Written Answers of 21 February 1990

ENVIRONMENT

  Derelict Land
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land in public ownership are currently on the register; and how many have been removed as a result of privatisation of statutory undertakings and nationalised industries.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A total of 82,400 acres of unused and underused land were on the register at 30 September 1989, including 1,900 acres owned by the water authorities; 5,000 acres had been removed from the register earlier as a result of privatisation of other bodies.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to conclude his review of derelict land policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department is currently considering responses to the derelict land policy review which was published for consultation in September 1989 and any policy changes will be announced later in the year. It is also planned to issue further consultation papers on proposed measures to prevent land from becoming derelict and on alternative financing arrangements for the payment of derelict land grant.

  Private Rented Accommodation
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to abolish controls on the letting of private property in the residential sector.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We made important changes to the controls on rent and security of tenure in the private sector in the Housing Act 1988, and we have no plans for further legislation in this area.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received concerning the introduction of the poll tax in England and Wales in the current year.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) earlier today.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of representations that he has received from Devon and Cornwall concerning the application of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  On 6 November my right hon. Friend announced to Parliament his proposals for the amount of revenue support grant to be paid to receiving authorities 746
  and specified bodies. As well as a letter from my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall, South-East (Mr. Hicks) I received representations from Cornwall and Devon county councils and from four district councils in those counties. In addition I met a deputation from Torbay on 5 December.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the level of the community charge to be set in Basildon.

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update to 1990–91 the answer given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett),Official Report, 2 February 1989, columns 359–60, showing the distributional effect of the community y charge in comparison with domestic rates.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not at present available.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update to 1990–91 the answer given to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle),Official Report, 2 February 1989, columns 359–60, showing the numbers of gainers and losers by family type and income band from the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not at present available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how, with reference to paragraph 3.36 of his revenue support grant distribution report (England), the figure of(a) £18·55, (b) £4·77 and (c) £5·21 are arrived at; how poll tax payers and council officials can check its validity; and what effect the choice of this figure has on the standard spending assessment arrived at for Grimsby.

  Mr. Chope
  The figures referred to in the revenue support grant distribution report (England) were determined by my right hon. Friend after full consultation with local authority representatives. Together they account for £27 per adult of Great Grimsby's SSA.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes were made to the indicator data for calculating revenue support grant for local authorities between 16 November 1989 and 12 January 1990; why they were made; and what was the effect of the changes on the standard spending assessment for local authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  The two main changes to the indicator data were that credit approvals reflected more up-to-date information on each authority's actual credit approvals for 1990–91; and that the adult population for the area was based on information from authorities' community charge registers. In addition, a number of minor changes were made as a result of further checking and correspondence with local authorities, particularly with respect to the information on traffic flows. SSAs were calculated according to the formulae set out in the revenue support grant distribution report (England) approved by the House on 18 January using the indicator data as specified in annex A to that report.
  747
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to cap Wolverhampton council's community charge in response to that council's proposal to set a community charge in excess of the Government's guideline.

  Mr. Chope
  We have made it clear that if authorities budget excessively for 1990–91 we shall not hesitate to cap them, but it would not be right for me to speculate on the detailed operation of any capping scheme we might need to introduce or on which authorities would be capped were we to introduce such a scheme.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much he estimates the level of poll tax in Lambeth to be on the assumption that the current levels of expenditure including expenditure on education remain unchanged in 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  The exemplifications that the Department issued on 11 January show that if Lambeth borough council and the London fire and civil defence authority budget in line with our assumptions consistent with authorities broadly maintaining current policies, the community charge in Lambeth next year will be £308. The level of the actual charge set in Lambeth in 1990–91 is a matter for the council.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Association of District Councils on the introduction of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Over the last four years the Association of District Councils has been invited to comment on all aspects of the implementation of the community charge and has made many representations and suggestions.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the criteria for assessing rate support grant.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has said that he is prepared to consider new evidence relating to the standard spending assessments on which the distribution of revenue support grant is based. Any new evidence that comes to light will be taken into account before he issues his proposals for the 1991–92 RSG settlement.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce the rate capping ceiling for local authorities spending less than £15 million.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has no power to reduce the £15 million budget threshold in section 101 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, below which local authorities are exempt from charge capping.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the implementation of the community charge by local authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department issued a questionnaire to all charging authorities in May 1989 which gave us a clear picture of how authorities were progressing with implementing the charge. A copy of the results of the survey were placed in the Library of the House on 6 December. The Department keeps in constant touch with 748
  local authorities and their software suppliers and has just completed a further series of visits to a number of authorities to monitor preparations for billing and collection of the charge later this year.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in favour of replacing the community charge with a tax on home improvement.

  Mr. Chope
  I am not aware of any such representations. Financing local expenditure through a charge linked to the capital value of people's homes would, however, amount to a tax on home improvement. The Government have no intention of introducing such a system.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect of the proposed community charge on the outer London boroughs.

  Mr. Chope
  If local authorities in outer London spend in line with our spending assumption, the average charge will be £320.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the community charge.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the standard community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  We continue to receive a good many representations on all aspects of the community charge, including detailed aspects of how the standard charge may affect the owners of domestic property which is not used as a sole or main residence.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings he has had with private landlords on the implementation of the community charge in England and Wales.

  Mr. Chope
  So far as England is concerned, no such meetings have been sought by landlords or their representatives. The implementation of the community charge in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received urging him to replace the community charge with a system of local income tax.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the introduction of a tax on home ownership in place of the community charge.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking replacement of the community charge with a system of local government finance based on property values.

  Mr. Chope
  While we continue to receive a good many representations on all aspects of the community charge, very few correspondents suggest that this should be replaced by a system of local income tax and none that I am aware of are in favour of any form of roof tax. My hon.
  749
  Friends' questions might be more appropriately directed to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Gould) who is reported to be wrestling with a policy that combines both types of tax in ways that have yet to be explained.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of local authorities setting a poll tax figure of £278 in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet in a position to assess the amount of increased spending by county councils in the forthcoming year.

  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his best estimates of the average level of poll tax in England in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have indicated an intention to levy a community charge at or below the Government's projected poll tax figure for their area.

  Mr. Chope
  Charging authorities are not required to set their amounts for the personal community charge until 1 April, and little firm information about charges set is yet available to the Department. Local authorities have recently been asked to report to the Department basic information about their spending plans and where appropriate the average charge set.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he intends to use in deciding which local authorities will be poll tax capped in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 February to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor).

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any fresh proposals to assist first-time house buyers.

  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to extend the opportunities for home ownership.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We will continue the policies which have enabled around 6 million people to buy a home for the first time since April 1979.

  North Sea (Pollution)
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of pollution entering the North sea comes from rivers; and what proportion comes from British rivers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Rivers are the most important source of North sea pollution, but not all other inputs can be reliably quantified. The combined effect of all United Kingdom rivers flowing into the North sea is to contribute about 20 per cent. of riverborne pollutants.

  Methane Gas
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of sites in England and Wales that may be emitting methane gas in quantities likely to present hazards to personal health and the local environment.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Reliable and complete information on these sites is not held centrally. This is the responsibility of waste disposal authorities which have co-operated in studies made by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. I expect to receive a report on this shortly.

  Bellwin Formula
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to revise the operation of the Bellwin formula; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government will be making revisions to the Bellwin scheme from 1 April 1990 following consultation with the local authority associations. These will reflect the changes to the local government finance system generally.

  Capital Controls
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will finalise the new system of capital controls to be brought in under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  Part IV of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which provides for the new local authority capital finance system, came into force on 16 January 1990. Consultation on a draft of the main capital finance regulations ends on 23 February. We expect to lay the regulations before Parliament shortly thereafter.

  Housing Improvement Grants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to help elderly people obtain housing improvement grants.

  Mr. Chope
  Under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 we are introducing a new system of house renovation grants which will allow local authorities to help the poorest households, including the elderly, with grants of up to 100 per cent. to repair and improve their homes. Minor works assistance of up to £1,000 will be available to help elderly people stay in their own homes or move in with relatives.

  United Nations Environment Programme
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of funds the Government provide for the United Nations environment programme; and what are the comparable levels from other countries.

  Mr. Trippier
  In 1989 the Government contributed £3 million ($4,705,500) to the United Nations environment programme. This was the third largest contribution, with only the United States and Japan donating more. Contributions from other countries in 1989 were as follows (where over $100,000):—
  751

  ($000)

  Australia

  273

  Canada

  940

  China

  129

  Denmark

  487

  Finland

  1,292

  France

  1,077

  FRG

  2,565

  GDR

  211

  Italy

  664

  Japan

  5,000

  Kuwait

  200

  Netherlands

  791

  Norway

  1,338

  South Arabia

  250

  Spain

  505

  Sweden

  2,591

  Switzerland

  900

  USSR

  4,224

  United States of America

  9,500

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in recent months concerning the import and incineration of toxic wastes.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Department has received a variety of representations revealing public concern about the import of toxic waste for incineration and other methods of disposal under the operations of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations. The Department intends to review the operation of these regulations with disposal authorities and industry.

  We are already seeking to persuade developed countries that they should be self-sufficient in dealing with wastes. Meanwhile, those transfrontier movements that continue are well controlled under international transport regulations and disposal in the United Kingdom takes place at properly regulated facilities. We also have proposals in the Environmental Protection Bill for powers for the Secretary of State to control imports where this is necessary to prevent risk of pollution or harm to human health.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to discuss the management of toxic waste tips with the leadership of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has arranged to meet the AMA, ACC and ADC on 26 February to discuss all aspects of environmental protection policy.

  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what methods he regards as acceptable for disposal of toxic wastes.

  Mr. Trippier
  Landfill, chemical treatment and incineration are all suitable methods in appropriate circumstances.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will launch a comprehensive assessment on the state of toxic tips in the United Kingdom and their effect on ground water supplies.

  Mr. Trippier
  A specific review of waste disposal sites is not required. A 1988 assessment by independent 752
  consultants concluded that the quality of groundwater used for public supply in England and Wales was generally good, although a number of detailed recommendations concerning monitoring and research are being followed up by the Department. Waste disposal authorities are required to consult the National Rivers Authority over all applications for waste disposal licences. The National Rivers Authority already has extensive programmes for monitoring ground and surface waters which it is reviewing; these will cover, inter alia, the possible effects of disposal sites that predate licensing controls.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress Britain has made towards meeting the terms of the Montreal protocol on chlorofluorocarbons use.

  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in Britain towards meeting the international commitment under the Montreal protocol to reduce chlorofluorocarbon emissions.

  Mr. Trippier
  Action taken already, especially by the aerosol industry to remove CFCs from 90 per cent. of its products, means the United Kingdom met the 1999 requirement of the protocol by the end of 1989. The Government believe that the protocol should be strengthened to require a full phase-out of CFCs within 10 years.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost to London local authorities of placing homeless families with private landlords.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department collects information on the cost to local authorities of using bed and breakfast hotels as temporary housing for homeless families. In 1987–88, the last year for which estimates are available, the gross cost to London boroughs of using this type of temporary accommodation was £127 million. Housing subsidy claim forms provide some further information on the cost to local authorities in London of leasing (which includes accommodating homeless families). The provisional figure for 1988–89 was £20·25 million. The Department also takes full note of data available from time to time through other sources.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will carry out a survey of the level of homelessness caused by the number of mortgage repossessions by companies other than building societies.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities already make quarterly returns of the numbers of households for which they had accepted responsibility for securing accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act. These provide a breakdown of the total number of households accepted by main immediate reason for homelessness including mortgage arrears; although it does not distinguish households which were actually subject to repossession or between those which were building society or other types of borrower.
  753
  Latest estimates appear in table 2 of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to cut homelessness in Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The review of the homelessness legislation, published in November 1989 sets out the Government's proposals for tackling homelessness. Copies are in the Library.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of homeless people in England.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of homeless people in London.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Latest estimates of households accepted as homeless in England appear in table 1(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables", which is in the Library.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the most rapidly growing cause of homelessness for families seeking emergency accommodation under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  In percentage terms there has been no significant change over recent years in the reasons why those for whom local authorities accept responsibility to secure accommodation are homeless.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with companies and societies providing mortgages about the effects of their policies on repossession on the problem of homelessness.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Ministers and officials at the Department of the Environment frequently meet representatives from institutions which provide mortgages and discuss a range of issues, including possessions.

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation in England and Wales.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Latest estimates of households temporarily resident in bed and breakfast accommodation in England appear in table 4(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables", which is in the Library.

  For information about Wales I refer the right hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to combat homelessness.

  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any new proposals for combating homelessness.
  754
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 17 January at column 249.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will carry out a survey of homelessness in rural areas in England.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Department publishes quarterly statistics, based on returns from local authorities, which show the numbers of households accepted as homeless in each district and the numbers in bed and breakfast and other temporary accommodation. Copies are in the Library.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the cost to local authorities of placing homeless families in bed and breakfast accommodation.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The latest estimate of the cost to local authorities of keeping homeless families temporarily in bed and breakfast accommodation is £143 million (£104 million net of offsetting income such as DSS allowances) for 1987–88.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for homeless households in temporary accommodation in England and Wales.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Latest estimates of households resident in temporary accommodation in England appear in tables 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary tables", which is in the Library.

  For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's most recent estimate of the number of households accepted as homeless for Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Latest estimates of households accepted as homeless in Greater London appear in table 1(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary tables", which is in the Library.

  Farm Buildings
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue further guidelines to planning authorities regarding the change of use of redundant agricultural buildings.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The re-use of rural buildings is one of the subjects covered in the draft planning policy guidance note "The Countryside and the Rural Economy" issued by the Department on 13 December. The closing date for comments on this document was 19 February, and all comments received are now being considered.

  Association of County Councils
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the Association of County Councils; and what matters were discussed.
  755
  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment met representatives of the Association of County Councils informally at a dinner on 10 January. Matters of mutual interest were discussed.

  Rural Deprivation
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken in response to the McLaughlin report on rural deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been undertaken by his Department of rural deprivation since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he proposes to take on the McLaughlin report on rural deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been made by his Department of rural deprivation and of the variation in housing standards in the rural communities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken on the problems identified in the McLaughlin study commissioned by his Department on rural deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A research report "Deprivation in rural areas" was completed in 1985. An analysis of the need for and supply of affordable rural housing has recently been completed by Action with Communities in Rural England for the Rural Development Commission. The commission, which is the Government's principal agency for carrying forward the Government's policy on the rural economy, is developing and implementing a wide range of initiatives which deal with economic and social problems in the countryside, including those identified in the report.

  Anti-competitive Practices
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received about anti-competitive practices by councils; and what action he is taking to eliminate the problem.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Department has to date received just over 200 representations alleging anticompetitive practices by local authorities in respect of services put out to tender under the terms of the Local 756
  Government Act 1988 and about 35 relating to services put out to tender under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. Each case is investigated and appraised on its merits. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has powers of sanction under the legislation and is prepared to use them where necessary.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the practice of council house tenants being offered discounts on the price of their home if they wish to purchase it.

  Mr. Chope
  Council tenants exercising the right to buy are normally entitled to a discount. Local authorities may also sell housing by agreement at a discount to sitting tenants and to purchasers in priority categories such as homeless people and first-time buyers, but are under no duty to do so.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many extra homes he plans for housing associations to build over the next three years.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the increase in the provision of the Housing Corporation to provide new homes through housing associations over the next three years.

  Mr. Chope
  In his Autumn Statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that provision for the Housing Corporation's gross capital expenditure programme would increase from £815 million in the current year to £1,185 million in 1990–91 and to £1,736 million in 1992–93, doubling over a period of three years. On 30 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced at column 175 that £120 million would be brought forward from next year's provision to this year's. On the basis of these plans, we expect housing associations, with funds from the Housing Corporation, to be able to provide about 93,000 homes by new build, rehabilitation and acquisition over the next three years.

  Environment White Paper
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what groups he consults before publishing an environment White Paper.

  Mr. Trippier
  We welcome the constructive input to our White Paper preparation from many interested groups and individuals, in response to our general invitations to contribute.

  Litter
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in response to the Government's proposals for tackling litter contained in the Environmental Protection Bill.

  Mr. Trippier
  We received over 800 representations from local authorities and other interested parties in response to the consultation on the Government's proposals for litter legislation. These were considered in drawing up the provisions contained in the Environmental Protection Bill. In general, we receive a great deal of correspondence about litter demonstrating the high level of national concern about the problem.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what current steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities keep the streets free from litter.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside gave on 4 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter),Official Report, column 44. As my hon. Friend will be aware, those proposals are now contained in the Environmental Protection Bill currently under consideration by Standing Committee H. Additionally, a draft code of practice will be published shortly for consultation with local authorities and other interested parties.

  Housing
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has to increase the supply of affordable accommodation for rent and sale.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to increase the supply of low-cost housing(a) for sale and (b) for rent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have taken a variety of measures to encourage the supply of low-cost housing, including the deregulation of the private rented sector and the encouragement of private investment in housing associations. In addition, planned public funding for the Housing Corporation is being more than doubled, from £818 million originally planned for this year to £1,736 million by 1992–93, for the development of new housing for rent by housing associations and the promotion of low-cost home ownership, including shared ownership.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates his Department has made of total local authority capital expenditure on housing in the years 1989–90 and 1990–91 by(a) all local authorities in England and Wales and (b) London boroughs.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest estimated outturn for gross capital expenditure by English local authorities in 1989–90, based on payments made in the first half of the year, is £3,990 million, some £680 million in excess of planned provision of £3,303 million. Under the new capital finance system the Government do not plan the amount of expenditure by authorities which is financed from the receipts remaining after debt redemption or from revenue. The figure of £3,131 million for 1990–91 in the latest expenditure plans (Cm. 1008) is therefore only illustrative 758
  and reflects the changing role of local housing authorities, away from being direct providers of subsidised rented housing, while the capital resources available to housing associations are substantially increased.

  Equivalent estimates for London boroughs are not readily available. For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the allocation of funds to Leicester city council for the building of new houses.

  Mr. Chope
  Leicester city council was informed on 21 December 1989 that its housing investment programme allocation for 1990–91 was £18·320 million. This 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.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to increase the supply of low-cost housing for sale or rent in rural areas.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have more than doubled public funding through the Housing Corporation for new investment by housing associations, so enabling the corporation to increase the target for development of new subsidised rented housing under its special rural programme to 1,500 a year by 1992–93 and to identify a rural element within its low-cost home ownership programme. We have also made changes to the planning rules, to permit development of low-cost housing for local needs on small sites not otherwise designated for housing, and introduced a repurchase scheme to ensure that shared ownership housing in rural areas remains available for local people.

  South Africa (Sporting Links)
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, during his meeting in Auckland with other Commonwealth Ministers of Sport, sporting links with South Africa were discussed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Sporting links with South Africa were briefly raised at the informal meeting of Commonwealth Sports Ministers. Ministers confirmed their continued support for the Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport (the Gleneagles agreement) and the Commonwealth games code of conduct (the Brisbane code).

  River Pollution
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has implemented to tighten controls of river pollution.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Water Act 1989 extended the range of controls over water pollution in several significant respects, and established the National Rivers Authority in England and Wales. The National Rivers Authority has extensive powers to control pollution, and wide discretion over the use of those powers.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for sales of unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Trippier
  Unleaded petrol now accounts for over 29 per cent. of the United Kingdom market.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government have any plans to introduce legislation on housing action trust areas.

  Mr. Chope
  The legislation that provides for the designation, establishment and operation of housing action trusts is contained in part III of the Housing Act 1988.

  Local Authorities (Politically Restricted Posts)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many posts are on the lists of politically restricted posts lodged by English and Welsh local authorities with the independent adjudicator appointed under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Secretary of State has no power to require the independent adjudicator to provide him with information. I have therefore drawn the hon. Member's question to the independent adjudicator's attention: he will no doubt write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the regulations to be made under section 1(5) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  As soon as possible.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence his Department has submitted to the intergovernmental panel on climate change about projections of United Kingdom carbon dioxide emissions for 2000 and 2005; and if he will indicate broadly what those projections are.

  Mr. Trippier
  Estimates of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom under a wide range of scenarios has been submitted to the IPCC by the Department of Energy. The study was placed in the Library of the House on 30 November 1989.

  Debt Charges (Liverpool)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the outstanding debt charges on properties owned by Liverpool city council which have been demolished or are to be demolished.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department does not have this information. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should ask Liverpool city council.

  Bathing Waters
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the number of beaches conforming with the EC bathing waters directive over the last year.
  760
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In the 1988 bathing season, 267 of the 403 of the bathing waters then identified in the United Kingdom under the EEC bathing water directive met the directive's mandatory coliform standards. In the 1989 bathing season 336 out of 440 identified waters in the United Kingdom met the mandatory coliform standards. This is an increase in compliance from 66 to 76 per cent.

  Environmental Protection Commission
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for an environmental protection commission.

  Mr. Trippier
  Institutional aspects of environmental protection policy will be reviewed in the preparation of the Government's White Paper on the environment this autumn.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what processes he is proposing to be subject to local authority controls over air pollution.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside tabled at the first Committee sitting on the Environmental Protection Bill on 23 January a draft list of processes proposed for local authority air pollution control. I have arranged for copies of the list to be place in the House Libraries.

  Further revisions will be needed if any of the processes are instead scheduled for integrated pollution control because they generate significant quantities of special waste.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum currently paid to local authorities in clean air grants.

  Mr. Trippier
  Clean air grant reimburses four sevenths of grants made by local authorities to private householders for the necessary conversion of heating and cooking appliances to smokeless fuel, and two fifths of the costs of this work in respect of public sector housing. In 1988–89 the total amount of clean air grant paid to local authorities was £1·3 million.

  Commonwealth Sports Ministers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what subjects were discussed at the meeting of Commonwealth Sports Ministers at the Commonwealth games in Auckland.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The informal meeting of Commonwealth Sports Ministers in Auckland on 4 February discussed a broad range of issues affecting Commonwealth sport and the Commonwealth games. These included the International Olympic Committee charter on anti-doping in sport and the Commonwealth working party being set up to look at ways of strengthening the Commonwealth games.

  European Community Environment Ministers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met Environment Ministers and their equivalents from other member states of the European Community; and what was discussed.
  761
  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend last met his European Community counterparts at the Environment Council on 28 November. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, South (Mr. Bright) on 30 November at column 370.

  Refuse Contracts
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have had section 13 notices served against them for uncompetitive tendering of refuse contracts.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Four. Notices have been served on Bristol city council, Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council, Knowsley metropolitan borough council and Charnwood borough council seeking their response to inquiries about the decisions they have taken to assign their refuse collection work to their own DSOs.

  Fly-Tipping
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is proposing to tackle the problem of fly-tipping.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Environmental Protection Bill contains a number of measures to tackle the problem of fly-tipping. The Bill carries forward from the Control of Pollution Act 1974 the offence of depositing waste without a licence. The Bill extends the provision through the duty of care on all producers, carriers and other holders of waste who must take all reasonable steps to ensure that their waste is not illegally disposed of by any other person. To this end, they would be responsible for ensuring that waste is handed over to an authorised person and is packaged and described in a way which allows that other person to take care of it safely.

  There is also provision in the Bill for a person controlling the use of a vehicle that has been used for fly-tipping to be prosecuted unless he can show that he used due diligence to prevent an offence being committed. This is aimed at organised fly-tipping where it is particularly difficult to prosecute the owner of a vehicle who may benefit from the crime but not actually drive the vehicle.

  North Sea
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to attend the next North sea conference.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will he attending the third North sea conference which takes place in The Hague on 7 and 8 March and looks forward to joining with colleagues from other North sea states in achieving a successful conference.

  Planning Applications (Compensation)
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in the past six months concerning compensation for people and communities adversely affected by major planning applications for infrastructure projects.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have received 60 responses to our consultation paper on land compensation and compulsory 762
  purchase legislation which was issued on 7 March 1989. In addition, my Department regularly receives letters and inquiries about the land compensation provisions.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Environment what proposals he has to cover industrial sites by integrated pollution control.

  Mr. Trippier
  Part I of the Environmental Protection Bill sets out proposals for a system of integrated pollution control (IPC) for the major industrial sites in Great Britain. We are the first country in Europe to legislate for such a sophisticated system of pollution control. We shall be consulting interested bodies on the categories of industrial processes which will be prescribed for integrated pollution control.

  Canned Spray Paint
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had recently with the manufacturers of canned spray paint regarding its effects on the environment and its misuse for graffitti.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of radioactive liquid discharges entering the Irish sea from the British Nuclear Fuels plc reprocessing plant at Sellafield; and what was the level in 1979.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information on radioactive discharges from British Nuclear Fuels plc Sellafield works can be found in the company's annual reports "Radioactive Discharges and Monitoring of the Environment", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Landfill Sites
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds the Government intend to make available to local authorities to help offset the costs of locating and making safe former waste landfill sites.

  Mr. Trippier
  Local authority costs in monitoring their areas—including landfill sites—for public health purposes. and in taking remedial action where necessary, are reflected in standard spending assessments and annual capital guidelines provided by my Department. For 1990–91 we have also earmarked a £33 million allocation for capital expenditure on landfill gas remedial work and the revenue costs of monitoring activity will be supported through the revenue support grant system.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the potential total savings across local government as a whole through competitive tendering and other cost-efficient practices.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Audit Commission's annual report for the financial year ended 31 March 1989 identified total achievable financial savings or added value
  763
  (arising from service improvements) of £920 million for projects undertaken by local authorities between 1983 and 1989 but concluded that at 31 March 1989 savings of only £372 million had been fulfilled. The report notes, however, that the rate of improvement by authorities in implementing achievable savings has increased steadily.

  Estate Action
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total allocation of funds for the Estate Action programme being made available in 1989–90.

  Mr. Chope
  The Estate Action budget for 1989–90 is £190 million.

  Disabled People (Public Toilets)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of organisations dealing with the needs of the disabled he intends to consult on the question of access to public toilets.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department intends shortly to commission a programme of research on access to public toilets for people with special needs, the primary purpose being to provide information on the needs of disabled people. To ensure that this research addresses all relevant practical issues, my Department will be consulting representatives of the Access Committee for England, the Centre on Environment for the Handicapped, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, the Spastics Society, Arthritis Care, the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Group of Great Britain, the Spinal Injuries Association, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People.

  New Parliamentary Building
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the new parliamentary building will be finished and ready for occupation.

  Mr. Chope
  I advised the House on 25 January 1990 that, subject to there being no further slippage in the contractor's programme, the building should be fitted out and ready for occupation around Easter 1991. I regret to say that the contractor has now reported further slippage which suggests that it would be unrealistic to expect the building to be available for occupation before mid-1991.

  The New Building Sub-Committee is currently investigating this project and I understand that it expects to report to the House before the Easter recess.

  Helicopters
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice his Department makes available to local planning authorities in respect of helicopter stations on(a) the storage of fuel, (b) the prevention of nuisance from noise and (c) general safety; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what matters are included in general planning guidance to local authorities on helicopter operation areas; and if he will make a statement.
  764
  (3) what representations he has received from the Civil Aviation Authority on the planning and layout of helicopter ports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Planning applications for development associated with helicopter operations must be determined having regard to the local development plan and to any other material considerations. My Department has issued no specific guidance to local planning authorities on such development, although DOE circular 10/73 "Planning and Noise" contains advice on the development control implications of aircraft noise.

  The safety aspects of fuel storage and of helicopter operations are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority respectively. My right hon. Friend has received no representations from the CAA on the planning and layout of helicopter ports.

  Chemicals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those chemicals or chemical compounds that are classed as toxic in the United States of America, but which are classed as non-toxic in England and Wales;

  (2) if he will list those chemicals or chemical compounds that are shipped from the United States of America to England and Wales that are classed as non-toxic waste in the United States of America, but which are classed as toxic waste in England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department does not hold sufficient information to allow a list of toxic and non-toxic chemicals or chemical compounds, as defined under United States legislation, to be prepared. It is, therefore, not possible to list those chemicals, or chemical compounds, classed as toxic in the United States of America which are classed as non-toxic in England and Wales, or vice versa.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many opencast planning inquiries his inspectors have attended in the last 10 years; and how many appeals against planning refusal have been allowed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This information is available only in respect of planning appeals decided since 1 April 1987 and is as follows:

  Year

  Appeals Decided

  Appeals allowed after Inquiry

  Appeals allowed by Written procedure

  Inquiries Held

  1987–88

  15

  6

  1

  12

  1988–89

  16

  8

  —

  14

  11989–90

  9

  4

  2

  7

  1 To 31 December 1989.

  Coal-fired Power Stations
  Sir Ian Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the levels of alpha activity in becquerels per kilogram of fly ash from Blyth coal-fired power station; and whether this exceeds the lower limit for low-level waste from a nuclear installation;
  765
  (2) what information he has on the levels of alpha activity, in becquerels per kilogram in fly ash from all major coal-fired generating plants in the United Kingdom with a capacity exceeding 500 MW.

  Mr. Trippier
  The levels of alpha activity in fly ash from the major coal-fired generating plants in the United Kingdom would be typically in the range 1,000 to 2,000 bec/kg. The ash from Blyth power station is likely to contain similar concentrations of alpha activity. These levels are lower than the thresholds set out in schedule 3 to the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, below which certain naturally occurring substances are not considered to be radioactive material for the purposes of control under this Act.

  High-level Radioactive Wastes
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held between his Department and (i) Nirex and (ii) the radioactive waste producing agencies on future inclusion of high-level radioactive wastes into the deep repository being investigated by Nirex.

  Mr. Trippier
  No discussions have been held with Nirex or the nuclear industry on this subject.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are to allow the inclusion of high-level radioactive wastes in the deep repository, currently being investigated by Nirex.

  Mr. Trippier
  UK Nirex Ltd. has responsibility for providing disposal services for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste. There are no proposals for Nirex to assume responsibility for the disposal of heat-generating or high-level radioactive waste.

  Norwich and Norfolk Councils
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will set out for each year since 1985–86 in a table the expenditure of Norwich city council(a) in cash terms and (b) in constant price terms;

  (2) if he will set out for each year since 1985–86 in a table the expenditure of Norfolk county council (a) in cash terms and (b) in constant price terms.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  Net Current Expenditure

  Cash Terms (£ million)

  Real Terms—1989–90 Prices(£ million)1

  Norfolk County Council

  1985–86

  234·656

  293·132

  1986–87

  254·034

  307·000

  1987–88

  281·686

  323·263

  1988–89

  312·355

  334·220

  1989–90

  335·435

  335·435

  Norwich City Council

  1985–86

  7,599

  9·493

  1986–87

  6,343

  7·666

  1987–88

  8·567

  9·831

  1988–89

  9·670

  10·347

  1989–90

  10·858

  10·858

  1 Using the GDP deflator to convert from cash values to constant prices.

  766
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of people employed by(a) Norfolk county council and (b) Norwich city council for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  Staffing Levels at June

  Norfolk County Council

  Norwich City Council

  1985

  23,985

  2,189

  1986

  24,378

  2,250

  1987

  25,176

  2,221

  1988

  25,447

  2,259

  1989

  26,293

  2,180

  Water and Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the new infrastructure charges on water and sewerage being introduced by each water plc in England and Wales as from 1 April 1990.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The infrastructure charges limits which the Secretaries of State for England and Wales have determined for the 10 water service companies and 27 of the statutory water companies, together with the proposed limits for Mid Kent and Mid Sussex Water Companies, are listed in the tables:

  Water Services Companies: Water and Sewerage infrastructure charges (at 1990–91 prices)

  Water

  Sewerage

  £

  £

  Anglian Water Services Limited

  479

  597

  Southern Water Services Limited

  365

  485

  Thames Water Utilities Limited

  43

  337

  Yorkshire Water Services Limited

  529

  626

  Northumbrian Water Limited

  111

  240

  North West Water Limited

  198

  338

  Severn Trent Water Limited

  498

  356

  South West Water Services Limited

  654

  557

  Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig

  259

  332

  Wessex Water Services Limited

  551

  983

  Statutory water companies: water infrastructure charges (at 1990–91 prices)

  £

  Bournemouth

  1,000

  Bristol

  439

  Cambridge

  1,000

  Cholderton

  201

  Colne Valley

  435

  East Anglian

  1,000

  Eastbourne

  1,000

  East Surrey

  251

  East Worcestershire

  576

  Essex

  404

  Folkestone

  998

  Hartlepool

  252

  Lee Valley

  808

  Mid Kent

  11,000

  Mid Sussex

  1392

  Mid Southern

  700

  Newcastle

  216

  North Surrey

  392

  Portsmouth

  358

  Rickmansworth

  395

  South Staffs

  606

  Sunderland

  485

  Sutton

  254

  Tendring Hundred

  1,000

  767

  £

  West Hampshire

  868

  West Kent

  834

  York

  222

  Chester

  758

  Wrexham

  390

  Average

  593

  1 Proposed.

  Infrastructure Charges
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Water Act 1989 to remove multi-occupancy, self-contained, charitable developments from the requirements of section 79 of that Act.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. It is for each water and sewerage undertaker to decide what infrastructure charge, if any, to make in specific cases, provided the charge does not exceed the limit specified in its instrument of appointment and is in accordance with its charges scheme.

  Housing Completions
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the housing completion figure in(a) 1960 to 1970, (b) 1970 to 1980 and (c) 1979–89.

  Mr. Chope
  Total new housebuilding completions in England for these periods were 3·303 million, 2·779 million and 1·963 million dwellings, respectively.

  Airborne Lead
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the level of airborne lead has changed since 1985.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The report by the Warren Spring laboratory on airborne lead concentrations in the United Kingdom 1984–88 shows a decrease from 408 nanogrammes of lead per cubic metre of air (ng/m) in 1985 to 190 ng/m in 1988—a decrease of 53 per cent.

  Land Register
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to increase the rate at which land in public ownership currently on the land register is being disposed of.

  UDC and designation date

  Estimated total number of permanent jobs in area

  Estimated total1 number of construction jobs 1988–89

  At designation

  At March 1989

  London Docklands—July 1981

  225,200

  48,000

  25,000

  Merseyside: original area—March 1981

  1,500

  2,900

  1,110

  Black Country—May 1987

  70,500

  75,100

  n.a.

  Teesside—May 1987

  9,500

  10,900

  366

  Trafford Park—February 1987

  24,500

  26,000

  3736

  Tyne and Wear—May 1987

  40,200

  41,500

  3249

  1 Pre designation figures are only available for LDDC.

  2 LDDC figures:

  —the permanent job figures are not directly comparable. 1981 data was derived from the Census of Employment which included only jobs with a pay point in the UDA. The 1989 data includes all jobs in the UDA.

  —the construction job figures are similarly not comparable. The 1981 Census gave a total of 1,964 construction jobs with a pay point in the UDA.

  3Information is only available in terms of man-years, not actual numbers of jobs.

  768
  Mr. Moynihan
  The new codes of practice requiring owners to publish their own registers of unused and underused land place the responsibility clearly on them to ensure that such land is brought into use. Members of the public can use our PROD (Public Request to Order Disposal') scheme to bring to my right hon. Friend's attention cases where the use of his powers to require disposal might be appropriate; these powers have been used in relation to 81 sites since 1984. Overall half the land entered on the register since 1981 has subsequently been removed.

  Internal Delivery Service
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to move the internal delivery service from its current Ponton road site.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 14 February 1990]: New premises for the IDS are being sought, but no commitment will be made prior to sale as it is possible that the purchaser may be able to provide premises.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of jobs(a) in construction and (b) in all other categories in the area administered by the London Docklands development corporation; and what were the equivalent numbers of jobs in the same area or the nearest area for which statistics are available in the last full year before London Docklands development corporation was set up;

  (2) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of jobs currently in the area of the Merseyside development corporation in (a) construction and (b) all other categories; and what were the equivalent number of jobs in the same area or the nearest area for which statistics are available in the last full year for which statistics are available;

  (3) what is the most up-to-date estimate available to him of the total number of jobs in (a) construction and (b) all other categories for areas administered by urban development corporations; and what were the nearest equivalent figures for the same areas in the last full year before those urban development corporations were set up.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: The information available is as follows:
  769
  The UDCs in Bristol, central Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, and Merseyside's extended area, were established during 1988–89. They had therefore not been in existence long enough, by March 1989, for the total number of jobs in their areas to have altered significantly.

  Denham Court
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision on the application by Buckinghamshire county council for consent under the London and Home Counties (Green Belt) Act 1938, to grant a lease of the land at Denham court, Denham.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: A decision is being announced today.

  Audible Bird Scarers
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations from which he has received written representations concerning the use of audible bird scarers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: The following organisations submitted comments on the draft code of practice on audible bird scarers issued for public consultation by the Department in December 1988:

  Association of District Councils

  Association of Noise Consultants

  Birdscarers Anti-Nuisance Group

  The British Horse Society

  Country Landowners Association

  The Environment Council

  The Law Society

  National Society for Clean Air

  National Farmers Union

  Nature Conservancy Council

  Noise Abatement Society

  The Noise Council

  National Physical Laboratory

  The Ramblers Association

  South Cambridgeshire District Council

  The working party that drafted the code included the Institution of Environmental Health Officers and the National Farmers Union.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisatons with which he has met to discuss the future use of audible bird scarers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: None.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet with representatives of the birdscarers' anti-nuisance group.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: None at the moment.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a further draft code of practice relating to the use of audible bird scarers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: By the end of March 1990.

  Chipboard Factories
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to require chipboard factories to be fitted with electrified filter bed equipment;

  (2) what analysis has been made of the emissions from chipboard factories in England; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what controls exist on emissions to the air from chipboard factories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: Emissions to the air from chipboard factories are subject to control by local authorities under the statutory nuisance provisions of part III of the Public Health Act 1936. I understand that analyses of emissions from three major chipboard factories have been undertaken by, or on behalf of, local authorities.

  Under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill it is proposed to give local authorities powers of prior authorisation over air pollution from certain categories of timber processes including chipboard factories. These processes will not be scheduled under the Bill until national guidance on appropriate air pollution controls has been issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Different pollution abatement technologies including electrified filter bed equipment are currently being considered in drawing up this guidance.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action under the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations, which came into effect in 1986, his Department has considered with respect to the waste recycling plant at Wath-on-Dearne, where toxic and dangerous chemicals are stored.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  None. The waste recycling installation at Wath-on-Dearne is a site licensed under section 5 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, and as such is excluded from the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984 by virtue of regulation 3(1)(e).

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ambulance Union
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have been held with officials of the ambulance union in Northern Ireland about proposed salary increases and a pay review formula.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met officials of the trade union representing ambulance drivers and associated paramedic staff in Northern Ireland; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Needham
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not met these officials.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the ambulance service dispute in Northern Ireland and(a) salary increases and (b) a pay review formula.
  771
  Mr. Needham
  Representations have been received from six district councils supporting the request of staff side of the ambulance Whitley council to have the dispute referred to arbitration. One council also recommended that the ambulance service should be treated no differently from the emergency services for the purpose of determining pay.

  Bomb Explosions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bomb explosions there have been at the premises of Short Bros. since 25 May 1989; and if he is giving this firm security advice about future employees.

  Mr. Cope
  Since May 1989, there have been three separate incidents of terrorist attack against property belonging to Short Bros. plc, during which a total of seven bombs exploded. The security of Shorts' property is kept under review and, in line with longstanding Government policy on such matters, I know the right hon. Gentleman would not expect me to elaborate further on the measures being taken to safeguard this firm's property.

  School Rolls
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils there are at each primary school in the constituency of Newry and Armagh.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The latest available information is as follows:

  Enrolment1

  Aghavilly

  85

  Ahorey

  37

  Anamar

  84

  Annaghmore

  85

  Armagh Christian Bros

  459

  Armstrong

  441

  Ballynaclosha

  75

  Bessbrook

  125

  Cabra

  32

  Carrickrovaddy

  38

  Clady (St. Michael's)

  36

  Clare

  67

  Clay

  74

  Clonalig

  167

  Cloughoge

  333

  Collegeland

  40

  Collone

  123

  Corttamlet

  40

  Darkely

  86

  Derryhale

  86

  Drelincourt Infants

  45

  Dromintee

  138

  Drumhillery

  91

  Drumsallen

  46

  Foley

  82

  Glassdrummond

  72

  Hamiltonsbawn

  102

  Hardy Memorial

  496

  Jonesborough

  139

  Keedy

  57

  Killeen

  95

  Killylea

  82

  Kingsmills

  31

  Kinnego

  28

  Lisdrumchor

  23

  Lislea

  12

  Lisnadill

  52

  Lissummon

  54

  Loughgall

  48

  772

  Enrolment1

  Markethill

  235

  Middletown Boys'

  49

  Mount St. Catherine's Convent

  484

  Mountnorris

  86

  Mullaghglass

  69

  Mullavilly

  50

  Newry Model

  48

  Newtownhamilton (St. Michael's)

  97

  Newtownhamilton

  125

  Poyntzpass

  77

  Salters Grange

  18

  St. Brigid's, Crossmaglen

  49

  St. Brigid's, Drumilly

  87

  St. Clare's Convent, Keady

  272

  St. Clare's Convent, Newry

  695

  St. Colman's Abbey, Newry

  777

  St. Colmcille's, Armagh

  27

  St. James's, Markethill

  49

  St. James's, Tandragee

  69

  St. Jarlath's, Blackwaterstown

  168

  St. Joseph's Convent, Newry

  448

  St. Joseph's, Armagh

  113

  St. Joseph's, Poyntzpass

  90

  St. Joseph's, Killeavy

  178

  St. Joseph's, Bessbrook

  376

  St. Lawrence's, Belleek

  53

  St. Louis Convent, Middletown

  42

  St. Malachy's, Whitecross

  92

  St. Malachy's, Armagh

  195

  St. Malachy's, Camlough

  311

  St. Malachy's, Carnagat

  427

  St. Mary's Boys', Keady

  250

  St. Mary's, Granemore

  61

  St. Mary's (Barr)

  58

  St. Mary's, Mullaghbawn

  237

  St. Mochua's, Derrynoose

  87

  St. Oliver Plunkett, Forkhill

  74

  St. Oliver Plunket, Loughall

  99

  St. Patrick's Boys', Newry

  377

  St. Patrick's, Crossmaglen

  313

  St. Patrick's, Armagh

  505

  St. Patrick's, Cullyhanna

  291

  St. Peter's, Cloughreagh

  286

  Tandragee

  349

  The Cope

  91

  Tullyheron

  52

  Tullymore

  67

  Tullyroan

  37

  Tullysaran

  74

  Tynan

  24

  Windsor Hill

  242

  1 At January 1989.

  Benefits
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the latest figures of how many people are dependent upon(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit, broken down into claimants, dependants and children.

  Mr. Needham
  The latest available figures are:

  Claimants

  Dependent partners

  Children

  (a) Income support (May 1988)1

  184,140

  44,940

  118,240

  (b) Family credit (February 1990)

  14,524

  11,118

  236,000

  (c) Housing benefit (February 1990)

  164,754

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Source: 5 per cent, sample.

  2 Approximate.

  Stalker Inquiry
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 12 February, whether any aspect of the Stalker inquiry was on the agenda at the meeting held on 12 June 1986.

  Mr. Cope
  It is not the practice to divulge the content of discussions within Government, but the hon. Member will note that by that date Mr. Sampson had been appointed to head the Northern Ireland inquiry.

  Housing
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were (i) the number and type of houses, (ii) the date of contract, (iii) the contract price and (iv) the final cost of Northern Ireland Housing Executive schemes(a) phase 6 RDA 1 project 2610263, (b) phase 1 RDA 89 project 2610376, and (c) phase 3 RDA 89 project 2610430.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. We have been advised by the chief executive that project Nos. 2710376 and 2610430 relate to phases 1 and 3 in RDA 87 not RDA 89. On this basis the information requested is as follows:(a) Project 2610263 RDA 1 Phase 6: (i) 56 dwellings comprising five 3-person bungalows, eight 3-person houses, ten 3-person flats, twenty-four 5-person houses and nine 7-person houses; (ii) 9 February 1987; (iii) £1,314,551·51; (iv) not yet available but anticipated to be £1,349,298.
  (b) Project 2610376 RDA 87 Phase 1: (i) 60 dwellings comprising five 3-person bungalows, fifteen 3-person houses, ten 3-person flats, fifteen 4-person houses, eight 5-person houses, six 6-person houses and one 7-person house; (ii) 18 March 1985; (iii) £1,442,279 (Fluctuating Price Contract); (iv) not yet available but anticipated to be £1,742,754.
  (c)Project 2610430 RDA 87 Phase 3: (i) 41 dwellings comprising one 3-person bungalow, nine 3-person houses, fourteen 3-person flats, ten 4-person houses, and seven 5-person houses; (ii) 26 May 1987; (iii) £1,028,050; (iv) not yet available but anticipated to be £1,150,000.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the number of civil servants in Northern Ireland who(a) have made applications for and (b) are in receipt of (i) family credit and (ii) housing benefit.

  Mr. Needham
  I regret that no such information is available

  Income Support
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate what the overall cost in Northern Ireland would be of increasing the rate of income support for all single people under 25 years to the same rate as for those over 25 years.

  Mr. Needham
  The estimated weekly cost would be £265,000.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate what the overall cost in Northern Ireland would be of extending entitlement to full income support to all those under 18 years of age in receipt of bridging allowance and special hardship allowance in Northern Ireland.
  774
  Mr. Needham
  The estimated weekly cost for those getting bridging allowance would be an extra £1,500. Young people entitled on severe hardship grounds already receive the full rate of income support.

  Students (Benefits)
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the number and cost of student claims for housing benefit, unemployment benefit and income support/ supplementary benefit in the past five years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is available only for income support, and is as follows:

  Summer vacation (1989)

  Number of claims

  Amount paid £ million

  12,720

  2·15

  Note:—Excludes claims from lone parent and disabled students.

  Source: 20 per cent. sample.

  Life Sentences
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Northern Ireland prisons are serving a life sentence for(a) murder and (b) other crimes; and of these how many are admitted members of (1) the Ulster Defence Association, (2) the Ulster Freedom Fighters, (3) the Ulster Volunteer Force, (4) the Red Hand Commando, (5) other Protestant paramilitary groups, (6) the Official Irish Republican Army, (7) the Provisional Irish Republican Army, (8) the Irish National Liberation Army, (9) other Roman Catholic paramilitary groups and (10) none of these, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  A total of 379 prisoners are serving life sentences in Northern Ireland; of these, 350 were convicted for murder and 29 for other very serious crimes. It is not possible to list the current paramilitary affiliation of these prisoners but at the time of conviction it was as follows:

  Numbers

  UDA

  64

  UFF

  5

  UVF

  107

  RHC

  1

  Other Loyalist

  14

  OIRA

  Nil

  PIRA

  136

  INLA

  15

  Other Republican

  Nil

  None

  37

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total number of life sentences received for crimes committed in Northern Ireland since 1974; and what was the average length of imprisonment served.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, between 1974 and 1989, a total of 467 individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment (which were not subsequently quashed on appeal) by the courts in

  775
  Northern Ireland. Of these, 63 had been released on licence at 31 December 1989 after serving an average of 13 years and eight months in prison.

  Republic of Ireland (Extradition)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show by organisation and date the number of persons who have been members of a proscribed organisation and have been extradited from the Irish Republic in each year since 1968, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  Statistical material about extradition from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland has been collected by the RUC since 1971. The information is not available precisely in the form requested: records differentiate only between terrorist and non-terrorist cases. The information available is summarised in the table:

  Persons extradited

  Year of return

  Terrorist offences

  Non-terrorist offences

  1971

  —

  7

  1972

  —

  —

  1973

  —

  3

  1974

  —

  9

  1975

  —

  1

  1976

  —

  7

  1977

  1

  8

  1978

  —

  15

  1979

  —

  8

  1980

  —

  12

  1981

  —

  5

  1982

  —

  18

  1983

  —

  10

  1984

  2

  1

  1985

  —

  5

  1986

  —

  —

  1987

  1

  —

  1988

  2

  1

  1989

  1

  —

  DHSS Offices
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of(a) Roman Catholic and (b) Protestants in each of the following grades (i) administrative assistants, (ii) administrative officers, (iii) executive officers grade 2, (iv) executive officers grade 1, (v) staff officers in each of the following Department of Health and Social Services offices: (1) Strabane, (2) Omagh, (3) Londonderry, (4) Lisnakelly, (5) Limavady, (6) Coleraine and (7) Magherafelt.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 13 February 1990]: The Northern Ireland Civil Service has an equal opportunities monitoring system which contains information on the sex, religious affiliation and disability of its staff. Disclosure of information on the religious affiliation of Northern Ireland Civil Service staff is governed by a code of practice which stipulates that no statistical summaries will be produced which fall outside the categories of analyses agreed with the equal opportunities Whitley committee.

  The most recent agreed analyses were published in October 1989 in the third report of the Northern Ireland Civil Service equal opportunities unit; a copy of that report was placed in the Library.

  Terrorist Offences
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people charged with terrorist-type offences were employed in Government offices and in the SPED dwellings department of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 14 February 1990]: I am not aware of anyone employed in Government offices being charged with terrorist-type offences. Under both the Northern Ireland and Home Civil Service codes, a civil servant is required to report to his Department if he is arrested and refused bail or if he is convicted. He is not required to report that he has been charged.

  I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that no person employed in the Executive's SPED department has been charged with terrorist-type offences.

  Fishermen (Financial Aid)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial aid package will be provided by the Government to the fishermen on the County Down coast as a consequence of the inclement weather combined with the effect of the social security regulations introduced on 10 December 1989.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: Social security legislation provides for the payment of unemployment benefit in respect of weeks throughout which fishermen are unable to work because of inclement weather. Where fishermen are able to work only on certain days of a week, unemployment benefit is payable for the remaining days provided that the earnings for that week do not equal or exceed the lower earnings level for national insurance contribution liability. This is currently £43 a week. Income support may also be available to fishermen who work for less than 24 hours a week subject to the normal rules regarding income and capital.

  While I would sympathise with the difficulties caused by the recent adverse weather the Government have no plans to introduce special assistance for fishermen on the County Down coast.

  Housing
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dwellings or percentages of dwellings in Northern Ireland are at present (1) owned outright by the occupant, (2) have owners with a mortgage, (3) are rented from a private owner, (4) are rented from a public body and (5) other types of tenure; and what were the percentages five, 10 and 15 years ago.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: The information is not available in the form required. Details of housing stock by tenure are given in tables 2.2A and 2.2C of "Housing Statistics 88" published by the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland). Copies of this publication are available in the Library.

  The figures are given in the table for 1988, 1983 and 1978.
  777

  Percentage of dwellings by tenure

  1988

  1983

  1978

  Owner Occupied

  62

  57

  51

  Rented from Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  33

  36

  39

  Rented from Registered Housing Association

  1

  1

  —

  Private rented and other

  4

  6

  10

  Figures available from the Northern Ireland continuous household survey published in the "Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics No. 7" which is available in the Library show 30 per cent. of dwellings were owned outright in 1987 compared with 32 per cent. in 1983.

  Supplies and Services Boycott
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list in the Official Report those firms which have made it known by advertisement or statement in the press that they will not provide material to any firm which carries out work for the security forces in Northern Ireland and the date on which such advertisements or statements were published or as much of such information as is available to him.

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report those firms which have made it known by advertisement or statement in the press that they will not carry out work for the security forces in Northern Ireland and the date on which such advertisements or statements were published or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: No.

  Constituency Boundaries
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the boundary commission for Northern Ireland intends to conduct any interim reviews of the Northern Ireland parliamentary constituencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: I understand that the commission has not yet decided its future programme of work.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Government Departments (Accounts)
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell), of 22 January,Official Report, column 540, when the format of commercial-style accounts produced by certain Government Departments will comply with the requirements of the Companies Acts.

  Mr. Ryder
  Government Departments which produce commercial-style accounts are as a general rule directed to meet the accounting and disclosure requirements set out in the Companies Acts, except where it would be impracticable to do so—for example, the disclosure of called-up share capital which has no counterpart in the central Government sector.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements will be made for customs checks on the passengers using the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Ryder
  Customs' overall approach has been to devise arrangements which best suit the different types of train while observing the need for economy in the use of public sector staff. There will be three types of passenger train using the tunnel:

  (a) shuttle services carrying private cars, coaches and ro-ro vehicles between Coquelles and Cheriton. For these, customs checks will be done at Coquelles before vehicles join the train, allowing them a free exit on arrival in the United Kingdom;

  (b) through trains bound for points beyond London. In accordance with the Channel Tunnel Act, Customs are planning for all checks to be performed on the train during the journey, subject to the operators providing satisfactory facilities and to the payment of any fees or charges that may be imposed;

  (c) capital-to-capital services terminating at Waterloo. Customs checks will be done at Waterloo station using the familiar airport-style red/green system.

  Customs checks are highly selective in green channel systems, and only a very small percentage of passengers on the trains bound for Waterloo will experience any delay in their journey.

PRIME MINISTER

  AIDS
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 18 January.Official Report, column 382, she will state the proportion of people with AIDS who are eligible for payments from the Macfarlane trust; and if she will make a further statement.

  The Prime Minister
  At 31 December 1989, approximately 6 per cent. of people in the United Kingdom reported to have AIDS were haemophiliacs who may qualify for payments from the Macfarlane trust. The trust was set up with an ex-gratia payment from the Government in recognition of the wholly exceptional circumstances of people with haemophilia and HIV.

ENERGY

  Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the non-fossil levy on electricity prices to(a) industrial and (b) domestic consumers.

  Mr. Baldry
  The fossil fuel levy will be charged to licensed electricity suppliers as a percentage of their total leviable electricity sales revenue. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 12 February that the rate for 1990–91 would be 10·6 per cent.

  Nuclear Fuels (Disposal)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies his Department has carried out to compare the costs of dry storage with the costs of reprocessing and ultimate disposal of spent fuel from(a)

  779
  Magnox, (b) advanced gas-cooled reactors and (c) pressurised water reactors and nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has carried out no such studies. However, in May 1988, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley), the then Secretary of State for the Environment, deposited in the Library of the House studies by the generating boards and by Ove Arup and Partners into the storage and disposal of spent Magnox fuel. The decision to reprocess spent fuel is taken by the owners of the fuel on safety, technical and economic grounds.

  Liquid Petroleum Gas Tanks
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the Government have any plans to give grant aid for the removal of liquid petroleum gas tanks.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether under its contract to provide public relations and marketing advice to his Department, Lowe Bell has direct dealings with the news media.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Contact with the news media is an integral part of the marketing of the forthcoming offers for sale in the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. Lowe Bell Communications will, if required, be in contact with the news media in its role as special marketing and public relations adviser to my Department.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, under its contract to provide public relations and marketing advice to his Department and the electricity supply industry, Dewe Rogerson has direct dealings with the news media.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Contact with the news media is an integral part of the marketing of the forthcoming offers for sale in the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. Dewe Rogerson will be in contact with the news media in its role as joint marketing and public relations adviser to my Department and the electricity industry.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the percentage of the energy research budget in each of the OECD countries that is devoted to the development and application of renewable energy techniques.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No figures are available for private sector expenditure on renewable energy in OECD countries. Statistics on Government expenditure on energy R and D are collected for member countries by the International Energy Agency. The percentages requested for such countries, given in the 1988 lEA review, are as follows:
  780

  Percentage of Energy R and D Budget (which in some cases includes expenditure on Nuclear R and D) committed to Renewable Energy Research and Development (1988)

  Country

  Percentage

  Austria

  16·63

  Belgium

  4·09

  Canada

  4·23

  Germany

  17·61

  Greece

  61·46

  Italy

  6·51

  Japan

  5·95

  Netherlands

  13·39

  Norway

  6·95

  Portugal

  26·07

  Spain

  33·71

  Sweden

  21·06

  Switzerland

  14·19

  United Kingdom

  5·40

  United States

  6·08

  The United Kingdom percentage is rising and, in 1989, was about 6·5 per cent. Care must be exercised in using such international statistics since countries differ in their definitions. The figures are also influenced by the extent to which countries have nuclear programmes which, of their nature, involve large expenditure.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total output of British nuclear power plants as a percentage of total power generation for each month in 1989.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total output of electricity generated by nuclear power plants as a percentage of total generation in the United Kingdom public electricity supply industry for each month in 1989 was:

  Percentage

  January

  24·4

  February

  22·5

  March

  21·9

  April

  21·9

  May

  27·4

  June

  26·5

  July

  23·8

  August

  23·9

  September

  24·8

  October

  21·1

  November

  19·4

  December

  119·1

  1 Provisional.

  Source: Energy Trends, Table 15.

  Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the load factors for the advanced gas-cooled reactors at(a) Hartlepool, (b) Heysham and (c) Dungeness, for each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is an operational matter for the CEGB.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list any projects in the Eastwood constituency which have received more than £100,000 in assistance from the Scottish Development Agency in the last five years.

  Mr. Lang
  No projects in the Eastwood constituency have received over £100,000 in assistance from the Scottish Development Agency in the last five years. However, in the period 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1989, agency expenditure in Eastwood has amounted to £457,000.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the potential economic consequences of the removal of the present limitations on increases in non-domestic rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The fact that the increases in non-domestic rates in Scotland have been held to inflation during the current year has already benefited industry and commerce. They will benefit further next year by my right hon. and learned Friend's decision to reduce

  Statutory Instrument

  Statutory Instrument number

  Date of coming into force

  The Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 Commencement Order 1987

  1987/1489

  18 August 1987

  The Non-Domestic Rates and Community Charges (Timetable) (Scotland) Regulations 1987

  1987/2167

  07 January-1988

  The Non-Domestic Rates and Community Charges (Timetable) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1989—these amend SI 1987/ 2167 and revoke part of Schedule 2 to those regulations

  1989/2436

  22-January 1990

  The Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Regulations 1987—now revoked

  1987/2179

  08 January 1988

  The Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Regulations 1988—these revoke and replace SI 1987/2179

  1988/1477

  15 September 1988

  The Housing Benefit (Social Security Act 1986 Modification) (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/1483

  21 September 1988

  The Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) Regulations 1988 —now revoked

  1988/157

  26 February 1988

  The Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 1988—these revoke and replace SI 1988/157

  1988/1539

  1 October 1988

  The Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) (No. 2) Amendment Regulations 1988—these correct mistakes in regulation 7 of and Schedule 3 to SI 1988/1539

  1988/1611

  1 October 1988

  The Standard and Collective Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/631

  20 April 1988

  The Standard and Collective Community Charges (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 1988—these amended regulations 2 and 3 of SI 1988/631, and are now revoked

  1988/1540

  01 October 1988

  The Standard and Collective Community Charges (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1989—these amended regulations 3 of SI 1988/631, and are now revoked

  1989/1004

  01 July 1989

  The Standard and Collective Community Charges (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1989—these revoke regulation 4 of SI 1988/631

  1989/1476

  04 September 1989

  The Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (No. 2) (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  1989/1477

  04 September 1989

  782
  poundages by 6·25 per cent. below indexation as the first step towards a common business rate with England. The Labour party's proposal to return to local authorities freedom to set rate poundages would on the basis of experience inflict a significantly higher rate burden on Scottish business than borne by its competitors south of the border and would consequently damage Scotland's economic prospects. It would also remove any prospect of harmonisation of business rates in Great Britain, a prospect which has been welcomed both by the business community and the general public in Scotland.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list all the orders made under the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, including any subsequently revoked;

  (2) if he will list all the paragraphs of orders made under the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, including any subsequently revoked, which have been the subject of later amendment, substitution or insertion; and if he will provide the derivation and the date of the coming into force of each alteration listed.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:
  783

  Statutory Instrument

  Statutory Instrument number

  Date of coming into force

  The Standard Community Charge (Scotland) Regulations 1989—these revoke and replace regulation 3 of SI 1988/631, SI 1988/1540 and SI 1989/1004

  1989/2437

  22 January 1990

  The Personal Community Charge (Students) (Scotland) Regulations 1988—now revoked

  1988/632

  20 April 1988

  The Personal Community Charge (Students) (Scotland) Regulations 1989—these revoke and replace SI 1988/632

  1989/32

  03 February 1989

  The Community Water Charges (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/1538

  01 October 1988

  The Community Water Charges (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1989—these amend paragraphs 3 and 4 of SI 1988/1538

  1989/2362

  15 January 1990

  The Personal Community Charge (Exemption for the Severely Mentally Impaired) (Scotland) Regulations 1988—now revoked

  1988/1541

  01 October 1988

  The Personal Community Charge (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 1989—these revoke and replace SI 1988/1541

  1989/63

  09 February 1989

  The Community Charges (Levying, Collection and Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/1880

  22 November 1988

  The Community Charges (Information Concerning Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 1988—these will lapse on 31 March 1990

  1988/1889

  23 November 1988

  The Community Charges (Information Concerning Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 1989—these will replace SI 1988/1889 on 1 April 1990

  1989/476

  01 April 1990

  The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/1904

  24 November 1988

  The Local Government (Non-Domestic District Rates and District Community Charge (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/1963

  02 December 1988

  The Revenue Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1988—now revoked

  1989/69

  12 January 1989

  The Revenue Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1989—these revoke and replace SI 1989/69

  1990/130

  26 January 1990

  Housing Benefit (Social Security Act 1986 Modifications) (Scotland) Regulations 1988

  1988/1483

  21 September 1988

  The Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  1989/241

  20 March 1989

  The Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  1989/507

  08 April 1989

  The Personal Community Charge (Exemption for the Severely Mentally Impaired) (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  1989/2234

  29 December 1989

  The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Regulations 1989

  1989/2462

  24 January 1990

  The Revenue Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1990

  1990/131

  26 January 1990

  Funerals
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the 1989 Office of Fair Trading report entitled "Funerals"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have received no such representations.

  Library Services
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the recent report on public library provision in rural Scotland; and if he will introduce a rural public library incentive scheme to help local authorities to develop the service and meet new demands.

  Mr. Lang
  My officials recently met representatives of the Scottish Library Association and the Library and Information Services Committee (Scotland) for which the report was prepared. I shall consider the report's recommendation for a rural public library incentive scheme in the light of an evaluation of a comparable 784
  initiative in England, and other relevant factors. The report also calls for action by rural library authorities to improve services to meet the needs of rural communities.

  North East River Purification Board
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the detail of the letter his Department received from the clerk to the board of the North East river purification board, in October 1989, which intimated the board's intention to restructure its management organisation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have nothing useful to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on 9 February 1990.

  Acute Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the acute hospitals with fewer than 600 beds.

  Mr. Rifkind
  There are 149 NHS hospitals with fewer than 600 beds providing inpatient services in the acute, supra-area and special categories speciality groups. These
  785
  are listed in the table. Fourteen hospitals which provide maternity services but no other inpatient acute services are excluded.

  Average available staffed beds

  Argyll and Clyde

  Calton Hospital

  33

  Oban County Hospital

  41

  Dunoon and District General Hospital

  103

  Islay Hospital

  27

  McKelvie Hospital

  17

  Mid Argyll Hospital

  48

  Campbeltown Cottage Hospital

  19

  Victoria Hospital

  23

  West Highland Hospital

  33

  Vale of Leven District General Hospital

  353

  Victoria Infirmary Helensburgh

  24

  Rankin Memorial Hospital

  57

  Inverclyde Royal Hospital

  424

  Paisley Maternity Hospital

  118

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Isle of Arran War Memorial Hospital

  24

  Ayrshire Central and Maternity Hospital

  390

  Lady Margaret Hospital

  14

  Ayr County Hospital

  104

  Heathfield Hospital

  117

  Seafield Sick Children's Hospital

  47

  Davidson Cottage Hospital

  28

  Ballochmyle Hospital

  321

  Borders

  Coldstream Cottage Hospital

  12

  Knoll Hospital

  36

  Hawick Cottage Hospital

  26

  Kelso Cottage Hospital

  20

  Sister Margaret Cottage Hospital

  7

  Hay Lodge Hospital

  50

  Borders General Hospital

  401

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Castle Douglas and District Hospital

  30

  Cresswell Maternity Hospital

  69

  Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

  405

  Nithbank Hospital

  77

  Kirkcudbright and District Cottage Hospital

  14

  Moffat Cottage Hospital

  18

  Newton Stewart Hospital

  27

  Garrick Hospital

  42

  Dalrymple Hospital

  56

  Fife

  Cameron Hospital

  298

  Forth Park Hospital

  143

  Hunter Hospital

  27

  Adamson Hospital

  53

  St. Andrews Memorial Hospital

  37

  Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital

  75

  Glenrothes Hospital

  72

  Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital

  121

  Milesmark Hospital

  187

  Dunfermline Maternity Hospital

  62

  Forth Valley

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  543

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  415

  Clackmannan County Hospital

  23

  Woodend General hospital

  505

  City hospital

  228

  Hyperbaric Centre

  1

  Royal Aberdeen Children's hospital

  132

  Arduthie hospital

  21

  Aboyne hospital

  26

  Aberdeen Maternity hospital

  128

  Kincardine O'Neill War Memorial hospital

  9

  Glen O'Dee hospital

  60

  Tor-na-Dee hospital

  61

  786

  Average available staffed beds

  Roxburghe house

  21

  Jubilee hospital

  46

  Chalmers hospital

  75

  Dr. Gray's hospital

  113

  Greater Glasgow

  Belvidere hospital

  312

  Canniesburn hospital

  328

  Glasgow Royal Maternity hospital

  128

  Ruchill hospital

  217

  Mearnskirk General hospital

  308

  Philipshill hospital

  124

  Royal Samaritan hospital

  53

  Rutherglen Maternity hospital

  107

  Duntocher hospital

  25

  Gartnavel General hospital

  533

  Glasgow Homeopathic hospital

  20

  Knightswood hospital

  219

  Royal Beatson Memorial hospital

  6

  RHSC Drumchapel

  22

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children

  294

  Queen Mother's hospital

  134

  Glasgow Western infirmary

  590

  Children's Home hospital

  25

  Highland

  Dunbar hospital

  16

  Caithness General hospital

  121

  Lawson Memorial hospital

  16

  Culduthel hospital

  28

  Town and County hospital Nairn

  26

  Ian Charles hospital

  14

  Belford hospital

  73

  Mackinnon Memorial hospital

  28

  Portree hospital

  13

  Ross Memorial hospital

  31

  Nicolson Mackenzie hospital

  15

  Lanarkshire

  Bellshill Maternity hospital

  161

  Victoria Cottage hospital

  16

  Monklands District General hospital

  534

  Kello hospital

  16

  Lady Home hospital

  21

  Lockhart hospital

  30

  William Smellie Maternity hospital

  64

  Hairmyres hospital

  420

  Stonehouse hospital

  292

  Beechmount hospital

  19

  Belhaven hospital

  57

  Eastern General hospital

  350

  East Fortune hospital

  97

  Edenhall hospital

  157

  Edington Cottage hospital

  9

  Northern General hospital

  144

  Roodlands General hospital

  74

  Western General hospital

  597

  Astley Ainlie hospital

  257

  Bruntsfield hospital

  12

  Chalmers hospital

  80

  City hospital

  418

  Elsie Inglis Maternity hospital

  3

  Liberton hospital

  230

  Longmore hospital

  107

  Princess Margaret Rose hospital

  261

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children

  158

  Simpson Memorial Maternity pavilion

  161

  Douglas House Annexe of RHSC

  22

  Bangour General hospital

  453

  Orkney

  Balfour hospital

  69

  Eastbank hospital

  62

  Shetland

  Gilbert Bain hospital

  73

  787

  Average available staffed beds

  Tayside

  Dundee Royal infirmary

  311

  Kings Cross hospital

  194

  Royal Victoria hospital

  206

  Dundee limb fitting centre

  17

  Bridge of Earn hospital

  173

  Perth Royal infirmary

  329

  St. Margarets hospital

  16

  Crieff cottage hospital

  21

  Aberfeldy cottage hospital

  20

  Irvine Memorial hospital

  23

  Blairgowrie cottage hospital

  55

  Meigle cottage hospital

  12

  Arbroath infirmary

  70

  Brechin infirmary

  68

  Forfar infirmary

  65

  Montrose Royal infirmary

  47

  Sunnyside Royal hospital

  327

  Stracathro hospital

  312

  Western Isles

  Lewis hospital

  85

  Daliburgh hospital

  21

  Lochmaddy hospital

  25

  St. Brendan's hospital

  5

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give details of the effects of the recently announced increases in hill livestock compensatory allowances, for eligible sheep and cattle, paid to farmers in the Highlands and Islands Development Board area.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have made a scheme under the powers contained in section 4 of the Congested Districts Act 1987 which will increase the HLCA supplement on hill sheep within the HIDB area in line with those awarded in the less-favoured areas generally. The new rate of HLCA supplement will be raised to 64p. The rate for cows maintained on C grade farms within the HIDB area is increased by £1·18 to £70·36 to take account of recent devaluations in the green pound. The increases will apply from 1 January 1990 and their cost will be covered by the provisions already made for such supplements within the vote for agricultural support in Scotland (class XVI, vote 1).

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any further changes to the cash limits for 1989–90 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 22, revenue and rate support grants, Scotland will be increased by £9,481,000 from £2,336,800,000 to £2,346,281,000 to cover adjustments in rate support grant payments for 19860–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Lothian Health Board
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian on 5 February, if he will now give the 788
  detailed terms of reference of the inquiry into the finances of Lothian health board; amd when he will publish the report.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 February 1990]: The independent inquiry into the financial position of Lothian health board is complete and the chief executive, NHS in Scotland is now working with the board to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to rectify the board's problems. I would be unhappy about publishing the report without the agreement of the health board.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in housing benefit to tenants in the private sector in Scotland in 1988–89 to cover domestic rate bills.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply.

  I regret that actual expenditure information is not collected in the detail requested. It is estimated on the basis of the average weekly value of rate rebate in payment to private tenants on 31 May 1988 that the overall cost was about £13·75 million. This includes both cases where the tenant paid rates directly to the local authority and those where rates were included in the rent.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Eastern Europe
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on measures implemented by the Hungarian Government to establish a law of contract and property rights and on further measures planned by the Governments of Poland and Hungary.

  Mr. Redwood
  Hungarian law on contract and property rights is embodied in the 1959 civil code (as amended). Other relevant economic and legislative measures recently adopted in Hungary include the law on economic associations, the law on foreign investment, the transformation law and the law on the protection of state assets. As far as we are aware, no fresh legislation in this field is currently planned. Ministers recognise the need to make long leases available to inward investors.

  We understand that Poland is currently drafting new legislation on the law of contract and on property rights in conjunction with a privatisation bill. But the process is at an early stage. The present law of contract is, we understand, governed by the civil code of 23 April 1964 (as amended). Expropriation of property is governed by a special act, published in 1985 in the state gazette. We are led to believe that this will shortly be amended.

  Companies considering investment in Poland and Hungary are welcome to consult my Department's east European branch or the commercial sections of our embassies to obtain fuller details of relevant legislation.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Heseltine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total cost to United Kingdom taxpayers of all forms of grant and subsidy paid to encourage inward investment by Japanese industry in the United Kingdom since 1979.
  789
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Around £190 million was paid in investment incentives to Japanese-owned companies in the United Kingdom in the period 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989 under the main schemes of regional and national assistance for industrial development.

  Company Investigations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what means are open to an investor to discover whether the auditors of his company have been criticised by his Department's inspectors or any disciplinary committee of the profession.

  Mr. Redwood
  Apart from writing direct to the auditors, or raising the matter at the company's general meeting, an investor may as appropriate consult my Department's investigations division or the professional accountancy body to which the firm of auditors belongs.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to ensure that sole practitioners and partnerships which are permitted to carry out statutory audits will be required to file annual accounts and reports with the appropriate supervisory body.

  Mr. Redwood
  Decisions on the information which company auditors should furnish to recognised supervisory bodies have yet to be made.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to require companies to supplement their accounts-based financial statements with cash flow statements.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. Such supplementary information is best dealt with by means of accounting standards.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any accountancy firm was criticised by his Department's inspectors in their report on Orbit Holdings.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. I regret that no reference was made to this report or the inspectors' report on Burnholme and Forder Limited and Brayhead Limited in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19 December 1989,Official Report, column 139.

  Name of company

  Date of publication of report

  Name of accountants

  Burnholme and Forder Limited

  17 July 1979

  Josolyne Layton Bennett and Co.

  Brayhead Limited

  Orbit Holdings Limited

  23 December 1981

  C. T. Moore and Co. Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to require companies to publish profit forecasts.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the names and business connections of the 13 non-departmental inspectors appointed by him in 1988–89;

  (2) if he will list the names and business connections of the non-departmental inspectors appointed by him in 1989–90.
  790
  Mr. Redwood
  The information is as follows:

  1988–89

  L. D. Ziman of Messrs. Nabarro Nathanson, Solicitors

  W. M. Hoffman of Messrs. Baker Tilley and Co., Chartered Accountants

  A. Evans QC

  B. L. Worth of Messrs. Clark Whitehill, Chartered Accountants

  Miss M. H. Arden QC

  G. N. Lane of Messrs. Chantrey Vellacott, Chartered Accountants

  G. W. Staple of Messrs. Clifford Chance, Solicitors

  T. G. J. Tress of Messrs Hays Allen, Chartered Accountants

  P. L. Heslop QC

  R. P. G. Lewis of Messrs. Kidsons, Chartered Accountants

  M. Crystal QC

  D. L. Spence of Messrs Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants

  E. L. Lawson QC

  D. Anton of Messrs. Deloitte Haskins and Sells, Chartered Accountants

  1989–90

  Miss H. Heilbron QC

  M. D. Boohan of Messrs. Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants

  G. S. Moss QC

  J. R. Venning of Messrs. Robson Rhodes, Chartered Accountants

  R. M. Owen QC

  P. D. Powell of Messrs. Moore Stephens, Chartered Accountants

  C. J. Brougham QC

  R. T. Turner of Messrs. Neville Russell, Chartered Accountants.

  Textiles
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that the ban on sectoral aid schemes for the textile industry has been adhered to by all member states of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement concerning the results of his monitoring of this agreement and the effects on the British textile industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is the responsibility of the European Commission to maintain the regulation of sectoral aid schemes for the textile industry, and the Government are confident that it vigorously enforces the rules in an even-handed way.

  The United Kingdom closely monitors the Commission's work to ensure a level playing field for British industry and we are satisfied that it is not having an adverse effect on the industry.

  Advertising
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his advertising budget for each of the next three years; and on what basis it is to be allocated.

  Mr. Ridley
  Individual allocations within the publicity budget beyond the current year have yet to be decided, but the Department's central publicity budget will fall in real terms over the next three years. I expect the majority of next year's publicity spend to go towards information materials other than paid advertising. Expenditure is decided according to need, and on a case-by-case basis.

  Brand Valuations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will issue guidance on the inclusion of brands valuations in the balance sheet.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The Accounting Standards Committee has already issued guidance on this subject, which will be included in an exposure draft due to be published later this year.

  Newtech, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will visit Newtech, Deeside industrial park, Clywd, to see the one-stop shop for business advice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no present plans to visit Newtech.

  Departmental Structure
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the future structure of his Department.

  Mr. Ridley
  The organisation of DTI was changed in 1988 at the time of the White Paper "DTI—the department for Enterprise" (Cm 278). One of the main changes then was the replacement of "industry" divisions by "market" divisions, organised by sector and covering a wide range of activities for each sector including collaborative projects, technology transfer, standards, market information, international trade issues and the promotion and presentation of policies for which other DTI divisions were responsible, such as the single market, deregulation and business/education links. My predecessor as Secretary of State decided last year that these organisational arrangements should be reviewed; the review has now been completed and I have decided to make some modifications to this part of DTI's organisation.

  There are key priorities spanning all industrial sectors, on which the industrial side of my Department needs to concentrate. They include policies and programmes for collaborative research projects, technology transfer and standards; and there are other important issues for my Department, such as the response of business to environmental issues. I intend to bring together DTI expertise to provide a more concentrated focus on these long-term issues.

  The present activities of "market" divisions will be better managed by a different structure of divisions each concentrating on a set of policies or programmes; expertise will then be focused on information technology, on manufacturing technology, on the environment and business, and on market assessment. Divisions with policy responsibilities for matters such as international trade, the single market, business/education links and deregulation will be responsible for communicating with business direct, rather than through the "market" divisions as at present. The focus of responsibility, and lines of communication, will both be clearer and more direct.

  Where there are continuing Government responsibilities towards specific industrial sectors—such as aerospace, shipbuilding, vehicles, industrial materials and steel—these responsibilities will be handled, so long as they are
  792
  required, by task forces which focus on the sectors in question. The task force approach will also provide a capability for responding flexibly to specific but temporary issues affecting industry and commerce.

  For other sectors of the Department's work, I intend to continue my predecessor's policy of setting up entities such as the Patent Office, Companies House, the Insolvency Service and the research establishments as Next Steps agencies. Good progress is being made.

  As I said in my letter to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry on 26 January, I intend no changes in the arrangements for the regulatory divisions of the DTI—other than to make sure they continue to be adequately staffed to pursue their important functions. More widely, I am continuing to study how best industry and commerce should be provided with other DTI services.

  The changes in the organisation of the market divisions will be implemented over the next few months. This process will lead to a reduction in the number of posts in the Department, of probably about 100 to 150 posts. I do not expect there to be any redundancies.

  Military Equipment Exports
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for the export of military equipment were made in(a) 1988 and (b) 1989; and in each case how many of these applications were successful.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 15 February 1990]: The number of licence applications submitted, and licences granted, in 1988 and 1989 to export goods classified as military equipment or technology defined as falling within group 1 of part II of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 is as follows:

  Applications

  Licences granted

  1988

  10,756

  11,020

  1989

  10,099

  9,952

  The statistics of licence applications received and licences granted in the same calendar year are not strictly comparable because the processing of some applications carries over into the following year.

  Car Phones
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on east and west European countries that have regulations banning or affecting the temporary importation and use of cars equipped with permanently fixed telephones that can be operated only within the United Kingdom; and if he has any plans to make bilateral or international arrangements to reduce this problem.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: My Department does not collect such information on a systematic basis. However, I am aware that many countries make arrangements to prevent the operation of mobile radio equipment installed in cars which because of differing frequency allocations or equipment standards cannot be lawfully used in those countries, either through sealing up the radio equipment or preventing its importation entirely.
  793
  As international radio networks develop, arrangements are being put in place to permit the temporary importation and operation of this type of equipment. Eighteen member nations of CEPT, the organisation of European telecommunications operators, including the United Kingdom, have signed a memorandum of understanding for the introduction of a pan-European cellular radio network which will, among other things, allow for the free circulation of the relevant equipment in these countries. Similar moves are contemplated by the European Commission, both with regard to equipment standards and free circulation, although discussions on the latter are at an early stage.

  I believe that these moves will go a considerable way towards alleviating this problem where it occurs.

  Footwear Imports
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total value of imports of both leather and synthetic footwear from(a) the Republic of Korea and (b) Taiwan, in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: The available figures are as follows:

  United Kingdom imports of footwear by country of origin

  Leather uppers £000l

  Rubber-plastic uppers £0002

  (a) Republic of Korea

  1987

  16,862

  2,807

  1988

  42,931

  4,367

  1989

  47,236

  6,076

  (b) Taiwan

  1987

  22,239

  29,099

  1988

  34,648

  27,975

  1989

  44,038

  21,662

  Source: Customs and Excise-British Footwear Manufacturers Federation.

  1 All men's women's and children's footwear with leather uppers, including sports and safety footwear, but excluding slippers.

  2 Waterproof and non-waterproof footwear with rubber or plastic uppers, but excluding footwear with textile uppers.

  Electric Vehicles
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investments have been made by his Department into research into electrically powered vehicles for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: Assistance given by my Department towards research into electrically powered vehicles for each year since 1980 is as follows:

  Year

  Assistance

  (£)

  1980

  763,740

  1981

  658,223

  1982

  1,317,449

  1983

  1,541,799

  1984

  2,111,109

  1985

  2,169,772

  1986

  1,737,317

  1987

  816,995

  1988

  184,469

  1989

  Nil

  Total

  11,300,873

  Post Office (Privatisation)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) at whose instigation companies have submitted proposals to his Department in relation to the privatisation of Post Office Letters;

  (2) if the Post Office has been involved in consideration of proposals from companies in relation to the privatisation of Post Office Letters;

  (3) what was the nature of the proposals sent by companies to his Department in relation to the privatisation of Post Office Letters; and on what basis they have been rejected;

  (4) which companies have approached his Department in relation to the privatisation of Post Office Letters;

  (5) if, in relation to the privatisation of the Post Office, he will indicate which companies were approached by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: As I said on 14 February 1990, Official Report, column 260, my right hon. Friend has met a number of parties some of whom have put forward proposals in relation to letters delivery, and some of whom have not. My right hon. Friend requested these meetings in order to hear all points of view, but the discussions were on a basis of confidentiality.

  1992
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what manpower in his Department is devoted to providing advice and briefing to industry, commerce and the general public on the 1992 proposals; and what expenditure is devoted to this area of policy.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 30 January 1990]: My Department's "Europe Open for Business" campaign, which is dedicated to providing factual information to business on single market proposals, is run by a unit of 13 staff, supported as required by officials elsewhere in the Department, including regional offices. Expenditure on the campaign since its launch in March 1988 has been £4·7 million, excluding advertising to alert firms to the challenges and opportunities.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  County Courts
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the county courts in England and Wales and the current backlog in unopened mail at each county court.

  The Attorney-General
  I am informed that there is no unopened mail at any of the 275 county courts in England and Wales. At Manchester county court mail was not opened for the period 29 January to 1 February 1990 when the court was closed and moved to new premises. The backlog of unopened mail was dealt with by 11 February 1990.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Human Rights
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on closer scrutiny of the human rights situation in Guatemala by the United Nations human rights commission;

  (2) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Afghanistan;

  (3) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Romania;

  (4) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Chile;

  (5) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Iran;

  (6) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on El Salvador.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We strongly support the United Nations system of special rapporteurs and special advisers on human rights. We shall be studying their recommendations to this year's commission on human rights and, in the light of these recommendations, shall make a decision on each of their mandates.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise human rights violations in Burma in the United Nations human rights commission;

  (2) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise the human rights situation in Sri Lanka in the current session of the United Nations human rights commission;

  (3) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise the human rights situation in Peru at the forthcoming session of the United nations human rights commission;

  (4) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise the torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners in Turkey at the forthcoming session of the United Nations human rights commission.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  At this year's commission on human rights, for the first time, the 12 members of the European Community agreed to make a common statement on item 12 (country situations). In view of this development, national statements will not be made. The common statement was delivered by the Irish Presidency on 21 February. It raised our concerns about human rights in a wide range of countries including Burma and Sri Lanka. It did not raise Peru or Turkey. A copy of the statement is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent visit to Washington DC, he discussed with his counterpart progress in arrangements for the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
  796
  Mr. Waldegrave
  This subject was not discussed. However, there is regular contact at official level with United States representatives.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during the European Foreign Affairs Council on 5 February, he discussed the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his meeting in Bonn on 6 February wih Chancellor Kohl and Foreign Minister Genscher, he raised the matter of the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. We do, however, have regular contact on this subject at official level.

  English Teaching
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current annual expenditure on schemes funded by all Government agencies to teach English to adults around the world.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  About £30·7 million in 1988–89, of which £23 million was on direct teaching by the British Council, covered by income generated. The remainder was made up of FCO scholarships, ODA schemes and BBC World Service English programmes. Expenditure in the current financial year is expected to be about 5 per cent. higher.

  Ivory
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any evidence of breaches of the worldwide ban on ivory trade involving elephants slaughtered in Kenya.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have seen no evidence of breaches of the ban on international commercial trade in ivory introduced by CITES on 18 January. Infractions of CITES rules are in the first instance a matter for the CITES secretariat.

  South Africa
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government have put to European Community Governments for the lifting of sanctions against South Africa: and which sanctions were involved.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  At the European political co-operation meeting on 20 February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pointed out to EC partners that for all practical purposes President de Klerk has taken the steps demanded by EC Foreign Ministers in 1986 when they imposed restrictive measures on South Africa and that it would be logical therefore to respond by lifting those measures. The measures concerned are a ban on new investment in South Africa, a ban on the import of gold coins and a ban on the import of iron and steel. My right honourable Friend urged our European Community colleagues to begin this process by lifting the ban on new investment in South Africa.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his supplementary answer of 16 February.Official Report, column 581, he will state the occasions on which the Chinese Government publicly expressed a preference for direct elections in Hong Kong to start with 10 directly elected seats.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are not aware that the Chinese Government have publicly expressed a view on the precise number of directly elected seats before 1997.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Employment Credit
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the disability employment credit will be available to previous recipients of severe disablement allowance who have completed a youth training course; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  It is our intention that people who have completed a youth training course and who were previously receiving severe disablement allowance will be eligible to claim the disability employment credit.

  Civil Servants (Benefits)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to collect information on the number of staff in each Government Department who(a) have made applications and (b) are in receipt of (i) family credit and (ii) housing benefit and (1) are likely to receive from April or (2) are already in receipt of community charge rebate; and if he will give as much information as is already available to him.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The total number of families receiving family credit where the main earner is a civil servant is 6,000. The number of families receiving family credit where the main earner is a member of staff of the Department of Social Security or the Department of Health is 835. We have no plans to collect any more detailed information on a routine basis. The numbers within DSS/DH are known only because the cases concerned are held separately for reasons of confidentiality.

  Since these considerations do not apply to housing benefit or community charge benefit, separate figures are not recorded to show the number of claims from staff in Government Departments.

  Relocation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends(a) to publish the results of the further study of the options for relocating some headquarters work and (b) to make a decision regarding relocation of further offices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14 November 1989, concerning relocation of headquarters work, to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) at column 170. A copy of the review team's report was placed in the Library.
  798
  There are no further central plans to relocate work from any social security local offices other than the 21 local offices in London, the details of which were announced to the House by the then Secretary of State for Social Security on 16 January 1989 at column 46–47.

  All regions are currently reviewing their network of local offices in consultation with local management to take account of the changes flowing from the introduction of the operational strategy, the creation of the Contributions Unit/Agency, the creation of the Benefits Agency, and other related issues. Regions will be producing proposals for consideration at the end of March 1990. Any proposals for further relocation of work will be considered on their merits as part of this exercise.

  Sick Pay
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Government will amend the relevant statutory provisions so that women can apply for payment of statutory sick pay over the age of 60 years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No. Statutory sick pay (SSP) is not payable to women (or men) employees whose sickness begins after reaching state retirement pension age. Instead such people receive sickness benefit based on the rate of retirement pension which would have been payable if they had retired. We could not expect employers to know about their employees' entitlement to retirement pension. However, an employee whose period of entitlement to SSP begins shortly before minimum pension age can continue to get SSP after that age for as long as that period of entitlement lasts, subject to a maximum of three years.

  Benefits (Child Rates)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table in the Official Report giving the child rates of national assistance, supplementary benefit, income support (a) as a percentage of the adult rate and (b) in real terms for each year 1960–1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 15 February 1990]: The information requested is in the tables.

  Ordinary child rates

  £

  As percentage of adult rate1

  Adjusted to December 1989 prices2

  September 1959

  16–17 years

  1·50

  60·0

  13·10

  11–15 years

  1·15

  46·0

  10·05

  5–10 years

  0·95

  38·0

  8·30

  0–4 years

  0·80

  32·0

  6·99

  April 1961

  16–17 years

  1·60

  59·8

  13·45

  11–15 years

  1·20

  44·9

  10·09

  5–10 years

  1·00

  37·4

  8·41

  0–4 years

  0·85

  31·8

  7·15

  September 1962

  16–17 years

  1·70

  59·1

  13·61

  11–15 years

  1·28

  44·3

  10·25

  5–10 years

  1·05

  36·5

  8·40

  0–4 years

  0·90

  31·3

  7·20

  May 1963

  16–17 years

  1·85

  58·3

  14·47

  11–15 years

  1·40

  44·1

  10·95

  5–10 years

  1·18

  37·0

  9·23

  799

  £

  As percentage of adult rate1

  Adjusted to December 1989 prices2

  0–4 years

  0·98

  30·7

  7·66

  March 1965

  16–17 years

  2·23

  58·6

  16·54

  11–15 years

  1·68

  44·1

  12·46

  5–10 years

  1·35

  35·5

  10·01

  0–4 years

  1·13

  29·6

  8·38

  November 1966

  16–17 years

  2·35

  58·0

  16·31

  11–15 years

  1·75

  43·2

  12·15

  5–10 years

  1·40

  34·6

  9·72

  0–4 years

  1·18

  29·1

  8·19

  October 1967

  16–17 years

  2·50

  58·1

  17·19

  11–15 years

  1·85

  43·0

  12·72

  5–10 years

  1·50

  34·9

  10·31

  0–4 years

  1·25

  29·1

  8·59

  October 1968

  16–17 years

  2·65

  58·2

  17·23

  13–15 years

  2·05

  45·0

  13·33

  11–12 years

  1·95

  42·9

  12·68

  5–10 years

  1·60

  35·2

  10·40

  0–4 years

  1·35

  29·7

  8·78

  November 1969

  16–17 years

  2·80

  58·3

  17·22

  13–15 years

  2·20

  45·8

  13·53

  11–12 years

  2·05

  42·7

  12·61

  5–10 years

  1·65

  34·4

  10·15

  0–4 years

  1·40

  29·2

  8·61

  November 1970

  16–17 years

  3·50

  67·3

  19·99

  13–15 years

  2·40

  46·1

  13·71

  11–12 years

  2·20

  42·3

  12·56

  5–10 years

  1·80

  34·6

  10·28

  0–4 years

  1·50

  28·8

  8·57

  September 1971

  16–17 years

  3·60

  62·1

  19·02

  13–15 years

  3·00

  51·7

  15·85

  11–12 years

  2·45

  42·2

  12·94

  5–10 years

  2·00

  34·5

  10·57

  0–4 years

  1·70

  29·3

  8·98

  October 1972

  16–17 years

  4·05

  61·8

  19·89

  13–15 years

  3·40

  51·9

  16·70

  11–12 years

  2·75

  42·0

  13·50

  5–10 years

  2·25

  34·3

  11·05

  0–4 years

  1·90

  29·0

  9·33

  October 1973

  16–17 years

  4·40

  61·5

  19·64

  13–15 years

  3·70

  51·7

  16·52

  11–12 years

  3·00

  42·0

  13·39

  5–10 years

  2·45

  34·3

  10·94

  0–4 years

  2·05

  28·7

  9·15

  July 1974

  16–17 years

  5·15

  61·3

  20·16

  13–15 years

  4·35

  51·8

  17·03

  11–12 years

  3·55

  42·3

  13·90

  5–10 years

  2·90

  34·5

  11·35

  0–4 years

  2·40

  28·6

  9·40

  April 1975

  16–17 years

  5·90

  61·5

  19·61

  13–15 years

  4·95

  51·6

  16·45

  11–12 years

  4·05

  42·2

  13·46

  5–10 years

  3·30

  34·4

  10·97

  0–4 years

  2·75

  28·6

  9·14

  800

  £

  As percentage of adult rate1

  Adjusted to December 1989 prices2

  November 1975

  16–17 years

  6·70

  61·5

  19·81

  13–15 years

  5·60

  51·4

  16·55

  11–12 years

  4·60

  42·2

  13·60

  5–10 years

  3·75

  34·4

  11·09

  0–4 years

  3·10

  28·4

  9·16

  November 1976

  16–17 years

  7·80

  61·4

  19·96

  13–15 years

  6·50

  51·2

  16·63

  11–12 years

  5·35

  42·1

  13·69

  5–10 years

  4·35

  34·3

  11·13

  0–4 years

  3·60

  28·3

  9·21

  November 1977

  16–17 years

  8·90

  61·4

  20·09

  13–15 years

  7·40

  51·0

  16·70

  11–12 years

  6·10

  42·1

  13·77

  5–10 years

  4·95

  34·1

  11·17

  0–4 years

  4·10

  28·3

  9·25

  November 1978

  16–17 years

  9·55

  61·4

  20·02

  13–15 years

  7·95

  51·1

  16·67

  11–12 years

  6·55

  42·1

  13·73

  5–10 years

  5·30

  34·1

  11·11

  0–4 years

  4·40

  28·3

  9·23

  November 1979

  16–17 years

  11·25

  61·5

  20·20

  13–15 years

  9·35

  51·1

  16·79

  11–12 years

  7·70

  42·1

  13·82

  5–10 years

  6·25

  34·2

  11·22

  0–4 years

  5·20

  28·4

  9·34

  November 1980

  16–17 years

  13·10

  61·5

  20·74

  11–15 years

  10·90

  51·2

  17·26

  0–10 years

  7·30

  34·3

  11·56

  November 1981

  16–17 years

  14·30

  61·5

  20·48

  11–15 years

  11·90

  51·2

  17·04

  0–10 years

  7·90

  34·0

  11·31

  November 1982

  16–17 years

  15·80

  61·5

  21·23

  11–15 years

  13·15

  51·2

  17·67

  0–10 years

  8·75

  34·0

  11·76

  November 1983

  16–17 years

  16·50

  61·6

  21·18

  11–15 years

  13·70

  51·1

  17·58

  0–10 years

  9·15

  34·1

  11·74

  November 1984

  16–17 years

  17·30

  61·7

  21·38

  11–15 years

  14·35

  51·2

  17·73

  0–10 years

  9·60

  34·2

  11·86

  November 1985

  16–17 years

  18·20

  61·7

  21·45

  11–15 years

  15·10

  51·2

  17·79

  0–10 years

  10·10

  34·2

  11·90

  July 1986

  16–17 years

  18·40

  61·7

  21·37

  11–15 years

  15·30

  51·3

  17·77

  0–10 years

  10·20

  34·2

  11·85

  April 1987

  16–17 years

  18·75

  61·7

  21·12

  11–15 years

  15·60

  51·3

  17·57

  0–10 years

  10·40

  34·2

  11·72

  April 1988

  801

  £

  As percentage of adult rate1

  Adjusted to December 1989 prices2

  16–17years

  19·40

  58·1

  21·06

  11–15 years

  16·10

  48·2

  17·48

  0–10 years

  10·75

  32·2

  11·67

  April 1989

  16–17 years

  20·80

  59·6

  21·44

  11–15 years

  17·35

  49·7

  17·88

  0–10 years

  11·75

  33·7

  12·11

  April 1990

  16–17 years

  21·90

  59·7

  —

  11–15 years

  18·25

  49·7

  —

  0–10 years

  12·35

  33·6

  —

  1 Based on the ordinary single householder scale rates until 1987 and the Income Support personal allowance for single people aged 25 or over.

  2 Based on movement in the Index of Retail Prices less housing costs.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School Secretaries and Clerical Assistants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on the pay of school secretaries and clerical assistants.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The pay of non-teaching staff in schools is a matter for their employers.

  GCSE
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the percentage increase in GCSE A-grades in each of the past two years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The following figures relate to attempts made by 14 and 15-year-olds. In 1988, 8·6 per cent. of GCSE attempts resulted in a grade A. Grade A results at O-level in 1987 constituted 13·9 per cent. of all O-level attempts and 5·3 per cent. of all O-level and CSE attempts. Comparable figures for 1989 are not yet available.

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Bray), of 30 January,Official Report, column 148, when he expects to complete his consideration for improving co-ordination between the AFRC and the Natural Environment Research Council.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on 1 February at columns 289–90.

  Standards of Attainment
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the achievements of Her Majesty's inspectors in relation to standards of attainment in schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Her Majesty's inspectorate makes an important contribution to the standards of education in schools by reporting impartially on the existing state of 802
  education across the country; by providing the Secretary of State and the Department with advice on policy matters; and by evaluating the impact of Government policy on schools.

  Workers Education Association
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next plans to meet the general secretary of the Workers Education Association; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so. A working party composed of representatives of the workers educational associations, the local authority associations and the Department is currently discussing the practical arrangements for the funding of the WEA districts in England over the next four years.

  Tertiary Colleges (Outer London)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the quality and effectiveness of the educational services offered in the tertiary colleges of the outer London boroughs.

  Mr. Jackson
  Two outer London boroughs, Harrow and Richmond, provide maintained education for those over the age of 16 through tertiary colleges. The colleges in Harrow were the subject of a report by Her Majesty's inspectorate last October, entitled "Aspects of Tertiary Education in the London Borough of Harrow". I am placing a copy in the Library. The inspectorate found that the quality of teaching and learning was generally sound, with good work leading to satisfactory examination results in many cases. There is no recent information available for Richmond.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking in respect of the disciplinary record of the city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend is not taking any steps, and sees no need for a statement.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what allowances for special needs or handicapped children are being made under LMS in respect of the greater expense of welfare and ancillary help for these children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In line with the Government's statutory guidance on LMS, all LEAs have taken into account in their resource allocation formulae the variations between schools in the incidence of pupils with special educational needs.

  Teachers (Financial Incentives)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a chart or table showing, for each academic year since their introduction the percentage of each category of financial incentive, A, B, C, D or E,
  803
  offered to teachers in (a) infant schools, age range five to seven years, (b) junior schools, age range seven to 10 years, (c) middle schools, age range eight to 12 or nine to 13 years, and (d) secondary schools, age range 11 to 16 years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not available.

  Non-contact Time
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has regarding Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools' recommendations in respect of non-contact time for primary school teachers; whether the Government plan to act upon any of the recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The organisation of the school day and the duties to be undertaken by individual teachers in their 1,265 hours of directed time are matters for head teachers. The interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions has recently drawn attention to the scope that exists for LEAs and governing bodies to develop policies to increase teachers' non-contact time.

  Geography
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the teaching of geography in schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The national curriculum geography working group was established last May to make recommendations about the geography to be taught to 5 to 16-year-olds in maintained schools. Its final report is due to be submitted by 30 April 1990.

  Teacher Unions
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what meetings he has planned with teacher unions' representatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend expects to meet the teacher unions shortly to discuss their response to the recommendations of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions and to his proposal for implementation.

  Capital Allocations, London
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what elements are taken into account to reflect the higher London costs in the capital allocations made to schools and colleges in London.

  Number of full-time staff employed by the Workers Education Association in England listed by district and category of staff

  Districts

  District secretaries

  Tutor/Organisers

  Development officers

  Administration and clerical staff

  Eastern

  1

  5

  —

  5

  East Midlands

  1

  10

  1

  5

  London

  1

  4

  2

  4

  Northern

  1

  8

  —

  2

  North Western

  1

  8

  3

  4

  Southern

  1

  6

  —

  2

  South Eastern

  1

  4

  —

  1

  South Western

  1

  5

  —

  2

  Thames Valley

  1

  5

  1

  3

  804
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  When local education authorities submitted their cash plans for education for 1990–91, these reflected regional differences in costs. In setting annual capital guidelines for education for 1990–91 the Department took into account local authority plans, and where the component of the annual capital guideline relating to a genuine need for additional school places was based on a standard building cost multiplier it was adjusted to reflect regional differences in building costs.

  Further Education
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the proportion of children aged 16 to 18 years who attended schools or colleges of further education in each education authority in England and Wales(a) in 1980–81 and (b) for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to Department of Education and Science statistical bulletin 9/86 tables 1 and 2 and Department of Education and Science statistical bulletin 3/89 tables 4 and 8, copies of which can be found in the Library. Statistics for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the rate of implementation of the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The full national curriculum will be implemented as soon as practicable to raise standards of education as quickly as possible. Implementation is proceeding in phases to make it manageable for schools. To ease pressure on secondary schools, my right hon. Friend recently announced that the requirement to teach 14 to 16-year-olds the foundation subjects outside the core subjects of maths, science and English would be introduced no earlier than autumn 1993.

  Workers Education Association
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) district secretaries and national officers, (b) tutor organisers, (c) development officers and (d) clerical/administrative staff, are employed full-time by the Workers Education Association in England (i) in total and (ii) by district.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information provided by the Workers Education Association is set out in the following table:
  805

  Districts

  District secretaries

  Tutor/Organisers

  Development officers

  Administration and clerical staff

  Western

  1

  8

  1

  2

  West Lancashire and Cheshire

  1

  6

  1

  2

  West Mercia

  1

  8

  —

  2

  Yorkshire North

  1

  8

  —

  5

  Yorkshire South

  1

  4

  —

  2

  National officers

  National Office1

  3

  6

  Total

  17

  89

  9

  47

  1 National officers serve the whole of the Association including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Medical Research Council
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to suspend the funding of the Medical Research Council.

  Mr. Jackson
  No.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has concerning the amount of money spent by the Medical Research Council on the dissemination to Members of both Houses of Parliament of information concerning experimentation upon the human embryo.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that, since the beginning of 1989, the Medical Research Council spent a total of £3,530 in dissemination to Members of both Houses of Parliament of information concerning human fertilisation and embryology.

  Study Vouchers
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has any intention of introducing study vouchers for the 16 to 18-year-old age group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has any intention of introducing study vouchers for the 16 to 18-year-old age group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government believe that all young people leaving full-time education at 16 or 17 should have the opportunity to pursue good-quality part-time education and training leading to nationally recognised qualifications. It is essential that our work force has the skills necessary to compete in the 1990s. The Government are giving serious consideration to the CBI's proposals for credits as a possible means of achieving this.

  Assessment
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the objective criteria for assessment at seven, 11, 14 and 16 years are now in place; and by when he expects the balance to be in place.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Criteria for assessment at seven, 11, 14 and 16 years are embodied in national curriculum attainment targets for key stages I to 4. Attainment targets have already been laid down in maths and science for all four key stages and in English for key stage 1. My right hon. Friend expects to make orders shortly laying down attainment targets in English for key stages 2 to 4 and in 806
  technology for all key stages. He intends to lay down attainment targets for the remaining foundation subjects by 1992.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received concerning the Government's pay policy for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend is currently consulting the interested parties on his proposals in response to the interim advisory committee's recommendations for teachers' pay for 1990–91. He has received representations from three of the bodies concerned so far.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list recent reports from Her Majesty's inspector of schools on the provision of physical education in schools; and if he intends to publish these reports.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is Government policy to publish all Her Majesty's inspectorate inspection reports. Some assessment of physical education provision would be included in all full inspection reports of primary and secondary schools. The most recent published Her Majesty's inspectorate documents which deal specifically with PE are as follows:A Survey of Work in Physical Education in 16 Secondary Schools
  A Survey of Some Aspects of Dance in a Sample of Secondary Schools
  Curriculum Matters No. 16—Physical Education from 5–16

  Grant-maintained Status
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those schools which have been(a) given grant-maintained status, (b) refused grant-maintained status and (c) await a decision on an application for grant-maintained status.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Schools which have been approved for grant-maintained status

  Schools

  Area

  Hendon School

  Barnet

  Queen Elizabeth's Grant-Maintained School for Boys

  Barnet

  Wilson School

  Sutton

  Baverstock Grant-Maintained School

  Birmingham

  Small Heath School

  Birmingham

  807

  Schools

  Area

  Old Swinford Hospital

  Dudley

  St. James' Church of England School, Bolton

  Bolton

  Audenshaw High School

  Tameside

  Heckmondwike Grammar School

  Kirklees

  Castle Hall Grant-Maintained School

  Kirklees

  London Oratory School

  ILEA

  Queensbury School

  Bedfordshire

  Colyton Grammar School

  Devon

  The Grammar School for Girls Wilmington

  Kent

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

  Lancashire

  Skegness Grammar School

  Lincolnshire

  Queen Elizabeth's Grant-Maintained School

  Lincolnshire

  The Kings School, Grantham

  Lincolnshire

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  Liverpool

  Bankfield High School

  Cheshire

  Claremont High School

  Brent

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

  ILEA

  London Nautical School

  ILEA

  Beechen Cliff School

  Avon

  Southlands School

  Berkshire

  Netherthorpe School

  Derbyshire

  Ribston Hall High School

  Gloucestershire

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School

  Lancashire

  Southfield School for Girls

  Northamptonshire

  Long Field High School

  Leicestershire

  Guildford County School

  Surrey

  Schools which the Secretary of State is minded to approve for grant-maintained status

  School

  Area

  Bishopshalt School

  Hillingdon

  Marling School

  Gloucestershire

  Stroud Girls High School

  Gloucestershire

  Rickmansworth School

  Hertfordshire

  Watford Boys Grammar School

  Hertfordshire

  Schools which have been refused grant-maintained status

  School

  Area

  Ramsden School for Girls

  Bromley

  The Longlands School

  Dudley

  Simon Digby Comprehensive School

  Solihull

  Hindley Park High School

  Wigan

  Sir James Altham School

  Hertfordshire

  Castlemount School

  Kent

  Blessed Hugh More Roman Catholic Secondary School

  Lincolnshire

  Southpark High School

  Lincolnshire

  Kettering Boys School

  Northamptonshire

  Other schools where the parents have voted in favour of an application for grant-maintaind status but where a decision has yet to be made

  School

  Area

  North Halifax High School

  Calderdale

  Wolverhampton High School for Girls

  Wolverhampton

  Bridgewater Hall School

  Buckinghamshire

  Brindley Hall School

  Buckinghamshire

  Foster's Grammar School for Boys

  Dorset

  Lord Digby's Grammar School for Girls

  Dorset

  Highwood School

  Gloucestershire

  Pate's Grammar School

  Gloucestershire

  Francis Bacon School

  Hertfordshire

  Adam's Grammar School

  Shropshire

  Stratford School, Newham

  Newham

  Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

  Birmingham

  Crossley Heath School

  Calderdale

  Carre's Grammar School

  Lincolnshire

  Teachers (Employment Costs)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest available figures for the annual cost of employing(a) a primary teacher, (b) a secondary teacher and (c) a teacher in further education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In April 1989 the estimated average cost, including employers' on-costs, of employing a primary teacher outside London was £16,190 per annum. The comparable figure for a secondary teacher is £17,490 per annum. The estimated average cost of employing a further education lecturer, including those in London, was £18,400 per annum.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Television Signal Feed
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to provide a feed of the television signal from the Chamber to offices and facilities used by Members in the vicinity of the Chamber.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The report of the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House, agreed to by the House last June, did not envisage the provision, for the direct use of Members, of monitors carrying the live feed from the Chamber, with the exception of two sets in the Division Lobbies. The Committee has since approved the installation of monitors to meet the special requirements of Mr. Speaker and the Chairman of Ways and Means. So far as the rest of the House is concerned, the Committee has so far taken the view that the presence of monitors in Members' rooms could be intrusive and might constitute a distraction from the Chamber, leaving aside the question of cost. The Committee will, however, keep the matter under review during the course of the experiment.

  Bleepers
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what are the regulations governing the use of radio pagers and other bleeping machines within the precincts; and what steps he is taking to prevent their use in areas used by other hon. Members.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: The use of radio pagers by right hon. and hon. Members is a personal matter and no regulations exist governing their use within the precincts of the House. I am aware that such devices can cause annoyance and I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to remind Members that pagers should be switched off while they are present in the Chamber or in Committees of the House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Paternity Leave
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Duchy of Lancaster has a small staff and there are no formal arrangements for paternity leave. Requests for paternity leave would be considered as and when they arose.

WALES

  Cataract Treatment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing, for the latest available date, and for 12 months earlier, the number of people in each district health authority area, or at each district general hospital, as convenient, awaiting treatment for eye cataracts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Waiting list information on individual types of treatment is not collected centrally on a routine basis. However, information on patients waiting for treatment in the specialty of ophthalmology is published in Welsh hospital waiting list bulletin: 1988, Vol. 2 and 1989, Vol. 2, copies of which are in the Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made, in deciding on community charge relief for certain community council areas in Wales, of the adequacy and comprehensiveness with which the last rate revaluation throughout each such community was completed.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Entitlements to community charge relief have been calculated on a uniform basis, using information on domestic rateable values supplied by Welsh charging authorities (district councils), and duly certified by the principal finance officers of those authorities.

  Paternity Leave
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  At present paternity leave is not available to civil servants. The Treasury is, however, finalising arrangements for the introduction of an entitlement to two days' paid paternity leave.

  Transport Policies
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish details of the current and relevant transport policy and programme submissions of Gwent, South Glamorgan and Mid-Glamorgan county councils;

  (2) what are the delays on progress in the current transport policy and programmes submitted by the Gwent, South Glamorgan and Mid-Glamorgan county councils.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  County councils in Wales are no longer required to submit transport policy and programme statements to me though a number of counties continue to produce them for their own use. The outcome of the transport grant submissions for 1990–91 from all Welsh counties and the submission from Mid Glamorgan for acceptance of the second phase of the valleys rail strategy as a project of regional or national importance was announced on 29 November 1989.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans have been initiated for restructuring the organisation of certain hospitals in Gwent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Gwent health authority is formulating proposals for revised management arrangements for the South Gwent health unit, which include organisation of hospitals in the unit's area.

  I understand that after further local consultation the authority will submit the proposals to the Welsh Office for approval.

  Fishguard Bypass
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans for a bypass at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, on the suggested route 6 from the A40 to A487 during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No. Such a scheme might be a possibility in the longer term.

  "Wales: Land of Quality"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many companies are currently licensed to use the "Wales: Land of Quality" identity; and what is their turnover and number of employees;

  (2) what income has been gained from licence fees for using the "Wales: Land of Quality" identity for selling the labels;

  (3) what were the itemised costs for the design and development of the "Wales: Land of Quality" identity;

  (4) what were the itemised costs of producing, distributing and promoting the "Wales: Land of Quality" identity in terms of product labels, promotional material and advertisements.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The cost of producing the "Wales: Land of Quality" emblem was £60,000 resulting from a competitive tender between three firms, which represented professional fees for design and production by outside consultants and transfer of copyright to the Welsh Office.

  The emblem and the positive image it conveys has been used as part of a wider strategy to help develop the Welsh economy by reinforcing the growing perception of the high quality of Welsh firms and their products. The costs incurred so far in promoting its use have been limited to the cost of writing to eligible Welsh companies (principally those awarded quality certification under BS 5750, BS 9000, MoD allied quality assurance procedure quality marks), to appropriate public agencies and to local authorities, urging them to use the emblem.

  Eligible organisations are issued with a licence, for use of the emblem, and sample artwork, for which no fee is charged. Currently 72 companies and 12 agencies are licensed to use the emblem. A further 100 companies and agencies have recently been approached with a view to their adopting the emblem. (No details are available of turnover and number of employees).

  GCSE Cources
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many courses were offered by the Welsh joint education committee(a) at the start of the GCSE programme and (b) at the current time.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Fifty-three courses were offered by the WJEC at the start of the GCSE programme, and 57 courses are offered at the present time.

  Craft Initiative
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many extra jobs and sales have been achieved following the setting up of the craft initiative; and what were the original targets set for(a) 1988, (b) 1989, (c) 1990 and (d)

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The craft initiative was launched in early 1988 with the overall aim of boosting sales and jobs in the Welsh craft industry by at least 50 per cent. within three years of the start of the initiative (April 1988). An evaluation of the campaign's impact on the industry will be carried out once the final year, which starts on 1 April 1990, is complete.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the consultants and consultancies involved in the initial review of the craft industry have subsequently had contracts with or provided services to(a) his Department, (b) the Welsh Development Agency and (c) the Development Board for Rural Wales; and what is the worth of these contracts or services.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The craft initiative review was carried out by Tony Ball Associates. Since the review was completed in 1988, Mr. Ball and his company have undertaken no paid work in connection with the craft initiative for my Department.

  I am not responsible for or consulted on contracts placed by the WDA or the DBRW and have therefore asked them to provide the hon. Gentleman with the information he is seeking.

  £ million (gross)

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  11981–82

  24

  20

  30

  8

  7

  7

  6

  6

  11982–83

  45

  15

  7

  23

  11

  5

  5

  8

  21983–84

  53

  20

  6

  23

  27

  5

  9

  6

  21984–85

  33

  13

  6

  15

  22

  5

  8

  3

  21985–86

  27

  13

  16

  16

  13

  6

  4

  4

  21986–87

  28

  20

  12

  27

  11

  5

  6

  3

  21987–88

  19

  17

  7

  63

  8

  5

  3

  7

  Source:

  1Digest of Welsh Statistics.

  2Welsh Transport Statistics.

  Comparable information for expenditure in 1988–89 and 1989–90 is not yet available.

  Opencast Mining, Buckley
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry to enable local residents to put their case concerning the application by British Coal to begin opencast mining operations at Bannel Bridge, Buckley, Clwyd.

  Road Improvements
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many road improvement schemes costing over £1 million have been developed in Wales in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Forty-one major road improvement schemes have been completed since 1980. Completions up to January 1989 are given in table 4 of "Roads in Wales; Progress and Plans for the 1990s." Since then the following have been completed:

  Opening Date

  A55 Northop by-pass

  June 1989

  A55 Penmaenbach-Dwygyfylchi

  June 1989

  A55 Penmaenmawr by-pass

  October 1989

  A55 Llanfairfechan by-pass

  October 1989

  Nine schemes are under construction as follows:

  A55 Conwy Crossing

  A483 Newbridge by-pass and Whitehurst Link

  A55 Travellers Inn

  A483 Chirk by-pass

  A48 Nant-y-Caws-Coed Hirion

  A470 Llanidloes by-pass

  A487 Cardigan by-pass

  A40 Haverfordwest Eastern by-pass II

  A55 Pen-y-Clip

  Fifty schemes listed in table 6 of "Roads in Wales" are in preparation; and the addition to the programme of schemes for the A5 on Anglesey has been announced.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total spending on road improvement schemes within his Department's responsibilities in the areas of(a) each district borough or city council and (b) each county council area in Wales, for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Information on trunk roads and motorway expenditure, for which the Welsh Office is the responsible highway authority, is not readily available analysed by district borough or city council area, or by county prior to April 1981. The available information by county is shown in the table:

  Mr. Grist
  The application is before Clwyd county council as minerals planning authority. On the information available to him my right hon. Friend sees no reason why an application of this nature, which does not appear to raise planning issues of more than local importance, should not be decided by the council. He is unable, therefore, to agree to the hon. Gentleman's request.

  Primary School Classes
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of primary classes in each of the Welsh counties now contains more than 40 children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The proportion of registered ordinary classes in maintained primary schools containing more than 40 pupils at September 1988 is shown in the table:

  Percentage

  Clwyd

  0·2

  Dyfed

  0·1

  Gwent

  0·1

  Gwynedd

  0·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  Powys

  —

  South Glamorgan

  0·1

  West Glamorgan

  0·1

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made with water companies in Wales to ensure that water supplies are readily accessible and available to the emergency services in Wales to deal with fires and other emergencies.

  Mr. Grist
  This is a matter for the fire authorities concerned. Section 47 of the Water Act 1989 places a duty on a water undertaker to allow any person to take water for extinguishing fires from any of its water mains or other pipes on which a water hydrant is fixed. Section 51 places a duty on a water undertaker to cause the water in such of its water mains and other pipes that have fire hydrants fixed on them to be laid on constantly and at such a pressure as will cause the water to reach to the top of the topmost storey of every building within the undertaker's area. The obligations of a water undertaker under both sections are enforceable under section 20 by the Secretary of State; and in addition, where a water undertaker is in breach of a duty under this section, the undertaker shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine.

  Llandudno Centre
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconsider the application by Aberconwy borough council to spend £11 million on an arts, leisure and conference centre for Llandudno.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) on 15 January 1990.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will widen the remit of the Welsh Development Agency in line with that of the Development Board for Rural Wales to include social improvements and tourism facilities.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No. Adequate provision already exists for aiding social and tourism facilities in areas which are not served by the Development Board for Rural Wales.

  Teachers
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of vacant teaching places in each of the education authorities in Wales; and what is the number of teachers leaving the profession in Wales each year from 1985.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The number of vacant teaching places in each of the education authorities is shown in the table:

  Number1

  Clwyd

  26

  Dyfed

  7

  Gwent

  61

  Gwynedd

  24

  Mid Glamorgan

  125

  Powys

  16

  South Glamorgan

  15

  West Glamorgan

  12

  Total Wales

  286

  1 Source: Form 618G, supplied by local education authorities at 19 January 1989 relating to full-time teacher vacancies.

  Information on the number of teachers leaving the profession in Wales is not available. The number of teachers who ceased full-time teaching in the maintained schools sector for any one of a number of reasons including retirement is as follows:

  Year ending

  Number

  31 March 1986

  1,971

  31 March 1987

  1,879

  Rural Wales
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to urge the Welsh Development Agency and Development Board for Rural Wales to give special attention to areas of rural Dyfed and Gwynedd in the drive to revitalise the economy of rural Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The distribution of WDA and DBRW resources to particular areas is largely a matter for the bodies themselves. Government policies are, of course, directed towards the establishment of a thriving and self-sustaining rural economy. The WDA's recently launched rural strategy and the DBRW's strategy for the 1990s and its western initiative provide clear evidence of those bodies' commitment to those policies. Dyfed and Gwynedd, along with the rest of rural Wales, will continue to benefit from the activities of the agency and the board.

  Monitoring Officers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow adequate time for consultation with bodies representing local authorities in Wales on the draft subsidiary legislation bringing into effect the provisions of section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Grist
  As I stated in my reply to the hon. Gentleman's question on 8 February I will provide local authority associations in Wales with an advance draft of the order, bringing into effect the regulations on companies, for comment.

  Acute Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the acute hospitals with fewer than 600 beds.

  Mr. Grist
  The information, as at 31 December 1988, is shown as follows:

  ACUTE HOSPITALS

  Clwyd

  Catherine Gladstone

  Colwyn Bay Community

  Denbighsire Infirmary

  Flint Cottage

  Holywell Cottage

  Llangollen

  Mold

  Prestatyn Community

  Ruthin

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Cardigan and District

  Llandovery Cottage

  Llanelli

  Gwent

  Blaenavon Health Care Unit

  Monmouth General

  Nevill Hall

  Gwynedd

  Caernarvonshire Eye and Cottage

  Ffestiniog Memorial

  Madoc Memorial

  Stanley Sailors

  St. Davids

  Mid Glamorgan

  Bridgend General

  East Glamorgan General

  Llynfi

  Maesteg General

  Mountain Ash

  Pontypridd and District

  Porth and District

  Prince Charles

  Princess of Wales

  Treherbert

  Pembrokeshire

  Tenby Cottage

  Powys

  Brecon War Memorial

  Builth Cottage

  Machynlleth and District

  South Glamorgan

  Barry Community

  West Glamorgan

  Neath General

  Port Talbot

  Singleton

  MAINLY ACUTE HOSPITALS

  Clwyd

  Abergele

  East Dyfed

  Bronglais General

  West Wales General

  Gwent

  County

  Gwynedd

  Dolgellau and District

  Llandudno General

  Towyn and District

  816

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Aberdare and District

  Caerphilly District Miners

  Llwynpia

  Pentwyn Cottage

  Pembrokeshire

  Withybush

  Powys

  Machynlleth Chest

  Montgomery County Infirmary

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary

  Llandough

  Rookwood

  PARTLY ACUTE HOSPITALS

  Clwyd

  HM Stanley

  Royal Alexandra

  East Dyfed

  Amman Valley

  Gwent

  Abertillery and District

  St. Woolos

  Gwynedd

  Bryn Beryl

  Mid Glamorgan

  Aberbargoed and District

  Mardy

  Redwood Memorial

  Tonteg

  Powys

  Llandrindod Wells War Memorial

  Llanidloes and District

  Victoria Memorial

  South Glamorgan

  St. Davids

  West Glamorgan

  Hill House

  State Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the state primary and secondary schools he has visited in Wales, by county, since June 1987.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Since 1 June 1987 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or I have visited maintained schools as follows:

  LEA

  Primary

  Secondary

  Clwyd

  —

  2

  Dyfed

  1

  2

  Gwent

  —

  2

  Gwynedd

  2

  3

  Mid Glamorgan

  2

  3

  Powys

  3

  —

  South Glamorgan

  3

  1

  West Glamorgan

  1

  1

  I hope to visit a further eight maintained schools later in this school year.

  Psychiatric Units
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the development of medium secure psychiatric units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Efforts to make the substantive progress in this area which I believe is necessary have been hampered by the difficulty of recruiting the necessary expert advisory staff. Now that appointments have been made of the consultant forensic psychiatrist (who is also co-ordinator of forensic psychiatric services and adviser to the chief medical officer) and the senior nurse adviser to the chief nursing officer of the Welsh Office, I propose to set up an all-Wales advisory group to determine a comprehensive policy for forensic psychiatric services in the Principality and to report as speedily as possible.

  The remit of the group will be as follows:
  In the context of the document "Mental Illness Services—A Strategy for Wales" to develop an operational framework for the provision of a comprehensive forensic psychiatric service in Wales in the light of the needs of patients and the experience of health authorities in England of setting up similar services: identifying in particular the appropriate district and regional elements of the service, an operational policy and development programme for medium secure psychiatric units and the future role and functioning of Garth Angharad Hospital.

  I shall shortly announce the membership of the group, which is to he chaired by an official of the Welsh Office NHS directorate, once consultations have been concluded.

  I intend that the group should undertake its work quickly, but it is clear that it will be some time before its agreed recommendations can be implemented. I accept that further delay in providing facilities for mentally abnormal offenders in Wales is undesirable. I also note the recommendation in the third biennial report of the Mental Health Act Commission that interim arrangements should be established in Wales. This has also been recommended by the Department's specialist advisers. As a consequence, I propose that interim secure facilities should be established in north and south Wales and Clwyd and Mid Glamorgan health authorities have been invited to prepare proposals to that end. They will be assisted by the Department's specialist advisers and their proposals will be considered by the all-Wales advisory group. I have asked that, the practical arrangements including recruitment of staff permitting, efforts be made to admit the first patients in 1990–91. I do not propose to initiate any further work on the development of individual substantive medium secure psychiatric units, including a decision on provision in west Wales, or on the development of Garth Angharad hospital until the all-Wales advisory group's report is to hand.

  It is my expectation, subject to consultation on the report of the all-Wales advisory group, that these interim secure arrangements will be subsumed within the framework of the comprehensive forensic psychiatric services which will be formulated by the advisory group and thereby enable us to provide in the Principality as speedily as possible a service of excellence based on the experience of best practice gained in other parts of the United Kingdom.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Community Service
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stricter elements he will be introducing into community service orders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We introduced the National Standards for Community Service Orders on 1 April 1989. These were designed to ensure that offenders in all areas do work which is demanding and seen to be of use to the community and that the discipline of the order is maintained. The White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" contains proposals for combining community service and probation orders, and for requiring offenders on community service to report to their supervisor at any time when the supervisor considers this necessary to secure compliance with the order.

  Police Officers (Ports)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the manning of ports by police officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Waddington
  There are continuing discussions on the policing of ports between the Home Office and the police forces and authorities concerned.

  EC Nationals (Right of Residence)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many EEC nationals and their dependants will have the right of residence in the United Kingdom in consequence of the right of residence directive; and if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom of the minute of the Council relating to the further extension of the definitions of relative.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is not possible to predict with any precision the numbers of people who will benefit from the proposed right of residence directives. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that the numbers seeking to take advantage of them will be very large.

  The Government have not agreed to any widening of the definition of dependants. As revised by the Council, in the light of concerns expressed by the United Kingdom and a number of other member states, the proposed directives will specify precisely to which family members they apply and will not be linked to the definition in other Community legislation dealing with the family members of other groups such as workers.

  The Council and the Commission have agreed that the definition of family members in the new right of residence directives may be reviewed in the light of the proposal for a regulation amending article 10 of regulation 1612/68. The position of the United Kingdom and of a number of other member states in relation to that proposal is, however, reserved.

  If a change were nevertheless made to regulation 1612/68, it is likely that a corresponding change would be sought to the new right of residence directives. The Council minute does not, however, commit any member state to accepting any such change, and any proposal to that effect would be for separate negotiation.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will meet representatives of the Pensioners Association to discuss the question of free television licences for all pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 7 December 1989 at column 470. As he knows, the question has been raised many times before, and I doubt whether further discussion would serve any strong purpose.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the concessionary television licence regulations.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Basildon Courthouse
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new courthouse in Basildon will be opened.

  Mr. John Patten
  The courthouse is due to be completed and ready for use in October 1990, and the official opening will take place in November 1990.

  Drugs
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of juveniles arrested for drug-related offences in 1989.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is not held centrally on the number of arrests by age of offender. However, in England and Wales in 1988, 731 juveniles were cautioned for drug offences and 234 juveniles were prosecuted: of those prosecuted 181 were found guilty.

  Information for 1989 will not be available until the autumn of 1990.

  NATO Exercises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution his Department will make to the NATO exercises due to be held in Norway during March.

  Mr. John Patten
  None.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the individuals identified in the unpublished part II of the war crimes report are currently alive and resident in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John Patten
  The war crimes inquiry set out in chapter 9 of its published report (Cm 744) its information about whether individuals in respect of whom it had received allegations were alive and resident in this country.

  "How You Can Help the Police"
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the pamphlet "How You Can Help the Police" have been distributed; and what percentage of those distributed elicited a written or telephoned response.
  820
  Mr. John Patten
  Between May 1988 and February 1990 1·1 million copies of the leaflet "Victims of Crime—how you can help the police to help you" were issued. The Home Office does not have statistics on the responses.

  Forensic Science
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have left the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory, other than for normal retirement, in each year of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that since 1982 (the earliest year for which the information is available) the following staff of the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory have left for reasons other than normal retirement, and, in the case of administrative staff, career transfer to other parts of the Metropolitan police:

  Scientists

  Administrative staff

  1982

  7

  14

  1983

  17

  4

  1984

  213

  7

  1985

  311

  15

  1986

  8

  411

  1987

  12

  15

  1988

  12

  9

  1989

  18

  510

  1990

  1

  —

  Note:

  The figures for scientists include those who have transferred to other Government Departments on promotion.

  1 Includes one officer who died.

  2 Includes one officer who retired on medical grounds and one who died.

  3 Includes one officer who left at the end of a one-year contract.

  4 Includes one officer whose employment was terminated.

  5 Includes one officer who died.

  National Association of Probation Officers
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met representatives of the National Association of Probation Officers; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The last such meeting with the Home Secretary took place on 3 August 1987, when my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) met representatives of the National Association of Probation Officers to discuss the document "Probation—The Next Five Years". I last met NAPO on 4 July 1988 to discuss the forthcoming Green Paper "Punishment, Custody and the Community". It has not requested a meeting since that date. Home Office officials have frequent meetings with NAPO.

  West Midlands Police
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has anything to add to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 304, concerning Detective Sergeant Morton.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The answers I gave on 25 January and 1 February referred only to those officers who conducted interviews with those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the progress of his electronic tagging programme.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to questions from the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 9 February at column 823.

  Charities
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many charities registered with the Charity Commission have failed to submit accounts for the last financial year; and if he will express this figure as a percentage of the total number of charities registered with the commission;

  (2) how many of the charities registered with the Charity Commission have submitted annual accounts that have been professionally audited.

  Mr. John Patten
  Some 12 per cent. of registered charities submitted accounts to the commission in 1989, However, under the Charities Act 1960 only charities possessing a permanent endowment are required to submit accounts annually without request. In addition, some of these are excepted by order or regulations from the need to submit accounts. In the circumstances it is not possible to say how many charities obliged to submit accounts yearly failed to do so.

  Information about the number of registered charities which have submitted annual accounts that have been professionally audited is not readily available. There is at present no general statutory obligation for the accounts of a charity to be professionally audited, although those charities which are companies have to be audited under companies' legislation. In addition, some charities are required to have their accounts audited by their own governing instruments; and the Charity Commissioners may, at their own expense, order an audit of a charity's accounts.

  Our proposals for reforming the law on the submission and auditing of charity accounts are contained in chapter 4 of the White Paper "Charities: A Framework for the Future" published in May last year. Our main proposals are that in future all registered charities should be required to submit proper accounts annually to the Commission; that trustees should be obliged to make copies of their charity's statement of account available to the public on request; and that large charities should be required to have their accounts professionally audited.

  Channel Tunnel
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what immigration control arrangements will be made for the Channel tunnel when it opens.

  Mr. Waddington
  For Eurotunnel shuttle train journeys ending at Cheriton, inward controls are planned at Coquelles. For through trains proceeding beyond London the Channel Tunnel Act provides for immigration controls to be carried out on train subject to the provision of satisfactory facilities to enable the controls to be exercised on those trains and to the payment of any fees or charges that may be imposed. For trains terminating in London I have now decided that passport checks should normally 822
  take place on the trains subject to the payment by British Rail of the additional costs involved and to the pro vision of satisfactory accommodation and control arrangements on board the trains and at the stations. These matters are being discussed with the train operators.

  Refugees, Azad Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure those from Azad Kashmir who seek political asylum in the United Kingdom are interviewed before decisions are taken on such applications.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question of 5 December 1989 at column 182. With the exception of those whose applications are based solely on links with the Pakistan People's party, asylum applicants from Azad Kashmir would be interviewed before a refusal decision was taken.

  Underground (Fire Inspections)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what routine fire inspections of underground system railways stations are required by the relevant statutory authorities in respect of London Regional Transport, the Paris Metro and RER and the Berlin U-Bahn.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 19 February 1990]: Fire precautions on the London Underground are controlled by regulations made under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 which are enforced by the London fire and civil defence authority.

  The regulations themselves do not specify what fire inspections should take place. London Underground Ltd. has, however, applied to the authority for temporary exemption from certain provisions of the regulations which came into force on 1 January 1990. As a condition of granting the exemptions, the LFCDA has required LUL to carry out regular inspections of high-risk areas in particular Underground stations. These inspections will continue until LUL complies with regulations and the exemptions can be lifted.

  I have no information on the routine inspections required by the relevant statutory authorities in respect of the Paris Metro and RER, or the Berlin U-Bahn.

  Batons
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces in the United Kingdom are at present conducting field trials of martial-arts type batons for the control of civilians.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 12 February 1990]: I understand that the West Midlands police have acquired 100 batons which are inflexible cylindrical rods about 6 in long and five eighths of an inch in diameter. These are being made available to trained officers in a pilot scheme running until the end of March. As with any other piece of equipment these batons may be used only in accordance with the principle of section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 which requires the use of no more force than is reasonable in the circumstances.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of civil defence grant aid for(a) staff costs, (b) building work and (c) other costs in the financial years from 1983–84 to 1988–89 and projected for 1989–90, received by each London borough.

  Mr. John Patten
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 January, c. 471–74]: I am sorry to say that there was an error of transposition in the table headed "Civil Defence Grant Aid Received by London Boroughs 1986–87". The sums of £29,279 and £94,582 shown in the "Staff" column for Richmond and Waltham Forest respectively should have appeared in the "Building" column. The amended table reads as follows:

  Civil Defence Grant Aid Received by London Boroughs 1986–87

  Borough

  Staff

  Building

  Other

  £

  £

  £

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,061

  —

  3,364

  Barnet

  —

  —

  2,230

  Bexley

  —

  —

  4,143

  Brent

  —

  —

  1,894

  Bromley

  3,402

  —

  4,249

  Camden

  —

  —

  2,393

  City of London

  —

  146,656

  14,453

  Croydon

  —

  —

  2,076

  Ealing

  224

  —

  198

  Enfield

  —

  —

  45

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  1,737

  Hackney

  —

  —

  1,900

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  3,330

  Haringey

  —

  —

  2,370

  Harrow

  —

  —

  5,724

  Havering

  1,530

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  —

  —

  5,565

  Hounslow

  1,218

  —

  1,351

  Islington

  —

  —

  1,579

  Kensington and Chelsea

  648

  —

  2,405

  Kingston

  —

  —

  2,675

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  6,922

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  2,492

  Merton

  3,552

  —

  3,015

  Newham

  —

  —

  1,173

  Redbridge

  644

  —

  2,027

  Richmond

  —

  29,279

  4,418

  Southwark

  —

  —

  4,193

  Sutton

  —

  —

  3,616

  Tower Hamlets

  1,363

  —

  3,473

  Waltham Forest

  —

  94,582

  1,964

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  5,886

  Westminster

  —

  —

  2,362

TRANSPORT

  London Taxis
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered London black cabs there are; what this number is as a percentage of the population of London; and what information he has on the comparable figures in capital cities of other industrial countries.

  Mr. Portillo
  Statistics on foreign taxi operations are not kept by the Department. However, I have obtained the following information:
  824

  City

  Number of licensed taxis

  Population

  Taxis as a percentage of population

  London

  15,800

  7,200,000

  0·22

  Washington

  7,000

  3,100,000

  0·23

  Paris

  14,300

  5,500,000

  0·26

  Tokyo

  50,300

  11,900,000

  0·42

  Figures may not be on a comparable basis.

  Road-building
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many acres of land in public ownership have been utilised for the building of motorways and trunk roads; and what is his estimate of such building over the next five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  I regret that the information requested cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  HGV Drivers
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline the steps he intends to take to ensure that the drivers' hours and rest period regulations, vehicle weights and dimensions are conformed to by foreign international hauliers within the United Kingdom, following elimination of frontier checks.

  Mr. Atkins
  Traffic examiners will continue to carry out selective checks on United Kingdom and foreign heavy goods vehicles at ports and inland sites. Checks will be carried out without discrimination of vehicles or drivers. Vehicles will be weighed in the ports using more automated weighing systems being installed for this purpose.

  Drivers' tachograph charts will be checked to ensure that drivers are complying with the legal requirements for driving limits and rest. Vehicle dimensions will also be checked to ensure that they conform with the requirements of United Kingdom law.

  Single Market
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to ensure that the introduction of the single European market does not have an adverse effect on the environment.

  Mr. Atkins
  All member states of the European Community and the Commission itself are mindful of the need to protect the environment and are taking account of environmental aspects in all proposals for new Community measures. A number of specific measures to protect the environment have already been agreed, in particular controls on vehicle emisions. In so far as the introduction of the single European market will encourage greater efficiency in the use of transport, it will have a beneficial effect on the environment.

  British Rail
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the income from the sale of British Rail land and property in 1989.

  Mr. Portillo
  The income for the 1988–89 financial year was £263·5 million.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the planned expenditure for the maintenance of motorways and trunk roads in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is as follows:

  £ million (cash)

  Year

  Capital expenditure

  Current expenditure

  1985–86

  164

  77

  1986–87

  218

  93

  1987–88

  264

  84

  1988–89

  190

  102

  1989–90

  337

  99

  Notes:

  1. All figures are for national roads, England.

  2. 1985–86 to 1988–89 are outturn figures; 1989–90 revised vote provision.

  3. Capital expenditure comprises renewal of roads, and renewal and strengthening of bridges including the Severn Bridge.

  4. Current expenditure is net of receipts (tolls, damage claims, administration and hire charges and VAT refunds).

  Outturn expenditure was close to or above original planned targets in each year except 1988–89, when it was necessary to transfer some capital maintenance resources to new construction to avoid an overspend on the roads vote as a whole in the face of increased construction prices and faster progress with some new road schemes.

  Traffic Flow
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to improve traffic flow from all directions by removing the traffic lights recently installed at the junction of St. George's road and Garden way, London; at what level the decision to instal them was taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The decision to instal the traffic lights was taken by Southwark borough council following consultation with the traffic control systems unit. The Department of Transport was notified of the council's intention. The traffic lights and pelican crossings installed by the council are designed to improve safety for pedestrians. I see no reason to intervene.

  Vehicle Excise Tax
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reports of vehicle excise tax evasion were processed during 1989; and how many summonses for non-payment were issued.

  Mr. Atkins
  During 1989, 875,639 vehicle excise duty evasion reports were actioned by the Department. Summonses were issued against 192,813 evaders. In addition, 184,131 out-of-court settlements were paid by evaders.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants are currently employed to detect vehicle excise duty offenders.

  Mr. Atkins
  Outside London, vehicle excise duty enforcement is conducted from the Department's network of vehicle registration offices, where staff also deal with vehicle licensing and registration. A total of 984 man-years 826
  was allocated to enforcement in 1989–90, taking those offices, the London enforcement office, and staff at DVLC together.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which geographical areas publicity campaigns were mounted to encourage vehicle owners to tax their vehicles during 1989; and at what cost to public funds.

  Mr. Atkins
  During 1989 vehicle excise duty enforcement campaigns were held in the following geographical areas:

  Devon and Cornwall

  Kent

  Leicestershire

  London

  Sussex

  Central Scotland

  Humberside

  South Yorkshire

  Staffordshire

  West Mercia

  Hertfordshire

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dorset

  Derbyshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Surrey

  Fife

  Essex

  West Yorkshire

  Northern (Highlands)

  West Midlands

  Bedfordshire

  Thames Valley

  The publicity costs of the 1989 campaign programme were £776,180. In addition the Department's staff costs, including the prosecution of evaders caught during campaigns, totalled £170,000. Police costs are not available.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average cost to public funds of prosecuting non-payment of vehicle excise duty in 1989; and how much was recovered by orders of courts to prosecution costs.

  Mr. Atkins
  The estimated average cost to public funds of prosecuting a vehicle excise duty evader in 1989 was £21·78. The amount ordered by courts in finds, back duty orders and costs amounted to £17·5 million.

  Docks
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has commissioned or undertaken into(a) employment prospects on the clocks and (b) company liquidations before arriving at his estimate that the Dock Work Act 1989 will lead to 1,500 to 2,000 redundancies and cost £25 million over the full period, Official Report, Standing Committee A, 16 May 1989, column 537.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The estimate of redundancies among registered dock workers was the best that could be made in all the circumstances. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State emphasised to the Standing Committee, no one could tell with any precision what would happen when the dock labour scheme ended; the figures were between an estimate and a guess.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, 11 December 1989,Official Report, column 486, what further negotiations his Department has had on additional transatlantic flights to and from Manchester airport since 1 December 1989; what has been the outcome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A round of talks was held in London on 29 November to 1 December 1989. My right hon. Friend went himself to Washington to meet the US Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Skinner, on 11 and 12 January. Negotiations continue, and my right hon. Friend hopes to welcome Mr. Skinner here soon for further talks.

  Regional Airports
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he intends to discuss transatlantic flights from Glasgow airport with the United States Secretary of Transportation; and when he next intends to meet the United States Secretary of Transportation;

  (2) if he will list the flights from United Kingdom airports outside London which his Department expects to discuss at the next meeting with the United States Secretary of Transportation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend hopes to welcome the United States Secretary of Transportation here soon, but no date or agenda has been settled. However, it is perhaps unlikely that the United States side will wish to raise the question of services from Glasgow, since it already has extensive unused rights to that airport.

  Scottish Airports
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which calendar month he expects to announce his decision on the review of Scottish airports policy.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce his decision next month.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about the minimum period of time needed to manufacture the trains necessary for the direct link from the Channel tunnel to the north of England and Scotland.

  Mr. Portillo
  This is a commercial matter for the railways concerned. I understand that BR is planning for through trains to be in operation when the Channel tunnel opens.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether British Rail has sought approval for investment in the trains necessary for the direct link from the Channel tunnel to the north of England and Scotland.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. British Rail has published its proposals for through services but has not yet submitted the application to make the necessary investment.

DEFENCE

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discretion is given to the co-ordinating centre at RAF Pitreavie to disregard the restriction on night-time flying search and rescue operations from RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The operating procedures of the rescue co-ordination centre at RAF Pitreavie state that the RAF Leuchars flight will operate at night only if the rescue operation in question began during daylight hours, or in the event of a major disaster.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to review the current restriction on night-flying operations on search and rescue helicopters operating from RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) at what time on Monday 12 February the request from Ninewells hospital, Dundee, for the assistance of a search and rescue helicopter, was received by the co-ordinating centre at RAF Pitreavie;

  (2) why a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Leuchars was not scrambled on Monday 12 February in response to the request for assistance from Ninewells hospital, Dundee.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  At 7.42 pm on Monday 12 February 1990, the rescue co-ordination centre at RAF Pitreavie received a request for a helicopter to airlift a man suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning from Ninewells hospital in Dundee to a specialist medical unit in Aberdeen. By this time of day RAF Leuchers had ceased operations. The duty controller informed the hospital that any helicopter would have to come from one of three bases; RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Boulmer or HMS Gannett. The request for assistance was therefore withdrawn and the patient was transferred by road.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up an inquiry to establish whether there is an abnormal level of childhood leukaemia among the children of nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand that the national radiological protection board is examining the possibility of a nationwide study of leukaemia in 0 to 25-year-olds in th United Kingdom, in which the children of nuclear test veterans might be included.

EMPLOYMENT

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number of accountancy firms that have failed to meet statutory quotas on the recruitment of disabled persons.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory premises are registered with the factory inspectorate in each of the Health and Safety Executive's geographical areas and were registered with the factory inspectorate in each of the last five years; and for each Health and Safety Executive area, how many trained factory inspectors were employed in each area in each of the last five years.

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  HSE Geographical area

  Number of fixed premises1

  Number of trained inspectors (May)2

  Number of fixed premises1

  Number of trained inspectors (April)

  Number of fixed premises

  Number of trained inspectors (April)

  Number of fixed premises

  Number of trained inspectors (April)

  Number of fixed premises

  Number of trained inspectors (April)

  South West

  —

  25·0

  —

  22·0

  21,281

  22·0

  20,788

  21·5

  20,759

  21·0

  South

  —

  24·0

  —

  23·5

  27,342

  24·5

  27,028

  22·5

  27,113

  22·0

  South East

  —

  22·0

  —

  19·0

  25,312

  22·5

  25,506

  23·0

  25,404

  22·5

  London North

  —

  32·5

  —

  32·5

  30,962

  32·0

  31,197

  29·0

  30,869

  28·5

  London South

  —

  32·5

  —

  29·0

  19,271

  29·0

  19,003

  31·0

  18,747

  32·0

  East Anglia

  —

  23·5

  —

  22·0

  20,610

  18·5

  20,550

  19·5

  20,123

  19·5

  North Home Counties

  —

  19·0

  —

  20·0

  17,964

  21·5

  18,166

  19·5

  17,887

  18·5

  East Midlands

  —

  22·0

  —

  22·0

  19,277

  22·0

  19,542

  21·5

  19,857

  21·0

  West Midlands

  —

  29·0

  —

  26·0

  19,948

  27·0

  19,308

  29·0

  18,502

  24·0

  Wales

  —

  21·0

  —

  19·0

  18,378

  20·0

  18,544

  21·5

  18,957

  21·0

  Marches

  —

  22·0

  —

  22·5

  15,886

  19·5

  16,074

  21·0

  16,165

  20·5

  North Midlands

  —

  24·0

  —

  20·0

  16,245

  20·0

  16,095

  17·0

  16,608

  190

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  23·5

  —

  22·5

  17,260

  21·5

  16,632

  21·0

  16,058

  24·0

  West and North Yorkshire

  —

  32·5

  —

  30·5

  23,973

  28·5

  24,067

  27·0

  24,107

  28·0

  Greater Manchester

  —

  30·5

  —

  25·5

  16,404

  24·5

  16,902

  22·0

  17,345

  22·5

  Merseyside

  —

  23·0

  —

  22·0

  16,503

  19·0

  17,003

  23·5

  16,912

  21·0

  North West

  —

  26·0

  —

  21·0

  18,208

  21·0

  18,453

  21·0

  18,718

  22·5

  North East

  —

  31·0

  —

  28·0

  16,416

  26·0

  16,580

  20·5

  16,814

  23·5

  Scotland East

  —

  25·0

  —

  22·0

  20,192

  20·0

  20,357

  18·5

  20,302

  20·5

  Scotland West

  —

  26·0

  —

  23·0

  20,383

  21·0

  20,128

  23·0

  19,757

  19·5

  Totals

  395,860

  514·0

  399,885

  472·0

  401,815

  460·0

  401,923

  452·5

  401,004

  451·0

  1 Information by Area not readily available.

  2 May 1985 is the earliest date on which trained and trainee inspector numbers can be split by area.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to improve employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training is successfully meeting its objective of helping large numbers of unemployed people to get the skills and experience they need to obtain jobs. Its success will be further reinforced through the introduction of training and enterprise councils (TECs) which will have the flexibility to make the programme even more responsive to the training needs of both individuals and employers within local labour markets.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of unemployed entering employment training for each of the categories(a) six months to 12 months, (b) one year to two years, (c) two years to three years, (d) three years to four years, (e) four years to five years and (f) over five years between September 1988 and December 1989 for Great Britain.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 12 February 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested. Of those people entering employment training between September 1988 and December 1989, 169,000 had been unemployed for between six and 12 months, 72,000 for between one and two years and 186,000 for over two years.
  830
  Mr. Nicholls
  The following table gives details of fixed premises (including factories) registered with the factory inspectorate in each of the Health and Safety Executive's areas at 31 March for the last three years. Information for March 1990 is not yet available. Other information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Numbers of trained factory inspectors employed in each area for the last five years are included in the table.

  Sick Pay
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the implications for British legislation of the European Court of Justice decision in Rinner-Kuhn v. FWW Spezial-Gebaudereinigung GmbH and Co. of 13 July 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This is a decision which arises from German domestic legislation on the payment of sick pay. Ministers will have to consider whether it has any implications for the law in this country.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to ensure that at least one person on each training and enterprise council has experience of working with young people with special needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) are independent companies which will appoint their own board members subject to the criteria laid down by my Department.

  However, to be effective and credible TECs will need to establish local partnerships and collaborate with a wide range of local interests and organisations including bodies representing young people with special needs.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the contracts with training and enterprise councils will include national targets to guarantee the
  831
  quality of training for young people with special needs under the new arrangements for youth training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Each training and enterprise council (TEC) will be set an agreed performance-related target for the number of people with special needs who start training. Each TEC will in addition need to set out in its business plan proposals for ensuring that those young people in its area with special needs are properly identified and assessed and given access to quality training leading to qualifications appropriate to their individual levels of ability.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the funding arrangements for youth training will include incentives to ensure quality training for young people with special needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Youth training funding arrangements will include incentives to ensure quality training for young people with special needs.

  Each young person identified as having special training needs will have an endorsement certificate which will be lodged with the training provider. The provider will then be obliged by contract to provide appropriate training and the Training Agency's area office or the training and enterprise council (local enterprise company in Scotland) will have regard to that in determining the appropriate funding levels.

  In addition, at least 10 per cent. of each TEC's youth training budget will be paid on qualifications achieved. Those who gain national vocational qualifications (NVQs) at level II (or equivalent as determined by the Training Agency) will count towards TECs' output-related funding. In addition, level I (or equivalent) NVQs gained by young people with particularly severe special training needs will also count.

  TECs will also be eligible for a 2 per cent. performance bonus. Criteria for earning this will include NVQs as for output-related funding, the percentage of starts on youth training of young people with disabilities, members of ethnic minority groups and, where appropriate, people from the inner cities.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements will be made to ensure that the interests and views of organisations and agencies providing training for young people with special needs are represented on training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Each training and enterprise council (TEC) will be expected to consult and work closely with appropriate organisations and agencies to ensure that the needs of disadvantaged young people in their area are met. A number of TECs are establishing sub-groups to take account of different interests in the community.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from Barnardo's about employment and training of young people with a mental handicap; what reply he has given; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department received representations from Barnardos last year raising a number of issues about 832
  the employment and training of young people with special needs, particularly in relation to the setting up of training and enterprise councils (TECs).

  My Department gave assurances that TECs will be expected to set out in their plans proposals on how they intend to provide for young people with special needs. These proposals will be looked at very carefully before plans are approved.

  Employment Centres
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list(a) employment rehabilitation centres and (b) asset centres nationally; and if he will list the services they provide.

  Mr. Eggar
  A list of the employment rehabilitation service's employment rehabilitation centres and asset centres is given in the table.

  The employment rehabilitation service offers a wide range of services including assessment, rehabilitation and preparatory training, practical experience with employers or in workshops, help in finding jobs and access to open learning materials. Employment rehabilitation centres offer the full range of services. Asset centres are similar but do not operate workshops.

  (a) Employment Rehabilitation Centres

  Bellshill

  Leeds

  Bristol

  Long Eaton

  Croydon

  Plymouth

  Egham

  Preston

  Humberside

  Birmingham

  Liverpool

  Coventry

  North Staffs

  Edinburgh

  Portsmouth

  Glasgow

  South Gosforth

  Leicester

  Billingham

  Manchester

  Cardiff

  Port Talbot

  Dundee

  Sheffield

  Garston Manor

  (b) Asset Centres

  East Ham

  West London

  Birtley

  Medway

  Exeter

  Wrexham

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stretford of 14 February, if he will identify on whose initiative the employment of two occupational psychologists by Grand Metropolitan community services at Exeter asset centre was undertaken.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment of two occupational psychologists at Exeter asset centre was a joint initiative by the Training Agency and Grand Metropolitan community services.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the actual and percentage fall in unemployment in the Birkenhead constituency for 1981; and what is the comparable figure overall in other inner city areas.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Unemployment figures for parliamentary constituencies and the 57 local authority districts in England within which the Government target inner city aid are not available before June 1983. The following table shows the number of unemployed claimants at that date compared with the latest available figures.
  833

  Unemployed claimants (unadjusted)

  June 1983

  January 1990

  Change

  Percentage change

  UPAs1

  1,130,512

  658,947

  -471,565

  -41·7

  Birkenhead parliamentary constituency

  8,726

  6,479

  -2,247

  -25·8

  Note:

  Comparisons over time are affected by changes to the count over the period as well as seasonal influences.

  1 Urban Programme Areas, the 57 local authority districts in which the Government targets inner city aid.

  Deptford Skillcentre
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the development value of the site of the Deptford skillcentre now that the sale of the Skills Training Agency is completed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Terms for the sale of the training business at Deptford skillcentre have been agreed with Astra Training Services Limited, the management buy-out team. Astra plans to lease part of the site, and my right hon. and learned Friend intends to offer the property for sale via open market competition subject to that lease. My right hon. and learned Friend has taken professional advice on the value of the site; the sale of the site has not yet been completed and it would be inappropriate to reveal a valuation.

  Disabled People (Employment Quotas)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list how many firms received quota exemption permits under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 for the latest date for which information is available; and how many of these firms held quota exemption permits for longer than two years, five years and 10 years, respectively.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: On 1 June 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the number of firms issued with quota permits was 18,530. Permits are issued for a maximum period of six months. information on the length of time for which individual employers have held a continuous series of such permits is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his answer of 13 February to the hon. Member for Stretford, he will list(a) the number of firms not meeting their quota obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 for every year since 1979 to the latest available date and (b) the number of firms not meeting their quota obligations and without permits, for each year from 1979 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

  Year ending

  Firms not employing the quota of 3 per cent, people with disabilities

  Firms not employing the quota of 3 per cent, people with disabilities and which are without permits

  1 June 1979

  31,234

  8,822

  1 June 1980

  30,226

  8,225

  1 June 1981

  29,073

  7,890

  1 June 1982

  28,828

  9,032

  1 June 1983

  25,681

  7,145

  1 June 1984

  25,550

  6,781

  834

  Year ending

  Firms not employing the quota of 3 per cent. people with disabilities

  Firms not employing the quota of 3 per cent. people with disabilities and which are without permits

  1 June 1985

  25,501

  6,820

  1 June 1986

  24,643

  5,803

  1 June 1987

  24,593

  6,016

  1 June 1988

  24,705

  6,111

  1 June 1989

  24,700

  6,170

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

HEALTH

  Ambulance Dispute
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will identify the revenue costs of alternative arrangements for each Thames regional health authority of the ambulance dispute to date.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  These costs have not yet been assessed by the authorities concerned.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what has been the cost of using the army, police and voluntary bodies on ambulance duties on(a) a daily basis, (b) a weekly basis and (c) total cost;

  (2) what has been the cost to date of using the Army and police in each health authority in which the Army or police began performing ambulance duties.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 8 January 1990]: It is too soon for all these costs to have been assessed. The total cost for the provision of military assistance up to the end of December 1989 was £1·8 million. Figures for the costs of police assistance have not yet been assessed by all the authorities concerned.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to date of(a) the police and (b) the Army doing ambulance duties; and what is the estimated daily cost.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 15 January 1990]: Costs have not yet all been assessed. The total cost for the provision of military assistance up to the end of December 1989 was £1·8 million. There are some offsetting savings from the normal service. The cost of police assistance has not yet been assessed by all the authorities concerned.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the normal weekly cost of the emergency service(a) to Coventry district health authority and (b) to each county.
  835
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We do not collect this detailed local information centrally.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the weekly cost of(a) police assistance, (b) Army assistance, and (c) the emergency ambulance service that is still being incurred in each county.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  This information is not available. However, the cost for the provision of military assistance to the end of December 1989 was £1·8 million. The cost of police assistance has not yet been assessed by all the authorities concerned.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is considering making tests on blood donations to ensure that they are not contaminated by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no blood test to detect the causative agent of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, there is no evidence that this rare disease can be transmitted via blood.

  Babies (Abduction)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year and by regional health authority for the last 10 years the number of cases of babies that have been abducted while in hospital.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We do not hold information on such incidents centrally.

  The Department has commended to all health authorities a security manual prepared by NAHA. Copies were distributed to the NHS in 1984. The manual includes advice on the issue of personal identification badges to all members of staff.

  In the maternity field, the health building note on maternity departments refers specifically to the need to consider the safety of babies temporarily unattended in postnatal areas or neonatal units. The design briefing states that accommodation for babies must be sited so as to be easily visible from the staff base.

  Nurses
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appeals of nurses concerning their clinical grading(a) have been submitted, (b) have been heard and (c) await decision; and how many have been upgraded for each district health authority in the west midlands area.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how self-governing trusts will be asked to alter employees' contracts, conditions of service and superannuation rights;

  (2) whether self-governing trusts will be allowed to opt out of the Whitley system;

  (3) whether the employment conditions and employment protection rights for self-governing hospital trusts will differ from the present arrangements in the National Health Service.
  836
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Staff who transfer from health authority to NHS trust employment will retain their existing contracts and all rights arising from them, subject to the substitution of the new employer for the old and any consequential technical changes. It will be open to the NHS trusts to seek to introduce changes in existing contracts at any time after transfer. In doing so, they will be free to decide whether to continue to adopt Whitley council conditions or to make alternative arrangements if they so wish.

  Employees of NHS trusts will be eligible to stay in or to join the NHS superannuation scheme. However, subject to the passage of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill, trusts will have the power to establish their own arrangements for providing pensions if they wish.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to introduce any change to the ratio of trained nurses coupled with untrained nurses in the National Health Service; and whether self-governing trusts will be under any obligation to maintain any given ratio.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department does not lay down any ratio of qualified to other nursing staff in the National Health Service. The planning and setting of staffing establishments is a matter for individual health authorities to determine in the light of local needs and priorities. National Health Service trusts will be free to determine the number, skill and grade mix of nurses they employ.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if self-governing hospital trusts may decide to give up self-governing status.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Yes.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there will be any changes to the skill and grade mix of nurses who work in the self-governing trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  NHS trusts will be free to determine the number, skill and grade mix of nurses they employ.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes are planned for the education and training of nurses; what requirements of education and training he intends to impose on self-governing trusts; and whether he intends to allow competition in training.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We intend to ensure that NHS trusts participate in the training of key professional staff, including nurses. Detailed proposals for dealing with the education and training implications of the White Paper "Working for Patients" are set out in working paper 10, a copy of which is in the Library. This document has been the subject of a widespread consultation exercise, which ended on 31 January 1990. The comments which we have received are being carefully studied: we shall announce decisions as soon as possible.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what control his Department will exercise over the accounts of self-governing hospital trusts; what will be the position should self-governing trusts go bankrupt; and who will be accountable to Government for providing continuity of health service in this eventuality.
  837
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  NHS trusts will be required to keep proper accounting records and to draw up accounts each year as directed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State with the approval of the Treasury.

  Should a trust become financially unsound and the services which it provides still be needed, it might be necessary to transfer responsibility for managing those services to another trust or to a health authority. In the event of the financial failure of any provider unit, district health authorities will be responsible for securing continued provision of health care for their residents.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what industrial relations rights Royal College of Nursing stewards will have in the self-governing trusts; and what structure of industrial relations he intends to propose for them.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  NHS trusts will be free to make their own arrangements for union representation for their employees.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information systems need to be installed to set up self-governing trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  NHS trusts will be expected to have information systems which are adequate for the effective and efficient management of the trust.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rights staff will have to opt out of self-governing trusts and to safeguard their employment, pension and other rights in this event.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Staff of a hospital which is to become an NHS trust will transfer to employment by the trust unless other arrangements have been individually agreed with them beforehand. A member of staff who is transferred to trust employment will retain the right to terminate his contract of employment if a substantial change to his detriment in his working conditions is brought about by the transfer; no such right will arise solely by reason of the change in employer on transfer.

  Number of abortions performed in England and Wales, 1988 by statutory grounds: 2 (alone) and 3 (with or without 2), by (a) age of mother, (b) marital status, (c) number of previous children, (d) number of previous abortions, and (e) category of premises, for residents and also non-residents, at 18 weeks and over gestation.

  Residents Statutory grounds

  Non-Residents Statutory grounds

  2 (alone)

  3 (with or without 2)

  2 (alone)

  3 (with or without 2)

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  (a) Age of Mother

  All ages

  5,343

  82·90

  394

  6·11

  3,208

  98·22

  40

  1·22

  Under 16

  301

  98·69

  4

  1·31

  120

  100·00

  —

  —

  16 to 19

  2,085

  95·38

  56

  2·56

  882

  99·66

  3

  0·34

  20 to 44

  2,948

  74·92

  331

  8·41

  2,190

  97·59

  37

  1·65

  45 and over

  8

  44·44

  3

  16·67

  16

  94·12

  —

  —

  Unknown

  1

  100·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Marital Status

  Single

  4,446

  92·99

  199

  4·16

  2,544

  99·18

  16

  0·62

  Married

  468

  42·24

  106

  9·57

  355

  92·93

  16

  4·19

  Widowed/divorced/separated

  322

  75·94

  75

  17·69

  236

  96·72

  7

  2·87

  Not stated

  107

  81·06

  14

  10·61

  73

  97·33

  1

  1·33

  (c) Number of Previous Children

  0

  4,084

  93·73

  23

  0·53

  2,325

  99·53

  5

  0·21

  1

  660

  63·04

  165

  15·76

  468

  95·90

  14

  2·87

  2

  348

  57·81

  127

  21·10

  242

  96·03

  7

  2·78

  3

  149

  55·39

  55

  20·45

  95

  88·79

  11

  10·28

  838
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all staff affected by the establishment of a self-governing trust will be eventually transferred to the self-governing trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All staff who were employed at a unit which is to become an NHS trust will transfer to employment by the trust from the date when it becomes fully operational unless other arrangements have been individually agreed beforehand. Special arrangements will be made for splitting the contracts of employees who work partly in a unit which is to become a trust but will continue to work partly in other units.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether(a) trade unions, (b) local government, (c) local business, (d) medical representatives and (e) nursing representatives will be represented on the boards of self-governing trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All NHS trusts which are established to manage hospital or community health services will have executive medical and nursing directors on their boards. The non-executive directors on NHS trust boards will be chosen for the personal contribution they can make to the effective management of the trust and not to represent any interest group. In the case of trusts with a significant teaching commitment one of the non-executive directors will be drawn from the relevant university or medical or dental school.

  Abortions
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the numbers and percentages of abortions performed on pregnancies of 18 weeks' or more gestation under the statutory grounds 2 (alone) and 3 (with or without 2) by(a) age of mother, (b) marital status, (c) numbers of previous children, (d) number of previous abortions and (e) whether performed in the public or private sectors, distinguishing in each category between residents and non-residents.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is given in the table:
  839

  Residents Statutory grounds

  Non-Residents Statutory grounds

  2 (alone)

  3 (with or without 2)

  2 (alone)

  3 (with or without 2)

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  4

  64

  64·65

  16

  16·16

  50

  94·34

  2

  3·77

  5 and over

  24

  48·98

  8

  16·33

  27

  93·10

  1

  3·45

  Unknown

  14

  63·64

  —

  —

  1

  100·00

  —

  —

  (d) Number of Previous Abortions

  Legal terminations

  0

  4,460

  83·21

  300

  5·60

  2,725

  98·20

  33

  1·19

  1

  755

  82·15

  80

  8·71

  418

  98·12

  7

  1·64

  2

  91

  77·12

  13

  11·02

  50

  100·00

  —

  —

  3

  20

  86·96

  1

  4·35

  11

  100·00

  —

  —

  41

  3

  100·00

  —

  —

  3

  100·00

  —

  —

  Spontaneous miscarriages

  0

  5,077

  85·20

  343

  5·76

  3,120

  98·36

  37

  1·17

  1

  203

  56·23

  42

  11·63

  78

  93·98

  2

  2·41

  2

  37

  49·33

  6

  8·00

  7

  87·50

  1

  12·50

  3

  5

  38·46

  —

  —

  1

  100·00

  —

  —

  41

  7

  46·67

  3

  20·00

  1

  100·00

  —

  —

  (e) Category of Premises

  NHS

  579

  43·21

  69

  5·15

  1

  20·00

  —

  —

  Non-NHS

  4,764

  93·32

  325

  6·37

  3,207

  98·34

  40

  1·23

  Non-NHS Agency

  459

  90·89

  43

  8·51

  1

  100·00

  —

  —

  1 Statutory Grounds:

  1. The continuance of pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  2. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  3. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk or injury to the physical or mental health of any existing child(ren) in the family of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  4. There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

  5. To save the life of the pregnant mother.

  6. To prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the child.

  Note:—The notification form for abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 requires information about previous abortions to the woman concerned to be recorded, distinguishing between spontaneous miscarriages and legal terminations.

  Notifications having at least one previous spontaneous miscarriage and also at least one previous legal termination, and women having more than one abortion under the Act in 1988 will be counted more than once in the statistics.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the numbers of abortions performed on pregnancies of 18 weeks' and more gestation under statutory grounds 2 (alone) and 3 (with or without 2) which were done by(a) prostaglandins and (b) D and E, distinguishing in each category between residents and non-residents.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  The number of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 on pregnancies of 18 weeks and more gestation under statutory grounds 2 (alone) and 3 (with or without 2) which were performed by (a) prostaglandins and (b) D and E for residents and non-residents of England and Wales for 1988

  Residents

  Non-residents

  Ground 2 (alone)

  Prostaglandins

  3,063

  623

  D and E

  501

  748

  Ground 3 (with or without 2)

  Prostaglandins

  307

  23

  D and E

  3

  3

  Child Care
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals the Government have to promote child care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The range and level of day care services for pre-school children and after school and 840
  holiday schemes for school-age children is best decided locally by parents, voluntary bodies, employers, local authorities and the private sector.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria are being used for establishing asset management and capital charging within the National Health Service;

  (2) what progress there has been in establishing efficient asset management and capital charging in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The intention to introduce a system of capital charges was announced in the White Paper, "Working for Patients". Each hospital will be required to calculate and pay capital charges to its regional health authority from April 1991. The capital charge represents depreciation and interest calculated on the value of assets held. In order to facilitate the introduction of this scheme health authorities are being required to compile, value and maintain asset registers with effect from April 1990. This will enable the capital charging scheme to operate on a shadow basis during 1990–91. Managers will begin to understand the value of assets held and will, under the full scheme, have direct incentives to make best use of assets in order to minimise capital charges. In this way the capital charge scheme will be an impetus to good asset management, which the Government have been encouraging in the NHS in recent years.

  Hormone Replacement Therapy
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to fund research into the costs and benefits of hormone replacement therapy and of screening techniques for detecting osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department of Health is funding two research projects at a total cost of around £128,000, which will examine the costs and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and screening techniques for detecting osteoporosis before it is severe enough to cause symptoms.

  Professor Martin Vessey of Oxford University will be examining the cost-effectiveness of HRT in relation to the menopause. HRT, which is already available on the NHS, has a role to play in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and the prevention of osteoporosis.

  Dr. John Kanis of Sheffield university will be conducting a critical review of screening techniques for detecting osteoporosis—a disease of the weakening of the bones which primarily, but not exclusively, affects women after the menopause—before it is severe enough to give rise to symptoms.

  The Department will be meeting the full costs of both studies. Professor Vessey's two-year project and Dr. Kanis' one-year project are expected to be completed by 31 January 1992 and 31 March 1991 respectively.

  Menopausal symptoms or the development, later, of severe osteoporosis cause misery to many women in this country. For some of the symptoms can be very severe. We hope that these studies will enable us to find ways to improve the quality of life for women.

  Opticians
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the dates of the ophthalmic service committee hearings referred to in the Minister's written answer of 5 July 1988,Official Report, column 506; and what were the dates of the endorsements of the ophthalmic committee's decisions by Manchester family practitioner committee.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The ophthalmic service committee of the Manchester family practitioner committee considered the complaints without a hearing at its meeting on 20 April 1988. The FPC endorsed its recommendations on 25 May 1988.

  Number of notifications of food poisoning for each London borough in each of the last 10 years and the percentage increase of such cases over this 10 year period (1979–1988)

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Percentage increase 1979–88

  Greater London

  1,525

  1,442

  1,335

  1,581

  1,793

  1,857

  1,888

  2,280

  2,919

  3,723

  144·13

  City of London

  7

  10

  7

  9

  4

  8

  4

  7

  11

  9

  28·57

  Barking and Dagenham

  22

  30

  10

  27

  17

  21

  30

  30

  31

  41

  86·36

  Barnet

  103

  122

  81

  115

  173

  191

  204

  222

  305

  292

  183·50

  Bexley

  27

  22

  26

  46

  73

  51

  64

  75

  188

  231

  755·56

  Brent

  45

  50

  89

  115

  95

  75

  82

  82

  87

  96

  113·33

  Bromley

  33

  53

  23

  29

  41

  37

  35

  52

  70

  91

  175·76

  Camden

  33

  37

  38

  72

  90

  79

  77

  89

  106

  81

  145·45

  Croydon

  58

  81

  53

  58

  38

  49

  83

  117

  135

  161

  177·59

  Ealing

  32

  57

  48

  37

  57

  36

  42

  51

  49

  67

  109·38

  Enfield

  130

  56

  25

  53

  25

  122

  49

  48

  57

  81

  -37·69

  Leukaemia
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, following the announcement of 15 February about possible leukaemia and lymphoma links between those working at Sellafield and their children, when he expects the consideration of the case control study by COMARE at AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield to be completed.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department of Health funded the case control study in west Berkshire and north Hampshire in 1987 for three years; we therefore expect it to be completed by the end of this year. The results of the study should be available shortly after completion.

  Food Imports (Holland)
  Mr. Oakes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tests are generally applied to food imported from Holland.

  Mr. Freeman
  At present all foods imported to the United Kingdom, regardless of the country of origin, are subject to the Imported Food Regulations 1984, which require food to be sound, wholesome and fit for human consumption. Examinations, as appropriate, to ensure that food meet these criteria are carried out by local enforcement authorities, including port health authorities.

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time for the results of a cervical smear test.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available in the form requested. Health authorities must aim to return the results of cervical smear tests to the doctor who undertook them within one month. As at December 1989, the latest available date, around 80 per cent. of health authorities were meeting this target. The average processing time of those districts which were failing to meet this target was 6·2 weeks.

  Food Poisoning, London
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will specify for each London borough in each of the last 10 years(a) the number of cases of food poisoning and (b) the percentage increase of such cases over this 10-year period.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is given in the table:
  843

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Percentage increase 1979–88

  Greenwich

  43

  38

  42

  32

  49

  53

  59

  48

  144

  173

  302·33

  Hackney

  31

  27

  29

  26

  27

  38

  29

  45

  79

  70

  125·81

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  22

  24

  53

  25

  50

  61

  41

  25

  22

  47

  113·64

  Haringey

  64

  32

  30

  36

  45

  77

  72

  93

  106

  120

  87·50

  Harrow

  23

  44

  54

  54

  90

  70

  110

  159

  218

  233

  913·04

  Havering

  34

  15

  43

  46

  71

  28

  32

  74

  104

  106

  211·76

  Hillingdon

  58

  51

  35

  44

  56

  33

  38

  54

  86

  148

  155·17

  Hounslow

  12

  17

  20

  20

  28

  52

  32

  39

  47

  69

  475·00

  Islington

  83

  82

  92

  58

  71

  59

  97

  115

  160

  193

  132·53

  Kensington and Chelsea

  51

  45

  41

  44

  61

  60

  54

  35

  59

  83

  62·75

  Kingston Upon Thames

  32

  30

  14

  22

  26

  23

  38

  45

  39

  58

  81·25

  Lambeth

  47

  34

  47

  44

  53

  106

  65

  110

  106

  142

  202·13

  Lewisham

  53

  46

  48

  42

  76

  145

  98

  79

  93

  172

  224·53

  Merton

  19

  15

  14

  31

  22

  38

  67

  73

  51

  87

  357·89

  Newham

  81

  38

  30

  39

  41

  25

  58

  104

  74

  105

  29·63

  Redbridge

  78

  75

  37

  50

  20

  23

  23

  58

  39

  95

  21·79

  Richmond Upon Thames

  22

  20

  19

  27

  26

  26

  26

  22

  50

  59

  168·18

  Southwark

  46

  44

  45

  75

  58

  83

  90

  80

  78

  156

  239·13

  Sutton

  41

  39

  43

  65

  48

  19

  12

  22

  26

  79

  92·68

  Tower Hamlets

  27

  68

  30

  57

  38

  41

  34

  53

  82

  93

  244·44

  Waltham Forest

  50

  20

  25

  25

  15

  16

  18

  1

  3

  46

  -8·00

  Wandsworth

  62

  72

  77

  64

  121

  43

  63

  90

  117

  131

  111·29

  Westminster, City of

  56

  48

  67

  94

  88

  69

  62

  83

  97

  108

  92·86

  In addition, since 1982, cases of food poisoning ascertained by means other than formal notification have been reported to OPCS.

  Ambulance Services (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost per day to each of the health authorities operating in south Yorkshire for the ambulance services being provided by the police, armed services and voluntary organisations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 15 January 1990]: The cost of military assistance in individual regional health authorities has not yet been assessed. The cost of assistance by police and voluntary organisations in individual district health authorities is not available centrally. I would refer the hon. Member to the Trent regional health authority.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any changes will be made in the cash limits and running costs limit of his Department for 1989–90.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 29 January 1990, c. 42–43]: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIV, vote 3, Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England, will be increased by £87,000 (from £697,307,000 to £697,394,000) reflecting a transfer from class XV, vote 7, Department of Social Security, administration and miscellaneous services as a contribution to the cost of grants to voluntary organisations and local authorities towards the cost of providing temporary accommodation for homeless people during periods of severe weather. The running cost limit for the Department remains unchanged at £244,259,000.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishing Fleet
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans there are to reduce the fishing effort in the North sea; what are the implications for fishing in the western waters of the United Kingdom; whether he has any proposals to reduce the overall size of the United Kingdom fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement about the displacement of part of the United Kingdom fleets in the North sea to the Irish sea.

  Mr. Curry
  I hope to make an announcement soon on arrangements to reduce North sea haddock fishing in 1990. Access to pressure stocks and non-pressure stocks in other sea areas will remain restricted to those vessels holding appropriate licences. I also hope shortly to announce new quota management arrangements which will begin the process of bringing the size of the fleet into line with the available fishing opportunities.

  Poultry
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has carried out into salmonella levels in poultry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department is currently funding a comprehensive programme of research on aspects of salmonella amounting to £2·4 million in 1989–90. The projects listed in the table fall into two main categories—food safety and animal health—and cover external contamination and vertical transmission, which are the two sources of infection. The programme includes epidemiological studies on the distribution of salmonella enteritidis in the laying flock.
  845

  R and D on salmonella currently funded by MAFF

  Project

  Location

  Amount of funding in 1989–90 £'000

  1.

  Modelling of growth of pathogenic micro-organisms in food systems

  British food Manufacturing Industries Research Association (BFMIRA) Leatherhead

  150

  2.

  Detection and quantification of micro-organisms in foods by novel lectin-based assays

  BFMIRA

  57

  3.

  Separation: an important aid to rapid microbiological analysis

  BFMIRA

  40

  4.

  Thermal destruction of salmonella in foods made with eggs

  BFMIRA

  4

  5.

  Destruction of Salmonella enteritidis in egg albumen

  BFMIRA

  30

  6.

  Mathematical prediction of growth of micro-organisms in food systems

  Campden Food and Drink Research Association (CFDRA), Chipping Campden

  200

  7.

  Guidelines for pasteurisation

  CFDRA

  25

  8.

  Investigation into the use of biosorbants for the concentration, separation and detection of low levels of food contaminants with special reference to pathogenic micro-organisms such as salmonella

  CFDRA

  70

  9.

  Database and expert system development for microbiology modelling initiative

  CFDRA

  88

  10.

  Survival and growth of salmonella and Bacillus subtilis in bakery ingredients, products or fillings

  Flour Milling and Baking Research Association (FMBRA), Chorleywood

  86

  11.

  Modelling micobial growth effects of processing and storage on survival and growth of pathogenic bacteria

  AFRC Institute of Food Research, Bristol (IFR(B))

  59

  12.

  Modelling microbial growth: develop predictive models for food safety

  IFR(B)

  59

  13.

  Modelling microbial growth: optimise poultry processing conditions to reduce occurrence of pathogenic bacteria

  IFR(B)

  59

  14.

  Optimisation of spray washing of poultry carcases

  IFR(B)

  30

  15.

  Modelling microbial growth: safety of foods and beverages

  IFR, Reading

  100

  16.

  Develop and investigate novel methods to separate and concentrate micro-organisms from foods to enhance rapid microbiological methods

  IFR, Reading

  127

  17.

  Enzyme-linked immunological biosensors for the detection of pathogenic bacteria in food

  IFR, Reading

  40

  18.

  Development of improved diagnostic tests to study epidemiology

  AFRC Institute of Animal Health (IAH), Compton

  75

  19.

  Intestinal colonisation of salmonella in poultry

  IAH

  61

  20.

  Basis of virulence in salmonellas (in relation to poultry)

  IAH

  61

  21.

  Virulence in salmonellas (in relation to calves)

  IAH

  94

  22.

  The genetic basis for virulence

  IAH

  95

  23.

  Use of non-radioactive DNA probes for the detection and identification of food borne pathogens

  University of Nottingham

  12

  24.

  Risk assessment of salmonella in eggs

  University of Bath

  19

  25.

  Salmonella infection in the egg

  University of Bath

  15

  26.

  Salmonella infection in the laying hen

  University of Bristol

  76

  27.

  The influence of shell quality on the ease of translocation of salmonella into the egg

  Glasgow University Veterinary School

  26

  28.

  The influence of storage conditions on the survival of salmonellas

  Public Health Laboratory Service, Exeter

  19

  29.

  Development of diagnostic tests and vaccines

  MAFF Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL)

  316

  30.

  Epidemiological studies in laying flocks

  CVL

  50

  31.

  Salmonella in feeds: recontamination and isolation

  CVL

  88

  846 847

  Project

  Location

  Amount of funding in 1989–90 £'000

  32.

  Pathogenesis in chickens

  CVL

  171

  Total

  2,402

  33.

  Egg products and human salmonellas

  University of Bath

  1—

  34.

  Microbial growth and survival on food contact surfaces pertinent to food poisoning spoilage and hygiene

  University of Warwick and CFDRA

  1—

  35.

  Theoretical approaches to minimal methods of food preservation

  University of Reading

  1—

  1 Work being carried out under the MAFF Post-Graduate Studentship Scheme.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the resistance levels to disease among poultry as a consequence of the continual use of antibiotics.

  Mr. Maclean
  All salmonella from animals and their environment have been monitored for antibiotic resistance continuously since 1971.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of feedstuffs for poultry is subject to prior heat treatment; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of heat-treating feedingstuffs in reducing the incidence of salmonella in poultry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Details are not available on the percentage of poultry feedstuffs subject to heat treatment. Most broiler and turkey feeds, however, are heat-treated as part of the pelleting process. There is also a growing trend towards use of pelleted feeds for laying flocks. Published work indicates that whilst heat treatment of feedstuffs can be effective in tackling salmonella contamination, it cannot be guaranteed to eliminate salmonella completely. My Department issued last year five codes of practice which set out a range of measures to be taken by the feedstuffs industry to reduce salmonella contamination.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the process of stripping animal hones to obtain mechanically recovered meat entails no risk of spinal tissue being included in the final product.

  Mr. Maclean
  As an ultra-precautionary measure my Department introduced the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989, which prohibit the use of spinal cord and other specified bovine offals in food for sale for human consumption. In practice the spinal cord would be removed before recovery of M RM. Animals displaying symptoms of BSE are required to be slaughtered and disposed of so that they do not enter the human food chain.

  Irradiation
  Mr. Oakes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he has had, or proposes to have, with(a) consumer organisations, (b) retailers, (c) trade unions, (d) manufacturers and (e) others on the question of the irradiation of foodstuffs.
  848
  Mr. Maclean
  In accordance with long-established practice in the food sector, there will be full consultation of all the relevant interests when the regulations have been prepared.

  Mr. Oakes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he proposes to make available to customers of restaurants, cafes and public houses as to whether the food they have purchased there has been irradiated.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have already announced my intention to ensure that customers of restaurants, cafes and public houses are given clear information to enable them to choose whether or not they wish to buy irradiated food. Recently agreed European Community food legislation already provides for clear labelling of irradiated food and listed ingredients for prepacked sales. Additional requirements are needed for non-prepacked retail sales and food sold by caterers and I am currently consulting interested parties on the most effective and practical way of presenting this information to consumers.

  Mr. Oakes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Institution of Environmental Health Officers and other organisations with regard to the irradiation of food.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have received a number of letters from interested organisations on aspects of food irradiation. The views of the Institution of Environmental Health Officers are set out in its evidence to the recent inquiry by the House of Lords European Communities Committee, the report of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Oakes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research is being conducted by his Department on the irradiation of food;

  (2) what tests his Department recommends to discover whether food has been irradiated.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department is currently carrying out research aimed at identifying and developing suitable tests for detecting irradiated foods. We are also investigating the effects of irradiation on plastic food packaging materials.

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  CHANNEL TUNNEL: IMMIGRATION CONTROLS
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