I hope that SIB will pursue this work and introduce new measures within the next 18 months.

  European Regional Development Fund Grants
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to discuss with local authorities the use of European regional development fund grants for industrial and regional development in the light of local authority budget constraints.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 22 November 1990]: I have no specific plans for such a discussion although I regularly meet local authorities during the course of my regional visits.

  British Steel
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has made an assessment of the likely impact the completion of the single European market will have upon British Steel's ability to compete with European steel makers for orders in the North sea offshore sector.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 30 November 1990]: The Scottish Development Agency's study of the prospects for the steel industry in Scotland will consider all relevant factors. No purpose would be served by duplicating the agency's work.

  Clydesdale Steel Works
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the chairman of British Steel plc to discuss the avenues he explored for the possible retention of steel making and seamless tube production at Clydesdale before deciding to close the works.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 30 November 1990]: My right hon. Friend met the chairman of British Steel on 7 September and has no plans for a further meeting at this stage.

  Seamless Tubes
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between the Department for Trade and Industry and British Steel on the company's relationship with its competitors in the seamless tube market.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 30 November 1990]: All discussions between British Steel and the Department on any subject are conducted on a confidential basis. I intend to respect that confidence.

  Coalfield Areas (Funding)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the scope, funding and operation of European Community funding for coalfield and former coalfield areas under the RECHAR programme, and of the work undertaken by his Department to assist with the operation and monitoring of
  225
  this programme, together with details of any restrictions that have been placed upon the abilities of local authorities to fund schemes which would otherwise have attracted grants under the RECHAR programme.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 5 December 1990]: The European Commission's notice about the RECHAR initiative for Community assistance to coal-mining areas was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities of 27 January 1990. This set out, inter alia, the eligible measures and the criteria for the definition of eligible areas. The Commission's decisions as to eligible areas were published in the Official Journal of 18 July 1990. Eleven programmes of measures were submitted by the Government to the Commission on 26 July 1990 and are currently awaiting Commission approval. The Commission has indicated that the financial allocation to the United Kingdom areas will be 156·2 million ecu.

  My Department, the Departments of the Environment and of Employment, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office, which are responsible for the applications, have

  A and A/S levels

  BTEC

  GCSE

  First and National Diploma

  Number

  Per cent

  Number

  Per cent

  Number

  Per cent

  Clwyd

  451

  13

  1,528

  45

  251

  7

  Dyfed

  50

  2

  1,337

  51

  40

  2

  Gwent

  904

  23

  1,106

  28

  297

  7

  Gwynedd

  69

  4

  782

  48

  —

  —

  Mid Glam

  75

  2

  1,281

  38

  53

  2

  Powys

  13

  2

  420

  52

  40

  5

  South Glam

  349

  13

  819

  30

  322

  12

  West Glam

  1,632

  35

  1,610

  35

  262

  6

  Wales

  3,543

  15

  8,883

  38

  1,265

  5

  Numbers relate to full-time and sandwich students following the required courses at higher and further education and tertiary colleges. They are shown as a percentage of the total number of full-time and sandwich students on further education courses.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he plans to take as a result of the effects of the compulsory teaching of Welsh at secondary level upon the teaching of modern languages in those schools in non-native Welsh-speaking areas which have traditionally offered more than one modern language to GCSE level.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 1 November. Schools are free to offer pupils the choice of more than one modern foreign language in addition to Welsh.

  Education
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will meet representatives of the youth services in Wales to discuss the development of the core curriculum.
  226
  consulted widely with local and other authorities in matters relating to the preparation, operation and monitoring of RECHAR programmes.

  Both local authority and other schemes are eligible for RECHAR grant. Detailed allocations will depend on decisions by programme monitoring committees when the programmes have been approved. As it is not possible to say in advance which particular schemes will attract grant, the last part of the question does not arise.

WALES

  Student Courses
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what numbers and what percentages of full-time students in further education and tertiary colleges in each county in Wales are studying the following types of courses(a) A and AS-levels, (b) BTEC (first and national diploma) and (c) GCSE.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information for 1989–90 is as follows:

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I see no immediate need to do so. Our officials continue to be engaged in discussions with representatives of the youth service on the development of a core curriculum.

  Alcohol Abuse
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the standard indicators used by his Department to quantify the extent of alcohol abuse problems in any part of Wales and the figures against each such standard indicator for each county in Wales for each of the last five years for which figures are available, together with the percentage of the population which is represented by the figure against each such indicator.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Social problems resulting from alcohol misuse are diverse and varied and they are not possible to define in terms of standard indicators. However, details of death and discharges from national health service hospitals in Wales of patients with principal diagnosis relating to alcohol are shown in the table. Consideration is being given to methods of obtaining clearer indicators.
  227

  Deaths and discharges (in-patients and day cases) from national health service hospitals in Wales with principal diagnosis relating to alcohol 1984–88

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Total

  1984

  A

  513

  198

  263

  125

  252

  45

  279

  215

  1,890

  B

  20

  10

  40

  47

  64

  0

  151

  61

  393

  Total

  533

  208

  303

  172

  316

  45

  430

  276

  2,283

  1985

  A

  579

  185

  253

  147

  286

  45

  317

  216

  2,028

  B

  29

  38

  56

  44

  73

  1

  127

  33

  401

  Total

  608

  223

  309

  191

  359

  46

  444

  249

  2,429

  1986

  A

  510

  208

  287

  158

  277

  50

  325

  215

  2,030

  B

  28

  28

  67

  44

  71

  0

  93

  34

  365

  Total

  538

  236

  354

  202

  348

  50

  418

  249

  2,395

  1987

  A

  509

  291

  349

  175

  314

  53

  328

  223

  2,242

  B

  39

  26

  63

  74

  93

  1

  84

  47

  427

  Total

  548

  317

  412

  249

  407

  54

  412

  270

  2,669

  1988

  A

  524

  267

  306

  225

  287

  55

  356

  224

  2,244

  B

  31

  24

  62

  65

  49

  0

  107

  54

  392

  Total

  555

  291

  368

  290

  336

  55

  463

  278

  2,636

  Notes:

  1. Note that the information given may understate the true position in that not all hospitals provide complete clinical details relating to patient discharges and deaths.

  2. ICD 9 codes 291 (Alcoholic Psychoses), 303 (Alcohol Dependence Syndrome) 305.0 (Non dependant abuse of alcohol), 980 (Toxic effect of alcohol).

  3. ICD 9 codes 571. 0–571·3 (Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis—related to alcohol) 535·3 (Alcoholic gastritis).

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister at the Welsh Office will take direct responsibility for discussions, communications and negotiations in regard to any application to establish a national health service trust in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Section 5 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 confers power on me to establish, by order, national health service trusts in Wales.

  Care and Repair Agency Schemes
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the future funding of care and repair agency schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Following the success of an experimental scheme, we plan that the resources available for associated local agencies will be increased to £360,000. This is almost double the current level of funding and forms part of an agreed support package covering the next five years. In addition grant aid of above £105,000 is envisaged in order to establish a developmental unit specifically for care and repair in the Principality.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Domestic Violence and Rape
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of successful prosecutions for (a) cases of domestic violence, (b) rape by a person known to the victim and (c) rape by a person unknown to the victim for each of the last five years.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on prosecutions and convictions is not collected centrally in sufficient detail to distinguish either domestic violence or whether an assailant is known to the victim in rape cases. Some information concerning rape cases is available from recent research studies in "Changes in rape offences and sentencing", Home Office research study 105 and "Concerns about rape", Home Office research study 106. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

  Social Security Fraud
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) women and (b) men are currently serving prison sentences for social security fraud; and if he will give these figures for the years 1970 to 1990, respectively.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information given in the table relates to the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody each year for social security offences for 1970 to 1989. Data for 1990 are not yet available.
  229

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for social security offences1 by sex from 1970 to 1989

  England and Wales

  Immediate custody

  Year

  Males

  Females

  1970

  190

  12

  1971

  143

  7

  1972

  166

  10

  1973

  134

  7

  1974

  119

  1

  1975

  167

  5

  1976

  237

  11

  1977

  300

  24

  1978

  301

  47

  1979

  372

  44

  1980

  404

  46

  1981

  335

  50

  1982

  326

  37

  1983

  245

  26

  1984

  181

  18

  1985

  170

  16

  1986

  154

  13

  1987

  139

  22

  1988

  86

  14

  1989

  61

  11

  1 Until 1984, data includes offences under the National Insurance Acts.

  Football Spectators
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons or organisations in Scotland with whom arrangements have been made by his Department with a view to enforcing the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Scotland) Order 1990; what form these arrangements have taken; and what further measures he intends to take to promote this order.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Article 3 of the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Scotland) Order 1990 specifies the Crown Office, Edinburgh, as the authority in Scotland that will certify the conviction of a person there of an offence specified in schedule 1 to the order. These arrangements are well known to the procurator fiscal. No further formal arrangements are required.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons or organisations in Italy with whom arrangements have been made by his Department with a view to enforcing the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990; what form these arrangements have taken; and what further measures he intends to take to promote this order.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Article 3 of the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990 specifies the Ministry of Grace and Justice as the authority in Italy that will certify the conviction of a person there of an offence specified in schedule 1 to the order. No further formal arrangements are required.

  The standing committee of the European convention on spectator violence and misbehaviour at sports events urged member states, which include Italy, to act vigorously on the basis of article 5 of the convention in prosecuting hooligans at sports events.

  I understand that the Ministry of Justice has reminded the Italian courts that confirmed convictions involving British nationals should be reported to it.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take in relation to persons 230
  convicted abroad of offences corresponding to those set out in schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989, but whose cases are subsequently subject to appeal proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In accordance with section 22(4) of the 1989 Act a restriction order may not be made in relation to a person convicted in a country outside England and Wales of a "corresponding offence" if it appears that the conviction is the subject of proceedings in a court of law in that country questioning the conviction.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons or organisations in Sweden with whom arrangements have been made by his Department with a view to extending the measures outlined in the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990, to cover offences committed in Sweden; what form these arrangements have taken; and what further steps he intends to take to extend these measures.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We are in discussion with the Swedish authorities on this matter. No formal arrangements have been agreed as yet.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Crop Damage
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 21 November,Official Report, column 135, if he will place the relevant research on damage to crops in the Library.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will place the information in the Library as soon as possible.

  Eggs
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was(a) the number and (b) the value of eggs (i) imported into the United Kingdom and (ii) exported from the United Kingdom in each month since September 1989.

  Mr. Curry
  The number and value of shell eggs (i) imported into the United Kingdom and (ii) exported from the United Kingdom from September 1989 up to and including October 1990 (latest available figures) are set out in the table:

  '000 Eggs

  Value £

  Imports

  1989

  September

  58,044

  2,532,210

  October

  38,285

  1,513,155

  November

  74,354

  3,401,470

  December

  53,882

  2,643,422

  1990

  January

  37,755

  1,670,107

  February

  34,982

  1,520,792

  March

  66,290

  3,226,961

  April

  54,212

  2,187,086

  May

  76,115

  3,053,742

  June

  72,839

  2,730,381

  July

  52,608

  1,992,012

  August

  65,622

  2,568,045

  231

  '000 Eggs

  Value £

  September

  52,964

  2,424,870

  October

  50,136

  2,024,978

  Total

  788,088

  33,489,231

  Exports

  1989

  September

  8,861

  332,546

  October

  9,874

  374,294

  November

  5,507

  277,352

  December

  5,889

  315,224

  1990

  January

  9,580

  539,652

  February

  7,662

  349,428

  March

  6,347

  320,290

  April

  6,660

  329,901

  May

  7,231

  338,151

  June

  6,353

  288,356

  July

  12,767

  609,872

  August

  13,640

  474,317

  September

  9,353

  336,649

  October

  9,180

  352,955

  Total

  118,904

  5,238,987

  Global Warming
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 16 November,Official Report, column 250, whether the Agriculture Council meeting on 27 November discussed the relationship between European agricultural practices and global warming.

  Mr. Curry
  This topic was not on the agenda for this Council and was not discussed.

  Rabies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are now being taken to prevent the spread of rabies to the United Kingdom from the European continent following recent developments in the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Eurotunnel has implemented agreed measures to prevent the possible entry of rabies-susceptible animals while the tunnel is being built. These include fencing, staged security zones, visual observation at openings in fencing and a system to ensure that any animals which are seen in the tunnel are reported.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish measured and estimated annual radiation dose equivalent uptakes in milliSieverts per annum by members of the general public living near Bradwell and Dungeness nuclear power stations arising directly from radiation in the local environment and from consumption of land produce; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Information on radiation doses to the general public from radio activity in the marine and coastal environment and from consumption of locally produced foodstuffs around Bradwell and Dungeness power stations is published annually by this Department in the "Terrestrial Radioactivity Monitoring Report:232
  Radioactivity in Food and Agricultural Products in England and Wales" and "Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report: Radioactivity in Surface and Coastal Waters of the British Isles". The latest copies of both reports are in the Library of the House.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pesticide products remain to be reviewed; and how long he expects this work to take.

  Mr. Maclean
  This extensive list of information was announced on 1 November and is available in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Purchasing
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department is bound by the Government's policy that purchasers should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and the GATT Government procurement agreement (GPA) where appropriate, the Department is obliged to award contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.

  Personal Pensions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer, during financial year 1991–92, of the 2 per cent. incentive payment paid from the national insurance fund to people with personal pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On the assumption that by the end of 1990–91 the number of people with personal pensions is 4·5 million, the Government Actuary estimates that the revenue foregone by the national insurance fund in respect of the 2 per cent. incentive will be £600 million in 1991–92.

  Direct Payment of Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to make clear to staff and claimants that the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 allows for benefit administered clerically to be paid directly into the bank account or building society belonging to a claimant, their spouse or other person acting on the claimant's behalf.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I am arranging for guidance to be issued to local social security offices clarifying the help and advice they can give to individual beneficiaries who have no suitable person to act on their behalf and who request payment direct to bank or building society accounts. The facility is already available for bulk payments of benefit to agents and appointees handling the affairs of customers.

  Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce details of the disability employment credit scheme; and on what basis the level of credit will be determined.

  Mr. Scott
  "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" (Cmd. 917) set out the basic structure of the proposed disability employment credit, which, in the light of research and discussion, has now been renamed disability working allowance. A number of responses were received from organisations and individuals which were helpful in working up the provisions relating to disability working allowance set out in the Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance Bill.

  A note giving more detailed information about the benefit, including elements which we propose to set out in regulations in due course, was published on 12 November 1990 and a copy was placed in the Library. This note included illustrative rates of benefit but the level at which the benefit would be introduced in April 1992 will not be settled until nearer the time.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to amend the payment rates of severe disablement allowance to take into account(a) those who do not have sufficient national insurance contributions, (b) those who have never worked and (c) women who have not worked outside the home for a number of years.

  Mr. Scott
  I have no plans to do so. Severe disablement allowance is already paid to people in these circumstances. From this month age-related additions have been introduced to SDA which focus most help on those who become disabled early in life.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the extra weekly amount married and single pensioners would now receive if the earnings link had not been broken.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The full-rate, basic retirement pension, if it had been uprated since 1979 by the higher of prices or earnings, would today be £58·65 per week. For a married couple where the wife is receiving a pension based on her husband's contributions, the combined amount payable would be £94·05. The extra amounts received would therefore be £11·75 and £18·95 respectively. This would cost national insurance contributors an extra £5·5 billion in 1990–91. What really matters to pensioners is their total income from all sources; this rose on average by 31 per cent. between 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will list, for each member state of the European Community, the rate of weekly state retirement pension for(a) a single person and (b) a married couple.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the 1989 edition of the Department's publication, "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the European Communities", a copy of which is in the Library. These tables set out the levels of pension in the national currencies together with the sterling equivalent converted according to the purchasing power parity figures as shown in the introduction to the tables.

  Computer Centre, Swindon
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the computer centre at Oak house, Swindon, became operational; and if he will make a statement on the progress of implementing the Department's new computer systems.

  Mr. Jack
  I am pleased to be able to announce that Oak house, Swindon, started processing income support and pensions payments on 3 December. This additional processing centre, run by Sema Ltd. under the direction of the Information Technology Services Agency, will enable the implementation of the operational strategy in local offices to be completed by the middle of next year. A total of 387 local offices have now been connected and 75 per cent. of new income support claims are being processed by computer, thus giving better service to the public, improved job satisfaction to the staff and savings in administration.

DEFENCE

  Dockyards (Radiation)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum total radiation dose recorded for any Chatham dockyard worker registered in the defence radiological protection services' record-keeping system; over what period it accrued; and what are the 20 highest doses recorded.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The maximum lifetime total radiation dose for a Chatham worker currently registered in the DRPS's record-keeping system is 511·6 milliSieverts. This total dose was accrued over the period 1 January 1968 to 5 December 1983.

  The 20 highest doses recorded for workers so registered are shown in the table:

  Highest Radiation Doses/Chatham Dockyard Cumulative dose (mSv)

  511·60

  420·21

  403·13

  396·99

  393·58

  387·46

  366·57

  365·44

  352·88

  348·27

  340·57

  325·06

  320·74

  307·87

  307·43

  304·86

  298·44

  297·05

  295·45

  288·07

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give a breakdown for Rosyth dockyard of annual individual radiation exposure for Rolls-Royce personnel in the bands of(a) nought to 10, (b) 10 to 20, (c) 20 to 30, (d) 30 to 40, (e) greater than 50, (f) greater than 70 and (g) greater than 100 milliSieverts for each year since 1979;

  (2) if he will give a breakdown for Devonport dockyard of annual individual radiation exposure for Rolls-Royce

  235
  personnel in the bands of (a) nought to 10, (b) 10 to 20,(c) 20 to 30, (d) 30 to 40, (e) greater than 50, (f) greater than 70 and (g) greater than 100 milliSieverts for each year since 1979;

  (3) if he will give a breakdown for Chatham dockyard of annual individual radiation exposure for Rolls-Royce personnel in the bands of (a) nought to 10, (b) 10 to 20,(c) 20 to 30, (d) 30 to 40, (e) greater than 50, (f) greater than 70 and (g) greater than 100 milliSieverts for each year since 1979;

  (4) if he will give a breakdown for the Clyde submarine base at Faslane of annual individual radiation exposure for Rolls-Royce personnel in the bands of (a) nought to 10, (b) 10 to 20, (c) 20 to 30, (d) 30 to 40, (e) greater than 50, (f) greater than 70 and (g) greater than 100 milliSieverts for each year since 1979;

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The information requested by the hon. Member is a matter for Rolls-Royce and associates.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the distribution of total radiation exposure for Chatham dockyard workers in the ranges(a) nought to five milliSieverts, (b) five to 10, (c) 10 to 15, (d) 15 to 20, (e) 20 to 25, (f) 25 to 30, (g) 30 to 35, (h) 35 to 40, (i) 40 to 45, (j) 45 to 50, (k) greater than 50, (1) greater than 100, (m) greater than 200, (n) greater than 300, (o) greater than 400, (p) greater than 500, (q) greater than 600, (r) greater than 700 and (s) greater than 750 milliSieverts, in numbers and in terms of percentage of the overall work force.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A breakdown of cumulative radiation exposure for workers registered in DRPS's record-keeping system as working at Chatham dockyard, including those who have left MOD but whose last MOD establishment was Chatham, is shown in the table:

  Dose range

  Number of persons

  Percentage of work force monitored

  0–5

  80

  16·7

  5–10

  36

  7·5

  10–15

  30

  6·3

  15–20

  22

  4·6

  20–25

  23

  4·8

  25–30

  15

  3·1

  30–35

  13

  2·7

  35–40

  13

  2·7

  40–45

  16

  3·3

  45–50

  12

  2·5

  Greater than

  50 (50–100)

  83

  17·3

  100 (100–200)

  83

  17·3

  200 (200–300)

  38

  7·9

  300 (300–400)

  13

  2·7

  400 (400–500)

  2

  0·4

  500 (500–600)

  1

  0·2

  600 (600–700)

  0

  0

  700 (700–750)

  0

  0

  750

  0

  0

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the collective commitment made by the United Kingdom, along with the United States of America and Soviet Union, at the first United Nations special session on disarmament in 1978 to negative security assurances and 236
  the renunciation of the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states, remains the policy of Her Majesty's armed forces in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government are well aware of their responsibilities and undertakings as set out in their negative security assurance to the United Nations.

  Military Doctrine
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions his officials have discussed military doctrine with their Soviet counterparts in the last two years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have been a number of defence exchanges between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union in the last two years, during which a wide range of matters have been discussed, including military doctrine. There was also a military doctrine seminar in Vienna from 16 January to 5 February this year, in which both British and Soviet representatives took part.

  Conventional Forces
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the inclusion of maritime confidence-building measures in the further discussions on conventional force reductions in Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The mandate for the conventional forces in Europe follow-on talks (CFE1A) specifically excludes naval issues.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether those British tanks that will be removed as part of the conventional forces in Europe agreement will be sold or destroyed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The CFE treaty provides for reductions in tank holdings required by the treaty to be by destruction or conversion to certain forms of non-military use. The possibility exists of transferring excess equipment to allies provided national limits on equipment holdings are not exceeded. No final decision on the manner of United Kingdom tank reductions has yet been taken.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects his programme of inspections of nuclear-powered submarines to be completed.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The programme of inspections of our nuclear-powered submarines is continuing and will be completed as soon as possible.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy to publish a declassified summary of the results of his inspections of the Royal Navy's in-service nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. It is not our general practice to comment on the material state of individual nuclear-powered submarines.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which groups of service personnel are monitored for levels of radiation exposure.
  237
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Groups monitored for exposure to ionising radiation include: nuclear submarine operating, maintenance and training personnel; radiographers employed in hospitals, non-destructive testing units, clearance diving teams, explosives ordnance disposal units and in general medical, dental and nuclear medicine units; users of high-voltage equipment (which may emit X-rays) such as radar operators and security personnel; health physicists; personnel involved in handling and maintaining nuclear weapons; personnel employed in NBC training, and personnel employed as instrument calibration technicians and storekeepers.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records relating to service personnel are held on the national register of radiation workers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The national register of radiation workers keep records of annual and cumulative lifetime doses on all service personnel who have been dosimeter wearers at any time since 1978 with the exception of those who have requested to opt out of the scheme.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many inspections have been made by radiological protection advisers of nuclear-powered submarines in each year for the last 10 years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not the function of a radiation protection adviser (RPA) to carry out inspections, but rather, as required by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985, regulation 10(1), to advise the employer.

SCOTLAND

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to Greater Glasgow health board in advertising and assessing competitive tenders for its medical records and secretarial services; and what was the outcome.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Advertising and assessment costs were approximately £5,000. The board is currently considering how to obtain the best quality service and value for money in the future.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been allocated by Greater Glasgow health board to the Glasgow North county medical team for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Salaries

  Supplies

  £

  £

  1989–90

  151,000

  6,000

  1990–91 (projection)

  224,000

  10,500

  1991–92 (at current prices)

  224,000

  116,000

  1 This includes resources for additional equipment.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the proposed start and completion dates for the Seafield units to be built by Greater Glasgow health board to house patients from Lennox Castle.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The first unit is sited at Rodger drive, Rutherglen. Building commenced in October 1990 and will finish in October 1991.
  238
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what capital projects are to be cut from Greater Glasgow health board's programme following the reduction in the capital investment grant.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Capital allocations to individual health boards for 1991–92 have still to be decided.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long the Glasgow county medical team will be in the temporary accommodation at Waverley Park school.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The team has been using this accommodation as an administrative base since the week commencing 29 October 1990, when it was relocated from Maryhill health centre. The current accommodation provides more space, is functionally acceptable, and will be used until longer-term accommodation is located.

  AIDS
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expenditure in Lothian region on patients with HIV for the years 1989–90; and what is the expected expenditure for 1990–91.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Lothian health board has estimated that its total expenditure on HIV and AIDS-related services was approximately £2,275,300 in 1988–89 and £2,621,700 in 1989–90. For 1990–91 the boa rd anticipates total expenditure of around £6,158,200 on such services. The board cannot readily distinguish between expenditure on persons with HIV and on those with AIDS.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on HIV and drugs media campaigns for each of the years from 1984 to 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In Scotland health education at national level is the responsibility of the Scottish health education group. The following table gives details of expenditure incurred by the group on HIV/AIDS and drug misuse media advertising and related activities:

  £000

  HIV/AIDS

  Drugs

  1984–85

  —

  285·0

  1985–86

  8·5

  235·0

  1986–87

  86·6

  286·2

  1987–88

  53·2

  297·1

  1988–89

  46·9

  206·5

  1989–90

  77·4

  150·0

  1990–91

  1115·2

  168·0

  1 Provisional.

  From 1988–89 the mass media campaign on drug misuse has been conducted on a Great Britain-wide basis, and the contributions made by the Scottish Home arid Health Department towards the costs are shown in the following table:

  £000

  1988–89

  160

  1989–90

  200

  1990–91

  1300

  1 Provisional.

  Nurses
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who will be the validating body for certification of nurses following the introduction of Project 2000; and who will be legally responsible for student work on the wards on their branch regime following its introduction.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland is currently in negotiation with a number of appropriate agencies about the validation of Project 2000 courses. Project 2000 students will not be health board employees but will be subject to the regulations of their college. They will work in wards under the direction and supervision of registered nurses.

  Lanarkshire Health Board
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when representatives of Lanarkshire health board last met with Scottish Office officials; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Representatives of Lanarkshire health board last met with Scottish Office officials on 27 November to discuss the board's accountability review submission.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to achieve quality control with the minimum of administration in training and enterprise councils and in training providers.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and enterprise councils agree with my Department a strategy for managing quality. This is an integral part of their corporate and business plans. These plans form the foundation of contractual arrangements between TECs and my Department. This quality strategy sets out the mechanisms the TEC will use to ensure improvements in value for money and relevance of their provision, and includes their arrangements to ensure the capability and efficiency of their training providers. I have taken steps to ensure that administrative procedures imposed upon TECs are kept to a minimum.

  Mills (Denton and Reddish)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will list all mills in Denton and Reddish for which improvement notices have been issued by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of removing asbestos; when the notices were issued; how many have been complied with; and whether the Health and Safety Executive has satisfied itself that there is no possibility that asbestos remains a hazard in any mills in the Denton and Reddish constituency.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued an improvement notice in respect of the removal of asbestos at Vernon mill, Stockport on 23 February 1990. The notice was not complied with by the due date and HSE successfully prosecuted the managing agents of the mill on 19 November 1990.
  240
  Asbestos will continue to present a potential hazard at the mill while remedial work is carried out to comply with the terms of HSE's improvement notice. This work is being monitored by HSE.

  Although responsibility for ensuring that asbestos is not a hazard to those employed or to members of the public rests with the owner or occupier of premises, HSE is not aware of a potential hazard from asbestos in any other mills in the Denton and Reddish constituency for which HSE is the enforcing authority for health and safety legislation.

  Client Advisers
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how long the new client advisers who interview the recently unemployed are recommended to spend with them.

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Lighting Industry
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Lighting Industry Federation about improvements in health and safety for workers at their workplaces in respect of lighting requirements.

  Mr. Forth
  I have had no such discussions.

  Display Screens (Safety)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation he intends to bring forward to enable the United Kingdom to meet the requirements of the European Community directive on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment.

  Mr. Forth
  The United Kingdom has no existing legislation specifically on health and safety of workers using display screen equipment. The Health and Safety Commission is currently discussing with the CBI and the TUC the most appropriate way to implement the directive.

  Building Works
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish tables showing(a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 5 December 1990]: The information requested is as follows. It has not been possible to separate the expenditure between new buildings and renovations.
  241

  1986–7

  1987–8

  1988–9

  1989–90

  1990–1

  No new buildings

  5

  9

  18

  73

  131

  Spend on new buildings and renovation (£ million)

  7·549

  8·891

  17·041

  14·409

  34·745

  Spend on repair and maintenance (£ million)

  4·144

  4·338

  7·310

  7·321

  17·238

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a list showing for full-time male and female manual and non-manual workers respectively the two and three-digit SIC industries in which the percentage increase in weekly earnings, including overtime and excluding absence, was (a) less and (b) more than the rate of inflation in the year to April 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information on percentage increases in average gross weekly earnings in the year to April 1990, at 2 and 3 digit standard industrial classification (SIC) level, is published in part C of the 1990 new earnings survey report. Information on the percentage increase in the retail prices index (all items) in the year to April 1990 is published in table 6·5 of the latest Employment Gazette. Copies of the publications are in the Library.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for a copy of the Health and Safety Executive's most recent study of the channel tunnel project, conducted by the accident fire prevention advisory unit, to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Forth
  It is not HSE's policy to make reports by its accident prevention advisory unit (APAU) available, as they rely on information provided in confidence by employers.

THE ARTS

  Arts Expenditure
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what has been the Government's total expenditure on the arts for each of the past five years and as a total over the same period.

  Mr. Renton
  Total central Government expenditure on the arts for each of the past five years has been as follows:

  £ million

  1986–87

  343·3

  1987–88

  368·3

  1988–89

  413·9

  1989–90

  446·3

  1990–91

  494·2

  2,066·0

  Arts Funding (Reforms)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on the structural reforms of arts funding from Nottinghamshire county council; and if he will make a statement.
  242
  Mr. Renton
  Nottinghamshire county council wrote to my predecessor, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor), on 24 October expressing its reservations about his proposals of 24 September to further strengthen the new regional arts boards.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any new plans to encourage Brazil and Argentina to sign the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty following the bilateral accord signed between the two countries on nuclear controls, at Foz de Iguau on 28 November.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is our policy to take every suitable opportunity to raise non-proliferation issues, arid the non-proliferation treaty in particular, with states that are not parties to the treaty.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for nuclear non-proliferation policy of the Foz de Iguau agreement signed between the Presidents of Argentina and Brazil on 28 November.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We regard this statement as a positive step, although we are seeking clarification of some aspects.

  We will continue our efforts to secure universal adherence to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, to achieve acceptance by all non-nuclear weapons states of full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and to ensure that national and multilateral nuclear export controls are appropriately devised and effectively implemented.

  Football Spectators
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of criminal proceedings currently in progress in Italy involving alleged offences by citizens of England and Wales which correspond to the offences contained in schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989; when is the likely date of completion of each of these proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We understand that 36 England supporters were convicted during the 1990 world cup in Italy. Another eight were released pending trial and a further 23 detained did not have their arrests confirmed and were released. Under bilateral arrangements, the Italian Ministry of Justice informs the British police of any convictions involving such offences; it does this after the legal processes have been completed and any appeals heard. No cases have yet been notified.
  243
  The Italian authorities have been asked to provide the likely date of completion of proceedings in each of these cases, and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Military Forces, Soviet Union
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made any request to the Soviet military authorities for information concerning recent developments in military forces east of the Urals.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has asked his Soviet opposite number for assurances regarding their intention with regard to treaty limited equipment withdrawn east of the Urals. The Soviet Union has responded with partial information. We and our allies will continue to press for a full account and to monitor the situation carefully.

  Confidence-building Measures
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what difficulties have so far been encountered in the implementation of the confidence-building measures agreement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Implementation of the 1986 Stockholm document on confidence and security-building measures has generally been a success. It is particularly encouraging that the challenge on-site inspection regime has become a routine and regular part of its implementation.

ENERGY

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce a single agreed national scale for the energy efficiency rating of(a) domestic dwellings and (b) commercial and industrial premises.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are two commercially available energy labelling schemes for the housing sector both based on the Building Research Establishment's domestic energy model (BREDEM). My Energy Efficiency Office (EEO) in co-operation with the Department of the Environment and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) is working with the National Energy Foundation and MVM-Starpoint, the two organisations providing energy labelling services, to find an acceptable means of making a reliable and simple comparison between the two rating systems.

  So far as commercial and industrial buildings are concerned, there is no established labelling scheme at
  244
  present. The EEO is in touch with developments at BRE and elsewhere and will keep the need for Government involvement under review.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen),Official Report, 15 November, column 192, he will set out those areas of detail in regard to the proposed reprocessing contracts to which reference is made, which his Department will require in order to fulfil international nuclear safeguards commitments.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  All material received by AEA Dounreay is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the UK/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement.

  Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the report, "A Field Guide on the Reduction and Disposal of Waste From Oil Refineries and Market Installations", prepared by Concawe, the organisation of European oil companies for environmental protection.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department regularly receives reports from Concawe and a copy of the report in question is already in the departmental library.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish measured and estimated annual radiation dose equivalent uptakes in milliSieverts per annum by members of the public living near Bradwell and Dungeness nuclear power stations arising directly from radiation emitted from the structures of the power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The external radiation doses to members of the public living near the nuclear power stations at Bradwell and Dungeness are assessed by measurements taken routinely by the operator and published in annual reports. The most recent annual figures are for 1989, which show a maximum external dose at these stations of 0·3 mSv for the year.

  The measurements do not discriminate between external radiation arising from structures and from radiation associated with discharges. The dose assessment represents the total external dose to the most exposed local residents due to these stations.

  These doses are more than 10 times lower than the statutory United Kingdom dose limit and are less than one third of the principal dose limit of 1 mSv currently recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).