Written Answers of 12 January 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Ko Hsuan School
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his inspectors last visited Ko Hsuan school in North Devon; what inquiries they made; if he will publish their report; and if he will now make a statement on the information he has concerning the recent suicide of a pupil at the school.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department has asked for a full explanation from the school of the circumstances leading up to the tragic death of Nicholas Shultz.

  Her Majesty's inspectors last visited the school in September 1988 to advise the Department about its final registration. The visit involved not only observation of work in progress but discussions with senior management about the curriculum. The boarding accommodation was briefly visited; there was no evidence of boys and girls sharing the same dormitory or bedroom. This was one of the many visits to independent schools carried out by Her Majesty's inspectorate as part of its routine information-gathering. As such, it will not lead to a published report.

  Figures in £'s

  Nat Press

  Reg Press

  Specialist Press

  1Other

  Total

  1986–87

  Northern Board

  4,722

  73,268

  8,959

  —

  86,949

  Southern Board

  —

  62,542

  5,673

  —

  68,215

  Eastern Board

  6,232

  75,628

  12,275

  9,725

  103,860

  Western Board

  4,617

  70,999

  4,980

  —

  80,596

  Central Services Agency2

  —

  13,775

  4,048

  —

  17,823

  1987–88

  Northern Board

  8,142

  69,485

  8,290

  —

  85,917

  Southern Board

  —

  80,678

  8,342

  —

  89,020

  Eastern Board

  10,970

  51,067

  12,068

  15,125

  89,230

  Western Board

  3,864

  96,637

  6,301

  —

  106,802

  Central Services Agency2

  —

  13,909

  5,050

  —

  18,959

  1988–89

  Northern Board

  8,318

  69,248

  4,523

  —

  82,089

  Southern Board

  —

  78,996

  8,058

  —

  87,054

  Eastern Board

  9,879

  63,860

  13,263

  16,820

  103,822

  Western Board

  3,178

  75,958

  3,446

  —

  82,582

  Central Services Agency2

  —

  13,401

  5,897

  —

  19,298

  Notes:

  1 The Eastern Board produces a fortnightly Job Bulletin which is placed at locations to which the public has access eg Job Markets.

  2 Cost of advertisements by the Central Services Agency on behalf of Boards.

  Drought Orders
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by(a) water company and (b) location, where drought orders still remain in force.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are no drought orders currently in force in Northern Ireland.

  Teacher Shortages
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is kept on the number of children sent home due to lack of teaching staff in each local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Local education authorities are responsible for the deployment of teachers, and comprehensive information about the number of pupils sent home is not held centrally by the Department.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average annual salary earned by graduates in(a) teaching, (b) the Civil Service, (c) industry and (d) commerce in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  This information is not available.

  Recruitment Advertising
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each health and social services board in Northern Ireland amounts spent on recruitment advertising for the last three years, together with a breakdown of the spending between(a) national press, (b) regional press, (c) specialist or periodical press and (d) other, stating which; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Police Officers (Housing Allowance)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to implement the recommendation of the police negotiating board that officers in provided accommodation should receive a housing allowance and pay rent for their accommodation; and if he will make a statement.
  751
  Mr. Cope
  No. The police authority will need to provide accommodation free of rent for the foreseeable future to meet operational requirements and as an incentive to recruitment. It has therefore been decided to maintain the status quo with officers in provided accommodation receiving no housing allowance but living rent-free. Draft regulations which amend the rent allowance provisions of the Royal Ulster Constabulary regulations 1984 have been sent to the police negotiating board for comment.

  Beef
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has made any representations to the Commission of the European Communities about the beef industry in Northern Ireland; whether he is prepared to give additional assistance to the beef industry; what representations he has received about the beef industry; and if he will make a statement about the present state of the beef industry.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]: The Government are aware of the concerns being expressed about the current state of the beef industry in Northern Ireland. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had preliminary discussions with the Ulster Farmers Union on the matter and I intend to have a further meeting with the union shortly.

  In the light of discussions with the union we will consider what action, including representations to the Commission of the European Communities through my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, might be taken to alleviate the concerns expressed.

  Terrorism (Compensation)
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the criteria by which compensation is awarded to the victims of terrorism and to the families of the victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland and the amount of and the circumstances in which payments have been made in each of the past 10 years; and whether he is satisfied with the way in which the present system operates.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]: In Northern Ireland, as in Great Britain, the victim of a criminal injury is entitled to be compensated for pain, suffering and loss of amenities, and for any expenses or pecuniary loss resulting from his injuries. If the victim dies as a result of a criminal injury, compensation is payable to his relatives in respect of expenses incurred or pecuniary loss suffered as a result of the death. Additionally, in the case of incidents occuring on or after 1 July 1988, a bereavement award of £3,500 is payable to the spouse of the deceased victim or to the parents if the victim was unmarried and under 18 years of age. The rationale of the scheme is to ensure that victims and their families do not suffer financial hardship. The legislation makes no distinction between terrorist and other criminal acts except that in terrorist cases there is no upper limit to the amount of compensation for pecuniary loss which can be paid to victims or their dependants.

  Where a victim survives his injuries the amount of pecuniary loss arising from his partial or total incapacity for work is based on his earnings and future career prospects and account is also taken of any occupational
  752
  pension or gratuity and social security benefits payable as a result of the injury. The same considerations apply in assessing the amount of pecuniary loss suffered by the dependants of a deceased victim. In the case of pecuniary loss suffered by other relatives, including the deceased victim's parents, account has to be taken of the amount of the victim's financial contributions and the length of time such contributions could reasonably have been expected to have continued.

  In all cases compensation is paid as a tax-free lump sum. Any applicant who is dissatisfied with the amount determined has a statutory right of appeal to the courts.

  The compensation provisions broadly follow common law practice and are similar to the compensation provisions in the rest of the United Kingdom. The scheme operates in a fair and reasonable way.

  The table shows the total amount of compensation paid in each of the past 10 years to the victims of terrorism, their dependants and other relatives.

  Year

  Compensation Paid £ million

  1979–80

  1·2

  1980–81

  5·1

  1981–82

  3·5

  1982–83

  3·9

  1983–84

  4·6

  1984–85

  5·5

  1985–86

  7·9

  1986–87

  4·2

  1987–88

  4·3

  1988–89

  5·6

  Total

  45·8

  Traffic Flows
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last census of traffic was carried out on each road which enters Limavady town; what were the traffic figures for each road on that occasion; and what is his estimate of the present figures, numbers to be given for daily, and maximum and minimum hourly traffic volumes.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: Traffic figures on each road entering Limavady are obtained continually from automatic census points and annual figures are derived from these. The information for 1989 is as follows:

  Average daily traffic flow

  Maximum hourly traffic flow

  Minimum hourly traffic flow

  Roe Bridge, A2

  13,142

  1,335

  13

  Ballyquin Road, B68

  4,273

  396

  0

  Rathmore Road, A37

  6,927

  742

  3

  Dowland Road, A2

  3,861

  346

  0

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the present flow of traffic on a daily and maximum and minimum hourly flow basis across the Bann bridge, Coleraine and the Mountsandel bridge, Coleraine; what were the figures when the last traffic census was taken; and what were the figures for the Bann bridge before the Mountsandel bridge was opened.
  753
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The present daily and maximum and minimum hourly traffic flows across the Bann bridge are estimated to be 26,452, 2,600 and 10 respectively. These are based on the last census in 1988 but there have been no significant traffic flow changes since then. Automatic census points on the Sandelford bridge gave actual figures for 1989 of 14,745, 1,463 and eight respectively. The last complete census in 1987 gave figures of 13,450 and 1,350 vehicles with no minimum figure being available.

  The average 16-hour daily flow for the Bann bridge in 1972, before the Sandelford bridge was opened, was 22,290 vehicles. Maximum and minimum hourly flows are not available.

  Number of vehicles per day

  Number of heavy goods vehicles per day

  Highest hourly traffic flow

  Lowest hourly traffic flow

  Roe bridge, Limavady

  13,142

  920

  1,335

  13

  Roe bridge, Dungiven

  7,324

  732

  728

  3

  Civil Service
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will give details of the religious composition of the successful applicants for posts offered by the Department of the Environment, at each grade level in the(a) supervisory, (b) craft and (c) the non-craft grade groups of the industrial staff and: (i) the general service and (ii) the scientific grade groups of the non-industrial staff; and if he will give comparable figures for each year since 1983;

  (2) if he will give details of the religious denomination of all applicants for posts offered by the Department of the

  Department of the Environment industrial staff recruitment: October 1988 (first available date) to December 1989

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Supervisory, craft and non-craft

  Applicants

  628

  54·2

  451

  38·9

  79

  6·8

  1,158

  100

  Appointments

  106

  55·8

  75

  39·5

  9

  4·7

  190

  100

  Department of the Environment scientific group recruitment

  Year

  Grade level

  Protestant

  Applications Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Appointments total

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  C

  33

  26

  17

  76

  2

  1987

  D

  31

  15

  18

  64

  3

  1988

  E

  108

  58

  9

  175

  2

  1989

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Information about successful applicants is not provided because the numbers appointed were so small that it could serve to identify the religious affiliation of individuals.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the religious denomination of the members of the directorate of(a) the planning service, (b) the roads service, and (c) the water service; and if he will give comparable details for each year for 1983 to 1988 respectively.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: Equal opportunities monitoring in the Northern Ireland Civil Service began in 1985 when staff were asked
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  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show (a) the number of vehicles which cross the Roe bridge at Limavady, and (b) the number of vehicles which cross the Roe bridge at Dungiven, each day and the number of such vehicles which are believed to be heavy commercial vehicles, and also the highest and lowest hourly traffic flows.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The information is as follows:

  Environment, at each grade level in (a) the supervisory, (b) the craft and (c) the non-craft grade groups of the industrial staff, and (i) the general service and (ii) the scientific grade groups of the non-industrial staff; and if he will give comparable figures for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: Equal opportunities monitoring in the Northern Ireland Civil Service began in 1985 when staff were asked to complete, on a voluntary basis, a confidential questionnaire about their schooling background. From this information the religious affiliation of staff was determined.

  The statistics available are as follows:

  to complete, on a voluntary basis, a confidential questionnaire about their schooling background. From this information the religious affiliation of staff was determined.

  The statistics available are as follows:

  DOE Roads, Water and Town and Country Planning Services Directorates Total number of staff in the three directorates at 1 January 1989

  Number

  Roads

  4

  Water

  4

  Town and Country Planning

  3

  11

  755
  With such small numbers further disaggregation could only serve to identify the religious affiliation of individual officers.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the religious composition of the staff of the Department of the Environment for each grade and level in(a) the supervisory, (b) the craft and (c) the non-craft grade group of the industrial staff; and if he will give comparable figures for each year since 1983.

  DOE industrial staff—by grade level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  1. At 2 April 1987 (first available date)

  Supervisory

  144

  43·4

  115

  34·6

  73

  22·0

  332

  100

  Craft

  248

  50·1

  114

  23·0

  133

  26·9

  495

  100

  Non-Craft

  1,342

  43·9

  1,007

  32·9

  709

  23·2

  3,058

  100

  2. At 1 Janaury 1988

  Supervisory

  144

  43·4

  115

  34·6

  73

  22·0

  332

  100

  Craft

  256

  50·2

  114

  22·4

  140

  27·5

  510

  100

  Non-Craft

  1,363

  43·6

  1,026

  32·8

  739

  23·6

  3,128

  100

  3. 1 January 1989

  Supervisory

  143

  44·8

  108

  33·9

  64

  21·3

  319

  100

  Craft

  243

  50·5

  105

  21·8

  133

  27·7

  481

  100

  Non-Craft

  1,260

  42·6

  963

  32·6

  733

  24·8

  2,956

  100

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the religious composition of the staff of the Department of the Environment, for each grade level in(a) the general service and (b) the scientific grade groups of the non-industrial staff; and if he will give comparable figures for each year since 1983.
  756
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: Equal opportunities monitoring in the Northern Ireland Civil Service began in 1985 when staff were asked to complete, on a voluntary basis, a confidential questionnaire about their schooling background. From this information the religious affiliation of staff was determined.

  The statistics available are as follows:

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: Equal opportunities monitoring in the Northern Ireland Civil Service began in 1985 when staff were asked to complete, on a voluntary basis, a confidential questionnaire about their schooling background. From this information the religious affiliation of staff was determined.

  The statistics available are as follows:
  757

  Department of the Environment non-industrial staff at 1 January 1985

  1. General Service Group by Grade Level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level1

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  A and B

  60

  82·2

  11

  15·1

  2

  2·7

  73

  100

  C

  76

  72·4

  21

  20·0

  8

  7·6

  105

  100

  D

  117

  74·1

  26

  16·5

  15

  9·5

  158

  100

  E

  153

  73·2

  46

  22·0

  10

  4·8

  209

  100

  F

  167

  61·4

  78

  28·7

  27

  9·9

  272

  100

  G

  458

  50·5

  389

  42·9

  60

  6·6

  907

  100

  H

  207

  43·7

  254

  53·6

  13

  2·7

  474

  100

  Totals

  1,238

  56·3

  825

  37·5

  135

  6·1

  2,198

  100

  2. Scientific Group by Grade Level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level1

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Totals

  36

  70·6

  12

  23·5

  3

  5·9

  51

  100

  1 Defined in Third Report of the Equal Opportunities Unit.

  Department of the Environment non-industrial staff at 1 January 1986

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  1. General service group by grade level

  A and B

  65

  82·3

  12

  15·2

  2

  2·5

  79

  100

  C

  75

  72·8

  20

  19·4

  8

  7·8

  103

  100

  D

  124

  72·9

  31

  18·2

  15

  8·8

  170

  100

  E

  153

  72·7

  48

  22·6

  11

  5·2

  212

  100

  F

  165

  57·9

  95

  33·3

  25

  8·8

  285

  100

  G

  463

  49·3

  42·4

  45·2

  52

  5·5

  939

  100

  H

  228

  45·1

  263

  52·1

  14

  2·8

  505

  100

  Totals

  1,273

  55·5

  893

  38·9

  127

  5·5

  2,293

  100

  2. Scientific group by grade level

  Totals

  35

  61·4

  13

  22·8

  9

  15·8

  57

  100

  Department of the Environment non-industrial staff at 1 January 1987

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  1. General service group by grade level

  A and B

  64

  83·1

  11

  14·3

  2

  2·6

  77

  100

  C

  81

  73·6

  21

  19·1

  8

  7·3

  110

  100

  D

  115

  71·9

  30

  18·8

  15

  9·4

  160

  100

  E

  144

  68·6

  65

  25·7

  12

  5·7

  210

  100

  F

  162

  55·9

  106

  36·6

  22

  7·6

  290

  100

  G

  468

  48·3

  450

  46·5

  50

  5·2

  968

  100

  H

  229

  44·9

  265

  52·0

  16

  3·1

  510

  100

  Totals

  1,263

  54·3

  937

  40·3

  125

  5·4

  2,325

  100

  2. Scientific group by grade level

  Totals

  35

  62·1

  14

  24·1

  8

  13·8

  58

  100

  DOE Non-Industrial Staff at 1 January 1988

  1. General Services Group by Grade Level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  A and B

  63

  80·8

  12

  15·4

  3

  3·8

  78

  100

  C

  80

  74·8

  20

  18·7

  7

  6·5

  107

  100

  D

  128

  71·5

  36

  20·1

  15

  8·4

  179

  100

  E

  142

  65·7

  61

  28·2

  13

  6·0

  216

  100

  F

  155

  54·6

  111

  39·1

  18

  6·3

  284

  100

  G

  477

  48·8

  450

  46·1

  50

  5·1

  977

  100

  H

  238

  450

  277

  52·4

  14

  2·6

  529

  100

  Totals

  1,283

  54·1

  967

  40·8

  120

  5·1

  2,370

  100

  758 759

  2. Scientific Group by Grade Level

  Grade Level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Totals

  36

  63·2

  13

  22·8

  8

  14·0

  57

  100

  DOE Non-Industrial Staff at 1 January 1989

  1. General Services Group by Grade Level

  Grade Level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  A and B

  65

  81·2

  12

  15·0

  3

  3·8

  80

  100

  C

  79

  73·1

  22

  20·4

  7

  6·5

  108

  100

  D

  125

  69·4

  42

  23·3

  13

  7·2

  180

  100

  E

  153

  64·3

  71

  29·8

  14

  5·9

  238

  100

  F

  152

  50·8

  130

  43·5

  17

  5·7

  299

  100

  G

  512

  50·8

  450

  44·7

  45

  4·5

  1,007

  100

  H

  238

  44·6

  281

  52·6

  15

  2·8

  534

  100

  Totals

  1,324

  54·1

  1,008

  41·2

  114

  4·7

  2,46

  100

  2. Scientific Group by Grade Level

  Grade Level

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Grade level

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Number

  Percent.

  Totals

  41

  65·1

  14

  22·2

  8

  12·7

  63

  100

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Panama
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available emergency economic and medical aid to Panama to assist the reconstruction of the country following the invasion by United States forces.

  Mrs Chalker
  I have no such plans.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why compensation paid by Her Majesty's Government to Barlow Clowes investors includes compound interest from the date of deposit to the end of December 1989; and why this interest is deemed to be free of liability for tax.

  Mr. Redwood
  The terms of the Government's scheme of payments to investors in Barlow Clowes are in accordance with the recommendation of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. The Department's statement regarding the tax liability of these payments reflects the advice of the Inland Revenue and is a matter for it.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when export credits guarantee cover was restored to Vietnam.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]: Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for business with Vietnam on medium and long-term credit was withdrawn in March 1982. Since December that year cover for short-term business has remained available subject to
  760
  payment being made on terms of cash against documents out of an irrevocable letter of credit confirmed before shipment by a bank in the United Kingdom.

  While ECGD continues to monitor developments no early relaxation of these terms is envisaged.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the balance of trade with(a) the rest of the European Communiity, (b) the USA and (c) Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information from which crude trade balances1 may be derived can be found in the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, available from the Library of the House, or on the central statistical office databank which may be accessed through the Library.

  1 Crude balances slightly overstate deficits (or understate surpluses) since the value of imports, but not that of exports, includes insurance and freight.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish a table showing the increase in the volume of manufacturing output less food etc. and of exports of manufactures based on current values.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  Index numbers of the volume of output of manufacturing industries and of food, drink and tobacco—at 1985 prices—are published in the index of output of the production industries press notice, tables 1 and 2 respectively, together with their relative weights. Manufacturing output less food, drink and tobacco can be derived for these two series. Exports of total manufactures—in current value terms—are published in the United Kingdom balance of payments current account press notice, table 8. Both press notices give percentage changes for the latest three months on the previous three months

  761
  and on the same three months a year earlier. The press notices are available from the House of Commons Library.

  County

  Lord-Lieutenant

  Date of appointment

  Date of retirement

  England

  Avon

  Sir John Wills, TD, FRICS, JP

  April 1974

  July 2003

  Bedfordshire

  Lt. Col. Hanmer Hanbury, LVO, MC. JP

  March 1978

  January 1991

  Berkshire

  John Henderson Esq, CVO, OBE

  June 1989

  May 1995

  Buckinghamshire

  Commander The Hon. John Fremantle, RN (Retd.), JP

  September 1984

  January 2002

  Cambridgeshire

  Michael Bevan Esq.

  August 1985

  August 2001

  Cheshire

  The Viscount Leverhulme, TD

  August 1949

  July 1990

  Cleveland

  The Lord Gisborough, TD

  March 1981

  July 2002

  Cornwall

  The Viscount Falmouth

  October 1977

  October 1994

  Cumbria

  Sir Charles Graham, Bt.

  February 1983

  July 1994

  Derbyshire

  Col. Peter Hilton, MC, JP

  January 1978

  June 1994

  Devon

  The Early of Morley, JP

  May 1982

  May 1998

  Dorset

  The Lord Digby JP

  September 1984

  July 1999

  Durham

  David Grant Esq, CBE

  April 1988

  January 1997

  East Sussex

  Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, KCB

  November 1989

  January 2000

  Essex

  Admiral Sir Andrew Lewis, KCB, JP

  August 1978

  January 1993

  Gloucestershire

  Col. Martin Gibbs, CB, DSO, TD, JP

  June 1978

  February 1992

  Greater London

  Field Marshal The Lord Bramall, GCB, OBE, MC, JP

  January 1986

  December 1998

  Greater Manchester

  Col. J. B. Timmins, OBE, TD, JP

  December 1987

  June 2007

  Hampshire

  Sir James Scott, JP

  December 1982

  October 1999

  Hereford and Worcester

  Captain Thomas Dunne, JP

  July 1977

  October 2008

  Hertfordshire

  Simon Bowes Lyon Esq, FCA

  January 1986

  June 2007

  Humberside

  Richard Bethell Esq.

  October 1983

  March 1997

  Isle of Wight

  The Lord Mottistone, CBE

  August 1985

  December 1995

  Kent

  The Rt. Hon. Robin Leigh-Pemberton

  August 1982

  January 2002

  Lancashire

  Dr. Simon Towneley

  March 1976

  December 1996

  Leicestershire

  Timothy Brooks Esq, JP

  January 1989

  March 2004

  Lincolnshire

  Henry Nevile Esq.

  November 1975

  March 1995

  Merseyside

  Henry Cotton Esq.

  May 1989

  July 2004

  Norfolk

  Timothy Colman Esq.

  March 1978

  September 2004

  Northamptonshire

  John Lowther Esq, CBE, JP

  January 1984

  November 1998

  Northumberland

  The Viscount Ridley, TD

  January 1984

  July 2000

  North Yorkshire

  Sir Marcus Worsley, JP

  March 1987

  April 2000

  Nottinghamshire

  Sir Gordon Hobday

  January 1983

  February 1991

  Oxfordshire

  Sir Ashley Ponsonby, MC

  January 1980

  February 1996

  Shropshire

  John Dugdale Esq.

  February 1975

  May 1998

  Somerset

  Lt. Col. Geoffrey Luttrell, MC, JP

  March 1978

  October 1994

  South Yorkshire

  Hugh Neill Esq, CBE, TD, JP

  May 1985

  March 1996

  Staffordshire

  Sir Arthur Bryan

  July 1968

  March 1998

  Suffolk

  Sir Joshua Rowley, JP

  March 1978

  December 195

  Surrey

  Richard Thornton Esq, OBE, JP

  May 1986

  October 1997

  Tyne and Wear

  Sir Ralph Carr-Ellison

  July 1984

  December 2000

  Warwickshire

  Vacant

  West Midlands

  The Earl of Aylesford, JP

  April 1974

  November 1993

  West Sussex

  Her Grace, Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk, CBE

  May 1975

  March 1990

  West Yorkshire

  The Lord Ingrow, OBE, TD, JP

  May 1985

  August 1992

  Wiltshire

  Field Marshal Sir Roland Gibbs, GCB, CBE, DSO, MC

  December 1989

  June 1996

  Wales

  Clwyd

  Sir William Gladstone, Bt, JP

  August 1985

  October 2000

  Dyfed

  Mr. David Mansel Lewis, JP

  February 1979

  October 2002

  Mid Glamorgan

  Vacant

  South Glamorgan

  Mrs. Susan Williams, MBE

  December 1985

  August 1990

  West Glamorgan

  Lt. Col. Sir Michael Llewellyn, Bt.

  December 1987

  June 1996

  Gwynedd

  Vacant

  Gwent

  Mr. Richard Hanbury-Tenison, JP

  June 1979

  January 2000

  Powys

  Mr. Mervyn Bourdillon, JP

  July 1986

  August 1999

PRIME MINISTER

  Lords Lieutenant for England and Wales
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the lords lieutenant for England and Wales, the dates of their appointment and projected date of retirement.

  The Prime Minister
  A list of lords lieutenant for England and Wales follows, together with the dates of their appointment and expected retirement.

  EC Internal Matters (Director General)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to fill the post of Director General for internal matters in the EEC.

  The Prime Minister
  Appointments in the Commission are made by the Commission. The Government naturally make every effort to ensure that there is an equitable proportion of British personnel on the staff of the EC institutions, in particular in important posts.

  Mr. John Mogg
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister when she expects Mr. John Mogg to leave the service of the Cabinet Office.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Mogg joined the Cabinet Office in July 1989. On present plans, his posting would last for two to three years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Hillsborough Disaster
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what compensation has been offered to Mr. Trevor Hicks in respect of each of his daughters killed in the Hillsborough stadium disaster; what is the total compensation to be awarded to bereaved families; and on what basis their claims will be met;

  (2) what compensation will be payable to parents who lost a child aged under 18 years, or a spouse aged over 18 years, in the Hillsborough disaster.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to intervene in these matters. I understand, however, that the South Yorkshire police authority, through its insurers, has been in touch with Mr. Hicks's solicitors asking for further information about his claim.

  Official Secrets
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the effect of the draft Official Secrets Act 1989 (Prescription) Order 1989 will enable prosecution of the officials listed in schedule 2 to the order under the Official Secrets Act 1989 for disclosing certain categories of information to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  The draft order establishes that the office holders listed in schedule 2 and some associated staff (all of whom at present fall within the scope of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911) are to be treated as Crown servants for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989. They will be liable to prosecution for unauthorised disclosures in the limited circumstances laid down in the Act.

  Drugs
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on opportunities for new manufacturers of opium derivatives to enter the United Kingdom market in the light of the recommendations in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report published in April 1989.
  764
  Mr. Waddington
  While I shall continue to apply strict security measures to the manufacture and distribution of controlled drugs, I shall ensure that they do not create unnecessary restrictions on competition. I therefore welcome firm proposals from new manufacturers to establish opium derivative production.

TRANSPORT

  Leeds City Station
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to approve the additional funds required for British Rail's completion of the upgrading of the west end of Leeds City station with an additional platform and improved track and signalling.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that British Rail has started design work on a major scheme at Leeds, to be undertaken in the early 1990s.

  No question of approval by this Department arises at present.

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of loaded waste nuclear fuel train movements through Doncaster that were completed(a) with no accidents involved and (b) with an accident involved.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department does not collect this information, but I understand that loaded nuclear fuel flasks do not normally travel through Doncaster and there has not been an accident involving this type of traffic in the Doncaster area.

  Blind People
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to require all contractors or councils that dig up pavements or road surfaces to place firm barriers around the holes to ensure blind people are not endangered.

  Mr. Atkins
  A revised version of chapter 8 of the traffic signs manual to be published later this year will include such measures. The manual is a code of practice, compliance with which is taken to satisfy general legal requirements for the proper guarding of works. The proposed legislation to reform the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950 will be used to enforce such requirements for utility works. This legislation will be introduced as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take concerning the involvement of Mr. Peter Wetherby, an employee of his Department, under the pseudonym of Dominic Delaney in the organisation of the Troops Out movement or the Martyrs Committee.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: The activities of Mr. Peter Wetherby in relation to the Troops

  765
  Out movement and the Manchester Martyrs are being investigated by his employers, the Inland Revenue. Any subsequent action will depend on the outcome of those investigations.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current position and place of work of Mr. Peter Wetherby.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: Mr. Peter Wetherby is a revenue executive employed by the Inland Revenue in its Greater Manchester region.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has issued any guidance to his employees on involvement with the Troops Out movement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 7 December 1989]: General guidance on the extent to which civil servants may take part in political activities is given in the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code and in departmental instructions.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the balance of trade in manufactured goods.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The information was published on 29 December 1989, in table 12 of the montly press notice on the current account of the balance of payments, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts he has made of the impact on the rate of inflation of the uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 10 January 1990]: The uniform business rate in 1990–91 will raise in real terms broadly the same amount from business as in 1989–90: it will not add to real business costs as a whole. For future years, there is a statutory guarantee that the national non-domestic rate poundage will increase by no more than the rate of inflation.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Parliamentary Rifle Range
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what use is made of the parliamentary rifle range; what representations he has had seeking its closure and replacement by(a) a childcare facility or (b) a use likely to benefit a large number of hon. Members and staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  Th sports and social club's rifle range occupies a windowless basement room within the House of Lords. I have received no proposals concerning the room since I answered the hon. Member's question on 29 November.

ENERGY

  IAEA Safeguards
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information his Department collects on a routine basis on the imports and exports of nuclear materials for the purposes of reporting to the international safeguards authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  Under articles 24 and 25 of Euratom Regulations 3227/76 (of the Official Journal) the Department forwards to the Euratom safeguards directorate reports by all nuclear operators of exports and imports of nuclear materials. These reports are, in turn, passed by Euratom to the IAEA.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if Her Majesty's Government have given any consideration to the International Atomic Energy Agency playing a role in safeguarding fissile materials involved in non-explosive military uses.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am content with the UK-Euratom-IAEA agreement which excludes material and facilities in the United Kingdom's military cycle.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to seek an extension to the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime to cover visits to non-declared suspect facilities.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. Safeguards-related visits and inspections are matters for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the relevant state. In the case of non-nuclear weapon states party to the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT), the treaty obliges them not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and accept IAEA safeguards on all source or fissionable material in all their peaceful nuclear activities.

  In relation to non-parties to the NPT, IAEA safeguards can be applied only on a voluntary basis.

  In either case the agency's statutes require the inspectors to report any non-compliance to the director general who shall thereupon transmit the report to the board of governors.

  Fuel Exports and Imports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide the latest available equivalent figures about fuel exports and imports to those given in the tables in his answers of 9 November,Official Report, column 767 and 19 December 1989, Official Report, columns 118 arid 119.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The equivalent information for fuel exports and imports for the 11 months to November 1989 following my previous answers on 9 November and 19 December is as follows:

  Table 1

  January to November 1989

  Thousand tonnes

  Exports (fob)

  Coal

  1,890

  Oil

  163,320

  767

  Thousand tonnes

  Imports (cif)

  Coal

  10,918

  Gas2

  13,726

  Oil

  53,636

  1 Contains a small amount of natural gas exports.

  2 Coal equivalent.

  Notes:

  The volume figures are in thousand tonnes. For oil this is consistent with the basis used in Overseas Trade Statistics publications. However if figures are required on a common basis then the oil figures should be multiplied by a factor of 1·7 to convert them to thousand tonnes of coal equivalent.

  Provisional data for the whole of 1989 should be available in mid-February.

  Table 2

  January to November 1989

  £ million at 1985 prices2

  Exports (fob)

  Coal

  73

  Oil

  110,820

  Imports (cif)

  Coal

  584

  Gas

  1,032

  Oil

  8,648

  1 Contains a small amount of natural gas exports.

  2 Figures at 1985 constant prices have been derived by applying the unit value for exports in 1985 to the relevant volumes in 1989. The figures for gas are estimated.

  Note:

  Provisional data for the whole of 1989 should be available in mid-February.

ENVIRONMENT

  Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 14 December,Official report, column 751, if he will list separately the contracts that have been extended by the Property Services Agency and the Crown Suppliers to the Department of the Environment.

  Mr. Chope
  Government Departments cannot contract with each other. There are therefore no contracts extended by the Property Services Agency and the Crown Suppliers to the Department of the Environment.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current estimated population of the London borough of Lambeth aged 18 years and over and who will be eligible to pay the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  The information available to the Department shows that 172,529 people in the London borough of Lambeth were eligible to pay the community charge on 1 December 1989, counting students as one fifth and including the estimated full-year equivalent of contributors to the collective community charge.

  Commons Crypt
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work is to be carried out during 1990 to the fabric and structure in the Commons Crypt.

  Mr. Chope
  There is a major dampness problem in the Crypt Chapel caused by the long-term seepage of moisture through the porous stone.

  Consultants have been appointed to identify possible remedies and their report is due shortly. It is therefore, I regret, too soon to say what work will be done this year.

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which 10 local authority areas in the United Kingdom the largest percentage increases in home ownership have occurred since 1979.

  Mr. Chope
  This information is not available.

  The latest information on the percentage change in the number of owner-occupier households at the local authority level comes from the 1981 Census for the period 1971 to 1981 and can be found in table 17 of "Census 1981: Key statistics for local authorities". We expect the 1991 census to provide corresponding information for the period 1981 to 1991. The Department does, however, make regional estimates of the proportion of the housing stock in owner-occupation and figures for April 1981 and December 1988 are published in table 9.4 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1978–1988". Copies of both publications are in the Library.

  Tyre Fire (Powys)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to investigate the pollution implications of the tyre fire at Knighton and Heyhope in Powys.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. Inspectors have given advice to the local authority which is responsible for regulating waste disposal sites and the burning of tyres.

  Questions about the incident itself should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Reports
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses to decide when to publish a report commissioned by his Department(a) through Her Majesty's Stationery Office and (b) by placing a single copy in the Library.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Each case is considered on its merits. The factors involved also include an assessment of the likely public interest, the cost of publication and whether the report concerned should be priced or unpriced.

  Northern Industrialised Nations (Conference)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for policy initiatives to be taken at the forthcoming international conference of northern industrialised nations in Bergen, Norway in May.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Bergen conference, which is being organised by the Norwegian Government under the
  769
  auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, will examine the extent to which the recommendations of the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development have been implemented. It will enable Ministers from ECE countries to decide what co-operative action is needed to tackle the main environmental problems of the world, particularly those confronting eastern Europe.

  The United Kingdom is playing a prominent part in the preparations for the conference. Last year we hosted the first of four international preparatory workshops. We have also contributed a report, "Sustaining Our Common future", reviewing the substantial progress we have made within the United Kingdom in following up the WCED report.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the main findings and conclusions of the most recent joint Department of the Environment-Nature Conservancy Council staff inspection of the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mr. Trippier
  The report of the staff inspection last year of the chief scientist's directorate of the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) is an internal NCC document which has not yet been finalised. It would therefore be inappropriate to list its findings and conclusions.

  Vehicle Smoke Checks
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of smoke in urban areas is estimated to come from diesel vehicles.

  Mr. Trippier
  Figures for emissions of black smoke from diesel vehicles have not yet been finalised, but will be published for the first time in the Department's annual digest of environmental protection and water statistics early in 1990.

  EC Habitats Directive
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that Community funding made available to implement the European Community habitats directive will be directed to the most-needed areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  We understand that the European Commission is working up a proposal for funding to assist implementation of the habitats directive once it has been agreed. We shall certainly be keen to ensure that any such funding will be used as effectively as possible.

  Rateable Values
  Mr. Benyon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the report by consultants on substitutes for rateable values as they are used in housing legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Copies of the report by Price Waterhouse on market rents as substitutes for rateable values as used in housing legislation have today been placed in the House Libraries. The consultants were commissioned to survey 770
  rents in certain sectors of the private rented market, to provide evidence on which to base substitutes for the rateable value limits which define protection under certain rent, landlord and tenant and housing Acts, and to make recommendations. The proposed substitutes, set out in the table, would apply to agreements made on or after 1 April when the community charge comes into effect. They will be provided by means of regulations under section 149 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, applying in England and Wales, to come into force on 1 April.

  Housing Act 1988: Rent Act 1977 (new tenancies)

  Upper Limit for protection

  In Greater London

  Tenancies with an annual rent of less than £25,000 (excluding certain service charges)

  Outside Greater London

  Tenancies with an annual rent of less than £25,000 (excluding certain service charges)

  Lower Limit

  In Greater London

  Tenancies with an annual rent of more than £1,000 (excluding certain service charges)

  Outside Greater London

  Tenancies with an annual rent of more than £250 (excluding certain service charges)

  Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part I: Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Schedule 10

  Ground rent qualification

  In Greater London

  £1,000 pa

  Outside Greater London

  £250 pa

  The upper limit will broadly be based on the rental equivalent for the premium paid ie an annual equivalent payment taken over the unexpired length of the lease, assuming a maximum lease length of 100 years. The annual equivalent would be derived using the formula shown in the consultants' report, using an interest rate of 6 per cent. Both inside and outside Greater London, it is proposed that protection will generally apply to leases where the rental equivalent of the premium computed on this basis is £25,000 pa and below.

  Leasehold Reform Act 1967
  Both the ground rent and the upper limit qualifications will be the same as those under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, part I, and Local Government and Housing Act 1989, schedule 10, above.

  Commercial Rates
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all local rating authorities which have increased commercial rates(a) by 20 per cent. per annum compound in real terms and (b) by 15 per cent. per annum compound in real terms, for five successive years since 1979.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 10 January 1990]: There is none in either category.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority in England the gross commercial and non-domestic rateable value totals in(a) 1973 and (b) on 2 January 1990; and if he will list in each case the percentage increase.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 10 January 1990]: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Institute for European Environmental Policy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent reports commissioned by his Department from the Institute for European
  771
  Environmental Policy have been published; and what plans he has for commissioning further reports from the Institute for European Environmental Policy.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]: A study by the Institute for European Environmental Policy commissioned by my Department was published on 12 December under the title "Environmental Policy and 1992". My Department has recently let a contract to the institute to provide advice and information on the international aspects of integrated pollution control. The institute also provides regular advice and information to my Department on European Community environmental policy issues under a standing consultancy agreement.

  Pollution, Bexhill
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the risks posed by drums of(a) sodium cyanide, (b) dioxins, (c) sulphuric and (d) hydrochloric acids on beaches at and near Bexhill in Sussex.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 1 January 1990]: I am aware that containers, drums and packages, a few containing hazardous substances, have been washed ashore at a number of locations along the south and east coasts in recent weeks. It is thought that they originate from a Pakistani-owned and registered vessel, the Muree, which sank off the Devon coast on 28 October last year.

  The Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit has examined the ship's manifest and has advised Ministers that none of the cargo would pose a significant threat to the marine environment. However, some substances which were on board could be hazardous to people who come into direct contact with them. Warning messages have been issued to fishermen and local authorities in areas where it is thought they may come ashore.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Social Security Commissioners (Appeals)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General how many decisions were issued by the social security commissioners relating to each social security benefit, distinguishing between single payments and other supplementary benefits, in each month since January 1988; how many appeals to the commissioners relating to each benefit are outstanding; and in how many of these cases the appeal(a) is not ready for hearing, (b) is awaiting a hearing and (c) has been heard but the commissioner's decision has not been issued.

  The Attorney-General
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. However, the number of decisions issued by the commissioners in calendar years 1988 and 1989 for each category of benefit is shown in the tables, although existing statistics do not distinguish between supplementary benefit and single payment appeals.

  Information on the number of appeals outstanding relating to each category of benefit is not readily available, but the current total of outstanding appeals is 3,331. In 1988, 19 per cent. of appeals, and in 1989 24 per cent. of appeals, were decided after an oral hearing; the balance of
  772
  appeals in each year was decided without an oral hearing. Of the total of outstanding appeals (a) 1,559 are not ready for decision; (b) 1,528 are awaiting a decision; and (c) 244 have been decided and a commissioner's decision has not yet been issued.

  Number of Decisions issued by the Social Security Commissioners in 1988

  Number

  Supplementary Benefit

  1,198

  Family Income Supplement

  18

  Unemployment Benefit

  176

  Sickness Benefit

  196

  Attendance Allowance

  173

  Industrial Injury

  207

  Mobility Allowance

  221

  Child Benefit

  33

  Retirement Pensions

  45

  Statutory Sick Pay

  8

  General Benefits

  e.g. widows benefit, guardian allowance

  65

  Income Support

  —

  Total

  2,340

  Number of Decisions issued by the Social Security Commissioners in 1989

  Supplementary Benefit

  1,199

  Family Income Supplement

  7

  Unemployment Benefit

  134

  Sickness Benefit

  125

  Attendance Allowance

  205

  Industrial Injury

  205

  Mobility Allowance

  245

  Child Benefit

  34

  Retirement Pensions

  41

  Statutory Sick Pay

  3

  General Benefits

  e.g. widows benefit, guardian allowance

  68

  Income Support

  47

  Family Credit

  2

  Total

  2,315

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the average cost to public funds of an appeal to the social security commissioners, with or without an oral hearing.

  The Attorney-General
  It is estimated that the average cost to public funds is £2,428·29.

  Compensation
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what representations he has received about the present levels of compensation payable under the Administration of Justice Act 1982; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will review the current levels of compensation provided for under the Administration of Justice Act 1982.

  The Attorney-General
  The Solicitor-General and I, as well as the Lord Chancellor, have received a number of letters from members of the public expressing their concern about the present level of bereavement damages which may be awarded under the Administration of Justice Act 1982. The Solicitor-General announced in May 1989 during the Committee stage of the Citizens Compensation Bill (Official Report, Standing Committee C, 3 May 1989, col. 21) that the Lord Chancellor would be reviewing the sum specified in the 1982 Act. Since then, the Lord Chancellor has been studying the question whether it

  773
  would he appropriate to raise the sum and, if so, to what new level, and he will be issuing a consultation paper shortly.

  Constitution (Judicial Review)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he or the Lord Chancellor have received seeking a judicial review of the constitution.

  The Attorney-General
  No such representations have been received either by me or by the Lord Chancellor.

HEALTH

  Malaria
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of malaria contracted in the United Kingdom have been reported in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the years 1979–88 two cases of malaria contracted by mosquito bite in the United Kingdom were reported to the malaria reference laboratory at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (both in 1983).

  In addition there were reports of cases contracted following congenital infection, organ transplant or blood transfusion in the following years: 1984 (four cases), 1985 (four cases) and 1986 (three cases).

  Powered Wheelchairs
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has received a report from the Disablement Services Authority concerning the provision of occupant-controlled indoor and outdoor powered wheelchairs; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether his Department will make available the funds to enable the Disablement Services Authority to provide occupant-controlled indoor and outdoor powered wheelchairs to those more severely disabled people who would benefit from such a chair.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Disablement Services Authority is at present undertaking a study to assess the numbers of most severely disabled people who would benefit from this type of wheelchair. Once the results of the study are known, the authority will consider the resource implications and advise me in due course.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what surveys of sight test numbers in late 1989 his Department commissioned; if he will publish details of the form of the survey and its results; and if he will publish comparable figures for each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The results of a survey of the number of sight tests in the first quarter of 1990 compared with earlier periods should be available after Easter, when we expect to provide a summary of the findings for the Library.

  Adopted Children
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were adopted in each of the last five years in(a) England and Wales and (b) the Basildon area.
  774
  Mr. Freeman
  The total numbers of adoption orders granted by courts in England and Wales for children aged under 18 years during each of the last five years are given in the table.

  Number

  1984

  8,648

  1985

  7,615

  1986

  7,892

  1987

  7,201

  1988

  7,390

  Data for 1989 for England and Wales are expected to be available in April. Because the form from which adoption statistics are derived does not record the residential address of either the child or his/her parents, the numbers of adoptions in particular areas are not available.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has of the number of children in the care of local authorities in(a) England and Wales and (b) the Basildon area, for each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is collected centrally on children in the care of local authorities with social services responsibilities. This is published in "Children in the Care of Local Authorities" and is available in the Library. Information is not available centrally for the Basildon area, but data on children in the care of Essex local authority are available; the most recent data relate to 31 March 1987. These figures and data for each of the last five years are given in the table.

  Children in care at 31 March in Essex and England and Wales

  Essex

  England and Wales

  1983

  1,594

  86,552

  1984

  1,438

  78,889

  1985

  1,224

  73,302

  1986

  1,189

  70,919

  1987

  1,234

  69,249

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time for which a child is kept in the care of a local authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is available centrally about episodes of care, that is, the continuous length of time a child is in care without a change in legal status. The length of care episodes for children leaving care is shown by time bands in the publication "Children in the Care of Local Authorities", which is available in the Library. This information is also shown by the legal status of the child, the reason the episode ceased and the age of the child.

  Genito-urinary Medicine
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the last financial year the special sums to each regional health authority for genito-urinary medicine; which authorities took up all or part of those allocations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 10 January 1990]: We have not provided any specific funding for genito-urinary

  775
  medicine. We have, however, made it clear to health authorities that we expect them to make full use of the opportunity provided by the extra resources made available for AIDS to improve these services given their role in preventing the spread of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases.

  A total of £130 million was made available for AIDS in 1989–90.

WALES

  Jobs
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many major job announcements have been made in the past six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Investment in Wales has continued at a high level over the past six months with a new investment on average every eight working days. Major announcements include Toyota's £140 million investment at Shotton, the Gooding-Sanken joint venture at Aberaman promising 520 jobs, and an expansion of RF Brookes, Rogerstone promising 220 full-time and 50 part-time jobs.

  Forests
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to develop forests as a tourist resource in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Welsh forests already provide a substantial tourist resource. Most of those managed by the Forestry Commission are open to the public and attract millions of visits a year. They offer a variety of recreational facilities such as visitor centres, forest walks and picnic places, as well as opportunities for specialist pursuits ranging from horse riding to orienteering. The commission also promotes camping and caravanning holidays to both home and overseas markets and co-operates with tourist boards on a range of initiatives.

  A growing number of private forests are open to the public, and applicants under the commission's woodland grant scheme are required to take into account the recreational potential of new woodlands.

  Rally Driving School (Powys)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call in the planning application to Montgomeryshire district council concerning the proposed expansion of the rally driving school at Gribyn Forest, Powys.

  Mr. Grist
  On the information available to him, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State sees no reason why an application of this nature, which does not appear to raise issues of more than local importance, should not be decided by the local planning authority.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the possible expansion of the rally driving school in the Gribyn Forest, Powys.

  Mr. Grist
  None.
  776
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has issued any guidance to the Forestry Commission concerning the possible expansion of the rally driving school at Gribyn Forest, Powys.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No. Gribyn Forest is not managed by the Forestry Commission; it is privately owned.

  Earnings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of part-time employees earning less than (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums, in Wales and each county in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information is not readily available for all part-time employees, nor for hourly earnings excluding shift and PBR premiums as well as overtime. Statistics could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales why the information on standard spending assessments, referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Ms. Armstrong) of 13 November 1989,Official Report, column 34, is not yet available.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The 1990–91 standard spending assessments, and the formulae underlying their calculation, are given in the Welsh revenue support grant distribution report, which was laid before the House of Commons on 20 December 1989.

  Margam
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will investigate the level of releases of natural gas to the atmosphere from normal operations at the British Steel plant at Margam.

  Mr. Grist
  No. I have no reason to believe that there are any significant releases of natural gas from the works.

DEFENCE

  Hong Kong
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any members of Her Majesty's armed forces stationed in Hong Kong were involved in armed confrontation with Vietnamese emigrants on Lantau Island during the Christmas period.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Her Majesty's armed forces had no involvement in the quelling of the disturbances at Chi Ma Wan camp on 29 December; this was carried out by the Hong Kong correctional services department and police.

  One RAF helicopter was, however, deployed to evacuate six injured Vietnamese boat people for medical treatment.

  Fissile Material
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has conducted concerning arrangements for safeguarding fissile material from nuclear weapons dismantled as part of arms reduction agreements.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  Aircraft Collision, Northumberland
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the collision of two RAF fighters in Northumberland on Tuesday 9 January.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the two RAF aircraft involved in the mid-air collision over the Hexham constituency on Tuesday 9 January were both engaged on low-flying exercises; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the mid-air collision between the RAF jets over the Hexham constituency on Tuesday 9 January.

  Mr. Neubert
  On Tuesday 9 January 1990 an RAF Tornado and an RAF Jaguar aircraft engaged on routine low-flying training missions were involved in a mid-air collision over Northumberland. The Tornado aircraft crashed about five miles east of Hexham and some wreckage fell on the A68 and A69. There were no civilian casualties. The Jaguar remained airborne and was able to land at RAF Leeming. The crew of the Tornado sustained major injuires and are in hospital in Newcastle. The pilot of the Jaguar was uninjured.

  A board of inquiry has been convened in the normal way and a summary of its findings will be published in due course. It would be inappropriate to speculate about the causes of the accident until the inquiry is complete.

  Army Scholarships
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the schools in respect of which tuition fees were paid and from whose head teachers endorsements of

  Total sum paid in educational allowances

  Numbers of individuals in receipt of allowances

  Average allowance paid per child

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1987–88

  1988–89

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  (£)

  (£)

  Officers

  67·955

  65·524

  7,951

  7,599

  5,431

  5,423

  Other ranks

  38·626

  41·196

  6,559

  6,533

  4,144

  4,378

  1 This is the average allowance paid per child and is inclusive of grossing-up for income tax.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Salmon
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to be in a position to publish the departmental report on the effect in the salmon fishery of draft netting at sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Work on the review required by section 39 of the Salmon Act 1986 is in progress. My colleagues and I will submit a report to Parliament as soon as possible.
  778
  candidature were received and the numbers of (a) boys and (b) girls from each school who have received awards under the Army scholarship scheme for pupils aged 15 and 16 years for the latest year in which information is available;

  (2) what has been the total cost in grants and tuition paid in respect of (a) boys and (b) girls receiving both grants and tuition in the latest year for which information is available in respect of the Army scholarship scheme for children aged 15 and 16 years.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information is not available in the format requested. In financial year 1988–89, a total of £92,000 was spent on the Army scholarship scheme. Each scholar received £750 per academic year at that time. The award was increased to £1,050 with effect from 1 April 1989.

  There are currently 96 scholars, including nine females.

  The award of an Army scholarship does not rest on the head teacher's endorsement alone. Applicants are required to meet the necessary academic standards as well as passing a test, a medical examination and an interview.

  Educational Allowances
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approxiamte cost of holiday visit passages paid in respect of children of defence service personnel in receipt of educational allowances, for the latest year available.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information available does not allow the costs of school children's visits to be identified separately from the costs of other types of travel.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total sum paid to(a) officers and (b) other ranks in educational allowances in the years 1987–88 and 1988–89; what were the numbers of individuals receiving allowances in categories (a) and (b) above; and what is the average grossed-up value of an allowance in each category.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information requested is as follows:

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the institutions where the research work into bovine spongiform encephalopathy as recommended by the Tyrrell report will be carried out.

  Mr. Gummer
  The MAFF-funded research work into bovine spongiform encephalopathy will be carried out mainly at the MAFF central veterinary laboratory, Weybridge, and at the Institute of Animal Health at the AFRC/MRC neuropathogenesis unit in Edinburgh, although some work may be conducted at other research establishments.

  Antibiotic Hormone Drugs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the antibiotic hormone drugs given a product licence without reference to the veterinary products committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The only product of this kind licensed without specific reference to the veterinary products committee is Synulox Lactating Cow intrammary suspension (PL 0030/4000), which contains two antibiotics and a glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory agent. Between 1978 and 1984 the VPC reviewed fully the data relating to all intrammary products then on the market and recommended the renewal of licences for a number of them. When the Ministry's expert assessors examined the product licence application for Synulox in 1986 they considered that it raised no new issues not already addressed by the VPC and a licence was therefore granted.

  Several members of the VPC subsequently asked for details of the assessment. They accepted officials' conclusions that no new safety or other issue was involved and it was agreed that any future applications for similar products would be referred to the VPC. No further applications have been received.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the social fund allocation for each local office, both in respect of grants and loans, for the year 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  Individual local office allocations for 1990–91 are now being considered and will be announced in due course.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to which offices he is allocating the extra £3 million for the social fund which he announced on 19 December 1989,Official Report, column 174; and, for each office, whether this is for loans or grants.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the Library.

  Mobility Allowance (Deaf-blind People)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date he intends to announce eligibility criteria for mobility allowance in the case of people who are deaf-blind.

  Mr. Scott
  We intend to bring forward proposed amendments to the relevant regulations as soon as possible.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consultation has been undertaken in drawing up the criteria of deaf-blind people for the purpose of entitlement to mobility allowance;

  (2) if he will consult the mobility allowance campaign on suitable eligibility criteria for deaf-blind people.

  Mr. Scott
  We are aware of the representations that have been made on behalf of deaf-blind people for extending mobility allowance to them.

  Single Payments
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish(a) the annual amounts paid in single payments in the last year in which these payments were available for each of the area offices in Dundee (b) the budgets for (i) grants and (ii) loans and (c) the actual amounts paid under these headings in the Dundee offices for each year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  Details of single payment expenditure for 1987–88, and annual social fund allocations for loans and grants for 1988–89 and 1989–90, listed by local office, are available in the Library, together with details of the amounts of loans and grants paid since 11 April 1988.

  Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps have been taken to ensure that people contracting out by means of personal pension schemes have been advised of the approximate age at which, assuming a rate of return of 0·5 or 2·5 per cent. above the annual increase in earnings, it is likely to be in their interest to return to the state scheme.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is for an individual wishing to take out a personal pension to seek advice appropriate to his or her needs. In the case of personal pension schemes which are investments as defined in the Financial Services Act, persons regulated by bodies under that Act have a duty to provide best advice on such products. It is for the individual to make arrangements for obtaining any further advice which may be necessary in the light of changing circumstances.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether anyone contracting out by means of a personal pension scheme will be allowed to return to the state scheme at any age.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Yes.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report, for each uprating from 1973 to 1990, the percentage above inflation by which the basic state pension has, and is to be, uprated.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 13 December 1989]: The information requested is set out in the table.

  Uprating

  Increase of retirement pension above RPI (percentage)

  October 1973

  4·9

  July 1974

  15·6

  April 1975

  -1·7

  November 1975

  3

  November 1976

  0

  November 1977

  1·4

  November 1978

  3·3

  November 1979

  2·1

  November 1980

  1·2

  November 1981

  -3

  November 1982

  4·7

  November 1983

  0

  November 1984

  0

  November 1985

  0

  July 1986

  0

  April 1987

  0

  781

  Uprating

  Increase of retirement pension above RPI (percentage)

  April 1988

  0

  April 1989

  0

  April 1990

  0

  In November 1983 the method of uprating changed from being partly based on forecasts of future inflation to being based on known movements in the retail prices index.

EMPLOYMENT

  Apprentices
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently participating in apprenticeship training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Comprehensive statistics on all types of apprenticeship are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in which 20 parliamentary constituencies the largest percentage fall in unemployment occurred in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The following information is in the Library. The table shows the 20 parliamentary constituencies which have experienced the largest percentage falls in unemployment over the last 12 months.

  The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  Percentage change in the number of unemployed over the year to November 1989

  Constituency name

  Per cent.

  South West Surrey

  -27·1

  Chesham and Amersham

  -25·8

  East Surrey

  -25·4

  Numbers and percentage of employees in employment' in the fifteen industry classes with the largest numbers of employees in the Doncaster travel to work area

  Classes of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980

  September 1981

  September 1984

  September 1987

  Number (000s)

  Per cent.2

  Number (000s)

  Per cent2

  Number (000s)

  Per cent2

  11

  Coal extraction and manufacture of solid fuels

  16·8

  18·2

  13·0

  14·8

  7·4

  8·9

  22

  Metal manufacturing

  —

  —

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  24

  Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1·9

  2·2

  31

  Manufacture of metal goods (other)

  3—

  3—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  32

  Mechanical engineering

  5·2

  5·7

  3·6

  4·2

  4·0

  4·8

  35/36

  Manufacture of motor vehicles and other transport equipment

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  —

  —

  41/42

  Food, drink and tobacco manufacturing industries

  2·3

  2·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50

  Construction

  3·5

  3·8

  3·0

  3·4

  4·6

  5·6

  61

  Wholesale distribution

  1·9

  2·1

  2·5

  2·8

  2·1

  2·6

  64/65

  Retail distribution

  9·0

  9·8

  9·2

  10·5

  8·4

  10·1

  66

  Hotels and catering

  3·7

  4·0

  2·7

  3·1

  3·8

  4·6

  71/72

  Railways and other inland transport

  5·0

  5·4

  4·9

  5·5

  3·4

  4·1

  81

  Banking and finance

  —

  —

  1·6

  1·9

  —

  —

  83

  Business services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·1

  2·5

  91

  Public administration and national defence

  5·2

  5·6

  3·5

  4·0

  6·2

  7·5

  93

  Education

  5·0

  5·4

  6·7

  7·7

  7·4

  8·9

  782

  Constituency name

  Per cent.

  Henley

  -24·1

  Wantage

  -20·6

  Surbiton

  -20·2

  Tunbridge Wells

  -20·1

  Wokingham

  -19·9

  Wealden

  -18·5

  Reigate

  -18·0

  North West Surrey

  -17·9

  Guildford

  -17·6

  North West Hampshire

  -17·4

  Wycombe

  -13·0

  Rochford

  -12·6

  Chelmsford

  -11·6

  Southend West

  -10·9

  Basingstoke

  -8·1

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  -5·5

  Sutton and Cheam

  -4·4

  Labour Statistics, Cleveland
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figure for people in employment in Cleveland.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available employment estimates for the county are from the September 1987 census of employment. There were then 184,700 employees in employment, excluding self-employed people and members of Her Majesty's forces, in Cleveland.

  Labour Statistics, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the largest 15 categories of employment in the Doncaster area(a) to date, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago; how many were employed in each category; and what percentage of the total work force these represent.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information about employment in local areas is available only for dates when censuses of employment are taken. The table gives the available information for the Doncaster travel-to-work area from censuses of employment taken in September 19811, September 1984, and September 1981 (latest available).
  783

  Classes of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980

  September 1981

  September 1984

  September 1987

  Number

  Per cent.2

  Number

  Per cent2

  Number

  Per cent2

  (000s)

  (000s)

  (000s)

  95

  Medical, other health and veterinary services

  4·6

  5·0

  5·1

  5·8

  6·0

  7·2

  96

  Other services to the general public

  1·6

  1·8

  2·2

  2·5

  2·2

  2·6

  97

  Recreational services and other cultural services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·1

  2·5

  1 Excludes the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's Forces.

  2 Percentage of all industries and services total.

  3 Indicates in top fifteen but figures cannot be given without disclosing confidential information relating to individual firms.

  Key Training
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 589, how many employees of his Department and of what grades it is intended to second to Key Training of 10 Eaton place, Reading, in the fiscal year 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no plans at present to second any employees of this Department to Key Training in the fiscal year 1990–91.

  Earnings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will estimate the proportion of wages council employees earning below(a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums;

  (2) if he will estimate the proportion of wages council employees, broken down by region, earning below (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums;

  (3) if he will estimate the proportion of wages council employees, broken down by industry earning below (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) 2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums;

  (4) if he will estimate the proportion of wages council employees, broken down by collective agreement, earning below (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No information is readily available for hourly earnings excluding shift and PBR premiums as well as overtime, nor for wages council employees broken down by region or by industry, and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of part-time employees earning less than (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums, for each London borough;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of part-time employees earning less than (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums, in Great Britain and in each standard economic region;

  (3) if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of part-time employees earning less than (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums, in Great Britain and in each county.
  784
  Mr. Nicholls
  No information is readily available for all part-time employees regionally, nor for hourly earnings excluding shift and PBR premiums as well as overtime, and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Strikes
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many unofficial strikes took place in Great Britain in 1989; and what were the comparable figures for each of the five previous years;

  (2) what was the total number of days lost through unofficial strikes in Great Britain in 1989; and what were the comparable figures for the five previous years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Separate statistics on unofficial strikes ceased to be published as a regular series in 1981. However, a limited amount of information from a special exercise was included in the Government's Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Action Credit Scheme
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have taken part in the action credit scheme in each of the three pilot areas; how many ceased claiming income support to start full-time work; how many ceased claiming income support to start part-time work; how many failed to secure employment after the three-month jobsearch period; and whether he has any plans to extend the scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested will not be available until after the end of the action credit scheme pilot, which is due to finish at the end of August 1990.

SCOTLAND

  NHS
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the £220 million additional expenditure earmarked for the National Health Service in Scotland is new cash; how much is from cash improvement schemes; and how much is from income generation.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figure is £223 million and all of it is new money. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 11 December 1989, Vol. 163, column 510.

  Training and Employment Programmes
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the training and employment programmes run by the Department of Employment in
  785
  Scotland; and if he will indicate which, if any, of these programmes will not be wholly transferred to the new Scottish Enterprise Agency when it is established.

  Mr. Lang
  The training and employment programmes run by the Department of Employment in Scotland are set out in the table:

  Youth Training Scheme

  Employment Training

  Community Opportunities

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme

  Business Growth Scheme

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative

  Training Access Points

  Compacts

  Development of Vocational Qualifications

  Enterprise in Higher Education

  Scottish Wider Access Programme

  Employment Rehabilitation Service

  Community Industry

  Restart

  Job Clubs

  Job Start

  Job Share

  Disablement Advisory Service

  Disablement Resettlement Service

  Sheltered Employment

  Travel to Interview Scheme

  The programmes which will not be wholly transferred to Scottish Enterprise are:

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative

  Enterprise in Higher Education

  Employment Rehabilitation Service

  Restart

  Job Clubs

  Job Start

  Job Share

  Disablement Advisory Service

  Disablement Resettlement Service

  Sheltered Employment

  Travel to Interview Scheme

  Earnings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of part-time employees earning less than (a) £4·16, (b) £4·32, (c) £3·12 and (d) £2·80 per hour, excluding overtime, shift and PBR premiums, for Scotland and in each regional authority and, if possible, each borough.

  Mr. Lang
  No information is readily available for part-time employees regionally, nor for hourly earnings excluding shift and PBR premiums as well as overtime, and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Vocational Courses
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on vocational courses in colleges of further education in Scotland each year for the past 10 years.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Capital Building Programme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the capital building programme for the Scottish new towns for the next five years comes from(a) private and (b) public revenue.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish commentary on the Government's expenditure plans for the years 1989–90 to 786
  1991–92 (published in March 1989) indicates at tables 15·5 and 15·6 projected gross capital expenditure on the new town development corporations' housing and other environmental services programmes. Planned expenditure on these programmes for 1990–91 to 1992–93 arising from the recent public expenditure survey will be published shortly in the 1990 Scottish commentary. The Government do not hold projections of private sector capital investment in the new towns. The relative contributions of private and public capital investment in the new towns over the next five years will depend upon decisions made in future public expenditure surveys and the private sector's perception of investment opportunities.

  Further Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by Scottish local authorities on further education provision each year for the past 10 years.

  Mr. Lang
  The expenditure by Scottish local authorities on further education provision for each year from 1978–79 to 1987–88 (latest available) is set out in the table.

  Financial Year

  Scottish LA Expenditure

  £000s

  1978–79

  77,120

  1979–80

  98,961

  1980–81

  125,149

  1981–82

  144,847

  1982–83

  166,964

  1983–84

  183,055

  1984–85

  195,262

  1985–86

  188,102

  1986–87

  193,520

  1987–88

  213,586

  Source: Local Financial Returns

  Note: Figures cover local authority current expenditure on further education.

  New Towns
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the capital building programmes for each of the Scottish new towns for the next five years.

  Mr. Lang
  The capital programmes for each of the new town development corporations in 1990–91 will be the subject of discussion between my Department and each corporation following the submission of each corporation's annual budget submission later this month. The composition of the corporations' capital programmes and their financing requirements for the following four years will be determined at the same time in subsequent financial years.

  Poinding Orders
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations the Lord Advocate has had with sheriff officers and messengers-at-arms as to how they will cope with poinding orders arising out of poll tax debts.

  Mr. Rifkind
  There has been no request for any such consultations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken by the post in Islamabad on the application of Mr. Basaharat Ali Shakir, who was born on 14 November 1956, Ref. Imm/93660; HO Ref. 5725181, to join his wife in the United Kingdom; when a report from the Home Office concerning this application was received at the post; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Mr. Shakir applied for entry clearance at the British High Commission in Islamabad on 18 February 1988. Following an interview on 9 January 1989 the entry clearance officer referred the application to the Home Office on 27 February 1989 for Mr. Shakir's wife to be interviewed.

  Copies of the immigration service report on the interview with Mrs. Shakir were sent to Islamabad on 14 June and 13 October 1989. I regret that both copies of the report appear to have been lost in transit. The Home Office has now sent a further copy, on receipt of which the entry clearance officer hopes to reach a decision without further delay.

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese children classified as having family members in Hong Kong live in separate camps from their relations.

  Mr. Maude
  We do not have figures for the number of children who fall into this category. The policy in Hong Kong is to ensure that families are not divided. As soon as any case comes to notice in which children are separated from family members they are wherever possible transferred between camps so that they can be reunited.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will convene an international conference to seek co-operation in providing third country settlement for those Vietnamese currently in camps in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  An international conference on Indo-China refugees was held in Geneva in June last year. At that conference the international community pledged sufficient places to resettle all Vietnamese refugees in the South-East Asian region, including Hong Kong. It was also agreed that those who were not refugees should return to their country of origin.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the reasons why no legal advice is available to Vietnamese refugees before screening in Hong Kong; and why no representatives from independent bodies are allowed to accompany refugees to the screening interview.

  Mr. Maude
  The UNHCR is permitted access to Vietnamese asylum-seekers and may provide legal advice to them both before and after screening. The UNHCR is also permitted to attend any screening interview for monitoring purposes.

  Under Hong Kong law there is no provision for Government legal aid to be provided for Vietnamese asylum-seekers for screening and review procedures.

  Vietnamese Prisoners
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those persons imprisoned in Vietnam for their political or religious beliefs on whose behalf Her Majesty's Government have made representations to the Government of Vietnam.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We regularly raise the question of human rights with the Government of Vietnam. Both bilaterally and together with our partners in the European Community, we have in the course of 1989 raised a number of specific cases, including individuals imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs. These include:

  Father Dominic Tran Ninh Thu

  Tran Van Luong

  Doan Quoc Sy

  Pham Van Thuong

  Le Manh

  Thich Quang Do

  Thich Huyen Quang

  Thich Tue Sy

  Thich Duc Nhuan

  Thich Tri Sieu

  Nguyen Chi Thien

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of Stae for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the incidence of cholera and (b) the availability of sufficient quantities of fresh water in the camps used for holding Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  In 1989 there were 23 cases of cholera in camps holding Vietnamese in Hong Kong.

  Enough drinkable fresh water is available in all centres. In 1988 the average daily consumption of water per preson was about 250 litres for all purposes, and in 1989 about 235 litres. Drinking water standards in Hong Kong comply with WHO guidelines on drinking water quality.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the practice followed in holding appeals against the findings of the screening procedure for Vietnamee refugees.

  Mr. Maude
  When the director of immigration refuses an asylum-seeker's claim to refugee status, the asylum-seeker has 28 days to apply to the refugee status review board (RSRB) for a review of the decision. The immigration department file on the asylum-seeker is made available to both the RSRB and the UNHCR. The asylum-seeker or the UNHCR may present additional information or documentation to the RSRB in support of the claim for refugee status. The RSRB considers the whole of the facts and submissions made by the applicants and/or by those acting on the applicant's behalf before confirming or reversing the director of immigration's decision. Where the RSRB considers it necessary, it may interview the asylum-seekers or the immigration officer before arriving at its decision.

  If the immigration officer is so interviewed, it is in the presence of the applicant who has the right to comment on what the immigration officer has said in answer to questions put by the board. Of the 4,594 appeals considered so far 392 (7·9 per cent.) have been upheld. In all, including appeals and UNHCR mandate cases, 922 persons (11·3 per cent.) have been classified as refugees out of 8,167 screened so far.
  789
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to repatriate unaccompanied Vietnamese children until their parents have been positively traced and identified.

  Mr. Maude
  We propose to take up this suggestion with the UNHCR's committee on unaccompanied minors in Hong Kong, which has a mandate to decide on a solution on a case-by-case basis in the best interests of each child.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to subject Vietnamese unaccompanied children in camps in Hong Kong to the same screening procedures as those used for adult Vietnamese; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Guidelines for the screening of unaccompanied minors were endorsed by the international conference in Geneva in June last year. These stipulate that for children over 15 the interview procedure should be modified to take into account the special situation of each child. For those under 15, the UNHCR special committee on unaccompanied minors would be delegated to carry out the refugee status assessment. The Hong Kong authorities abide by these guidelines in their treatment of unaccompanied minors.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what age the term unaccompanied minor is applied by Her Majesty's Government to Vietnamese children in the camps in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  This term is applied to children under the age of 18 in accordance with documentation associated with the comprehensive plan of action endorsed by the international conference on Indo-Chinese refugees in Geneva in June 1989.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from the Vietnamese Government concerning passes for repatriated persons.

  Mr. Maude
  No assurances have been sought from the Vietnamese on this subject. We have no reason to believe that identity cards have not been issued to those who have returned. This is one of the issues to be raised in the course of monitoring.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take to improve conditions in the camps used to house Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  We can most effectively improve conditions in the camps by accelerating the rate at which people leave them, through resettlement in the case of refugees, and repatriation in the case of those who are not. Our policy is directed firmly at these aims. In addition we have contributed or pledged over £21 million since mid-1989 towards accommodation for boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to complete screening and resulting appeals at the current rate for the Vietnamese boat people currently in camps in Hong Kong.
  790
  Mr. Maude
  At the current rate of screening and appeals, it is estimated that it will take about two years to complete the process for all Vietnamese boat people currently in camps in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to respond to the petition regarding the plight of the boat people in Hong Kong presented to him by the honourable Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is studying the petition presented by the hon. Member and will be replying to him very soon on the points which are raised in it.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the number of places of worship recently destroyed in Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are not aware that places of worship have recently been deliberately destroyed in Vietnam. On the contrary; the Bishop's conference has recently published a letter acknowledging the number of churches which have been rebuilt or repaired in the past few years.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as I o the penalties specified by the Vietnamese authorities for Catholics attending mass in Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are not aware of penalties imposed for attending mass. Congregations at the regular masses given at the cathedrals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are large.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the provision for religious worship in Vietnam's re-education camps.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We understand that individuals detained in prisons or camps in Vietnam are permitted personal religious observances and practices. There are no provisions for collective worship or freedom of access for ministers of religion.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning Vietnamese provincial decrees limiting religious services, church building and repair and the numbers of priests and ministers.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We understand that local government organisations in Vietnam no longer have the power to issue this sort of regulation. In recent months the Government have authorised a relaxation of control over the building and repair of churches, although there remain problems of funds and resources. State authorisation is required before beginning study for the priesthood. Nevertheless 24 new bishops have been consecrated since 1975, and there are currently some 200 seminarians in four seminaries in Vietnam.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on
  791
  the number of prisoners currently detained in re-education camps in Vietnam and the reasons for their detention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The official figure for prisoners still detained in re-education camps is 1,000. A substantial number of political prisoners were released in 1987 and 1988. We have lobbied the Vietnamese Government on a number of occasions, both bilaterally and together with our EC partners, on behalf of specific cases of alleged abuses of human rights.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning the incidence of detention without trial, torture and execution in Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We understand that approximately 1,000 people remain in detention without trial in Vietnam. We are aware of reports of instances of torture. In the course of 1988 (figures are not yet available for 1989) five people were sentenced to death but no executions were announced.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the number of(a) Buddhist monks and nuns, (b) Catholic priests and nuns, (c) Cao Dai and Hoa Hao priests and (d) Protestant ministers currently held in prison in Vietnam and the offences for which they were imprisoned.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not possible to give authoritative figures for these categories, although various individual cases in these categories are known. The charges laid against most of the best known currently in detention involve the organisation of armed disaffected groups.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the persecution of Buddhists who refuse to worship under the auspices of the state Buddhist church in Vietnam.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Vietnam does not have a state Buddhist church.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of staff required by Her Majesty's embassy in Hanoi to monitor the welfare of repatriated persons, per 10,000.

  Mr. Maude
  The number of staff required by Her Majesty's embassy in Hanoi to monitor the welfare of repatriated persons would depend on the number of non-volunteers returned. At present UNHCR monitors those who volunteer to return. We hope that they will agree to monitor all who return as they do with those returned to Laos from Thailand. It also depends on the regularity of the visits proposed. A requirement to monitor 10,000 people could be covered by two to three full-time staff bearing in mind the fact that those returned will be divided into family groups and that the majority of those come from a relatively small area.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of flights 792
  from Hong Kong carrying volunteers for repatriation that have been refused landing rights in Vietnam: and if he will make a statement on the reasons for refusal given by the Vietnamese authorities.

  Mr. Maude
  None.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Vietnamese Government regarding their policy towards religious activity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We and our EC partners regularly raise the question of human rights with the Government of Vietnam, including cases of individuals imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs. We recently raised the imprisonment of Father Dominic Tran Dinh Thu.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a member of Her Majesty's embassy in Vietnam last visited a Vietnamese re-education camp; and if he will summarise the contents of any report resulting from the visit.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No member of Her Majesty's embassy Hanoi has visited a Vietnamese re-education camp in the past three years.

  British Ambassadors
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British ambassadors are currently in service; and how many are(a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are 123 ambassadors and high commissioners currently in service, including non-resident ambassadors and high commissioners. In addition, there are nine heads of delegation to international organisations currently in service who have the personal rank of ambassador.

  Of these, five are women. None is black or Asian.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many citizens of Hong Kong of non-United Kingdom origin are entitled to right of abode in the United Kingdom in addition to the 225,000 specified in his statement of 20 December.

  Mr. Maude
  There may be people in Hong Kong who have qualified for right of abode under existing United Kingdom law, for example, a Commonwealth citizen who before 1 January 1983 was married to a man who had right of abode in the United Kingdom. The information is not available but the numbers are likely to be very small.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what commitments were given by Her Majesty's Government to the authorities or other bodies in Hong Kong concerning the numbers and nature of right of abode to be offered in the United Kingdom prior to the statement of 20 December.

  Mr. Maude
  None.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) attempted and

  793
  (b) successful suicides have taken place among Vietnamese nationals in detention camps at Hei Ling Chan, Sham Shui, Po and Whitehead in Hong Kong in 1989.

  Mr. Maude
  The figures are:

  (a) Attempted

  (b) Successful

  Hei Ling Chan

  0

  0

  Sham Shui

  0

  0

  Po

  0

  0

  Whitehead

  1

  0

  United States of America
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to visit the United States of America; and how he plans to explain British policy and promote British interests there.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expects to visit the United States soon for wide-ranging discussions with members of the United States Government.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since May 1979 Her Majesty's Government have conveyed reservations to the United States Government concerning(a) United States internal human rights policies and (b) United States military interventions in sovereign states.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our practice to convey formal reservations to the United States Government in these contexts.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has received from non-governmental organisations in regard to initiatives that may be taken at the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference in Geneva.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Only one such proposal has been received, in a letter from Dr. David Lowry of the European Proliferation Information Centre (EPIC). It concerned the possibility of diverting resources from weapons development to measures to combat global warming.

  Eastern Bloc
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet his counterparts in(a) Romania, (b) the German Democratic Republic, (c) Hungary, (d) Bulgaria, (e) Czechoslovakia, (f) Poland, (g) Albania and (h) the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs plans to meet over the next few months his counterparts from all these countries except Albania, with which we have no diplomatic relations. He will meet the GDR Foreign Minister during his visit to East Berlin on 22–24 January.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his practice on making statements and answering parliamentary questions on the internal affairs and human rights records of other countries.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We answer questions as they arise, and make statements when it is appropriate.