Written Answers of 8 February 1990

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Civil Legal Aid
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the numbers of those who in 1989 and each of the preceding four years(a) applied for civil legal aid, (b) had their application for civil legal aid refused because they did not have a reasonable case, (c) had their application for civil legal aid refused because they did not meet the financial requirements and (d) were successful in securing civil legal aid on appeal against not having a reasonable case.

  £million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

  1·473

  1·561

  1·725

  1·829

  1·906

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  10·220

  11·006

  12·302

  12·258

  12·852

  Tate Gallery (Liverpool)

  0·700

  0·800

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a = figures not available.

  I understand that for local museums and galleries, the north-west museum and art gallery service grant-in-aid assistance, and funding of conservation and design services, amounted to £326,602 in 1987–88 and £348,374 in 1988–89. I also understand that the Museums and Galleries Commission has provided capital grants of £89,499 in 1987–88 and £95,900 in 1988–89 to north-west museums and art galleries.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tobacco
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual income to the Exchequer from tobacco-related taxes and duties.

  Mr. Ryder
  In 1988–89 excise duty revenue from tobacco taxation was £4,990 million; value added tax of around £1,050 million would also have accrued.

  European Commission
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last had discussions with the president of the European Commission; and what was discused.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last met Mr. Delors at the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers on 18 December last year, as I reported to the House on 20 December,Official Report , Vol. 166, c. 244.
  714
  The Attorney-General
  An analysis of applications for legal aid, which includes the number of applications made and the number refused on legal and financial grounds, is set out at appendix 2B(1)(a) of the Law Society's annual reports.

  Statistics relating to appeals are set out in appendix 2F of the reports for 1987–88 and 1988–89. Information on appeals for earlier years is not available.

  Figures for 1989 are currently available only to 31 March of that year.

THE ARTS

  Arts Funding (North-west)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Minster for the Arts if he will make a statement on funding of art galleries and museums in the north-west.

  Mr. Luce
  Grants to centrally funded museums and galleries in the north-west are as follows:

  Self-employment
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how, for tax purposes, the Inland Revenue defines self-employed.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Inland Revenue applies case law laid down by the courts to the facts of particular cases. The essential question is, "Are you in business on your own account?"

  A joint Inland Revenue—Department of Social Security leaflet provides guidance to those who are unsure about their employment status. Copies of the leaflet (IR56/NI39), available from any local tax office or DSS office, are held in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Angola
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total outstanding debt owed to Her Majesty's Government by the MF'LA Government; what arrangements have been made for repayments and if he will make a statement; how much MPLA debt to this country is guaranteed by Her Majesty's Government for repayment; if he will place in the Library a copy of an agreed debt cut between Her Majesty's Government and the MPLA Government; and if he will estimate the amount of private sector debt owed to companies in the United Kingdom by the MF'LA Government.
  715
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of any debt list agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Angola.

  Mr. Maude
  Angola's outstanding debt to Her Majesty's Government is all owed to ECGD. For commercial reasons, ECGD does not reveal detailed figures for debt that it is owed by individual countries, or for its outstanding guarantees. A copy of the United Kingdom-Angola debt agreement No. 1 (1987) which rescheduled some of Angola's debt payments to ECGD is available in the Library of the House. A second rescheduling was negotiated last year and an agreement will be signed shortly. Lists of debt covered by the rescheduling are not published. As for private sector debt, figures for debts to United Kingdom banks are given in table 15 of the Bank of England'sQuarterly Bulletin , a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Figures for debts to other private sector institutions are not available.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met members or officials of the Government of Bangladesh; what issues are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs looks forward to making his first contacts with Bangladeshi Ministers when opportunity arises. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development is visiting Bangladesh at the moment and plans to call on President Ershad today. We have excellent relations with Bangladesh, and are not aware of any major outstanding issues between us.

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arising from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Maude
  A revision of the inventory of valuable items in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in train and should be completed shortly.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the number of professionally qualified loss prevention staff employed by his Department and the qualifications held by such staff, excluding qualifications obtained during police or military service.

  Mr. Maude
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs no specialist loss prevention staff, but we employ our own cadres of security officers, at home and overseas, to supervise security arrangements in buildings for which we are responsible. They receive training in all aspects of their duties, which include loss prevention.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Hong Kong Government have made provision for war service to be included in the calculation of pensions for their expatriate staff.
  716
  Mr. Maude
  The Hong Kong Government are still considering whether to include war service in the calculation of pensions for expatriate staff. At the turn of the year they sought, and were given, further information about the British Government's war service credit scheme for colonial pensioners. I will inform my hon. Friend when a decision has been made.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he is doing to improve the living and sanitation conditions at detention camps for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 12 January, c.791–92.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of Vietnamese boat people who have tried to commit suicide in detainment camps in Hong Kong in 1990.

  Mr. Maude
  Since 1 January 1990, seven people have inflicted injuries upon themselves in Hong Kong's detention centres. None of the injuries has been serious.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to give assistance to improve the environmental health conditions and housing in the Kwun Tong public housing area in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  As part of a comprehensive redevelopment programme to renew the urban environment, over 58,000 old public housing flats will be demolished, and about 55,000 new flats will be constructed between 1990 and 2001 in the Kwun Tong area, partly to provide replacement accommodation and partly to provide new housing for those in need. Planned environmental health improvements include the closure of a local refuse dump, restrictions on the sulphur content of industrial fuel oil, and the introduction of vehicle emission controls.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 5 February.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 5 February. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my noble Friend the Minister for Trade and I represented the United Kingdom.

  Following our informal discussions in Dublin on 20 January, Ministers had a preliminary discussion of the prospects for extending the Community's relations with, and assistance to, the countries of eastern Europe. Preliminary suggestions from the Commission closely reflect United Kingdom ideas, which we put to partners before the Strasbourg European Council. The Commission also presented its proposals for OK creation of a European training foundation and a mobility scheme for students (TEMPUS). These fulfil the mandate from the Strasbourg European Council to extend training assistance to the countries of eastern Europe. The Council separately agreed on the importance of the forthcoming CSCE economic conference in Bonn as an opportunity to monitor and encourage the development of market

  717
  economies in eastern Europe, and considered a Commission proposal for a draft concluding document of the conference.

  Ministers issued a statement welcoming the reforms announced by President de Klerk of South Africa on 2 February. We looked forward to their early implementation, and hoped for further measures leading to the complete abolition of apartheid. Our statement noted that, to the degree that dialogue is instituted in South Africa, the Twelve will be prepared to reconsider their position in respect of sanctions in accordance with the European Council declaration at Strasbourg on 9 December. We agreed to discuss developments in South Africa on this basis at the next meeting on European political co-operation issues, which will be in Dublin on 20 February.

  The Council discussed the future regime for imports of Japanese cars, and will revert to the issue in March. The Council expressed its support for the Commission's opinion on Turkey's EC membership application and asked the Commission to draw up detailed proposals for strengthening EC-Turkey relations within the context of the association agreement.

  The Council discussed a Commission outline paper on a new Mediterranean policy and asked the Commission to produce detailed proposals taking into account the full range of views expressed at the meeting. The United Kingdom argued for a differentiated approach to individual Mediterranean countries, and in favour of measures to promote trade.

  The Council noted with approval the EC's acceptance at the January GATT Council of the GATT panel report on the EC's oilseeds regime. Ministers discussed possible solutions to the hormones dispute and invited the Commission to put forward further proposals for discussion at official level

  The Council took note of the Commission's proposals for assistance to Colombia's special co-operation programme and agreed on the importance of supporting the Government of Colombia in their courageous efforts to combat the drugs problem.

  Ministers reviewed preparations for the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Goverment are taking to encourage a negotiated long-term solution to the war in northern Ethiopia.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Negotiations between the parties to the conflict in Ethiopia offer the only hope of a lasting solution. We have therefore been active in encouraging the parties, both directly and through others who have influence, to pursue seriously the peace talks initiated last autumn.

  Middle East
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of people killed by terrorist action in the middle east in each of the last three years, setting out in each case the numbers killed by(a) Israelis and (b) Arabs.
  718
  Mr. Waldegrave
  We do not keep statistics in the form requested.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to make any changes in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running cost limits for 1989–90.

  Mr. Maude
  [pursuant to the reply 29 January 1990, c. 16] : On changes to this Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running cost limits for 1989–90, the details in the second paragraph refer to class II vote 2 (Other External Relations).

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is undertaking to obtain a dependable estimate of the number of(a) spouses and (b) children who are currently awaiting entry clearance from Bangladesh.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Such estimates are available for all three countries in the Indian sub-continent; 1,700 spouses and 2,300 children in Bangladesh were awaiting a decision on their application for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom at 30 November 1989. Aggregate information for (i) wives, children and persons applying for entry clearance for immediate settlement, and (ii) husbands and male fiances are published in tables 6 and 11 respectively of the annual Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom" (most recently, for 1988, in Cm. 726), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arriving from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Waddington
  The extent of such loss in the Home Office is believed to be very small. Where losses do occur, appropriate measures are taken to minimise the risk of recurrence, including the recovery of moneys obtained by fraud.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the number of professionally qualified loss prevention staff employed by his Department and the qualifications held by such staff, excluding qualifications obtained during police or military service.

  Mr. Waddington
  Staff employed by the Home Office have professional qualifications in several relevant disciplines, such as accountancy, auditing, fire prevention and health and safety. It would require a disproportionate use of resources to list them and their qualifications.

  All-seater Stadiums
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a timetable for the possible all-seater status of stadiums included under schedules in the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.
  719
  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's statement on 29 January, at column 19, and to the schedule placed in the Library on the same date responding to recommendations 1 to 4 of the final report of the Hillsborough inquiry which set out the timetable for admitting spectators to seated accommodation only.

  Deer
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will send to the hon. Member for Mansfield a copy of the Nature Conservancy Council report by V. P. W. Lowe on wild and feral deer in Great Britain, reference number NCC NERC Contract H F3/05/43.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No spare copies of this interim report, which was produced in 1979, are held by either the Home Office or the Nature Conservancy Council. However I will arrange for a photocopy to be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible and for another to be placed in the Library.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is undertaking to obtain a dependable estimate of the number of(a) spouses and (b) children who are currently awaiting entry clearance other than in the Indian sub-continent.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None is planned. The collection of data on persons outside the Indian sub-continent applying for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom was terminated at the end of 1979 because it was considered that its usefulness did not justify the resources required to undertake it. Information continues to be collected on persons applying in the sub-continent because of the large number of applications there. Some information on applications for entry clearance by persons in Hong Kong has been collected since the end of 1984; this information includes the numbers of spouses and children awaiting first interview but not the total numbers awaiting a decision on their application.

  Computer Security
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken and is taking to improve the security of its computer systems.

  Mr. Waddington
  A wide range of steps have been and are being taken to ensure the security of my Department's computer systems: it would not be sensible to make details public. The measures needed to maintain adequate security are kept under review, and take due account of guidance issued centrally.

  Abortion Clinics
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 7 December,Official Report , column 256 ,what information is available about arrests in the vicinity of abortion clinics and the reasons for those arrests.

  Mr. John Patten
  None. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 6 December 1989 at column 256.

  John McGranaghan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reason for the transfer into segregation of John McGranaghan on 17 October 1989; what is the reason for keeping him in segregation since that time; what is the reason for the delay in informing him of the reason for his segregation; and when he will be informed of the detailed reasons.

  Mr. Mellor
  Under the terms of prison rule 43(1), Mr. McGranaghan was removed from normal association on 17 October 1989 for the maintenance of good order or discipline. He returned to an ordinary location though in a different establishment on 14 November but from 22 November until 15 January 1990 he was again removed from normal association for similar reasons. These were explained to him by prison staff on both occasions.

  Metropolitan Police Officers
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the cost to public funds of(a) training a Metropolitan police officer and (b) the estimated cost of wastage during the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available, arising from resignations, early retirement and transfers of officers to other forces.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The cost of the initial training provided for Metropolitan police officers is estimated at about £12,000 per officer. Continuing training is provided throughout an officer's service. Figures for the numbers of officers leaving the Metropolitan police are given in table 13(iii) of volume 2 of the report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for 1988. Information on the cost of this wastage is not available.

  Prisoners' Complaints
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what sources he receives complaints from prisoners regarding conditions or treatment; and approximately what proportion of these complaints would come under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

  Mr. Mellor
  The majority of prisoners' complaints are received directly as petitions to the Secretary of State or indirectly through Members of Parliament, prisoners' friends, relatives or legal advisers. It is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the number which might fall within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he has received from prisoners or from organisations concerned with prisons that hon. Members have not passed on prisoners' complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no record of having received such a complaint in an individual case.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to appoint a prison ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.
  721
  Mr. Mellor
  We are considering the comments made on this matter in response to the report of the working group on an improved system of grievance procedures for prisoners' complaints and requests.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the proportion of 17 to 20-year-olds being given a prison sentence for criminal damage by area of the country where the case is heard.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990.

  Percentage of persons aged 17 to 20 sentenced for criminal damage offences who received immediate custody by police force area and type of court—1988

  England and Wales

  Percentage of total persons sentenced

  Police force area

  Magistrates'courts

  Crown Court

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  2—

  Bedfordshire

  217

  238

  Cambridgeshire

  4

  267

  Cheshire

  7

  264

  Cleveland

  7

  263

  Cumbria

  7

  2100

  Derbyshire

  4

  265

  Devon and Cornwall

  7

  240

  Dorset

  —

  243

  Durham

  2—

  246

  Essex

  4

  275

  Gloucestershire

  —

  210

  Greater Manchester

  3

  39

  Hampshire

  2

  224

  Hertfordshire

  2—

  214

  Humberside

  5

  273

  Kent

  4

  242

  Lancashire

  8

  265

  Leicestershire

  3

  245

  Lincolnshire

  3

  240

  Merseyside

  —

  26

  Metropolitan Police District1

  2

  26

  Norfolk

  213

  250

  Northamptonshire

  6

  250

  Northumbria

  6

  32

  North Yorkshire

  10

  233

  Nottinghamshire

  2

  267

  South Yorkshire

  7

  46

  Staffordshire

  8

  248

  Suffolk

  4

  256

  Surrey

  3

  231

  Sussex

  7

  250

  Thames Valley

  1

  42

  Warwickshire

  —

  240

  West Mercia

  2

  250

  West Midlands

  9

  56

  West Yorkshire

  2

  35

  Wiltshire

  2

  2100

  England

  4

  43

  Dyfed-Powys

  2

  240

  Gwent

  8

  267

  North Wales

  3

  267

  South Wales

  3

  267

  Wales

  4

  63

  England and Wales

  4

  44

  1 Includes City of London.

  2 Denotes fewer than 25 persons sentenced in this age group.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to establish limits on the 722
  variation in the probability of an offender being given a custodial sentence in different areas of the country for similar offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our proposals for a more coherent statutory framework to achieve greater consistency in sentencing are set out in the White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm 965), published on 6 February.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which individuals and organisations he has discussed the issue of an agreed national sentencing framework; and what advice he received.

  Mr. John Patten
  A wide variety of organisations and individuals have contributed to the public debate about criminal justice which preceded publication of our White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm 965) on 6 February.

  Ambulance Duties
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call upon the chief constables of Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Hereford and Worcester and Dorset for a report as to the cost per policeman hour of deploying the police on ambulance duties within their police districts.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constables of Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, West Mercia and Dorset that they are charging the relevant regional health authorities an average of £8·48, £8·95, £7·91 and £9·75 respectively per police constable per hour for assisting ambulance services. This basic charge does not include pensions and national insurance contributions, and rent allowance, which will be charged separately.

  In Hertfordshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, I understand that the charge is about £20·55, £20·55 and £19·90 respectively per police constable per hour, but that this does include pensions and national insurance contributions and rent allowance.

  Charges will also be made for vehicle conversion and running costs, meal and subsistence allowances. civilian costs, and other sundry items.

  Firearms
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants in the Greater Manchester area have handed in firearms for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988; and how many claims have been(a) allowed and (b) refused.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Private Remand Centres
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the results of the consultancy study by Deloitte, Haskins and Sells into the practical feasibility of involving the private sector in the operation of remand centres.

  Mr. Mellor
  The report by Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, "Practicality of Private Sector Involvement in the Remand
  723
  System", was made public on 1 March 1989. A copy was placed in the Library. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) announced in his statement on that date at columns 277–78, further studies were needed before final decisions could be taken, and we are now considering the results of those studies.

  Mr. Mohammed Azem
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be taken on a request made by the representative of Mr. Mohammed Azem, Ref. OVS/41524/88, for refusal to allow him to enter the United Kingdom from Hong Kong to be reconsidered.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The grounds of appeal submitted by Bradford law centre on behalf of Mr. Mohammed Azem in its letter of 16 June 1989 were carefully considered but it was decided to maintain the original refusal decision. An explanatory statement setting out the facts and the reasons for the decision was submitted to the appellate authorities on 9 January.

  Mr. Sodagar Hussain
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the post in Islamabad explaining why Mr. Sodagar Hussain, who was born on 21 July 1959, has been refused entry to join his wife in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The post in Islamabad refused the application on Home Office instructions on the ground that we were not satisfied that it was not the primary purpose of the marriage to obtain Mr. Hussain's admission to the United Kingdom. Mr. Hussain has appealed against that decision and the Home Office will shortly be sending an explanatory statement setting out the facts and reasons for the decision to the independent appellate authorities.

ENERGY

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arising from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Assessments are carried out on a regular basis and include reviews of physical security measures and internal financial and non-financial control systems.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the number of professionally qualified loss prevention staff employed by his Department and the qualifications held by such staff, excluding qualifications obtained during police or military service.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department's policy is that staff in its internal audit branch are professionally qualified. Currently there are five fully qualified Members of the Institute of Internal Auditors (MIIA) and five under training.

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether electricity supplied to English boards from Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro Electric will qualify as part of the non-fossil fuel obligation of the respective English companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The interconnectors between England and Scotland are used for electricity trading in both directions. Because of this, electricity supplied through the interconnectors will not qualify for inclusion in the non-fossil fuel obligation.

  Fuel Prices
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table showing how prices for petrol and diesel have changed during the last 10 years.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Prices of petrol and diesel (derv) from 1972 are published in table 66 of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1989". The latest monthly prices are published in "Energy Trends" (table 21).

PRIME MINISTER

  Sovereignty
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has ever raised the sovereignty of the Parliaments of the member states of the European Community with the other Heads of Government.

  The Prime Minister
  The final work on EC decisions lies with member states in the Council of Ministers, who remain accountable to national Parliaments. The European Council in Strasbourg in December 1989 emphasised the need to ensure the proper observances of democratic control in each of the member states.

  Hungary
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy towards the European Community decision to provide a loan of 1 billion ecu to Hungary to help overcome structural adjustment problems; and whether any conditions have been imposed in terms of democratisation of political institutions in that country.

  The Prime Minister
  In the communiqué issued at our meeting in Strasbourg on 8 and 9 December, I and fellow EC Heads of Government referred to Hungary's need for an adjustment loan of $1 billion. EC Governments are now negotiating its terms and conditions. The United Kingdom would welcome additional contributions by non-Community countries. The loan will be conditional on a firm IMF programme of economic reform and adjustment. A central principle of all our assistance to eastern Europe is the encouragement of democracy and economic reform.

  Culture
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received on the projection of British culture overseas.
  725
  The Prime Minister
  The British Council is doing a splendid job projecting our culture overseas. I have received no particular representations recently, but the demands placed on the council are increasing, especially now from east European countries, and I am glad that the Government have been able to increase their grant substantially for the second successive year.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the ground rules that Ministers must observe in their use of local and regional newspaper articles when referring to the community charge; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministerial articles on Government policy, when issued through Government Departments, are subject to the Cabinet Office guidance and conventions on Government publicity. When written in a party political capacity they are not. A copy of the guidance and conventions is in the Library of the House.

  Mexico
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if during her recent meeting with the President of Mexico she discussed(a) the forthcoming fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and (h) the policies being developed by Mexico as part of the Non-Aligned Group of 77 towards nuclear non-proliferation and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps her office has taken to investigate the allegations by Mr. Colin Wallace concerning the Kincora boys' hostel.

  The Prime Minister
  Allegations from a variety of sources concerning the Kincora Boys' hostel have been thoroughly investigated by successive inquiries conducted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, by Sir George Terry and by Judge Hughes. Attempts were made to persuade Mr. Wallace to co-operate with these injuries, but without success. If Mr. Wallace has allegations that he wishes to press about criminal activity or other wrongdoing in Northern Ireland, the best way for him to deal with this is to give any information in his possession to the RUC in the first instance. If this information is classified, he should first consult the Director of Army Security.

  Engagements
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 8 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 8 February.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 8 February.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 8 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 8 February.
  726
  Mr. French
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 8 February.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the President-elect of Brazil.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farming Diversification
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received since taking office on the extent and scope of farm diversification schemes.

  Mr. Gummer
  Two Government-sponsored reports published recently give, for the first time, a clear picture of farm diversification in the United Kingdom. These reports show that about one third of the farmers who responded have developed some form of farm diversified business activity. This result gives a clear demonstration of the success of the Government's policy in this area.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what subjects he expects to discuss at his next meeting with representatives of the Scotch whisky industry.

  Mr. Curry
  I will discuss any issues of current commercial interest to the industry.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the level of compensation to farmers for the slaughter of cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  I keep all aspects of my policy to deal with this disease under continuous reveiw.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received recently concerning mad cow disease; whether he is contemplating any further action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have received a variety of representations about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Government have introduced a comprehensive package of measures to tackle the disease and to eliminate the remote risk to public health.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress of research into the vertical transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  A research programme, costing about £5 million, is in hand to determine whether maternal
  727
  transmission of BSE occurs. However, because of the long incubation period, results may not be available for several years.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about bovine spongiform encephalopathy containment measures and associated compensation arrangements.

  Mr. Maclean
  The probable cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was through the feeding of ruminant-derived protein. This practice was banned from July 1988. In addition, from August 1988 all cattle suspected of having BSE have been compulsorily slaughtered and their carcases burned or buried. The owners are compensated for the loss of animals at 50 per cent. of the value for cases confirmed on post mortem as BSE-infected and at 100 per cent. of the value where BSE is not confirmed.

  However, the compensation element is not the mechanism designed to contain BSE or to prevent it becoming a risk to human health. The slaughter policy and removal of specific offals from all bovine animals does that.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 9 January at columns 572–73.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cows have died or been destroyed as a result of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  From the introduction of the compulsory slaughter policy on 8 August 1988 to 31 December 1989, a total of 9,884 suspected cases of BSE were slaughtered in Great Britain.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any further plans to discuss with agricultural interests the subject of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I and my officials have frequent discussions on a variety of subjects, including BSE, with groups representing agricultural and food interests.

  Sheepmeat Regime
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the arrangements for hill farmers under the sheepmeat regime.

  Mr. Gummer
  The reformed sheepmeat regime offers excellent opportunities to the United Kingdom sheep sector, including hill producers many of whom will also benefit from the increased HLCA payments I announced last week.

  Farming Diversification
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of land in England that has been put into set-aside.
  728
  Mr. Curry
  About 87,000 hectares of land in England have so far been entered for the set-aside scheme.

  Veterinary Service
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the duties of veterinaries employed by his Ministry.

  Mr. Maclean
  The state veterinary service has a wide range of duties including the control of animal disease of economic and public health significance, animal welfare and the import and export of live animals and their products.

  They are also involved in food safety on the farm and in the slaughterhouse.

  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinarians he employs within the state veterinary service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The state veterinary service currently employs 427 veterinary surgeons. It is likely that this number will increase particularly for food safety work including meat hygiene. This was recognised in the recent review of veterinary manpower under the chairmanship of Dr. Ewan Page.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the operation of the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since its inception in 1865 the state veterinary service has dealt successfully with many outbreaks of farm animal disease of both economic and public health significance. It continues to do so today. In addition, its responsibilities include animal welfare and the import and export of live animals and their products. It also undertakes important research and development work.

  Milk Deliveries
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pints of milk have been hand delivered in(a) the latest available year and (b) 10 years previously.

  Mr. Curry
  In the United Kingdom approximately 7 billion pints of milk were delivered to the doorstep in 1989, as opposed to 10 billion pints in 1979.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his review of pesticides.

  Mr. Maclean
  All pesticides approved prior to 1981 are to be reviewed. Approval holders are providing information relative to their products and will be required to submit full data packages covering safety for the operator, the consumer and for the environment. Where data packages are not provided within an agreed period approvals will be withdrawn. Reviews will be undertaken in an order to be determined by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

  Intellectual Property
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to exploit the intellectual property of his Department to provide additional resources for research.

  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to exploit the intellectual property of his Department to provide additional resources for research.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to exploit fully his Ministry's intellectual property.

  Mr. Gummer
  An intellectual property liaison unit has been established within my Department. Its task is to facilitate the identification, legal protection, marketing and sale of intellectual property and usage of returns therefrom.

  North Sea Fish
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the conservation of North sea fish stocks.

  Mr. Curry
  Conservation of fish stocks in the North sea is a high priority. At the December Fisheries Council we took tough decisions to have a much lower total allowable catches (TACs) in 1990 by key stocks. We have sent the Commission a paper setting out possible further technical conservation measures. We will participate strongly in the high-level working group called by the Council to intensify discussions on conservation measures in the North sea. Success has been achieved. The herring stock has recovered from the low levels of 10 years ago and exceptional measures taken by the European Community in 1989 to protect the 1987 year class of sole has meant that a considerably higher TAC is possible this year.

  Dogs
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to which countries dogs were exported for experimental purposes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Gummer
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dogs were imported for experimental purposes each year in each of the last five years.

  Mr Gummer
  A total of 647 dogs were imported for research purposes during 1989. Details for earlier years are not available.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from which countries dogs were imported for experimental purposes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Gummer
  Dogs were imported for research purposes only from the United States of America during 1989. Details are not available for earlier years.

  Contaminated Feed
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current position regarding the lead-contaminated animal feed problem; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  A total of 1,512 farms in England, and a further 156 in Wales remain subject to Livestock restrictions. The Government are doing everything possible to scale down the restrictions as quickly as possible consistent with the need to ensure that the food chain remains fully protected.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce an indemnity scheme for farmers suffering financial loss as a result of lead contamination in animal feed.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to compensate farmers in full for losses resulting from the supply of lead-contaminated feeding stuffs.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the need for financial help for farmers affected by lead in feed contamination.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no such plans. There is no statutory provision for Government compensation in such cases. Liability is a matter for the courts to decide in the light of the contractual obligations of feed suppliers, or others, towards individual farmers. I understand that the National Farmers Union has established a co-ordinated procedure which it hopes will assist farmers wishing to pursue claims. The Milk Marketing Board has made loans available to affected milk producers pending a resolution of the issues of liability and costs of disposal. In addition I met senior representatives of the major banks towards the end of last year to explain the situation and to urge them to take a sympathetic view where farmers find themselves with immediate cash flow problems.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to remove restrictions on movements of sheep as a result of the lead contaminated feed episode.

  Mr. Curry
  Under livestock release scheme II, groups of sheep which did not receive contaminated feed could be cleared from restrictions following confirmatory blood tests.

  Until recently, the conditions applying to the release of animals for slaughter under livestock release scheme III had the practical effect of preventing sheep which received contaminated feed from being sold for slaughter. However, as I announced on 1 February, the results of our monitoring and research programme have enabled us to ease significantly the restrictions applying under scheme III. As a result, sheep can now be released for slaughter subject to conditions designed to ensure that liver and kidney do not go for human consumption.

  We have also reintroduced scheme II which may allow the further release of groups of sheep which did not receive contaminated feed.

  Our monitoring and research programme is continuing and the remaining restrictions will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.
  731
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he is making towards introducing a scientific programme on contaminated animals to test lead levels in offal and bones, with a view to releasing animals still under restrictions; what investigations he has made of Dutch practices in testing and with what result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  A monitoring and research programme was begun as soon as the seriousness of the feed contamination incident became apparent in early November. The results obtained so far, which I published on 1 February, have enabled restrictions to be lifted on bone and all offal except kidney and liver. Scientific work is continuing and as soon as results show that it is safe to do so I shall remove all remaining restrictions. Close touch has been maintained with the Dutch authorities throughout this incident and information has been exchanged on a regular basis.

  Exotic Animals
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in response to the representations he has received on the import of parrots and other exotic animals.

  Mr. Gummer
  Measures were announced in a reply given to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 20 December 1989, at column 350 .My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has since written to airlines stressing the need for proper care in transporting birds, and officials have met conservation and welfare organisations. Visits by veterinary staff to major exporting countries and further meetings are being arranged. The review of post-import quarantine arrangements is continuing.

  Turkeys
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to protect the traditional farm fresh turkey sold uneviscerated.

  Mr. Curry
  We have ensured that the European Community Commission is in no doubt about the importance we attach to our right to permit farmers to market uneviscerated poultry. We shall oppose any proposal which might seek to prohibit this.

  Agriculture Industry
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had on the present state of the agricultural industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have frequent discussions with a range of organisations on the state of the agricultural industry. Most recently, I met representatives of the National Farmers Union, the Scottish National Farmers Union and the Ulster Farmers Union on 30 January to discuss the state of the industry and the European Commission's price proposals.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which agriculture industry leaders he has met in the last six months; and what matters were discussed.
  732
  Mr. Gummer
  I meet leaders of the agriculture industry frequently to discuss a wide range of issues. Most recently I met representatives of the National Farmers Union, the Scottish National Farmers Union, and the Ulster Farmers Union on 30 January to discuss the state of the industry and the European Commission's price proposals.

  Irradiation
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the reports he has received from independent scientific committees on the safety of food irradiation.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the reports he has received from independent scientific committees on the safety of food irradiation.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government received advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods (ACINF) in its report entitled "Safety and Wholesomeness of Irradiated Foods" published in 1986. Annexed to this report were reports on specific aspects of food irradiation from the National Radiological Protection Board, the standing panel on hazards from microbial contamination of food, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, the panel on novel foods and the Food Advisory Committee.

  The Government received a second report from the ACINF in 1987 in which the committee assessed scientific comment received on matters raised in its first report.

  I am also aware of a number of reports from national and international scientific bodies, among which I would particularly mention: the 1977 and 1980 reports of the joint expert committee of food irradiation, convened by the World Health Organisation and the other international bodies; the 1982 report of the board of the International Committee of Food Microbiology and Hygiene of the International Union of Microbiological Societies; the 1986 report of the European Community scientific committee for food; and a number of reports from the United States Food and Drug Administration published in the Federal Register.

  Berlin
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last visited Berlin; what matters he discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I visited Berlin from 25 to 27 January. In the course of my visit I had meetings with the Ministers of Agriculture for the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. Among other matters I discussed developments in eastern Europe and, with the West German Minister, German restrictions on imports of British beef imposed in connection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current value of the green pound.
  733
  Mr. Gummer
  The current level of the real monetary gaps, which represent the difference between green and market exchange rates of the pound, range from—9·566 for pigmeat to— 17·990 for sheepmeat.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to remove any discrepancy in the value of the green pound.

  Mr. Gummer
  As I have made clear to the House, I am seeking a substantial devaluation of the green pound in the current negotiations on the Commission's 1990 price proposals.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether in the light of the changing situation in eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union, he will review the food export policies of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  Part of the EC's response to the remarkable changes in eastern Europe has been to agree, with commendable speed and generosity, to a very considerable package of food aid and other measures. There are at present no plans to alter in addition the existing export policies of the common agricultural policy. The best way to assist countries in eastern Europe is, of course, to encourage the development in those countries of their own economics, and in particular their own agricultural sectors. We would certainly want to avoid any action which hindered this process. The Community, together with other major exporters, will continue to monitor the situation as the consequences of the recent changes unfold.

  Organic Food
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to stimulate the development of organic food production.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support his Department is giving to the development of organic methods of cultivation in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is for those who produce, process or market organic produce to respond to the growing demand for organic foods and to lessen our dependence on imported supplies. However, my Department has already taken a number of steps to encourage this process while additional proposals are currently under consideration.

  Of particular significance has been the setting up of the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) which in May 1989 launched production and processing standards for organic produce and an independent certification and inspection system. We understand that the UKROFS board has now reached an advanced stage in its discussions on registration with the organic sector bodies through which it is expected the large majority of registrations will be effected. Once the board has satisfied itself on the inspection and certification arrangements to be operated by these bodies consumers will be able with confidence to purchase British organic produce backed by the UKROFS standards and monitoring provisions.
  734
  Other steps being taken, or under consideration, by the Government include the funding of a comprehensive economic survey of organic farming; the provision of R and D and of specialised ADAS advice; the help for conversion available through the fallow option of the set-aside scheme; and the benefits available through the farm and conservation grant scheme and from assistance towards establishing co-operatives. In addition, we are proposing shortly to issue a consultation document on an organic conversion option under the EC extensification scheme.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Organic Farmers Association regarding organic extensification.

  Mr. Gummer
  I intend to consult interested parties on this subject shortly.

  Horses and Ponies
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his EEC counterparts about the retention of minimum values on the export of horses and ponies after 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Discussions on EC proposals on animals' welfare during transport are at an early stage. We will seek to maintain the minimum value controls or measures having similar effect.

  Consumer Panel
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the appointees to his consumer panel.

  Mr. Maclean
  I hope to announce the membership of the consumer panel in the near future.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects his consumer panel will meet for the first time.

  Mr. Maclean
  I hope to hold the first meeting in the next few weeks.

  Yorkshire Dales
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to visit the Yorkshire Dales.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have at present no plans to visit the Yorkshire Dales.

  Dairy Farming
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy sector.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have regular meetings with the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss a wide variety of agricultural issues.

  Nitrate-sensitive Areas
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the nitrate-sensitive areas scheme.
  735
  Mr. Gummer
  I have received representations from a wide range of interests as a result of our national and local consultations on the nitrate scheme. In general, our proposals have been welcomed.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the contribution agriculture can make to the efficient use and generation of energy.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce).

  Intervention Board
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be in a position to announce the future location of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 25 January 1990 at columns 823–24.

  Hill Sheep Farmers
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the level of hill sheep farmers' income in(a) the last five years and (b) the next five years.

  Mr. Gummer
  As with all types of farm, the incomes of sheep farmers in the hill areas are influenced by a wide range of factors, including the weather, market conditions, size of enterprise and the skills of individual farmers. As a result, there have been fluctuations in income levels over the last five years, and there will no doubt be further fluctuations over the next five years. However, the outcome of the reform of the sheepmeat regime was highly satisfactory in providing increased opportunities for our sheep industry as a whole, including producers in hill areas. Producers in the high hills will also benefit from the proposed increase in the rate of hill livestock compensatory allowance for hardy breed ewes, which I announced in my statement to the House on 30 January.

  Surplus Food (Fraud)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions were brought during the last four years and how many are pending in regard to fraudulent or other criminal practice on the management or storage of surplus food; and in how many cases conviction was secured.

  Mr. Curry
  I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the storage and management of intervention stocks. In this area one prosecution was brought during the last four years, and this resulted in a conviction. One further case is under investigation.

  Fish Stocks
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next proposes to discuss the conservation of fish stocks with the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Curry
  On 27 June when the next Fisheries Council meets it should have the report it requested from the high 736
  level working party on improving conservation measures. The Commission is to submit appropriate proposals by 31 July 1990 which the Council will then need to discuss. In the meantime the prudent total allowable catches agreed in December in the interests of the conservation of fish stocks and existing technical conservation measures will be in full operation.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the environmentally sensitive areas policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  There are 19 environmentally sensitive areas designated in the United Kingdom covering almost 800,000 hectares of agricultural land. The concept has been widely welcomed by farmers and conservation interests and the number of management agreements is well up to expectations. Comprehensive monitoring and assessment of the schemes is in hand and will guide my decisions on future arrangements when I review the policy next year.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the financial resources available for food safety for 1990–91 in his Ministry.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following a reorganisation of the Ministry headquarters, resources have been transferred to strengthen the newly created food safety directorate. Details of the Ministry's expenditure plans for 1990–91, including those for food safety, are covered in chapter 3 (Cm. 1003) of the 1990 public expenditure White Paper which was published on 30 January. A more detailed analysis of the Ministry's expenditure plans for 1990–91 will be published in March in class III of the 1990–91 supply estimates.

  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what publications he has made available to the general public on the subject of chemical safety of food.

  Mr. Maclean
  Several publications are available, free of charge, in our "Food Sense" series including booklets on food additives, pesticides and food and food surveillance. The latter also lists the 26 individual food surveillance papers available from HMSO. A 27th entitled "Lead in Food: Progress Report" was published recently. Various reports from the Food Advisory Committee, the Veterinary Products Committee and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides are also available from HMSO.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the operation of his food safety directorate.

  Mr. Maclean
  The food safety directorate brings together the divisions in the Department with the main responsibility for matters relating to the safe production and handling of foodstuffs and other consumer protection matters concerned with food. The directorate will report to me as Minister of food.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives he has taken to improve food safety in the past three months.
  737
  Mr. Maclean
  The major initiatives on food safety during the last three months have been the introduction of the Food Safety Bill and the establishment of a food safety directorate within my Department. In addition, work has continued on a large number of initiatives aimed at effective and comprehensive food safety controls.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the European Community has awarded any contracts to the Institute of Food Research for work in the field of food safety and quality.

  Mr. Gummer
  The European Commission has selected the six shared-cost projects listed in the table, involving the Institute of Food Research for contract negotiation in the field of food safety and quality:

  1. Application of oxidoreductases for food preservation.

  2. New technologies and raw materials for nutritious and attractive cereal products.

  3.Investigation of the minimum level of sulphur dioxide required for optimum red wine quality.

  4. Mechanisms of food intolerance: relationship between gut mucosal integrity, allergy and adverse reactions.

  5. Development of computer-aided process design procedures to improve quality and safety of products with a limited shelf life.

  6. Study of production and utilisation of fibres with functional qualities and beneficial nutritional properties.

  Cereals
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what benefits will accrue to the cereals sector from the current year's grants from the European Community for the improvement of marketing and processing facilities.

  Mr. Maclean
  Awards made by the Commission under EC regulation 355/77 to projects aimed at improving the marketing and processing of agricultural products are announced in June and December each year. The first awards for 1990 will be announced in June. For 1989, the Commission announced awards totalling £1,714,160 to seven projects in the cereals sector in the United Kingdom.

  Food Industry
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which food industry leaders he has met in the last six months; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Curry
  During the past six months the Minister has met many leading representatives from the food industry under a variety of circumstances, both formal and informal, when discussions have covered a wide range of topics of mutual concern.

  Livestock (Slaughter)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live cattle and sheep were exported from Britain for slaughter elsewhere in the European Community in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  In 1989, a total of 358 cattle and 216,886 sheep were exported from Britain to the European Community for immediate slaughter.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on live export for slaughter of United Kingdom livestock.
  738
  Mr. Gummer
  Such a trade is acceptable provided exporters and hauliers comply with proper welfare standards. We will be pressing for the best possible welfare controls in negotiations on the Commission proposals for measures on protection of animals in transit.

  Horticulture
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the benefits which will accrue to the horticultural sector from the current year's grants from the European Community for the improvement of marketing and processing facilities for agricultural commodities.

  Mr. Maclean
  Awards made by the Commission under EC regulation 355/77 to projects aimed at improving the marketing and processing of agricultural products are announced in June and December each year. The first awards for 1990 will be announced in June. For 1989 the Commission announced awards totaling £2,625,897 to 15 projects in the horticulture sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Government funding of horticultural research.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are funding a substantial programme of horticultural R and D, including basic and strategic research, as well as work in the public interest.

  Beef and Livestock Farmers
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has recently received from representatives of beef and livestock farmers.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am in regular contact with beef and livestock farmers' representatives. Issues that they have recently raised include BSE, lead contamination of animal feedingstuffs, support of livestock in the less-favoured areas and the Commission's proposals for the CAP price fixing.

  Meat and Bone Meal
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has had any discussions with other European Community member-states about the export of meat and bone meal from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  My officials have had detailed discussions in the European Community's standing veterinary committee.

  Fishing
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what benefits he assesses will accrue to the fishing industry from the current year's grant from the European Community for the improvement of marketing and processing facilities.

  Mr. Maclean
  Awards made by the Commission under EC regulation 355/77 to projects aimed at improving the marketing and processing of agricultural and fisheries products are announced in June and December each year. The first awards for 1990 will be announced in June. For
  739
  1989, the Commission announced awards totalling £2,538,668 to 22 projects in the fisheries sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from, and what discussions he has had with, fishing industry representatives regarding prospects for the industry in 1990; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of these meetings.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 February 1990 to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) at column 571.

  Hormones
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on illegal hormone use by United Kingdom livestock farmers.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell).

  Poultry
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants are to be made in the current year to the poultry industry from the EC for the improvement of marketing and processing facilities.

  Mr. Maclean
  Awards made by the Commission under EC regulation 355/77 to projects aimed at improving the marketing and processing of agricultural products are announced in June and December each year. The first awards for 1990 will be announced in June. For 1989, the Commission announced awards totalling £1,911,009 to six projects in the eggs and poultry sector in the United Kingdom.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much Government grant has been allocated to Bournemouth borough council for coastal protection and beach replenishment work since 1979.

  Mr. Curry
  Our records show that grant aid paid to Bournemouth borough council since 1 April 1979 in respect of all types of coast protection work amounts to £4·6 million.

  Haddock
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with fishing industry representatives regarding his commitment to reduce fishing effort for haddock by 30 per cent.

  Mr. Curry
  We issued a consultation document on 23 January and it was discussed at a meeting with industry representatives in Edinburgh on 29 January. We are considering the industry's reactions to our proposals and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Pet Food
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the quality and safety of cat and dog food supplies.
  740
  Mr. Maclean
  The safety and quality of pet food are protected by the detailed provisions of the Agriculture Act 1970 and the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1988. Manufacturers' performance in meeting these provisions is closely monitored by local trading standards officers.

  Oilseed Rape
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an estimate of the area of oilseed rape that will be grown in 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  Latest estimates suggest that between 350,000 and 360,000 hectares of oilseed rape will be grown in the United Kingdom in 1990.

  Wildlife Habitats
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to improve the quality of wildlife habitats.

  Mr. Curry
  While my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has primary responsibility for the preservation and mangement of wildlife habitats, the environmentally sensitive areas, farm woodlands and farm and conservation grant schemes also contribute to improvements in their quality.

  Third World
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what aspects of United Kingdom agricultural and food policy are designed to assist Third world countries.

  Mr. Gummer
  The effect on Third world countries is one of the factors I take into account in assessment of all relevant United Kingdom agricultural and food policies. Developing countries benefit from a range of concessions on their agricultural and food exports to the United Kingdom, such as the generalised scheme of preferences and measures under the Lomé convention. I have adopted the Oxfam request that all relevant submissions to Ministers should specifically consider the effect on developing countries of the proposals being made.

  Food Labelling
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives he is taking to promote British food via the use of labelling.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government support Food from Britain whose promotional activities include quality assurance schemes for a range of quality British products. Under these schemes, which are monitored by FFB's quality council, companies which meet the standards set may display an appropriate symbol. The latest of the quality council schemes to be launched concerns British extra fresh eggs. I am pleased to see that as a result of this and other Food from Britain initiatives there is a move by producers and retailers alike to make clear their British origin so that consumers can make an informed choice.

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Government assistance to hill farmers in less-favoured areas.
  741
  Mr. Gummer
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 30 January 1990 (Official Report columns 159–70).

  Food Marketing
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution his Department is making to improve the marketing of British-produced food in 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  Food From Britain was set up in 1983 by my Department to improve the marketing of British food and drink both at home and abroad. In each of 1989–90 and 1990–91 the Government will provide FFB with £3·5 million for its establishment costs plus up to a further £1 million dependent on the level of industry funding. In addition agricultural and horticultural marketing cooperatives may be eligible for grant under the agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme.

  Cereal Sector
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the cereal sector.

  Mr. Curry
  The 1989 cereals harvest in the United Kingdom was 22·4 million tonnes, the fourth largest on record. About 5 million tonnes of this is surplus to domestic demand: I expect that this will find an export market elsewhere in the Community or be exported with Community export refunds to third countries. There is a good supply of milling wheat on the home market, and imports are likely to contribute no more than about 15 per cent. of United Kingdom millers' requirements. Intervention stocks are at lower levels than in recent years. Prices of cereals are generally above last season's levels, except for breadmaking wheat, on which premiums have narrowed. The Commission's proposals for the 1990 price fixing provide for further devaluation of the green pound. We shall be pressing for a devaluation which keeps us on course for the elimination of all monetary gaps by the end of 1992. Information on farm incomes from cereals is to be found on pages 66 and 68 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom: 1989", which was published on 6 February.

  Rain Forest Species
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions he has taken on the international trade in rain forest birds and reptiles since the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean), answered the Consolidated Fund debate of the hon. Member for Linlithgow,Official Report , 20 December 1989, column 267.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 29 January—Official Report , column 75. Officials from my Ministry and the Department of the Environment met conservation and welfare organisations on 30 January.

  Nuclear Attack
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he currently gives to farmers to protect their cattle in the event of a nuclear attack.
  742
  Mr. Maclean
  The booklet, "Civil Defence and the Farmer", which was published in 1985, and is available in the Library of the House, contains advice on measures farmers might take to protect themselves and their livestock in the event of a nuclear attack.

  School Milk
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he expects changes in the milk co-responsibility levy to affect the provision of milk in schools.

  Mr. Curry
  The school milk subsidy is provided for in EC regulations and is wholly financed by the Community. The EC Commission allocates part of the receipts from the milk co-responsibility levy to offset the cost of this and a number of other subsidies in the milk sector. I understand that the Commission intends to use co-responsibility levy receipts to offset the cost of the school milk subsidy by 117 mecu in 1990–91—the same amount as in 1989–90. It would be for the Commission and the Council of Ministers to determine whether any future reductions in milk co-responsibility levy receipts should be reflected in the arrangements for the school milk subsidy.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Stephens Inquiry (Fire)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the progress of the inquiry into the cause of the fire at the Stephens inquiry team office.

  Mr. Cope
  I understand that the forensic scientists have now concluded their investigation and have reported that the most probable cause of the fire was an accident.

  Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle Acute Hospital
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the latest option appraisal for the acute hospital for Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle district will be the final one; if he will accept the findings of the option appraisal and proceed immediately to build on the basis of its conclusion; whether the currently available £20 million will be available to start building and at what date; and what will be the target for completion.

  Mr. Needham
  The option appraisal is being undertaken by the Northern health and social services board. Provided that it is carried out to the standards required under the Government's guidelines, the appraisal should lead to a final decision on the future provision of acute hospital services in the Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle area. It is not possible to give a definitive timescale for implementing the preferred option. The board has been informed that funds have been reserved provisionally for a phased redevelopment of the Coleraine hospital site starting in 1993. The substantial but so far unquantified additional resources required for a completely new hospital are unlikely to be available before 1997 at the earliest.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many firearms, listed by the category under which they are identified by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, are believed to have been stolen by terrorist organisations from(a) civilians, (b) Royal Ulster Constabulary, (c) Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve (d) the Ulster Defence Regiment, (e) the regular Army and (f) prison officers in each of the last five years for which figures are available;

  Legally held firearms stolen in Northern Ireland

  Bullet firing

  Shotguns

  Air weapons/miscellaneous

  1989

  Civilians

  15

  41

  4

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  10

  —

  —

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve

  Ulster Defence Regiment

  6

  —

  —

  Regular Army

  3

  —

  —

  1988

  Civilians

  16

  54

  13

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  9

  —

  —

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve

  Ulster Defence Regiment

  1

  —

  —

  Regular Army

  4

  —

  —

  1987

  Civilians

  34

  91

  13

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  10

  —

  —

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve

  Ulster Defence Regiment

  179

  —

  —

  Regular Army

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  Civilians

  13

  96

  20

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  11

  —

  1

  Royal Ulster Constabluary Reserve

  Ulster Defence Regiment

  1

  —

  —

  Regular Army

  2

  —

  —

  1985

  Civilians

  19

  79

  9

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  6

  —

  —

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve

  Ulster Defence Regiment

  9

  —

  —

  Regular Army

  —

  —

  Note:

  Prison Officers are included in civilian category.

  During 1989, a total of 246 firearms were found in Northern Ireland. Of these, 40 were recorded as having been stolen in Northern Ireland in previous years. Of these 40 stolen firearms, 25 were bullet firing and 15 were shotguns. Further information and details of weapons stolen by terrorist organisations are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Lough Mann (Development)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Down of 11 December 1989,Official Report , column 450, what action was taken by the Department of Environment town and country planning service to stop the development at the Shorts site at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch Road following the inspections which took place in May and September 1989.
  744
  (2) how many firearms, listed by the category under which they are identified by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, have been stolen from (a) civilians, (b) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, (c) the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, (d) Ulster Defence Regiment, (e) the regular Army and (f) prison officers in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many such firearms, and of which category were later recovered, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]Readily available information is as follows:

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]None. On 15 January 1990, Down district council was consulted by the Department of the Environment (NI) with an opinion to approve the planning application referred to in my written reply. The council agreed with the Department's opinion.

  Fair Employment Commission
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show (a) the number of employees of the Fair Employment Commission, (b) the number in each grade, Department and category and their religious affiliation, (c) the catchment area of the employees, (d) the religious composition by percentage of (i) the total population and (ii) the population of working age in the catchment area, (e) the number of employees born outside the United Kingdom and (f) the number of employees born in Great Britain.
  745
  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]At 2 February 1990, the Fair Employment Commission had 35 employees, including the chairman. Under the control of the chief executive, staff are distributed as follows:—

  Fair Employment Commission (FEC) Departments

  NICS Grade Equivalents

  Administration

  Advice and Information

  Complaints

  General Operations

  Principal

  Solicitor and Secretary to FEC (1)

  Director (1)

  Director (1)

  Director (1)

  Deputy Principal

  —

  Manager (1) Press Officer (1)

  Senior Complaints Officer (2)

  Manager (2)Computer Systems Manager (1)

  Staff Officer

  Finance and Admin Officer (1)

  Advice and Information Officers(4)

  Complaints Officers(4)

  General Operations Officers (3)

  Executive Officer (Grade 1)

  Office Supervisor (1)

  Adertising Officer (1)

  —

  Assistant General Operations Officer (1)

  Executive Officer (Grade 2)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Admin Officer

  Admin Officer (6)

  —

  Admin Officer (1)

  —

  Total

  9

  8

  8

  8

  The commission is currently in the process of recruiting employees and will be submitting a monitoring return in accordance with section 27 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. Once the final staffing complement has been reached the commission intends to publish detailed information on the religious composition of its staff and the progress of its affirmative action programme as a follow-up to the information published on 22 February 1989.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to investigate the files of the Northern Ireland Office in Northern Ireland and in London to discover whether information about the activities engaged in by Mr. Colin Wallace and his section is recorded in those files.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]A detailed study has recently been made of all relevant Northern Ireland Office files.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Agriculture Colleges
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were attending full-time courses in agricultural colleges in 1989; and what was the comparable figure for 1984.

  Mr. Jackson
  Available figures for full-time students attending agricultural colleges in England which were local education authority maintained or assisted or in receipt of direct grant from the Department of Education and Science are as follows:

  Number

  November 1984

  8,700

  November 19881

  8,200

  1 Provisional

  Statistics for colleges in other parts of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.

  Further Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of 16 to 18-year-olds staying on in full-time education in(a) school and (b) further education colleges in 1988–89; and the target numbers for 1992–93 in (i) school and (ii) further education colleges.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is as follows:

  16 to 18-year-olds in, full-time education

  England (000s)

  1988–89

  1992–93

  (provisional)

  (projected)

  Schools

  389

  343

  Further education

  261

  227

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers of 16-year olds in full-time education in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  There were 336,000 full-time students in England attending schools and colleges of further education in 1987–88 and the same number in 1988–89.

  Primary School Teachers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that all primary school teachers enjoy a minimum of 10 per cent. non-contract time during their working day.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The organisation of the school day and the duties to be undertaken by teachers in their 1,265 hours of directed time are matters for head teachers.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on teachers' pay.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  1 refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 1 February,Official Report columns 287–89.

  Goldsmiths Youth Orchestra
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received seeking funding for the Goldsmiths youth orchestra; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has received no representation about this matter which is for Goldsmiths college to decide.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all shire counties in England in rank order of expenditure per secondary pupil

  Secondary schools in shire counties in England: Net institutional expenditure per pupil and examination achievements at GCSE1

  Net expenditure per pupil (£cash)23

  Numbers of leavers with five or more GCSE results at grades A to C45

  As a per cent. of all school leavers

  Rank

  Shire County

  Leicestershire

  1,565

  23·4

  30

  Oxfordshire

  1,560

  26·2

  21

  Cleveland

  1,545

  27·1

  16

  Nottinghamshire

  1,540

  21·6

  36

  Derbyshire

  1,530

  22·5

  35

  Cumbria

  1,510

  26·9

  17

  Buckinghamshire

  1,505

  33·4

  2

  Hertfordshire

  1,490

  30·3

  5

  Shropshire

  1,470

  27·7

  11

  Humberside

  1,460

  21·5

  37

  Bedfordshire

  1,455

  26·0

  24

  Lancashire

  1,450

  25·7

  25

  Avon

  1,435

  26·1

  22

  Essex

  1,420

  26·3

  20

  Staffordshire

  1,420

  23·4

  31

  Surrey

  1,415

  36·4

  1

  Durham

  1,405

  21·0

  38

  Hampshire

  1,405

  27·7

  12

  Warwickshire

  1,400

  26·6

  18

  Cheshire

  1,390

  28·3

  10

  Northumberland

  1,390

  29·8

  6

  East Sussex

  1,385

  27·4

  13

  Gloucestershire

  1,385

  29·1

  8

  Norfolk

  1,385

  22·8

  32

  Devon

  1,380

  24·4

  28

  North Yorkshire

  1,375

  32·8

  3

  Northamptonshire

  1,375

  22·7

  34

  West Sussex

  1,360

  32·6

  4

  Somerset

  1,355

  24·5

  27

  Isle of Wight

  1,350

  17·0

  39

  Wiltshire

  1,350

  24·0

  29

  Cornwall and Scilly Isles

  1,350

  27·3

  14

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,330

  28·5

  9

  Dorset

  1,320

  27·2

  15

  Cambridgeshire

  1,315

  26·1

  23

  Suffolk

  1,305

  22·7

  33

  Kent

  1,290

  26·5

  19

  Lincolnshire

  1,280

  25·3

  26

  Berkshire

  n/a

  29·4

  7

  1 The figures in the table have not been adjusted to take account of variations in LEA's socio-economic circumstances

  2 Net institutional expenditure includes the cost of salaries and wages, premises, and certain supplies and services; It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay

  3 The unit spending figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment for the financial year 1987–88, and pupil number returns to DES

  4 The examination data are aggregated from the results of a sample survey for the academic years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88. The survey is based on a 10 per cent. sample of pupils in maintained and independent schools (excluding special schools) who have reached the minimum school leaving age. The percentages quoted do not reflect the achievements of pupils at 0-level, CSE or GCSE after leaving school; nor their attainments in examinations leading to vocational or other qualifications at school or elsewhere.

  5 Includes grades A-C at 0-level and CSE grade 1.

  748
  per year, starting with the highest spending authority, together with their position in the table of examination results for school leavers achieving grades A to C at GCSE in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The table gives the net institutional expenditure per secondary school pupil in shire counties in England in the financial year 1987–88, and averaged examination results for the three years 1985–86 to 1987–88. The purpose of averaging is to reduce sampling error within the derived percentages.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students have been enrolled in higher education in the current academic year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The table sets out the relevant figures with a comparison with those for 1988–89:—

  Thousands of students

  1988–89 Final actual

  1989–90 Provisional estimate

  1. Home full-time and sandwich courses

  (a) Initial entrants(excluding postgraduates)

  Universities (GB)

  76

  82

  Polytechnics and colleges funding council (PCFC) sector

  85

  95

  Other

  3

  3

  (b) Total(including postgraduates)

  Universities (GB)

  1271

  283

  PCFC funding sector

  1239

  261

  Other

  6

  6

  2. Overseas full-time and sandwich courses

  63

  66

  3. Part-time (including Open University)

  344

  358

  4. Total full-time and part-time (FTE)

  700

  741

  5. Age participation index (GB)

  15·2

  16·8

  Name

  Kingshurst

  Tyneside

  Bradford

  Dartford

  Britschool

  Djanogly

  Macmillan College

  Site

  Kingshurst School site

  St. John Fisher School site

  Newby Square, Bradford

  Downs School site

  Site of Selhurst Tertiary Centre

  Sherwood Rise, Nottingham

  St. Michael RC School, Middlesbrough

  LEA

  Solihull

  Gateshead

  Bradford

  Kent

  Croydon

  Nottinghamshire

  Cleveland

  Planned number of pupils pupils

  1,000

  900

  980

  1,250

  720

  990

  1,050

  Total capital cost1

  £9·65 million

  £7·8 million

  £8·2 million

  £8·3 million

  To be determined

  £9·05 million

  £7·5 million

  Exchequer contribution

  £7·55 million

  £6·24 million

  £6·56 million

  £6·64 million

  To be determined

  £7·80 million

  £5·625 million

  Sponsors' contribution

  (i)Committed2

  £1·93 million

  £1·54 million

  £1·64 million

  £1·66 million

  To be determined

  £1·25 million

  To be determined

  (ii) Confirmed

  £2·5 million

  £1·5 million

  £2·8 million

  £1·2 million

  £1·1 million

  £1·7 million

  £1·4 million

  Principal sponsors

  Hanson Trust

  Peter Vardy

  Dixons plc, Mr. Hakim Wong

  Mr. G. Leigh

  The British Record Industry Trust

  Mr. Harry Djanogly

  BAT Industries

  Contracts awarded to sponsors

  None

  Building contract Laings Northern

  None

  None

  None

  None

  None

  School closure involved

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  Has a ballot of parents been held and with what result

  No

  No

  No

  No3

  No

  No

  No

  Notes:

  1 In addition the Exchequer bears revenue costs on a basis comparable to those of maintained schools in similar areas.

  2 Sponsors' contribution to date. Fund raising continues in each project. This includes contributions in kind which are as yet uncosted

  3 Public consultations were held by Kent on its proposals to close the Downs School. One statutory objection containing 62 signatures was made
  750
  1 These figures have been adjusted to include students. at Bulmershe College in the universities figure so as to allow direct comparison with the 1989–80 figures following the College's merger with the University of Reading.

  Note:

  The number of home full-time and sandwich course students entering universities and the PCFC sector increased this academic year by 8 per cent. and 12 per cent. respectively. I congratulate universities, polytechnics and colleges for promoting their courses and for their readiness to respond to the increase in demand. This welcome expansion reflects the success of the Government's policies in schools as well as in further and higher education. One in six of all young people now enter higher education compared with one in eight in 1979–80. This will bring benefits both for individual students and for the nation's prosperity.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the table given in answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn,Official Report , 29 June 1989, columns 533–36, giving the latest available information in respect of each city technology college or proposed or planned city technology college.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]The table covers the agreed and announced CTCs in England.
  751
  to the section 12 proposal subsequently published.

  4 A further £13 million is promised but not committed to agreed and announced projects.

  5 At December 1989.

  6 Includes estimated value of premises.

  Name

  Harris

  Bacon's

  Haberdashers'

  Brighton

  Derby

  Corby

  Site

  Sylvan School site, Croydon

  Bacon's School site, Southwark

  Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham School site

  Fitzherbert School site, Brighton

  Wood Street

  Greenfield site at Great Oakley, Corby

  LEA

  Croydon

  Southwark

  Lewisham

  East Sussex

  Derbyshire

  Northants

  Planned number of pupils

  1,100

  1,100

  750

  900

  1,075

  Total Capital Cost1

  £7·981 million

  £13·1 million

  To be determined

  £9 million

  To be determined

  £9·39 million

  Exchequer contribution

  £6·385 million

  £10 million

  To be determined

  £7·2 million

  To be determined

  To be determined

  Sponsors' contribution

  (i) Committed

  £1·596 million

  £3·1 million

  To be determined

  £1·8 million

  To be determined

  To be determined

  (ii) Confirmed4·5

  £1·5 million

  £2·5 million

  £5 million6

  £1·1 million

  £1·2 million

  £1·9 million

  Principal sponsors

  Philip and Pauline Harris Trust

  Philip and Pauline Harris Trust

  Haberdashers' Aske's Charity

  Greenleaf Planters

  The Landau Foundation

  Mr. Hugh de Capell Brooke

  Contracts awarded to sponsers

  None

  None

  None

  None

  None

  None

  School closure involved

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  No

  No

  Has a ballot of parents been held and with what result

  Yes Majority against

  No

  Yes Majority in favour

  No

  No

  No

  Notes:

  1 In addition the Exchequer bears revenue costs on a basis comparable to those of maintained schools in similar areas.

  2 Sponsors' contribution to date. Fund raising continues in each project. This includes contributions in kind which are as yet uncosted.

  3 Public consultations were held by Kent on its proposals to close the Downs School. One statutory objection containing 62 signatures was made to the section 12 proposal subsequently published.

  4 A further £13 million is promised but not committed to agreed and announced projects.

  5 At December 1989.

  6 Includes estimated value of premises.

  Euro-Science
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was his assessment of the validity of the European Commission's calculation that Euro-Science needs at least 7·7 billion ecu over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  I represent Her Majesty's Government at the Council of Ministers (Research). Having given full consideration to the European Commission's proposal, the Research Council agreed on 15 December to a total budget of 5·7 becu (£4·2 billion) for a new framework programme for research and technological development, from 1990 to 1994 (I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 17 January, Hansard column 318 and 24 January, Hansard column 699).

  As I said in my answer of 17 January, we consider that this was a very satisfactory outcome.

WALES

  Radon
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those towns and villages in Wales in which there may be significant effects on houses arising from radon; and if he will issue guidance as to what step householders in these locations should take to minimise any dangers.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh Office commissioned survey and that carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board to date have not revealed any towns and villages in which here may be significant effect on houses arising from radon. The surveys have demonstrated levels of radon above the action levels in very few houses but these have been included in the second phase of the NRPB survey where measurements are being taken over a period of 12 months. It is not possible to anticipate the findings of the second part of the survey the result of which should be available towards the end of the year.

  Two free advice booklets "Radon in Houses" and "The Householder's Guide to Radon" have been distributed to homeowners in the surveys and are available on request.

  Computer Security
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken and is taking to improve the security of its computer systems.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Department follows CCTA guidance which covers all aspects of information technology security, and keeps its application of this advice under continuous review.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase the hill livestock compensatory allowance for cattle.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the farmers' unions in Wales to discuss their call for an increase in allowances for cows and ewes, other than those classified as hardy.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The views and priorities of the farmers' unions in Wales were fully taken into account in the recent autumn review of hill livestock compensatory allowances.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the hardy ewes allowance on the higher hills in line with inflation since 1986; what would be the cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No. Hill livestock compensatory allowances are set annually after all economic conditions affecting upland farmers' incomes have been taken into account.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the measures he has taken since 1979, and the initiatives he intends to take, to assist dyslexic children in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Education Act 1981 imposes duties on all local education authorities to identify, assess and make appropriate provision for all children with special educational needs, including dyslexics. Under the Education Reform Act 1988 all children, including those with special educational needs, will follow the national curriculum as far as is practicable.

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the subsidiary legislation having effect in Wales that is planned subsequent to the passage of the Local Government Act 1989, and if he will indicate(a) when he hopes to publish each item of subsidiary legislation and (b) when he intends that each should take effect.

  Mr. Grist
  The following regulations have so far been made under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989:The Charging Authorities (Population for Precepts) (Wales) Regulations (SI 1989/12268)
  The Charging Authorities (Notification of Precept Population) (Wales) Regulations (SI 1989/12305)
  The Local Government (Politically Restricted Posts) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990/42)
  754
  Further secondary legislation will be introduced as required to ensure the progressive implementation of the Act. The Government's policy will be to ensure, whenever possible, that all interested parties will have an opportunity to comment.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to ensure that adequate time is given between publication of subordinate legislation relative to Wales subsequent to the passing of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the implementation of the Act.

  Mr. Grist
  The Government will continue to give as much time as practicable.

  Community Care
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has offered to local authorities in Wales on the contribution he expects them to make towards the provision of suitable homes for(a) disabled people and (b) elderly and very elderly people as part of the implementation of community care policies outlined in his recent White Paper.

  Mr. Grist
  I fully recognise the importance of housing in relation to community care. This has been clearly reflected both in the Welsh chapter of the recently published White Paper, and in the draft planning guidance on the development of social care plans for the relevant client groups in Wales, which issued for consultation on 26 January. This covered the involvement of housing associations and local authorities. I await the result of the consultation exercise with interest.

  Companies (Local Authority Interests)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is now his proposed implementation date for the parts of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 relating to companies in which local authorities have an interest.

  Mr. Grist
  The proposed implementation date is 1 April 1990.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish a revised version of his draft circular regarding companies in which local authorities have interests dated 27 October 1989 in the light of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Grist
  The revised circular will be published when the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 regulating local authority companies come into force. I will provide local authority associations in Wales with an advance draft of the order bringing into effect the regulations on companies, for comment.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many civil servants in his Department, and at what cost, have been involved in production and dissemination of articles for newspapers in Wales concerning the revenue support grant and the community charge, and if he will make a statement;
  755
  (2) what is the individual and total cost of his articles in each of the local and regional newspapers of Wales concerning the revenue support grant for Wales and the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Articles published under my right hon. Friend's name may or may not be based on a corpus of information provided in the normal way by civil servants. It is not possible to attribute to the Department the cost of such information. Articles disseminated by the Department are given free of charge to newspapers and the costs incurred are de minimis.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department made any payment to the Chester Chronicle in relation to the publication of his article on the revenue support grant for Wales and the community charge in the Chester Chronicle, Deeside edition of 2 February.

  Mr. Grist
  No.

  Waste Sites
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a survey in Wales of waste sites which might pollute water supplies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  A survey of contaminated land in Wales which included abandoned waste disposal sites was undertaken in Wales in 1982 and updated in 1988. The results of the survey have been widely publicised and a copy of the survey has been placed on the Library of the House. Current sites are licensed by district councils in Wales who are under a duty to ensure that waste disposal sites do not cause pollution of water.

  Stroke Victims (Therapy)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to introduce to help stroke victims in need of(a) physiotherapy and (b) speech therapy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The level of provision of physiotherapy and speech therapy services for stroke victims is a matter for district health authorities in the light of their assessment of local need and competing demands for resources. From April 1991 we shall expect the social care needs of such patients to be included in the joint social care plans prepared by social services authorities in co-operation with health authorities and others.

  Radioactive Waste Incinerator (Trawsfynydd)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposal to build a new radioactive waste incinerator at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a matter for Nuclear Electric. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

ENVIRONMENT

  Contaminated Land
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a grant regime to provide financial assistance specifically for contaminated land.

  Mr. Trippier
  There is already extensive grant aid for dealing with contaminated derelict land. The Government are currently considering the report of the Environment Select Committee on contaminated land which recommends that existing grant systems should give greater priority to sites which are contaminated or polluting and that separate financial support should be given for demonstration projects for cleaning up contaminated land.

  Private Tenants
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what redress is available to private tenants who at present pay combined rates and rent and who find that their landlords are not taking account of the abolition of domestic rates in April 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  Redress available to private tenants who at present pay combined rent and rates depends on the type and terms of the tenancy agreement they have. A substantial majority are covered by the Rent Act 1977 and can have a fair rent registered which will be exclusive of rates. Many new assured tenants under the Housing Act 1988 will have covered the issue in their tenancy agreements. Assured shorthold tenants, who make up a significant proportion of new tenants, have the right to apply to the rent assessment committee for a rates exclusive market rent to be registered during the initial fixed term of their tenancies. The Department will shortly be issuing a leaflet explaining the position.

  Search Fees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to collect information on the varying levels of local authority search fees and issue guidance on standardisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Lord Chancellor sets a standard fee for statutory searches of local land charges registers. In addition, local authorities supply answers to supplementary inquiries, under a voluntary agreement between the local authority associations and the Law Society. It is for authorities themselves to decide what fees to charge for this service. Information about the fees charged for processing supplementary inquiries is available from the Law Society, which publishes details from time to time in its gazette.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the inquiries made by his Department into the decrease in the amounts of radioactive material being sent for disposal to the official low-level waste site at Drigg, Cumbria.
  757
  Mr. Trippier
  My Department is making no such inquiries, but I am advised that the radioactive waste management advisory committee is reviewing the general question of low-level waste disposal.

  Trees, Leicestershire
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the level of tree coverage in Leicestershire; and what plans he has to improve this aspect of the environment in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The census of woodlands and trees carried out by the Forestry Commission in 1980 revealed that there were nearly 8,000 hectares of woodland in Leicestershire—some 3 per cent. of the total area of the county—and, in addition, more than 1 million other trees. Currently sites in Leicestershire are among a number that the Countryside Commission is considering as a possible location for its proposed new national forest in the Midlands: a consultation paper issued by the Commission in November gave further details and carried a foreword by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The Government are also promoting planting of trees through their existing schemes of aid, and the Forestry Commission is co-operating with the county council in planning further planting on reclaimed mineral workings.

  Lead Pollution
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when pollution report No. 28 on lead will be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  Pollution report No. 28, "UK Blood Lead Monitoring Programme 1984–1987: Results for 1987" will he published in the spring. Summary results from the 1987 survey were published in "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics No. 11" last year and detailed tables for 1987 will be published as additional tables to digest No. 12.

  Arpley Meadows
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the provenance of the low-level radioactive wastes to be disposed of at the Arpley Meadows site; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The wastes originate at the Royal Liverpool hospital and Liverpool university.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of radioactive dosage would be received per year by local residents consequent upon the dumping of solid radioactive wastes at Arpley Meadows domestic landfill site.

  Mr. Trippier
  The radiological impact of the proposed disposals will be less than one thousandth of the average radiation dose received from natural background radiation.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what notification he has received as to the cubic volume of low-level solid radioactive wastes to be dumped at the Arpley Meadows domestic landfill site.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is proposed that some 12 to 24 cu m of clinical and laboratory waste will be disposed of at Walton Arpley.

  Housing, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West of 19 January,Official Report , column 443, when he expects to announce his decisions on city grant and estate action grant applications in respect of new homes to rent and for sale on the Lower Grange estate in Bradford.

  Mr. Chope
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities hopes to be in a position to make final decisions on Lower Grange shortly.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning proposals to establish a certificate of competence for waste handlers and carriers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Environmental Protection Bill includes a power for the Secretary of State to prescribe qualifications and experience for applicants for waste management licences to demonstrate that they are fit and proper persons to hold a licence. Of the few representations received on this proposal, none opposed it in principle. A certificate of competence is now being devised by the recently formed waste management industry training and advisory board. When this certificate is available it is intended that it should be suitable for prescription by regulations under the Bill as evidence of technical competence.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was raised by domestic rates in 1988–89 and 1989–90; and what is the amount that should be raised if councils spend at SSA levels, and the amount he anticipates that councils will charge.

  Mr. Chope
  I estimate from local authority budgets that the following amounts were raised by domestic rates in 1988–89 and 1989–90:

  Before rate rebates £ million

  After rate rebates £ million

  1988–89

  8,847

  7,674

  1989–90

  9,754

  8,499

  If local authority spending in 1990–91 is equal to total standard spending, £9·7 billion will be raised from charge payers before benefits and £7·55 billion after community charge benefit and income support. I expect local authorities to make every effort to keep their spending within the Government's assumptions. Figures are not directly comparable between years because of changes in local authority functions

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of local authority expenditure in 1990–91 he estimates will be met by community charge payers.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 February 1990]: Taking account of community charge benefit (including income

  759
  support) and transitional relief, I estimate that if local authorities in England spend at the level of total standard spending in 1990–91, 23 per cent. of that expenditure will be met by community charge payers.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend poll tax regulations to extend exemption to those single persons serving short custodial sentences and defendants remanded in custody, in order that local authorities will not consider them eligible for payment for unoccupied premises before the passing of 52 weeks in custody.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]Guidance already issued by the Department has suggested that local authorities should use the wide discretion available to them to specify this class of circumstance as one where the standard community charge multiplier is zero.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a provision that every person who pays poll tax is entitled to his own dustbin.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]No.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has issued to local authority community charges registration officers in relation to nursing students registering for the poll tax.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]Guidance on the eligibility of student nurses for the student relief is contained in "The Community Charge: Students and the Community Charge" (community charge practice note No. 23) which has been sent to all community charge registration officers. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department is giving to rating authorities about making available photocopies of the non-domestic rating list to members of the public, under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]: My right hon. Friend has not given any advice to charging authorities on this matter. The provisions for inspection of non-domestic rating lists are contained in paragraph 8 of schedule 9 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988, inserted by paragraph 48 of schedule 5 to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Under this provision members of the public have a right to require the authority to provide a photograhic copy of the list, or an extract from it. Authorities may make a reasonable charge for doing so.

  Housing, Leicester
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money will be allocated to Leicester city council housing department in the coming financial year; and how much will be allocated for new build programmes.

  Mr. Chope
  Leicester city council was informed on 21 December 1989 that its housing investment programme (HIP) allocation for 1990–91 was £18·32 million. This 760
  compares favourably with allocations to other authorities of a similar size. In addition, up to a further £2·5 million is available for new Estate Action schemes. It is for the council to decide how much of its HIP allocation should be spent on a new build programme.

  Right to Buy
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to bring into force section 164 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  On 1 March. From that date housing particularly suitable for people of pensionable age, other than sheltered housing, first let before 1 January 1990 will be excluded from the right to buy only if the Secretary of State so determines on the application of the landlord; and a house or flat first let on or after 1 January will no longer be excluded as elderly persons' housing unless it forms part of a sheltered scheme.

  These changes will be good news for elderly and disabled people who feel they have been unfairly denied the right to buy on the ground that their home is particularly suitable for elderly people. They may wish to apply again from 1 March.

  Housing Repairs
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the numbers of tenants who have(a) applied for and (b) received payment for repairs carried out under the right to repairs scheme introduced under the Housing and Building Control Act 1984 in (i) 1986, (ii) 1987, (iii) 1988 and (iv) 1989; what is the total cost of payments made under this scheme in each of these years; and what has been the cost to the Government and local authorities in introducing and administering this scheme.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 29 January 1990]The number of claims received and agreed in each of these years is shown in the table, together with the total amount agreed. The Department has incurred total costs of some £40,000 in informing tenants of the scheme and on training them; administrative costs for the scheme are not identified separately. Information on local authorities' costs other than on meeting claims is not collected by the Department.

  England

  Total number of claims received for payment

  Total number of claims agreed1 for payment

  Total amount agreed1£

  1986 1st quarter

  6

  5

  500

  1986–87

  48

  44

  4,500

  1987–88

  18

  17

  1,700

  1988–89

  9

  9

  600

  Total

  81

  75

  7,300

  1 Accepted by landlords as payable

  Landfill Sites
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many landfill sites he considers it necessary for Her Majesty's inspectors of pollution to visit each year in order to establish that waste disposal authorities are complying with their statutory duties.
  761
  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]The number of landfills visited in the course of an audit will vary between waste disposal authorities. The inspectorate anticipates that in the course of a complete full year's audit programme, up to 500 licensed facilities will be visited. This, together with the other information obtained during the audits, will permit the inspectorate to take a view on the overall standard of waste regulation.

  Car Pollution
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to fund a research project into ways of reducing car pollution along the lines of that being financed by the French Government.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department has allocated £2·3 million to support a three-year collaborative research programme with industry of 11 projects on diesel and petrol vehicle engine emissions. The work is being carried out by a consortium of diesel and petrol engine manufacturers, component and oil and fuel additive suppliers. The programme supplements work already being done by the industrial members of the consortium as part of their own R and D programmes.

SCOTLAND

  Forestry
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proportion of land in the United Kingdom given over to forestry.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  About 10 per cent.

  Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to introduce regulations regarding the training of community psychiatric nurses; and if he will make a statement on the current situation.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Standards of training are laid down and monitored by the United Kingdom central council for nursing, midwifery and health visiting and the national board for nursing, midwifery and health visiting for Scotland. The skills and knowledge required by these nurses may vary from post to post, and it is a matter for individual health boards as employers to determine what post-registration training individual community psychiatric nurses may require.

  Electricity Board Reports
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1989,Official Report , column 292, he will now publish in the Official Report the dates on which the annual reports of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board have been published in each year since nationalisation, either for existing or predecessor corporations.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 20 December 1989. Annual reports published by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and South of 762
  Scotland Electricity Board are available in the Library of the House. I received the annual reports for 1988–89 on 21 December 1989.

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will reconsider the system of bonus payments to general practitioners for cervical smear tests.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Incentives to general practitioners to provide full preventive cover are an important feature of the Government's plans for improving general medical services.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has decided the amount of fee remission grant to allocate to schools participating in the assisted places scheme in respect of session 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  The allocations of fee remission grant for 1990–91 are shown in the table. As in 1989–90, 59 schools will participate in the scheme and overall these allocations should increase the number of pupils benefiting from the current level of about 2,800 to about 2,900. Further expansion is planned for the 1991–92 academic session which will extend to more families the option of education in the independent sector.

  School

  Allocation£

  Aberlour House School, Moray

  22,000

  Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen

  48,000

  Ardvreck School, Crieff

  3,000

  Beaconhurst Grange School, Bridge of Allan

  14,000

  Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar

  13,000

  Belmont House School, Newton Mearns

  54,000

  Blairmore School, Huntly

  17,000

  Butterstone House School, Dunkeld

  16,000

  Cargilfield School, Edinburgh

  17,000

  Clifton Hall School, Midlothian

  15,000

  Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth

  14,000

  Craigholme School for Girls, Glasgow

  78,000

  Crawfordton House School, Dumfriesshire

  17,000

  Croftinloan School, Pitlochry

  14,000

  Daniel Stewart's and Melville College

  690,000

  The Mary Erskine School

  Dollar Academy

  148,000

  Drumley House School, Ayrshire

  15,000

  Edinburgh Academy

  158,000

  Fernhill School, Glasgow

  50,000

  Fettes College, Edinburgh

  151,000

  Fort Augustus Abbey School

  110,000

  George Heriot's School, Edinburgh

  535,000

  George Watson's College

  613,000

  Glasgow Academy

  97,000

  Glenalmond College, Perthshire

  160,000

  Gordonstoun School, Morayshire

  114,000

  Hamilton College

  20,000

  The High School of Dundee

  430,000

  The High School of Glasgow

  80,000

  Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow

  280,000

  Keil School, Dumbarton

  170,000

  Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

  155,000

  Kilgraston School, Perthshire

  133,000

  Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas

  40,000

  Lathallan School, Montrose

  17,000

  Lomond School, Helensburgh

  123,000

  Loretto School, Musselburgh

  132,000

  Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

  237,000

  Morrison's Academy, Crieff

  387,000

  New Park School, St. Andrews

  12,000

  Oxenfoord Castle School, Midlothian

  25,000

  763

  School

  Allocation £

  Park Lodge School, Helensburgh

  3,000

  Rannoch School, Perthshire

  110,000

  Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen

  125,000

  Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh

  135,000

  St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow

  307,000

  St. Denis and Cranley School, Edinburgh

  88,000

  St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  47,000

  St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews

  104,000

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen

  36,000

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  168,000

  St. Mary's School, Melrose

  16,000

  Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire

  210,000

  Wellington School, Ayr

  117,000

  West of Scotland School Company

  560,000

  TOTAL

  7,450,000

  Self-employed People
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many self-employed people there were in Scotland in every year since 1979; and how this figure is calculated.

  Mr. Lang
  The table shows the estimated number of self-employed people in Scotland in September of each year from 1979 to 1989, the latest date for which estimates are available. Self-employment in Scotland is estimated to have increased by over 40 per cent. in the past 10 years.

  Estimates of the self-employed in Scotland up to mid-1988 are based on the 1981 census of population and the results of the labour force surveys carried out between 1981 and 1988. The provisional estimates for dates after June 1988 have been made on the assumption that the average annual rate of growth in self-employment in Scotland between June 1981 and June 1988, as shown by the labour force survey, has continued.

  Estimated number of self-employed in Scotland

  September

  Number thousands

  1979

  159

  1980

  153

  1981

  153

  1982

  168

  1983

  181

  1984

  189

  1985

  201

  1986

  202

  1987

  199

  1988

  217

  1989

  227

  Source: Department of Employment

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the South of Scotland Electricity Board as to how much it has paid British Nuclear Fuels plc for(a) reprocessing and (b) decommissioning for each year from 1985 to 1989.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 31 January 1990] : I am informed by the South of Scotland Electricity Board that the amounts paid to British Nuclear Fuels by the board for reprocessing and decommissioning for each of the years specified are as follows:
  764

  Reprocessing £'000

  Decommissioning1 £'000

  1984–85

  21,415

  1,135

  1985–86

  45,117

  983

  1986–87

  59,117

  956

  1987–88

  71,314

  1,120

  1988–89

  74,506

  1,585

  1 The decommissioning payments are in respect of BNFL plant

HEALTH

  Consultants
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether concessions on financial status given to whole-time medical consultants in the National Health Service on percentage allowances for private practice have altered the numbers of National Health Service only consultants.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since 1979–80 whole-time NHS consultants have been permitted to undertake a limited amount of private practice. In 1980 44 per cent. of all medical consultants in England and Wales had whole-time contracts. This figure had risen to 49 per cent. by 1988.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether full-time contracts are to be continued to be offered to National Health Service consultant candidates; and whether any reductions in numbers of National Health Service whole-time consultants have been recorded in the regions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Yes. Health authorities will continue to offer whole-time contracts to consultants.

  Between 1979 and 1988 all regions in England have recorded an increase in whole-time consultant numbers.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which ambulance authorities own and operate a helicopter.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Helicopter ambulances at present in service within the National Health Service are not owned by health authorities; they are funded in several different ways, including sponsorship, and operated by commercial helicopter operating companies.

  Dentistry
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect centrally DMF levels.

  Mr. Freeman
  Decennial surveys of the dental health of children and adults in the United Kingdom are conducted on behalf of the Department by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The results of the adult dental health survey which has recently been carried out are due to be published later this year. The next survey of children's dental health is proposed for 1993.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a dental health education project to assess tooth decay in north Staffordshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  Health authorities are responsible for monitoring the dental health of all age groups in the
  765
  population of their areas and for providing dental health education and preventive programmes. I refer the hon. Member to the North Staffordshire health authority for the information she requires.

  Hospital Operations (Cancellations)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the main factors according to the information available to his Department for the cancellation of operations in hospitals.

  Mr. Freeman
  Statistical information on reasons for the cancellation of operations is not held centrally. A study of 12 hospitals carried out in 1988 by the Department's value for money unit showed that planned levels of theatre utilisation were affected by factors including: patients not attending; absence of medical staff; emergency procedures; equipment breakdown; and unavailability of technicians. In many cases it is possible to reallocate sessions. The Department is currently consulting health authorities and others about guidance following the recommendations made in the study report. These include a suggested 90 per cent. target level for operating theatre utilisation. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Nurses
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by district health authority in the north-west region(a) the current nursing staff establishment, (b) the number in post at the last available date and (c) the number who have left the service of the National Health Service in the past year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The numbers of nursing and midwifery staff in post by district health authority in the North-Western region are set out in the table.

  NHS Nursing and Midwifery staff in post at 30 September 1988

  Number

  Lancaster

  2,125

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  2,544

  Preston

  2,490

  In-patient waiting list, surgical specialties', by district health authority North Western region, as at 31 March 1985 to 1989

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Health authority

  Urgent

  Non-urgent

  Total

  Urgent

  Non-urgent

  Total

  Urgent

  Non-urgent

  Total

  Total2

  Total2

  Lancaster

  155

  1,902

  2,057

  118

  1,957

  2,075

  19

  2,269

  2,288

  2,281

  2,813

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  270

  3,073

  3,343

  442

  3,625

  4,067

  511

  3,816

  4,327

  3,232

  3,218

  Preston

  11

  4,131

  4,142

  69

  4,501

  4,570

  29

  4,462

  4,491

  4,774

  4,840

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  26

  2,342

  2,368

  8

  2,015

  2,023

  9

  2,387

  2,396

  3,213

  3,759

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  195

  2,228

  2,423

  276

  2,191

  2,467

  255

  1,812

  2,067

  2,201

  1,704

  West Lancashire

  14

  1,743

  1,757

  28

  1,892

  1,920

  16

  2,431

  2,447

  2,336

  2,778

  Chorley and South Ribble

  —

  864

  864

  0

  764

  764

  0

  770

  770

  666

  636

  Bolton

  25

  2,643

  2,668

  40

  2,788

  2,828

  118

  3,013

  3,131

  2,590

  2,930

  Bury

  —

  969

  969

  6

  729

  735

  0

  731

  731

  825

  373

  North Manchester

  77

  2,812

  2,889

  168

  2,454

  2,622

  82

  2,331

  2,413

  3,031

  2,331

  Central Manchester

  164

  4,252

  4,416

  337

  4,843

  5,180

  291

  6,070

  6,361

  6,843

  7,557

  South Manchester

  726

  4,875

  5,601

  682

  4,935

  5,617

  459

  5,529

  5,988

  6,888

  7,242

  Oldham

  348

  4,140

  4,488

  321

  4,058

  4,379

  447

  4,475

  4,922

  4,249

  4,903

  Rochdale

  57

  2,708

  2,765

  122

  2,911

  3,033

  118

  2,815

  2,933

  2,821

  3,280

  Salford

  179

  3,868

  4,047

  120

  3,708

  3,828

  219

  4,517

  4,736

  2,627

  4,187

  Stockport

  366

  4,085

  4,451

  403

  3,698

  4,101

  290

  3,794

  4,084

  4,324

  4,257

  Tameside and Glossop

  110

  1,883

  1,993

  100

  1,533

  1,633

  80

  1,526

  1,606

  1,604

  1,476

  Trafford

  8

  965

  973

  25

  1,476

  1,501

  5

  1,528

  1,533

  1,467

  1,459

  Wigan

  69

  4,022

  4,091

  74

  4,281

  4,355

  40

  4,418

  4,458

  4,080

  4,310

  North Western

  2,800

  53,505

  56,305

  3,339

  54,359

  57,698

  2,988

  58,694

  61,682

  60,052

  64,053

  766

  Number

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  1,935

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  3,237

  West Lancashire

  918

  Chorley and South Ribble

  606

  Bolton

  1,903

  Bury

  1,103

  North Manchester

  2,451

  Central Manchester

  2,073

  South Manchester

  3,121

  Oldham

  1,485

  Rochdale

  1,174

  Salford

  3,318

  Stockport

  2,162

  Tameside and Glossop

  1,420

  Trafford

  1,230

  Wigan

  2,114

  Source: Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

  (I)-Includes agency staff: figures are rounded to the nearest whole time equivalent.

  Current nursing establishments in each district health authority in the north-western region are not available centrally. Data on the number of nursing and midwifery staff who have left the National Health Service in the 1988–89 year are not yet available.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by district health authorities in the north-west region the number of people on waiting lists for urgent and non-urgent operations for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Freeman
  The available information is given in the table. Following the implementation of the recommendations of the steering group on health services information (the Korner committee) starting in April 1987, no distinction is now made between urgent and non-urgent cases since the committee regarded such distinctions as unreliable. Between 1985 and 1989 the number of inpatient cases treated in the north-west region increased by 4 per cent. from 617,600 to 640,500.
  767
  Source: SBH203 returns 1985 to 1987, KH 7 and KHO7a returns 1988 onwards.

  1 General surgery, Urology, T and 0, ENT, Ophthalmology, Oral surgery, Restorative dentistry, Paediatric dentistry, Orthodontics, Neurosurgery, Plastic surgery, Cardiothoracic surgery, Paediatric surgery, Gynaecology, Radiotherapy.

  2 Less self deferred cases.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by district health authority in the north-west regional health authority the total available patient beds for each year since 1979.

  Average daily available beds1, all sectors, NHS hospitals, by district health authority in North Western Region 1979 to 1988–89

  Health authority

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Lancaster

  2,645

  2,601

  2,508

  2,512

  2,406

  2,352

  2,217

  2,106

  1,821

  1,798

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  1,564

  1,576

  1,664

  1,733

  1,732

  1,737

  1,756

  1,730

  1,630

  1,763

  Preston

  2

  2

  2

  2,318

  2,239

  2,196

  2,173

  2,060

  2,079

  1,902

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  2,825

  2,781

  2,746

  2,706

  2,665

  2,624

  2,579

  2,509

  1,315

  1,231

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  2,591

  2,591

  2,522

  2,513

  2,516

  2,438

  2,399

  2,303

  3,216

  3,008

  West Lancashire

  886

  862

  854

  851

  851

  867

  812

  790

  735

  661

  Chorley and South Ribble

  2

  2

  2

  374

  378

  357

  345

  345

  323

  302

  Bolton

  1,361

  1,315

  1,328

  1,303

  1,294

  1,285

  1,246

  1,251

  1,254

  1,227

  Bury

  716

  740

  786

  801

  812

  822

  810

  816

  788

  775

  North Manchester

  2,041

  2,038

  2,026

  1,982

  1,950

  1,831

  1,752

  1,692

  1,648

  1,521

  Central Manchester

  1,137

  1,201

  1,227

  1,254

  1,250

  1,242

  1,272

  1,246

  1,238

  1,219

  South Manchester

  2,408

  2,423

  2,389

  2,401

  2,417

  2,355

  2,277

  2,187

  2,112

  2,068

  Oldham

  1,045

  1,028

  1,004

  1,003

  1,029

  1,019

  1,026

  1,004

  993

  980

  Rochdale

  953

  904

  875

  879

  869

  827

  824

  843

  765

  758

  Salford

  3,098

  3,089

  3,017

  3,008

  2,972

  2,876

  2,688

  2,666

  2,506

  2,372

  Stockport

  1,677

  1,692

  1,759

  1,816

  1,793

  1,749

  1,724

  1,741

  1,693

  1,672

  Tameside and Glossop

  869

  965

  981

  941

  917

  942

  945

  957

  982

  955

  Trafford

  836

  864

  869

  837

  827

  814

  775

  747

  755

  718

  Wigan

  1,479

  1,450

  1,430

  1,446

  1,467

  1,426

  1,403

  1,413

  1,469

  1,479

  North Western Region

  30,811

  30,839

  30,662

  30,678

  30,384

  29,756

  29,021

  28,406

  27,320

  26,409

  Source: SH3 returns, 1979–986, KHO3 returns 1987–8 onwards.

  1 Wards open overnight only.

  2 Comparable figures not available due to National Health Service restructuring in 1982.

  Breast Screening
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial resources have been made available for consultant surgeons at Arrowe park hospital participating in the assessment and treatment stages of the Wirral breast screening programme scheduled to start on 19 February; what assessment has been made of the adequacy of these resources; and if he will make a statement on the extent, coverage and date of operation of the breast screening programme in the Wirral.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has allocated resources for the breast screening programme to regions. It is for each regional health authority to decide how funds are allocated to screening services within the region. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority.

  Welfare Milk
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in the east midlands are in receipt of the welfare milk token scheme; and what was the comparable figure for 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information about the number of welfare milk beneficiaries by area is not available, but overall the Government are spending £80 million per annum on welfare milk which goes to some 800,000 beneficiaries.
  768
  Mr. Freeman
  The available information is given in the table:

  Disablement Services Authority
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for an artificial limb prior to the Disablement Services Authority being set up.

  Mr. Freeman
  The specific information requested is not available, but one of the reasons for setting up the DSA was to streamline the procedures and we are monitoring the situation.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to develop quality of service objectives in respect of the Disablement Services Authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the Disablement Services Authority which includes the development of quality of service in its aims and objectives. Details of the work it has undertaken in this area can be found in its annual report for 1988–89, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people have been released into the community under the community care programme;

  (2) how many people released into the community under the community care programme have (a) committed suicide, (b) been arrested, (c) died as a result of an accident and (d) been seriously injured as a result of an accident.
  769
  Mr. Freeman
  Figures are not collected centrally on the number of inpatients who have been discharged under the community care programme, nor the outcome of those people once in the community.

  However, during 1986, the latest year for which reliable figures are available, 1,082 inpatients of mental illness hospitals and units in England were discharged (excluding deaths and tranfers to other hospitals) after a stay of five years or more. The comparable figure for mental handicap patients was 1,951.

  Macfarlane Trust
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs who have contracted AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions are expected to qualify for the £20,000 payments allocated through the Macfarlane (Special Payments) Trust; and what steps are being taken to ensure that all those who qualify apply.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The payments from the Macfarlane (Special Payments) Trust are available to haemophiliacs infected with HIV as the result of treatment with blood products in the United Kingdom, or the dependant or beneficiary of such a person who has died. We estimate that around 1,200 people may qualify. Some 1,150 cases are already known to the trust and through the haemophilia treatment centres it is trying to ensure that any other haemophiliacs who may be eligible know of the payments.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if general practitioners will be expected to take disabled people on to their lists under the new arrangements for the National Health Service;

  (2) whether there will be an appeals procedure for disabled people if a general practitioner refuses to accept a patient on to his list.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Any person may ask a doctor who has contracted to provide general medical services under the National Health Service to be accepted as a patient. Under the terms of their contract, doctors are not obliged to meet such a request. They are obliged to accept a patient when allocated by the local family practitioner committee. Any patient unable to find a suitable doctor should approach the family practitioner committee accordingly.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision will be made in his new arrangements for community care for disabled people to appeal against an assessment decision.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As announced in the White Paper "Caring for People" all local social services authorities will be expected to set up and publicise procedures for receiving and responding to complaints from users of services, including disabled people. Any user, or carer, who is dissatisfied with an assessment decision will be able to make representations through these procedures.

  We will be issuing guidelines to local authorities about these procedures, backed up with Secretary of State directions where appropriate.

  Patients' Records
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time being taken by family practitioner committees in transferring records from one general practitioner to another when patients change their doctor.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. The time taken will vary with the circumstances and, in particular, will depend on whether or not the patient moves to a different family practitioner committee area and, if so, on how long is taken to register with a new doctor.

  Doctors' Hours
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long after its completion the Dowie report on doctors' hours was published; and what were the reasons for the time taken.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The interim report was sent to the Department in September 1989. We have been studying the report's findings and considering whether publication in advance of the full report, expected later this year, would be appropriate.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours a week, on average, junior doctors now work.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Dowie report into junior doctors' hours quotes an average of 58 hours of work each week.

  Information on junior doctors' hours of work is not available centrally. The latest available information shows that the average weekly number of contracted hours of duty of junior hospital doctors in England and Wales was 82 on 30 September 1988. A survey in 1985 showed that the average weekly number of hours actually worked as against on duty was 57.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library evidence collected by his Department's working parties into junior doctors' hours.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The reports from regional health authorities on the June 1988 initiative to reduce junior doctors' hours, and from those district health authorities which undertook pilot studies into a 72-hour week, are being placed in the Library.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has estimated how many more consultants would be needed for the abolition of one in three shifts and a maximum working week for junior doctors of 72 hours.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The achievement of a 72-hour working week for junior doctors will require a variety of solutions which need to be agreed locally. These may include changes in training requirements, in the working practices of both consultants and juniors, and a changed pattern of service delivery. It remains our long-term aim to reduce the average hours of duty to 72 per week.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what new evidence his Department has received about the hours now worked by junior doctors since it first received the Dowie report;
  771
  (2) why evidence from the Dowie report was not submitted to the pay review body.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Evidence is submitted in confidence to the doctors' and dentists' review body. The DDRB was informed that we wished first to analyse the reports from health authorities on two initiatives launched after the fieldwork for the Dowie report was completed.

  The first, which started in June 1988, asked health authorities to continue to work towards the elimination of rotas more onerous than one in three for practitioners first on call in the hard-pressed specialties.

  The second, begun in July 1989, asked a small number of authorities to conduct pilot studies into whether an average 72-hour week was possible within existing manpower constraints. Reports on both initiatives have been received.

  We will be keeping the DDRB informed of developments in this area.

  NHS Patients
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the numbers of parents diagnosed or treated in National Health Service hospitals for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information about patients treated in National Health Service hospitals in England from 1979 to 1988–89 has been published in the Department of Health statistical bulletin 2/1/90. The bulletin provides tables showing the numbers of inpatient cases, day case admissions, outpatient attendances, ward attenders and accident and emergency cases treated. Copies of the bulletin have been placed in the Library.

  Hospices
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he gives to regional and district health authorities on the distribution of Government funds to the voluntary hospice movement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We shall shortly be notifying health authorities of the allocations they will receive for this purpose, and giving guidance on its distribution.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to the Five Towns Plus hospice organisation as to how to obtain contributions from Government funds to help maintain the Five Towns hospice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The funding of individual projects is a matter for discussion between the health authorities and the organisations concerned.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount from Government funds has been allocated to help the voluntary hospice movement in the Wakefield and Pontefract areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Allocations will be made to regional health authorities. The funding of individual projects is a matter for discussion between the health authorities and the organisations concerned.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the contribution from Government funds to match that of voluntary giving to the hospice movement; and if he will make a statement.
  772
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We intend to monitor health authorities' progress and plans in relation to this objective. No date has been specified.

  Erythropoetin
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether erythropoetin has been licensed by the safety of drugs committee; what has been the length of time it has been under consideration by the Committee; what information he has on the length of time it has taken to approve the medicine in other European Economic Community countries; and what information he has on the reasons for the time required for approval in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 5 February 1990]No product licence for erythropoetin (EPO) has been granted in the United Kingdom. In general terms the time needed to obtain marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom for a medicinal product containing a new active substance (NAS) produced by biotechnology, such as EPO, will depend on a number of factors. Such an application must be made through the European Community's concertation procedure, introduced under directive 87/22/EEC. This involves the Community's committee for proprietary medicinal products (CPMP) in giving a non-binding opinion which must be taken into account by national regulatory authorities when making decisions for marketing in their own territories—for which they alone are responsible. In the light of advice from the CPMP and any national advisory committee, for example the Committee on Safety of Medicines in the UK, each authority must decide for itself whether any additional information is needed from the applicant company before reaching its own independent decision. The CPMP opinion is often written in rather general terms and hence important additional data may have to be supplied by the company before individual national licensing authorities can be reassured as to the safety, quality and efficacy of the product. Only when the reassurance has been provided can the licence be granted. On occasions further time may also be required before the application can be cleared if an applicant company decides to exercise its appeal rights. The Department does not hold information relating to the time taken by other regulatory authorities within the European Community to grant marketing authorisations.

  AIDS
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply of 1 February, if he will now provide information on the employment prospects, insurance and mortgage status of people who acquired AIDS from blood transfusions under the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 February 1990]In my reply of 18 January 1990 to the right hon. Member at column 405 I pointed out that haemophiliacs are a group of people who by virtue of their haemophilia are already disadvantaged in respect of their employment prospects and their ability to obtain mortgages and life insurance. We have no evidence to suggest that those people who have become infected with HIV via blood transfusion were similarly disadvantaged before the illness or accident leading to the need for transfusion.

  Stroboscopic Lights
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current advice his Department has concerning the use of the stroboscopic light sources in discotheques and other places of entertainments.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  The current guidance from the Health and Safety Executive recommends a flicker rate of below five flickers per second.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of recent trends and likely future trends in respect of the number of food poisoning cases in the United Kingdom and in identifying the causes of those trends.

  Mr. Freeman
  The principal micro-organisms that are identified as responsible for food poisoning in the United Kingdom are salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. Laboratory reports for 1989 on these organisms to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre are given in the table.

  Reports of identifications by laboratories—1989 (provisional approximate figures)

  1989

  Salmonella

  26,000

  Clostridium perfringens

  300

  Staphylococcus aureus

  10

  Bacillus cereus

  20

  In recent years, there has been an increase in food poisoning notifications, partly due to an increase in food poisoning but partly as a consequence of better monitoring and public awareness.

  Since 1986 the biggest single cause for the increasing burden of food poisoning in this country can be ascribed to the rise in infections with salmonella enteritidis phage type 4, associated predominantly with poultry meat and eggs. The latest figures from the public health laboratory service for human isolations of this organism indicate, however, a levelling off in this particular problem for 1989. These figures show that in 1989 a total of about 13,000 isolates of salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 were recorded. This is around a 3 per cent. rise on the 1988 figure of about 12,500 isolates, but represents a significant change in the trends noted for 1988 and 1987 when the percentage increases in this organism were respectively 152 and 67 per cent.

  Foodborne illness due to organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus has not shown any particular trend over the years.

  However, the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre also records information on cases of gastro-enteritis (which may not necessarily be foodborne in all cases). These figures show that there has been a marked upward trend in illness due not only to salmonella but also to campylobacter. In 1988, about 29,000 reports of campylobacter were made. The provisional figure for 1989 is approximately 33,000. Campylobacter can be found in water (but not chlorinated public water supplies), unpasteurised milk and chicken (where a survey isolated
  774
  the organism from over 40 per cent. of raw chicken carcases examined). The organism is usually responsible for sporadic cases of illness and rarely causes outbreaks. The widely held view is that much sporadic human campylobacter is probably attributable to cross contamination from poultry and to eating under-cooked chicken; but more information on the sources of contamination of food with this organism is needed before it will be possible to devise appropriate methods of control.

DEFENCE

  General Dynamics
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contractual payments are made by the United Kingdom Government to General Dynamics for products or services related to the potential acquisition of main battle tanks.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Details of all and any of our contractual arrangements with General Dynamics are commercial in confidence.

  Kirkcudbright Firing Range
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for development of the Ministry of Defence firing range at Kirkcudbright; what costs are involved; what role SERCO currently plays in these processes and what plans he has for developing this; and what is the chain of responsibility for the operation and development of the range.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 1 February 1990]: We have plans to modernise part of the Kirkcudbright firing range facility over the next few years. Essentially, modernisation will comprise a new range safety radar system and a facility in support of electromagnetic launcher technology. Key features will be the reliability and safety of the facility.

  It is not our practice to reveal costs, since these are commercially sensitive.

  SERCO currently provides 84 staff for the day-to-day running of the range and its activities, as the result of winning competitive contracts. It is this Government's policy that tasks should be carried out in the most cost-effective and efficient manner, and that contractors, selected by competition, should be used where it makes sense to do so.

  The ranges are headed by a Lieutenant Colonel who is responsible to the director of the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RARDE).

  Research Contracts
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long is the present contract with the department of animal husbandry at Bristol university.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not our policy to provide details of individual research arrangements.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many research contracts or agreements the chemical defence establishment has placed in
  775
  universities and other institutions of higher education in each financial year since 1979; and what was their total financial value in each year since 1979;

  (2) how many research contracts or agreements the chemical defence establishment is currently funding in universities and other institutions of higher education; what is their total value; how many universities and other institutions of higher education are currently receiving research contracts or agreements from the chemical defence establishment; and if he will give a full list of them.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not our practice to provide historical data. There are 94 extant agreements to a total value of £11·8 million placed by CDE with 49 universities and other institutions of higher education but it is not departmental policy to provide details of these arrangements.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a recording of the Channel 4 programme, "Dispatches", 10 January, concerning military funding of research in universities and other institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Neubert
  A copy of this programme is held in the defence press office.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the level of funding of research in universities and other institutions of higher education; and what are the reasons behind this policy.

  Mr. Neubert
  The MOD has funds available for research in support of the defence research programme, including extramural research at higher education institutions. Such work is placed there when considered appropriate to do so and if value for money procurement policies are satisfied.

  Chemical and Biological Weapons
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many contracts or agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education in the field of genetic engineering;

  (2) how many contracts or agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to the production or application of monoclonal antibodies;

  (3) how many projects in the field of aerobiology are currently funded by his Department; and whether there are any negotiations to fund further projects;

  (4) what contracts and agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to nerve gases;

  (5) what contracts or agreements currently exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education concerning research into biological or chemical weapons;

  (6) what research contracts and agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to anthrax;

  (7) what research his Department is sponsoring into the viability and infectivity of Klebsiella pneumonia; and if he will make a statement;
  776
  (8) whether his Department monitors the potential for offensive use of research it supports in the area of aerobiology by foreign or third parties.

  Mr. Neubert
  As we have repeatedly made clear, the United Kingdom has no chemical or biological weapons and no plans to acquire any. All research undertaken by or commissioned by the MOD in the chemical and biological field is defensive in nature and is to provide information which assists in the provision of effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons might be used against the United Kingdom armed forces.

  This research includes a number of agreements with universities and institutes of higher education in a range of research areas such as genetic engineering and monoclonal antibodies. It is not our policy to go into details of specific research areas.

  Classified Research
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of staff in universities and other institutions of higher education working on research contracts or agreements currently funded by his Department are required to have security clearance;

  (2) how many research contracts or agreements which are currently being funded by his Department are classified;

  (3) if researchers accepting funding from his Department are advised whether to discuss their work and its objectives with colleagues or the media;

  (4) what is his Department's definition of classified research;

  (5) what measures his Department takes to prevent the misuse of results of research funded by the Ministry of Defence by foreign or third parties;

  (6) what proportion of the results published from projects funded by his Department outside its own establishments is classified;

  (7) whether classified research in universities and other institutions of higher education is funded by his Department.

  Mr. Neubert
  The great majority of work commissioned by MOD with universities is unclassified. There are four extant contracts/agreements with universities and other institutions of higher education classified as restricted or above. The disclosure and publication of the results of classified research is subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. For research which is not classified, while the MOD generally encourages publication of results, the academic institution is required to consult the MOD before any unrestricted disclosures, including any lecture, demonstration, publication or the submission of any thesis to an examining body. This would not preclude informal academic exchanges with immediate colleagues. Finally, it is not the Government's practice to give detailed information about security vetting of individuals.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many research contracts or agreements funded by his Department have been cancelled in the last five years; and for what reasons;

  (2) how many research contracts or agreements his Department is currently funding in universities and other institutions of higher education; and what is their total value.
  777
  Mr. Neubert
  The Ministry of Defence has currently 745 research agreements and 106 research contracts placed with a wide range of United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education to a total value of about £65 million. Some 20 agreements have been terminated early during the past five years, the great majority of which were due to administrative difficulties encountered by universities.

  Captain Fred Holroyd
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by the military authorities to question Mr. F. Holroyd about his knowledge of events at the Kincora boys' hostel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Investigation of illegal activities at the Kincora boys' home is the responsibility of the RUC. The Royal Military Police assisted the RUC with their earlier inquiries by interviewing Mr. Holroyd on 22 May 1982.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date a non-adverse report was raised on 778
  Captain Fred Holroyd (retired), by his commanding officer as referred to in his reply to the Adjournment debate on 29 November 1989, Official Report, columns 812-20.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 January 1990]: The special confidential report on Captain Holroyd was signed by his commanding officer on 5 June 1975.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature of assistance given by the Royal Military Police into the allegations of Captain Fred Holroyd (retired), referred to in his reply to the Adjournment debate on 29 November 1989,Official Report, column 817.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 January 1990]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to his earlier questions on this subject (Official Report, 28 March 1988, column 362). It has not proved possible from currently available records to define in greater detail the precise nature and extent of the assistance given by the RMP to the RUC in support of its investigations.

EMPLOYMENT

  Gangers
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents on farms have been reported to his Department involving the supply and use of unskilled, unregistered labourers by gangers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This information is not available.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those referred by the employment service to ET complete their assessment with a training agent; what percentage of those who complete their assessment stay six days with a training manager; and what percentage of those originally referred by the employment service stay six days with a training manager.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is estimated that 54 per cent. of those people referred by the employment service to training agents complete their assessment; 61 per cent. of people completing an assessment stay one week with a training manager; 33 per cent. of all those originally referred by the employment service stay one week or more with a training manager.

  Sheltered Placement Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of ceiling grant the Government intend to give the sponsors of the sheltered placement scheme for the coming financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am not yet ready to announce a decision on the grant ceiling for 1990–91. I am aware of the need to take a decision as soon as possible and I expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends taking to ensure that more disabled people can be placed in employment within the sheltered placement scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  It remains the Department's policy to expand provision within the sheltered placement scheme as the resources available allow.

  Ceiling Grant
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the level of ceiling grant would have to be for the coming financial year for it to keep its value abreast of inflation including the making up of the shortfall in real terms resulting from this financial year's increase.

  Mr. Eggar
  The grant ceiling is adjusted to take account of changes in the average costs actually incurred by sponsors in providing places in both sheltered workshops and the sheltered placement scheme. It is not the intention of the grant to match specific movements in inflation, and in recent years average costs have risen at less than the rate of inflation. However, the effects of inflation are reflected in the information on costs on which the calculations are based.

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arising from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Department group keeps under constant review measures to safeguard cash and assets from misappropriation and theft.

  European Information Centres
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has any plans to fund the European information centres when European Commission funding is terminated in June 1990.

  Mr. Eggar
  No. A network of European information centres is being set up by the European Commission. The Commission provides an initial financial contribution on the understanding that the centres will be financially independent after three years. The first four centres in the United Kingdom were established in 1987; a further 16 were approved in October 1989 and will be operational by April this year. All the centres chosen by the Commission were already involved in related activities.

  The centres provide information to businesses on European matters, particularly issues concerning the single European market. They receive all the relevant EC documentation, have direct computer-linked access to Brussels for answers to specific queries and are able to signpost inquirers to both the United Kingdom and EC single market specialists.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what account is being taken in his Department's review of employment services for disabled people of demographic changes and their effect on developing equal opportunities in employment for disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]: This Department's internal review of services to people with disabilities is taking careful account of the likely effects of demographic changes on the employment of people with disabilities. The shortage of young people in the 1990s means that employers will have to make better use of their workers and seek new sources of recruitment, including people with disabilities.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration his Department's internal review of employment services for disabled people is giving to a quota-levy system requiring employers to pay a levy according to the number of unfilled quota places.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]: The operation of quota-levy systems is among the subjects being carefully considered as part of this Department's internal review of services to people with disabilities.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration his Department's review of employment services to disabled people is giving to the introduction of legislation to prevent unjustifiable discrimination on the grounds of disability.
  781
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]: Successive Governments have judged that education and persuasion of employers is the most effective approach to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The role of legislation is being carefully considered as part of this Department's internal review of services to people with disabilities.

  Local Offices, Doncaster and Mexborough
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current establishment at each grade at the unemployment benefit offices at(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough; how many deal directly with interviewing of new claimants; and what representations he has received concerning the lack of staff to deal with claimants.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1990, c. 59-60]: I regret that the information given in the table in my reply of 15 January was incorrect due to the omission of four executive officers from one column. The correct information is as follows:

  A graded breakdown of the staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices is given at table 1.

  New claimants are normally interviewed by an executive officer (new client adviser). In each of the Doncaster unemployment benefit offices four executive officers are directly involved with interviewing and counselling new claimants. In Mexborough unemployment benefit office three executive officers interview and counsel new clients.

  Additionally in each office two clerical staff provide support services for the new client advisers, which includes making appointments for unemployed people to make their claims.

  No formal representations have been made to local management about staffing levels in these offices.

  Table 1

  Graded breakdown of staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices—January 1990

  Doncaster

  Doncaster

  Doncaster

  Mexborough

  'A'

  'B'

  'C'

  Permanent

  HEO

  1

  1

  1

  1

  EO

  9

  8

  7

  4

  AO

  25

  25

  26

  17

  AA

  4

  5

  4

  3

  Messenger

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Casual

  AO

  —

  —

  —

  1

  AA

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Total

  39

  42

  39

  26

  Notes:

  HEO =Higher Executive Officer

  EO =Executive Officer

  AO =Administrative Officer.

  AA =Administrative Assistant.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings he has had with British Rail; and what items were discussed.
  782
  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairman of British Rail and his colleagues to discuss a variety of railway issues.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amounts of(a) low-level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) high-level nuclear waste have been transported by train in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand the only movements of waste were of intermediate level and were as follows:

  Tonnes

  1980

  599

  1981

  58

  1982

  263

  Less than 10 per cent. of these weights were actual waste, the remainder being packaging and shielding.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current arrangements for dealing with accidents involving trains transporting nuclear material in London; and when they were last reviewed.

  Mr. Portillo
  There is a comprehensive emergency plan administered by CEGB/Nuclear Electric to deal with incidents involving irradiated nuclear fuel flasks in transit. This was last reviewed towards the end of 1989.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has about plans to increase the transport by train of nuclear waste through London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that there are no plans to transport nuclear waste through London before 2005

  Cycle Proficiency Test
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children in England and Wales have the opportunity to take a cycle proficiency test through their school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Some 275,000 children took part in RoSPA's cycle proficiency training and testing scheme in 1989. This is administered locally by local authority road safety officers with the training taking place mainly in schools, by agreement with head teachers. RoSPA publishes and distributes the teacher materials and the Department supplies each child with a free copy of the "Highway Code for Young Road Users".

  Driving Test Examiners
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many female driving test examiners there are in the United Kingdom, by region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information for Great Britain is as follows:

  Number

  North Eastern

  14

  North Western

  11

  West Midland

  10

  783

  Number

  Eastern

  16

  Western

  9

  South Eastern

  11

  Metropolitan

  26

  Scotland

  6

  Total

  103

  In addition two female examiners are instructors at the Department's driving examiner training establishment at Cardington.

  Applicants for examiner posts are assessed on the basis of qualifications, relevant knowledge, experience and personal qualities. There has been a welcome recent rise in

  Tests conducted

  Pass rate (percentage)

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Men

  Women

  All

  1980

  990,631

  971,403

  1,962,034

  53·0

  41·5

  47·3

  1981

  1,032,454

  998,871

  2,031,325

  52·9

  42·1

  47·6

  1982

  1,028,798

  976,498

  2,005,296

  53·1

  42·9

  48·1

  1983

  930,977

  961,338

  1,892,315

  53·8

  43·7

  48·7

  1984

  861,712

  922,400

  1,784,112

  54·3

  44·2

  49·1

  1985

  863,403

  978,388

  1,841,791

  54·2

  43·7

  48·6

  1986

  930,663

  1,069,075

  1,999,738

  54·1

  43·8

  48·6

  1987

  909,732

  1,071,284

  1,981,016

  55·6

  46·1

  49·7

  1988

  965,144

  1,107,824

  2,072,968

  57·9

  47·2

  51·7

  1989

  914,456

  1,080,956

  1,995,412

  58·0

  47·5

  52·3

  Comprehensive information is not available on candidates' pass rates on each attempt. Surveys in 1980

  First attempt

  Subsequent attempts

  Men

  Women

  All

  Men

  Women

  All

  1980

  51

  37

  45

  55

  46

  50

  1985

  51

  39

  45

  56

  49

  52

  Child Cyclists (Helmets)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to make helmet-wearing for children, whilst riding a bicycle, compulsory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Head injuries are a major cause of death and serious casualties in cycle accidents, so it makes sense for riders to have head protection. We encourage people to wear helmets but there are no present plans to make this obligatory.

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arising from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Atkins
  Losses detected in 1988 amounted to no more than £2,000.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the number of professionally qualified loss-prevention staff employed by his Department and the qualifications held by such staff, excluding qualifications obtained during police or military service.

  Mr. Atkins
  The prevention of loss in the Department is primarily the responsibility of management at all levels.
  784
  the number of women candidates coming forward, and 20 of the 47 interviewed for appointment last year were successful compared with 137 of the 283 male applicants.

  Driving Test
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have passed their driving tests for each of the last 10 years at(a) their first attempt, (b) their second attempt, (c) their third attempt and (d) more than fifth attempt; what percentage of each were female; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of L tests conducted in the years 1980–89, together with the percentage of candidates who passed, were as follows:

  and 1985 indicated that the pass rates for candidates taking their test for the first time, and taking it for the second or subsequent attempt, were as follows:

  Management's responsibility is buttressed by systems of checks and controls, and these are audited regularly by the Department's internal audit division, comprising 13 staff trained to the basic audit training standard. Six of these are members of the Institute of Internal Auditors. A further 11 staff are under training.

  ScotRail (Investment)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on British Rail's investment plans for the ScotRail network over the next three financial years.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table sets out BR's proposed infrastructure investment (capital and revenue) in Scotland over the next three years.

  1989–90 prices

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  InterCity

  7·1

  3·1

  1·6

  Provincial

  12·2

  12·6

  13·1

  Freight

  3·9

  2·8

  4·8

  Parcels

  0·1

  0·2

  0·2

  Total

  23·3

  18·7

  19·7

  Rolling stock investment cannot be attributed to particular areas of Great Britain.

  Foreign Ships
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number and proportion of foreign vessles visiting British ports in each calendar year from 1979 to have been(a) inspected, (b) found to have serious defects, (c) other defects and (d) pollution defects; what

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–882

  1988–892

  Ships visiting UK ports

  6,445

  6,463

  6,579

  16,500

  6,425

  6,158

  Ships inspected

  2,557

  2,529

  2,532

  2,788

  2,188

  1,830

  Per cent. inspected

  39·7

  39·1

  38·5

  —

  34·0

  29·7

  1 Estimated.

  2 Financial year.

  The Department's records do not differentiate between ships with serious defects and others. In 1988–89, of the 1,830 ships inspected 900 were found to have defects of which 87 were pollution related. Information for other years is not readily available.

  Under the memorandum of understanding on port state control the target inspection rate is 25 per cent. of individual ships visiting a signatory's ports. The United Kingdom has always exceeded the target figure. Port state control inspection figures are circulated to signatories of the memorandum but on a confidential basis. All signatories aim to achieve the same 25 per cent. target.

  No information is available for the United States of America.

  United States Transportation Secretary
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the United States of America's Secretary of Transportation; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A date for what we hope will be a wide-ranging meeting has yet to be settled.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport over what period he expects the contribution to the extension of the Jubilee line by Messrs. Olympia and York of £400 million to be paid; what conditions have been attached to this payment; and what is its expected value likely to be in 1989 prices.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 6 February at column 566.

  Transport (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what charges he expects to be made on the public expenditure reserve fund for transport investment in London, other than that already approved for the Jubilee line extension; and from what vote he expects capital expenditure to be dispersed for either the proposed main line crossrail and proposed Hackney to Chelsea tube line, respectively.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Jubilee line extension is the only public transport project in London for which provision has been made from the reserve. No decision has yet been taken on the funding arrangements for any other new line.786
  is his target for inspections; the reasons for any deviation from this target; and what proportion of vessels is inspected in the United States of America, France and Holland.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The port state control inspection figures for the years 1983 to 1989 are as follows: data for earlier years are not available.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to improve transport facilities for the disabled.

  Mr. Atkins
  Our current programme of initiatives to promote mobility for people with disabilities is set out in our document "Transport and Disability—a Statement of Aims and Priorities". One major priority is to improve the accessibility of public transport including the development of wheelchair-accessible coaches and buses. We are also working with vehicle designers and manufacturers to influence car design and control modifications, to increase opportunities for personal mobility for even the most severely disabled people. We are also developing guidelines on design for pedestrian areas to help elderly and disabled people.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he proposes to take in response to recent proposals to remove, from 1 June 1990, the entitlement to drive large non-commercial passenger carrying vehicles on an ordinary driving licence.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am aware of the responses to the recent consulation exercise on changes to the regulations governing the driving of cars and motorcycles. While few people dispute the principle that large buses should be driven only by someone who holds a PSV licence, the proposed timing for removing the entitlement to drive a large bus on an ordinary driving licence would have caused practical difficulties. I have therefore decided to defer the implementation of this measure for at least six months. A further announcement will be made about exactly when and how the entitlement is to be removed.

  Vehicle Operator Licensing
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached a decision on future changes to passenger and goods vehicle operator licensing, following the recent review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The review has now been completed. In the light of consultations, I have today announced decisions on a number of steps to improve the licensing system. Details of these are set out in a press notice, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Merseytravel
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be in a position to respond to the case submitted by Merseytravel by 14 February.

  Mr. Atkins
  I hope so.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Appeals
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to repeal or amend regulation 72, Social Security Adjudication Regulations 1986, S.I. 1986 2218; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Regulations 1990, which will be laid before Parliament shortly, contain an amendment to regulation 72. The amendment provides that the amount of arrears of benefit on review made as a consequence of a reinterpretation of the law by a decision of a social security commissioner or the courts is paid from the date of that decision.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will widen the scope of the social fund to enable loans to be made to those who have obtained employment but need funds to pay for suitable clothing and transport for the period before their first wages are paid.

  Mr. Scott
  We believe it is reasonable to expect good employers to help with the cost of necessary clothing and travel for their employees, for example through an advance of salary. Where a person does not have enough money to live on until his first pay day, a crisis loan can be considered.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is in a position to reply to both the letters from the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East dated 15 January and the question raised in column 183 of the Official Report on 30 January, on Mr. Melvin Wall's loss of entitlement to mobility allowance.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My noble Friend Lord Henley replied to the hon. Member's letter concerning Mr. Wall today.

  Students (Transitional Payments)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reintroduce transitional payments for students in full-time further education who have been receiving income support under I/S regulation 132(c) and 2(d), so they may continue their studies to their completion beyond their 19th birthday without the present loss of benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We are aware that a small number of young people are experiencing difficulties. Although financial assistance can be provided by local education authorities, we are keeping the benefit rules under review.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Anglo-Japanese Trade
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the extent in cash terms of export trade from the United Kingdom to the empire of Japan and the extent in cash terms of import trade from the empire of Japan to the United Kingdom; and if he will publish figures for both for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  There are at least 800 industrial and commercial organisations in the United Kingdom owned by commercial interests resident in Japan. I have placed a list, prepared by the Anglo-Japanese Economic Institute, in the Library of the House.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those European countries which have a trade surplus with the United Kingdom, whose trade deficit is a higher proportion of gross domestic product than the United Kingdom's.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1988 Portugal, Greece and Spain had higher trade deficits as a percentage of GDP than the United Kingdom. Of these, Portugal was in surplus in trade with the United Kingdom.

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arising from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  A central record is maintained of the amounts and details of such losses and an annual return is made to the Treasury.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to abolish the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  European Single Market
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the European Commission to discuss the implications of 1992 for British industry.

  Mr. Redwood
  I continue to keep in close contact with the EC Commission across a broad range of issues.

  Post Office
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (I) if he will list those Post Office sorting offices where the catering facilities are provided(a) by direct labour and (b) by independent contractors;

  (2) if he will list those Post Office sorting offices with catering facilities.

  Mr. Forth
  The provision of catering facilities is a matter for the Post Office. I understand that there are
  789
  1,600 Post Office sorting offices, all of which have some form of catering facility. In many cases this is limited to facilities for staff to prepare food for themselves. I have placed a full list of sorting offices in the Library. Catering services, which in all cases are provided by the Post Office's in-house catering organisation. Quadrant, are provided in the following sorting offices:

  Abingdon

  Aldershot

  Ashford (Kent) Head Office

  Aylesbury

  Banbury

  Barnet Sub-office

  Barnsley Head Office

  Basildon

  Basingstoke Head Office

  Bath Head Office

  Bedford Head Office

  Benfleet

  Bexhill-on-Sea

  Bexleyheath

  Blackburn

  Blackpool

  Bolton Head Office

  Bournemouth o/w Letters

  Bradford (West Yorkshire) Main Letter Office

  Brentwood

  Brighton Sub-office

  Bristol

  Bromley

  Burnley Head Office

  Camberley

  Cambridge

  Canterbury Sub-office

  Cardiff

  Carlisle

  Chatham (Medway)

  Chelmsford Head Office

  Cheltenham

  Chester Head Office

  Chesterfield

  Chichester Sub-office

  Cleveland

  Colchester

  Coventry

  Crawley

  Crewe Head Office

  Croydon

  Dagenham

  Darlington

  Dartford

  Derby

  Doncaster Head Office

  Dover Head Office

  Dunstable

  Durham Head Office

  Eastbourne Head Office

  Epsom Sub-office

  Exeter Head Office

  Farnham (Surrey)

  Feltham

  Folkestone

  Gravesend

  Great Yarmouth

  Grimsby

  Guildford Sub-office

  Halifax

  Harrogate

  Harrow

  Hartlepool

  Hastings

  Hayes (Middlesex)

  Hemel Hempstead

  High Wycombe

  Hitchin

  Horsham

  Hounslow

  Hove

  Huddersfield

  790

  Hull

  Huntingdon

  Ilford

  Ipswich

  Keighley

  Kettering

  Kingston upon Thames

  Lancaster

  Leeds Head Office

  Leicester Head Office

  Letchworth

  Lincoln Head Office

  Liverpool Head Office

  London:

  Kentish Town NW5

  Kilburn NW6

  Mill Hill NW7

  St. Johns Wood NW8

  The Hyde NW9

  Willesden NW10

  Golders Green NW11

  Camberwell SE5

  Rotherhithe SE16

  Kennington/Walworth SE17

  Woolwich SE18

  Brixton SW2

  South Kensington SW7

  Stockwell SW9

  Battersea District Office

  Putney SW15

  Streatham SW16

  Tooting SW17

  Wandsworth SW18

  Wimbledon SW19

  Paddington District Office W2

  Acton W3

  Ealing W5

  Hammersmith W6

  Kensington W8

  Notting Hill Wl1

  Shepherds Bush W12

  West Ealing District Office W13

  West Kensington W14

  Luton

  Maidenhead

  Maidstone Head Office

  Manchester Head Office

  Milton Keynes

  Mitcham

  Newbury

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Newmarket

  Newport (Gwent)

  Northampton Head Office

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Oldham Head Office

  Orpington

  Oxford

  Peterborough Head Office

  Plymouth

  Portsmouth

  Potters Bar

  Preston (Lancashire)

  Reading

  Redhill Head Office

  Richmond (North Yorkshire)

  Rickmansworth

  Rochdale

  Romford

  Rotherham

  Royston (Herts)

  St. Albans

  St. Helens

  St. Leonards

  Scarborough Head Office

  Sevenoaks

  Sheffield Head Office

  Shrewsbury

  791

  Slough Head Office

  Southall

  Southampton

  Southend on Sea

  Southport

  Stafford

  Staines

  Stevenage

  Stockport

  Stockton on Tees

  Stoke on Trent Head Office

  Sudbury (Suffolk)

  Sunderland Head Office

  Sutton (Surrey)

  Swansea Head Office

  Swindon

  Thanet

  Tonbridge

  Tunbridge Wells

  Twickenham Sub-office

  Uxbridge

  Welwyn Garden City

  Wembley

  Wakefield Head Office

  Walsall

  Waltham Cross (Lea Valley)

  Warrington

  Watford

  Woking

  Wolverhampton

  Woodford Green

  Worcester

  Worthing

  Aberdeen

  Dundee Head Office

  Edinburgh

  Falkirk Sub-office

  Glasgow

  Greenock

  Inverness

  Paisley Sub-office

  Perth

  West Lothian

  Belfast

  Export Credits
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the projected future costs of export credit and financing support provided for project exports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  ECGD charges premium to cover administration costs and expected future net losses. The historical results of these operations are published in ECGD's annual trading account.

  The latest available projections of the cost of interest rate support for exports insured by ECGD are those published in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper for the next three years from 1990–91.

  The forecast cost of interest rate support is £259 million in 1990–91, £90 million in 1991–92, and £10 million in 1992–93. These figures are calculated using certain
  792
  assumptions about future interest rates which are standard throughout Government and actual expenditure will vary in line with fluctuations in these rates.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it a requirement of the privatisation of the insurance services group of the Export Credits Guarantee Department that existing staff in that Department transferring to the private company be given the right of returning to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]: The terms will be decided in due course. It is premature to make a statement.

  Consumer Guarantees
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations he has received for or against the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Forth
  There have been numerous representations both for and against various aspects of the proposal. Unless agreed otherwise with the parties concerned, these representations have been made in confidence and it would be inappropriate to list them.

  Timeshare
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretry of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations about business practices in the timeshare industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I receive a steady flow of complaints about timeshare problems, mainly criticising the sales techniques of some companies. My hon. Friend will be aware that I asked the Director General of Fair Trading in June 1989 to conduct a review of the whole range of timeshare problems and to report in the early part of this year.

  South Africa
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the facilities available to exporters seeking entry to the South African market, following the political developments in that country.

  Mr. Ridley
  Within the limits of our international obligations, the full range of DTI services is already available to United Kingdom exporters seeking entry to the South African market. We do not at present offer financial support for firms wishing to participate in trade missions to or trade fairs in South Africa. Recent announcements by President de Klerk are to be welcomed and we will consider what more can be done to help exporters in the light of future developments.

  COMMUNITY CHARGE: LIABILITY
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: LIABILITY
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: EXEMPTIONS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: EXEMPTIONS
  HOUSE OF LORDS WASTE MATERIALS: RECYCLING
  HOUSE OF LORDS WASTE MATERIALS: RECYCLING
  WATER COMPANIES: CHARGES LIMITS
  WATER COMPANIES: CHARGES LIMITS
  SPITALFIELDS MARKET PROPOSAL: EC RULES
  SPITALFIELDS MARKET PROPOSAL: EC RULES