Written Answers of 15 January 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Primary Schools, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by school within the Doncaster local education authority(a) the present and (b) the forecast figure for pupils in primary schools; and what additional funding he intends to provide for new schools in this area.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No proposals for new schools in Doncaster are currently before my right hon. Friend for decision. I understand, however, that the Doncaster education authority is intending to publish proposals shortly for a new 9–13 age range middle school in the Balby Woodfield area. Priority is given in the allocation of annual capital guidelines for new school places needed as a result of population growth.

  The following information was provided by the Doncaster local education authority:

  Number on roll

  September 1989

  1993–94 forecast

  First Schools

  Adwick Washington

  316

  317

  Carcroft

  198

  247

  Owston Skellow

  289

  269

  Sprotbrough Orchard

  106

  130

  Woodlands

  178

  231

  Balby Central

  292

  322

  Balby Nightingale

  371

  461

  Balby Waverley

  255

  262

  Hexthorpe

  226

  200

  Woodfield

  325

  360

  Askern Littlemoor

  209

  253

  Askern Moss Road

  192

  157

  Norton

  194

  211

  Intake

  520

  534

  Kingfisher

  172

  198

  Park

  366

  351

  Sandringham

  207

  235

  Town Field

  216

  288

  Bentley High Street

  156

  178

  Bentley Kirkby Avenue

  161

  208

  Bentley New Village

  217

  264

  Scawthorpe Castle Hills

  160

  203

  Edlington Hill Top

  222

  201

  Edlington Victoria

  203

  216

  Tickhill

  137

  171

  Warmsworth

  104

  117

  Warmsworth CE

  79

  65

  Bessacarr

  190

  175

  Cantley Hawthorn

  147

  172

  Cantley Sycamore

  115

  114

  Hyde Park

  307

  352

  South Cantley

  270

  302

  Stirling

  151

  182

  West Bessacarr Willow

  280

  242

  Fishlake Endowed

  24

  36

  Hatfield Crooksbroom

  207

  225

  Hatfield Dunsville

  169

  181

  Hatfield Sheep Dip Lane

  253

  228

  Hatfield Travis CE

  247

  347

  2

  Number on roll

  September 1989

  1993–94 forecast

  Hatfield Woodhouse

  89

  84

  Stainforth Eastgate

  109

  150

  Stainforth Kirton Lane

  147

  184

  Stainforth Westgate

  220

  290

  Sykehouse

  10

  10

  Barnby Dun

  116

  139

  Doncaster St. George's CE

  56

  60

  Kirk Sandall

  257

  251

  Grange Lane

  269

  346

  Tornedale

  290

  317

  Scawsby Rosedale

  128

  147

  Scawsby Saltersgate

  218

  248

  Sprotbrough Richmond Hill

  230

  295

  Greentop

  266

  220

  King Edward

  285

  413

  Moorends

  200

  197

  Moorends west road

  186

  212

  South Common

  147

  163

  Infant Schools

  Armthorpe CE

  58

  51

  Armthorpe Shaw Wood

  221

  211

  Armthorpe Tranmoor Lane

  159

  151

  Conisbrough Rowena

  201

  1.85

  Denaby Main

  128

  143

  Doncaster Road

  96

  122

  Park Road

  168

  188

  Infant/Junior Schools

  Armthorpe Southfield

  178

  167

  Conisborough Balby Street

  180

  200

  Conisbrough Ivanhoe

  256

  270

  Conisbrough Station Road

  258

  204

  Auckley

  169

  128

  Bawtry Mayflower

  189

  187

  Branton CE

  140

  149

  Finningley CE

  93

  79

  Finningley Hayfield Lane

  223

  274

  Highwoods

  225

  369

  St. John's CE

  219

  176

  Windhill

  296

  308

  Armthorpe Our Lady of Sorrows

  154

  151

  Bentley Our Lady of Sorrows

  139

  143

  Conisbrough St. Albans

  224

  230

  Doncaster our Lady of Mount Carmel

  225

  273

  Doncaster St. Francis Xavier

  203

  261

  Doncaster St. Peter's

  275

  301

  Edlington St. Mary's

  195

  209

  Rossington St. Joseph's

  211

  259

  Stainforth Holy Family

  218

  248

  Woodlands East

  154

  189

  First/Middle Schools

  Brodsworth CE

  36

  34

  Highfields

  156

  190

  Hooton Pagnell CE

  54

  54

  Arksey

  180

  169

  Bentley Toll Bar

  126

  137

  Scawthorpe Sunny Fields

  252

  240

  Braithwell

  98

  82

  Tickhill Estfeld

  250

  223

  Wadworth

  138

  109

  Edenthorpe Hall

  251

  311

  Edenthorpe Popham CE

  197

  202

  St. Michael's CE

  228

  202

  Barnburgh

  224

  222

  Middle Schools (deemed primary)

  Adwick Park

  278

  316

  Carcroft

  186

  198

  Owston Skellow

  311

  289

  Sprotbrough Copley

  118

  106

  Woodlands

  165

  178

  Askern Sutton Road

  336

  401

  Norton

  170

  194

  Bentley High Street

  158

  156

  3

  Number on roll

  September 1989

  1993–94 forecast

  Bentley Kirkby Avenue

  153

  161

  Bentley New Village

  185

  217

  Scawthorpe Castle Hills

  162

  160

  Edlington Hill Top

  234

  222

  Edlington Victoria

  153

  203

  Tickhill CE

  133

  137

  Warmsworth

  167

  183

  Barnby Dun

  166

  116

  Doncaster Curlew

  43

  56

  Kirk Sandall

  255

  257

  Holmscarr

  218

  269

  Pheasant Bank

  270

  290

  Scawsby Rosedale

  126

  128

  Scawsby Saltersgate

  255

  218

  Sprotbrough Richmond Hill

  195

  230

  Junior Schools

  Armthorpe Shaw Wood

  325

  362

  Armthorpe Tranmoor

  212

  213

  Conisbrough Morley Place

  208

  267

  Denaby Main

  186

  184

  Doncaster Road

  111

  138

  Montague

  194

  220

  Total

  24,524

  26,508

  Footnote; The total pupil capacity of the schools listed above was 32,271 in September 1989.

  School Building (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of funding he has made available for the Doncaster local education authority for new school building for the years 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 20 December 1989,(Official Report, columns 254–58, with the correction that "Primary" should be substituted for "Private"). ACGs are made on an annual basis. It is for Doncaster LEA to decide how to use the resources available and to make decisions on expenditure on school buildings in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  Human Frontier
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will name the board of trustees and the council of scientists administering the Human Frontier science programme.

  Mr Jackson
  The information is as follows:

  BOARD OF TRUSTEES
  Canada

  Dr. Henri C. Rothschild,

  Director General, Technology Policy Branch,

  Department of Industry, Science and Technology

  Mr. Allan S. Pool,

  Director, Science and Technology Division, Department of External Affairs

  France

  M. Jean de Gliniasty,

  Director of Development and Co-operation for Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  M. Claude Amiel,

  Director, Division of Biology, Medicine and Health, Ministry of Research and Technology

  4
  Federal Republic of Germany

  Dr. Helmut Klein,

  Head of Projects Management for Biology, Ecology and Energy, Nuclear Research Centre, Julich

  Dr. Heinrich Pfeiffer,

  General Secretary, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

  Italy

  Mr. Michele Lener,

  Multilateral Units Manager, International Relations Office, Ministry of University and Scientific Research

  Professor Alberto Albertini,

  President of the Scientific Committee of the National Research Council's Finalised Project on Advanced Biotechnologies

  Japan

  Ambassador Hiromichi Miyazaki (Chairman), Committee on Policy Matters, Council for Science and Technology

  Dr. Kozo Iizuka,

  Special Adviser to the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry

  United Kingdom

  Mr. Robin Ritzema,

  Head of International Science Division, Department of Education and Science

  Dr. Victoria Harrison,

  Head of Policy Planning and Assessment, Agricultural and Food Research Council

  United States of America

  Dr. Katherine Bick,

  Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH

  Dr. Mary Clutter,

  Assistant Director for Biological, Behavioural and Social Sciences, NSF

  COUNCIL OF SCIENTISTS
  Canada

  Dr. Francis S. Rolleston,

  Director of Scientific Evaluation Division, Medical Research Council

  Dr. James D. Friesen,

  Department of Biochemistry, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute

  France

  M. Pierre Chambon,

  Professor, Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, Director of a Joint CNRS-INSERM Laboratory

  M. Jean-Pierre Chageux,

  Professor, College de France, Director of Research at the Pasteur Institute

  Federal Republic of Germany

  Dr. Dieter Oesterhelt,

  Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry

  Dr. Ernst-Ludiwg Winnacker,

  Institute for Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilian University

  Italy

  Professor Glauco Tocchini-Valentini,

  Director of Cellular Biology, Laboratory of CNR, Rome

  5

  Professor Giorgio Parisi,

  Professor of Theoretical Physics, II University of Rome (Tor Vergata)

  Japan

  Professor Masao Ito,

  Institute of Physical and Chemical Research

  Professor Akiyoshi Wada,

  Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo

  United Kingdom

  Sir Walter Bodmer,

  Director of Research, Imperial Cancer Research Fund

  The Lord Adrian,

  Professor of Cell Physiology, University of Cambridge

  United States of America

  Dr. Joseph E. Rail (Chairman),

  Deputy Director of Intramural Research, NIH

  Dr. Joseph E. Varner,

  Professor of Biochemistry, Washington University in St. Louis

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in issuing guidance concerning the responsibilities of governors of state schools under the Data Protection Act and the purposes for which the governors may hold personal data; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The necessary guidance will be issued as soon as possible.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the way colleges and universities respond to requests from a community charges registration officer concerning students; whether he will allocate additional grants so that these institutions need only disclose information about students resident in a particular charging authority area; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Apart from the question asked by the hon. Member on 26 October 1989 (Official Report, col. 536), my right hon. Friend has received no representations concerning the way colleges and universities respond to requests from community charges registration officers (CCROs) about students. As I said in reply to the earlier question, the information needs of CCROs are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  History and Geography Working Groups
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many copies of the interim report of the geography working group and the history working group were sent to local education authorities for consultation.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Each of the 104 local education authorities in England and Wales were sent 10 copies of the history and 10 copies of the geography interim reports 6
  at the time they were published. Further copies were offered to authorities and others on application to the Department and many availed themselves of this offer.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people with inner-city school experience are members of(a) the history working group and (b) the geography working group in the preparation of the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Two members of the history working group and three members of the geography working group have had experience either of teaching in inner cities or of working closely with school teachers in inner-city areas.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people with primary teaching experience are members of(a) the history working group and (b) the geography working group in the preparation of the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Four out of 12 members of the history working group and four out of 12 members of the geography working group have had teaching experience in primary schools or are employed as advisers with responsibilities for primary schools.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school pupils aged 14 to 16 years are currently studying(a) history and (b) geography expressed in total numbers and as a percentage of the total numbers of school pupils.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest readily available information—taken from the 1988 secondary school staffing survey—dicated that the following numbers and percentages of pupils were studying history, geography and combined courses which might include history and geography in the third, fourth and fifth secondary years in England:

  Year group

  3

  4

  5

  Pupils studying history number

  490,000

  225,000

  250,000

  as a percentage of all pupils in the year group

  90

  40

  42

  Pupils studying geography number

  490,000

  260,000

  275,000

  as a percentage of all pupils in the year group

  90

  46

  46

  Pupils studying combined courses within the arts/humanities/social science fields number

  60,000

  50,000

  45,000

  as a percentage of all pupils in the year group

  11

  9

  7

  The secondary school staffing survey was carried out in March 1988 based on a representative 10 per cent, sample of maintained secondary schools in England.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which organisations, other than local education authorities, have been sent copies of the interim reports of(a) the history working group and (b) the geography working group; and how many copies were sent to each organisation.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Copies of the interim reports of both the history and the geography working groups were sent to
  7
  over 200 organisations. A total of 17,500 history and 26,000 geography reports have been distributed up to 31 December last.

  Special Educational Needs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he has taken in considering schemes from local education authorities for local management of schools, of special educational needs provision.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In considering schemes for local management of schools submitted by local education authorities, my right hon. Friend has been concerned to ensure that appropriate and effective provision is made for pupils with special educational needs. This follows the requirement in circular 7/78 on local management of schools that LEAs' schemes should reflect the incidence of pupils with special educational needs in their schools.

  Financial Delegation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will identify those local education authorities for which he has agreed schemes for financial delegation of colleges where the costs of premature retirement, severance and dismissal are treated as exceptions to the scheme; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will number those local education authorities for which he has agreed schemes for financial delegation of colleges where the costs of premature retirement, severance and dismissal are treated as exceptions to the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Of schemes approved to date, the following local education authorities allow for the costs of premature retirement, severance and dismissal to be treated as an exception to the scheme:

  Tameside

  Northamptonshire

  Cheshire

  Governing Bodies
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list and identify only those further education and higher education colleges for which he has agreed revised instruments of government where the size of the governing body is in excess of 20 persons.

  Mr. Jackson
  To date the Secretary of State has approved for the following institutions instruments of government which provide in each case for a governing body in excess of 20 members:

  Bradford and Ilkley Community College;

  Croydon College;

  Newcastle College;

  Sandwell College of Further and Higher Education;

  Solihull College of Technology;

  South Tyneside College;

  Suffolk College of Higher and Further Education.

  For three further colleges my right hon. Friend has indicated that he would be prepared to approve instruments of government which would provide for a governing body in excess of 20 members.

  Bradford City Technology College
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science who appoints trustees of the Bradford city technology college trust; if he will list the names and designations of trustees, the total amount of private sector funds received by the trust, to date, the names of persons or companies who, to date, have contributed and the amount each has contributed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The members of the Dixons city technology college trust are appointed by the principal sponsor or the Secretary of State for Education and Science. The initial members are:Mr. Stanley Kalms, the chairman of the Dixons Group pic, as the principal sponsor;
  Mr. Richard Andrews, the group personnel director of the Dixons Group pic, as the designated nominee for the principal sponsor; and
  Mr. Edward Simpson CB, and educational consultant, as the designated nominee of the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
  The total amount of private sector funds received to date is just under £1·3 million. This is made up of £1 million from Mr. Haking Wong; £220,000 (the first of five equal instalments under a five-year covenant) from the Dixons Group pic; and other contributions totalling just under £50,000.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the disabled students' allowance.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend currently has the operation of the disabled students' allowance under review in the context of the annual review of the awards regulations. He envisages announcing the outcome of this in time for any changes to take effect from 1 September 1990.

  St. Dunstan's School
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his Department's latest proposals for the rebuilding of St. Dunstan's Church of England school in Cheam; what discussions his officials have had with officials from the London borough of Sutton; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  It is not for the DES to make proposals for the rebuilding of a school. In June 1988 the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education published proposals under section 13 of the Education Act 1980 to establish in September 1989 a new Church of England voluntary-aided primary school in substitution for Cheam Church of England junior boys' school and St. Dunstan's Church of England primary school. The explanatory notes published with the proposal said that the new school would be accommodated in the existing premises of Cheam junior boys' school and St. Dunstan's primary school pending the construction of new school buildings. The previous Secretary of State for Education and Science approved those proposals in December 1988 and it is for the promoters and the local education authority to implement them. The Department indicated that the Secretary of State was prepared in principle to pay grant of 85 per cent, on the promoters' share of the cost of building the new school premises.
  9
  I understand that the promoters have since had difficulty in obtaining planning permission from the London borough of Sutton. Officials from the Department have attended a number of meetings, at the request of the promoters, at which representatives of both the diocesan board and the borough have been present. The most recent meeting was on 3 January. This has allowed officials to be kept informed of the reasons for the delay in providing the new school building and of the potential cost implications of alterations to the building project which might be required by the planning authorities.

  Until the promoters are able to submit to my right hon. Friend a finalised version of their building project for which they have obtained planning permission, he cannot decide whether to give detailed approval to it under the Education Acts or whether to make grant payments on it. The promoters have, however, been warned that the offer of a grant is not unlimited and that if the scheme eventually presented to the Department is much more expensive than that originally envisaged, it may not be possible to fund a full 85 per cent, of it through grant.

  CERN
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science from which Department's Votes it is intended to fund CERN.

  Mr. Jackson
  The United Kingdom subscription to CERN is borne on Class XI, Vote 5, subhead B2 of the Department's Estimates; this subhead covers the international subscriptions of the science and engineering research council.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the United Kingdom's contribution to CERN in 1989–90 and 1990–91; what percentage of the total is attributable to the devaluation of sterling; and what administrative economies have been introduced by the secretariat.

  Mr. Jackson
  Estimates provision for the United Kingdom's contribution payments to CERN during the United Kingdom financial year 1989–90 is £48·897 million; Estimates for the United Kingdom financial year 1990–91 have yet to be presented to Parliament.

  Under the revised contribution system recently introduced by CERN, the annual contribution of individual member states can be affected by a number of year-on-year variables. These include changes in the relative GNP of all member states each of which is re-assessed each year, movements in international exchange rates against the Swiss franc, and the annual rate of inflation in Switzerland, which is the host nation. The total sum payable in any particular year cannot readily be disaggregated to identify those elements attributable to each of these and other factors.

  Following the report of the CERN review group, the CERN management has undertaken a continuing programme of implementation for the report's recommendations aimed at securing more efficient and cost-effective management. These include a phased reduction of 500 (some 15 per cent.) in the number of staff employed by the organisation, improved budgetary and financial control arrangements, improved project control systems, and the development of a revised system of personnel management suited to the organisation's future needs.

  Haberdashers' Aske's Schools
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide details of the amount, date and recipient of any payments by his Department to support the preparation of plans to establish a city technology college on the site of the Haberdashers' Aske's schools in Deptford.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has an agreement with the Haberdashers' company covering the establishment of the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college. Under this, the Government have agreed to meet reasonable transitional costs, including the payment of a project director's and an educational consultant's salaries. We are currently in discussion with representatives of the Haberdashers' company about the scope and commencement date of the transitional costs and envisage making payments shortly. No expenditure has been incurred by the Department to date.

  Trafford Borough Council
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools to investigate the circumstances which led to the cancellation by Trafford borough council of its 11-pi us examination; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Officials have written to Trafford education authority to seek an explanation.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Student Loans Company Limited has appointed a managing director.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Student Loans Company Limited proposes to appoint Mr. Ronald J. Harrison as managing director.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the amounts for England of capital allocations for(a) county and voluntary-controlled schools, (b) voluntary-aided schools and (c) the total of (a) for each financial year from and including 1978–79 to 1990–91, expressed in (i) current prices, (ii) constant prices and (iii) an index of (ii) where 1978–79=100.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 13 December 1989]Not all the information is available in the form requested. Table A shows figures from 1981–82. Prior to 1981–82, local education authorities did not receive block allocations, but were notified annually, in the context of a rolling programme, of a limit on the value of building starts in the following year. From 1981–82 to 1989–90 allocations for spending on capital works have been made to local education authorities for schools and colleges of further and higher education, in accordance with the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. It has been for each local education authority to decide how to use its allocation, including apportionment as between schools and colleges, and the extent to which it wishes to supplement it through the use of capital receipts and other
  11
  sources of revenue. The availability of capital receipts for this purpose has increased substantially over the period. Table B shows the resulting actual outturn gross expenditure by LEAs from 1978–79 in cash, constant and index terms.

  Figures for 1990–91 (in Table A) are not strictly comparable with previous years. With the introduction of

  Table A

  Total allocations and annual capital guidelines for England in cash and constant terms

  Local authority schools and colleges

  Voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  Local authority schools and colleges and voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  Cash

  Constant 1981–82 prices

  Index 1981–82 prices

  Cash

  Constant 1981–82 prices

  Index 1981–82 prices

  Cash

  Constant 1981–82 prices

  Index 1981–82 prices

  1981–82

  355

  355

  100

  24

  24

  100

  379

  379

  100

  1982–83

  338

  315

  89

  22

  21

  87

  360

  336

  89

  1983–84

  295

  263

  74

  19

  17

  71

  314

  280

  74

  1984–85

  300

  255

  72

  25

  21

  87

  325

  276

  73

  1985–86

  315

  254

  72

  31

  25

  104

  346

  279

  74

  1986–87

  297

  231

  65

  28

  22

  92

  325

  253

  67

  1987–88

  306

  227

  64

  32

  23

  97

  338

  250

  66

  1988–89

  387

  267

  75

  43

  30

  123

  430

  296

  78

  1989–90

  352

  227

  64

  56

  36

  149

  408

  263

  69

  1990–91

  485

  298

  84

  71

  44

  182

  556

  342

  90

  Notes to table A

  1. All figures are in £ million.

  2. Constant prices are calculated at 1981–82 prices using the GDP deflator. The index for 1981–82 is set at 100.

  3. The Department provides grant-aid at a rate of 85 per cent, on governors capital expenditure at voluntary aided and special agreement
  schools.

  4. Capital grant figures for the voluntary aided sector for the year 1981–82 are not separately indentified from a single building grant figure which included repairs and maintenance. The capital figures shown for this year are based on an apportionment of the building grant figure using the average ratio between capital and repairs during 1982–83 and 1985–86.

  5. Prior to 1981–82 local authorities did not receive block allocations, but were notified annually in the context of a rolling programme of a limit on the value of building starts in the following year.

  6. From 1981–82 to 1989–90 allocations have been made to LEAs for spending on schools and colleges of further and higher education.

  7. Figures for 1990–91 are Annual Capital Guidelines and cover other educational services as well as schools and colleges. They are not directly comparable with the allocations given in earlier years.

  8. Local authority allocations for 1989–90 and ACGs for 1990–91 exclude institutions which were transferred to the PCFC sector in 1989–90.

  9. Figures are rounded.

  Table B

  Gross capital expenditure for England in cash and constant terms

  Local authority schools and colleges

  Voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  Local authority schools and colleges and voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  Cash

  Constant 1978–79 prices

  Index 1978–79 prices

  Cash

  Constant 1978–79 prices

  Index 1978–79 prices

  Cash

  Constant 1978–79 prices

  Index 1978–79 prices

  1978–79

  338

  338

  100

  19

  19

  100

  358

  358

  100

  1979–80

  379

  324

  96

  24

  20

  106

  403

  345

  96

  1980–81

  532

  385

  114

  26

  19

  97

  558

  403

  113

  1981–82

  385

  254

  75

  28

  19

  96

  413

  272

  76

  1982–83

  425

  261

  77

  26

  16

  83

  451

  277

  78

  1983–84

  444

  261

  77

  22

  13

  68

  466

  274

  77

  1984–85

  473

  265

  78

  29

  16

  84

  502

  281

  79

  1985–86

  503

  267

  79

  37

  19

  100

  539

  286

  80

  1986–87

  544

  279

  82

  33

  17

  89

  577

  296

  83

  1987–88

  556

  271

  80

  37

  18

  94

  593

  289

  81

  1988–89

  668

  304

  90

  50

  23

  119

  719

  327

  91

  1989–90

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1990–91

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. For Voluntary Aided and Special Agreement schools capital grant figures for 1978–79 to 1981–82 not separately identified from a single building grant figure which included repairs and maintenance. The capital figures shown for this period are based on an apportionment of the building grant figure using the average ration between capital and repairs during 1982–83 and 1985–86.

  2. For the Voluntary sector, gross expenditure includes Governing Bodies' 15 per cent, contribution.

  12
  the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Department has issued an annual capital guideline to each local education authority for 1990–91, which is one element in the calculation of each local authority's basic credit approval for 1990–91 announced by the Department of the Environment.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Records
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will identify, by computerised reference number, the Public Record Office pieces or files which have been released for public inspection in January following extended closure for(a) 50 years, (b) 75 years and (c) 100 years.

  The Attorney-General
  Nearly 700 items, previously closed for longer than 30 years, became available for public inspection in the Public Record Office at the beginning of January 1990. I am making arrangements for a listing of the references of these items to be made available in the Library in due course and on request to members of the public.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor will invite his Advisory Council on Public Records to undertake a quality check of those papers due for release in 1990, following extended closure of 50, 75 and 100 years, to ensure that Departments have released as much material as possible.

  The Attorney-General
  The advisory council is consulted before the Lord Chancellor agrees to any records remaining closed beyond 30 years. The records which became available at the beginning of this year in the Public Record Office, after previous closure for longer than 30 years, were originally closed, under the provisions of s.5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958, as amended in 1967, after consultation with the Advisory Council on Public Records. The records concerned number nearly 700, and it would be impractical for material in this quantity to be checked by the advisory council, but the items referred to are all now open to public inspection in the Public Record Office reading rooms. The role of the advisory council in relation to the operations of s.5(1) of the Act is set out in paragraphs 38 and 39 of the White Paper, "Modern Public Records: The Government response to the Report of the Wilson Committee", Cmnd 8531, March 1982.

  "War Without Honour"
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the legal implications of the book "War Without Honour", by Fred Holroyd.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will reconsider the appointment of an inquiry into events at the Kincora boy's home, with specific terms of reference to consider allegations of criminal activities by Crown employees.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

WALES

  Homes for the Elderly
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of people aged(a) over 75 years and (b) over 85 years in Wales live in (i) nursing homes and (ii) residential homes.

  Mr. Grist
  As at 31 March 1989, the proportion of the 75 and over age group living in residential homes in Wales was 60·7 per 1,000 relevant population. For the 85 and over age group the proportion was 157·3. Information on the age of patients in nursing homes is not held centrally.

  Children's Institutions
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future provision of care at children's institutions in Mid-Glamorgan following recent announcements of changes to the funding and accommodation arrangements at these institutions.

  Mr. Grist
  We are not aware of any recent announcements on proposed changes to funding and accommodation arrangements of child care institutions in Mid-Glamorgan. The future provision of such establishments is an issue for Mid-Glamorgan county council to address.

  Polytechnic of Wales
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the talks held recently between his Department and representatives of Mid-Glamorgan county council on the future management of the Polytechnic of Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Officials from the Department have recently discussed with officers of Mid-Glamorgan county council the detailed provisions to be included in the new instrument of government for the Polytechnic of Wales required by the Education Reform Act 1988. The Act requires a revised instrument of government setting out the constitution of a new governing body to be in effect by 1 April 1990.

  Arts Project, Llandudno
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's funding of the proposed North Wales opera house project to be based at Llandudno.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The proposed new arts and leisure centre at Llandudno was the subject of an application by Aberconwy borough council for support in 1990–91 as a project of regional or national importance. It was reluctantly decided that the project could not be accommodated within the package of schemes for assistance because of demands from competing schemes and the fact that it required such a high level of support from public sector resources. It is of course open to the sponsors of the scheme to come forward with revised proposals if they wish to do so.

PRIME MINISTER

  Part-time Appointments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister from whom members of her personal staff paid from public funds seek approval for paid part-time appointments before accepting them.

  The Prime Minister
  All members of my staff, paid from public funds, are governed in this respect by the general principles of conduct which apply to civil servants. Approval would be sought from the appropriate senior officer, depending on the level of the person concerned and the nature of the appointment.

  Ministerial Changes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list by year to date since June 1979(a) the number of ministerial changes in Her Majesty's Government (b) the Departments concerned and (c) the names of the hon. and right hon. Members concerned.

  The Prime Minister
  Information on changes of Ministers can be found in the Cabinet Office publication "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", published annually at the end of the summer recess. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Further editions are issued during the year if there are substantial changes in ministerial appointments.

  British Rail
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will obtain a copy of the speech by the chairman of British Rail on 8 January; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have a copy of Sir Robert Reid's speech, and urge all hon. Members to read it. It is an excellent account of the progress made by British Rail during the period that he has been chairman. In that time investment has doubled in real terms to a level which Sir Robert describes as"about the maximum rate we can physically manage".
  British Rails's need for subsidy has halved as the number of passengers has reached the highest level since 1960.
  As Sir Robert Reid says, British Rail is now
  "in an unprecedented position of strength".
  He points to the essential part played in bringing about this change by the Government's action since 1983 in setting the board clear objectives.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister to what extent the remuneration and conditions of service being offered to general practitioners in rural areas will improve primary care in those areas in future.

  The Prime Minister
  All the changes to the GPs' contract will benefit patients in rural areas. Doctors will be encouraged through their terms of service and remuneration system to raise standards and extend services. In particular more care will be available for the very young and elderly patients. There will be greater emphasis on health promotion and the prevention of disease for all patients. New services will include minor surgery and regular check-ups. Overall the family doctor services will be more responsive to the needs of patients.

  Top Salaries Review Body
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Prime Minister what restrictions are placed upon the top salaries review body in respect of the level of its recommendations.

  The Prime Minister
  The top salaries review body is an independent body. It takes evidence from the Government and other interested parties and makes recommendations which it thinks appropriate. The TSRB's report is considered by the Government who then decide whether to accept or modify its recommendations.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will list the documents made available by her office to the Hughes inquiry into the Kincora boys' home;

  (2) if she will take steps to establish a Cabinet Office inquiry into the allegations of Mr. Colin Wallace and Captain Fred Holroyd, retired, concerning illegal activities by the security forces and other Crown employees in Northern Ireland since 1972;

  (3) if she will establish a Cabinet Office inquiry into illegal activities by Crown employees documented in the book "War Without Honour", and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received from January 1989 to the present date concerning the Kincora boys' home.

  The Prime Minister
  The representations I have received about Kincora have been mainly from the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends.

  Captain Fred Holroyd
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she has received a copy of the book "War Without Honour" by Fred Holroyd; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if she will acquire for the library of 10 Downing street a copy of the book "War Without Honour", by Fred Holroyd.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Prime Minister on what dates were the allegations of Colin Wallace and Fred Holroyd relating to events in Northern Ireland last considered.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Wallace and Mr. Holroyd have made a number of allegations in relation to Northern Ireland, some of which have been raised in the House and in correspondence by the hon. Gentleman and others. In the course of dealing with this parliamentary business, Departments have examined relevant matters on numerous occasions.

  Article 100A
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the use by the Commission of article 100A of the treaty for the purpose of directives.

  The Prime Minister
  I do not plan to do so.

  Whales
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make representations to the Japanese Prime Minister about the slaughter of minke whales by Japanese whalers in the Antarctic.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]: The Japanese Government are well aware of our strong views on this matter, as was evident from my discussions with Prime Minister Kaifu.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many outside accountancy firms are employed by his Department; whether such employment is subject to guidelines; and whether he takes steps before employing an accountancy firm to discover whether that firm has been censured by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors in their inquiries under the Companies Act.

  Mr. Cope
  Forty-three outside accountancy firms are employed; such firms are invited to tender for the provision of advisory services on the basis of their suitability to provide the relevant advice. In making such appointments inquiries are carried out as necessary and, where appropriate, in the light of advice given by Her Majesty's Treasury on the appointment of consultants.

  RUC Reserve
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of service of all full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers presently serving in the force.

  Mr. Cope
  The average length of service of all full-time reserve officers presently serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary is six years.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer, taking into account all factors including their position in respect of the police pension fund, of employing(a) a full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officer and (b) a regular Royal Ulster Constabulary officer.

  Mr. Cope
  The annual cost to the Police Authority of employing a full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve constable or a Royal Ulster Constabulary constable varies according to the age of the officer and his length of service. The estimated annual average cost of employing an 18-year-old constable in the full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve is £18,624 and £18,068 for a constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The corresponding figures for officers with six years' service are £23,592 for the reserve constable and £23,837 for the regular officer. The difference in cost is accounted for by higher employer's national insurance contributions payable in respect of the full-time reserve constable who is not in a contracted-out pension scheme; and the fact that his salary increases at a slower rate than that of a regular constable. These costs represent basic salary, Royal Ulster 18
  Constabulary allowance, flat rate rent allowance, average overtime and employer's national insurance contributions and, in the case of the Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officer with six years' service, the gratuity payable on completion of his second contract.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the longest period of service of any full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officer; how many Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers have served for more than 12 years; how many between nine and 12 years; and how many between six and nine years.

  Mr. Cope
  The longest period of service of any full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officer is 17 years nine months: 256 full-time reserve officers have served for more than 12 years; 947 have service between nine and 12 years; and 685 have served between six and nine years.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers; and if he will express this as a percentage of all Royal Ulster Constabulary constables who normally carry out their duties in uniform.

  Mr. Cope
  At 31 December 1989 the total number of full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers was 3,018. This represents approximately 28 per cent. of all constables in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary full and part-time reserve.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have(a) to provide access for full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers to the police pension fund and (b) to approve the payment of an employers' contribution to a private pension scheme for full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers.

  Mr. Cope
  None.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have to incorporate full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers into the regular force after a specific period of service.

  Mr. Cope
  None.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what system of negotiation, conciliation or arbitration exists for full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers; and what are the rules under which this system operates.

  Mr. Cope
  There is no formal system of negotiation, conciliation or arbitration but before the Secretary of State makes regulations about pay and conditions of service for the RUC reserve he consults the Police Authority, the Chief Constable and the Police Association.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers are(a) precluded from negotiating their conditions of employment, pay, pension, etc. under the normal terms of industrial relations legislation and (b) excluded from the joint police negotiating board of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  19
  Mr. Cope
  RUC reserve officers, like their fellow officers in the regular force, do not come within the terms of industrial relations legislation. The RUC reserve is not included within the remit of the police negotiating board for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government have any plans to replace or modify the present short-term contract system of employment for full-time Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers.

  Mr. Cope
  No.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government intend to replace or amend the system of negotiation, conciliation or arbitration for Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve officers.

  Mr. Cope
  No.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government are committed to the Anglo-Irish Agreement and to the principles it embodies. As recorded in paragraph 29 of the report of the review of the working of the conference:"If in the future it were to appear that the objectives of the Agreement could be more effectively served by changes in the scope and nature of the working of the Conference, consistent with the basic provisions and spirit of the Agreement, the two Governments would be ready in principle to consider such changes".

  Captain Fred Holroyd
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will acquire for the library of the Northern Ireland Office a copy of the book "War Without Honour" by Fred Holroyd.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Northern Ireland Office already possesses copies of Mr. Holroyd's book.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now allow independent inspection on Privy Councillor terms of the records of his office relating to contacts with Fred Holroyd.

  Mr. Brooke
  No.

  Minister's Car (Theft)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any Government papers were included in the recent theft from the motor car being used by the hon. Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  None.

ENERGY

  Energy Exploration, Doncaster and Rotherham
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the sites in the Doncaster and Rotherham areas that are due to be drilled by geologists seeking oil and gas.
  20
  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Proposals to drill for oil and gas are subject to approval by my right hon. Friend. No such proposals have been submitted to him by current holders of petroleum licences in the Doncaster and Rotherham areas.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will name the 30 companies that have been granted Government licences to explore in the Doncaster and Rotherham areas for oil and gas.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  There are 19 companies with interests in petroleum licences within a radius of five miles from Doncaster and Rotherham.

  These are as follows:

  Exploration Licence EXL 050

  Fina Petroleum Development Ltd*, Blackland Exploration

  Ltd, Eaglestone Petroleum Ltd

  EXL 100

  Clyde Expro plc*, Phillips Petroleum Co UK Ltd

  EXL 138

  Sovereign Oil & Gas plc*, Coalite Group plc, LASMO (TNS)

  Ltd, Union Texas Petroleum Ltd

  EXL 182

  Teredo Petroleum plc*, East Midland Oil & Gas Ltd, Croft

  Exploration Ltd

  EXL 183

  Pentex Oil Ltd*

  Production Licence PL 161

  Kelt UK Ltd*, Candecca Resources plc, Elf Oil & Gas (UK)

  Ltd, James Finlay plc, Marinex Exploration Ltd, Pict

  Petroleum plc

  * denotes operator

  Of these, EXL 182 and EXL 183 were awarded in the third onshore licensing round, announced on 14 December 1989.

  Condensate Boilers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has made of the reduction of carbon dioxide from condensate boilers.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is very difficult to give a precise figure as performance of gas condensing boilers used in space heating applications varies according to specific circumstances. However the average efficiency of a new non-condensing boiler in the domestic sector can be taken as 70 per cent. and that of a condensing boiler as 85 per cent. leading to a reduction of the CO2 emitted of 18 per cent.

  Renewable Energy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to re-evaluate the role of(a) renewable energy technologies and (b) combined heat and power and biomass energy production in the context of environmental damage from fossil fuels.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Energy paper No. 55 laid out proposals for the development of renewable energy technologies and these are reviewed annually. An initial assessment of the contribution to reducing the impact of greenhouse emissions from a range of energy technologies, including CHP and biomass, was included in the United Kingdom study for the inter-governmental panel on climate change. This report "An Evaluation of Energy-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures to Ameliorate Them" was lodged in the Library of the House last November and will be published shortly as a
  21
  Department of Energy paper. Further re-evaluation may be required as more information on greenhouse emissions becomes available.

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he is taking to assess the current location of all plutonium created in United Kingdom electricity board magnox reactors since the nuclear programme began.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the details of plutonium produced at Britain's civil nuclear power stations which were published by my Department on 5 December 1989. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mining Subsidence
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he has any proposals to change the present arrangements for appeals against decisions by British Coal on claims concerning the effects of mining subsidence brought by individuals and organisations against that company;

  (2) if he will set up local arbitration panels to resolve all claims concerning mining subsidence in respect of private dwellings, and up to ·50,000, index-linked, in respect of other property.

  Mr. Baldry
  In line with the recommendations of the Waddilove report, the Government, in the White Paper "The Repair and Compensation System for Coal Mining Subsidence Damage", Cm. 235, undertook to review in November 1990 the procedures for resolving disputes over subsidence damage. In view of the Government's intention to legislate at the earliest practicable opportunity, this review has been brought forward and is presently under way.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of mining subsidence claims, by coalfield or British Coal administrative region, currently being processed by British Coal.

  Mr. Baldry
  Details of British Coal's subsidence claims for 1987–88 are contained in an annual report to the Secretary of State for Energy, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I hope that the annual report for 1988–89 will be available shortly.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy further to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras of 8 January,Official Report, column 475, if he will give the output capacity of each of the gas-fired projects listed together with the likely annual gas consumption in each case.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The applications from the CEGB for section 2 consent under the Electric Lighting Act 1909 are for gas-fired stations, of the following proposed capacities:

  Megawatt

  Killingholme A

  1000

  Little Barford

  700

  Killingholme (PowerGen)

  700–1000

  Rye House

  700

  22
  The capacities of the stations proposed by independent generators are matters for them.

  The projects are at early planning or development stages and gas contracts are in most cases not yet in place.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many applications for consent to build gas-fired power stations have been received but not yet granted;

  (2) whether he has refused any applications for consent to build a gas-fired power station.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have received four applications from the CEGB for my consent to construct combined cycle gas turbine power stations. I shall announce my decisions on these applications in due course.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the absence of any obligation to supply electricity once electricity supply is privatised.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The area boards will continue to have an obligation to offer terms for a supply. Every customer will be able to find a supplier and regulations will continue to prescribe the quality and safety of supplies. Licence conditions on all suppliers will ensure current standards of security. I regularly receive correspondence and hold meetings with individuals, trade associations and other interested bodies on all aspects of the workings of our proposals for the privatised electricity market.

  Gas Leaks
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are current levels of natural gas leakages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 26 October last.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research his Department has commissioned or proposes into the incidence of natural gas leakages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department has already published estimates of United Kingdom methane emissions, including those from natural gas leakage. Discussions on further work with interested parties are in hand.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to reduce overall levels of carbon dioxide emissions within the natural gas industry in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The natural gas industry itself is responsible for only a small proportion of total carbon dioxide emissions. British Gas puts a substantial engineering and R&D effort into technologies to improve the efficiency with which gas is used, thereby helping to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of its customers.

  Natural Gas
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much natural gas he estimates will be used for the production of electricity in the United Kingdom in 1995 and 2000.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The amount of gas used for the production of electricity in the United Kingdom in 1995 and 2000 will depend on many factors. The attractions of gas to power generators together with the availability of competitive UKCS gas supplies seeking new markets suggest that gas burn in electricity generation will increase in the 1990s.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average cost of producing natural gas from the United Kingdom continental shelf; and what information he has as to the cost of the most economic method so far recorded of gasifying coal.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  To date some £12 billion has been spent in developing our natural gas resources on the continental shelf and some 260 billion therms of gas have been produced. This gives a simple average cost over the past two decades, excluding exploration costs and a return on capital, of some 5·0 pence per therm.

  The Watt committee report number 20, published last year with financial support from my Department, provides a comprehensive assessment of the costs of coal gasification. The production costs of the cheapest method are about twice the cost of the coal feedstock used. The average price of coal purchased by large United Kingdom industrial consumers in the third quarter of 1989 was 15 pence per therm.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is prepared to authorise connection with the European gas grid to supplement gas supplies from the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is for the private sector to bring forward proposals for the financing and construction of a connection with the European gas grid. Known reserves of natural gas in the UKCS are, as presently assessed, capable of meeting the needs of the United Kingdom gas market competitively for the foreseeable future. The Government will give full consideration to any proposal to build a marine pipeline link to the European gas grid on the merits of the case.

  Underground Miners
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many men were working underground in mines operated by British Coal in 1978–79 and each succeeding year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The numbers of underground wage earners on British Coal's colliery books at the end of the following years were:

  Year

  '000

  1978–79

  185·1

  1979–80

  185·8

  1980–81

  181·0

  1981–82

  171·9

  1982–83

  164·4

  1983–84

  147·5

  24

  Year

  '000

  1984–85

  139·2

  1985–86

  113·7

  1986–87

  91·1

  1987–88

  74·6

  1988–89

  68·7

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Traffic Wardens
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the main role of traffic wardens.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The main role of traffic wardens is to assist the police in the enforcement of parking regulations.

  Fixed Penalties
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to alter the fixed penalty level for illegal parking.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 20 December 1989 at column 275.

  Centrally Funded Information
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of centrally funded information prepared by his Department, or by the Central Office of Information on his Department's behalf, supplied to police forces in England and Wales, in each year since 1983; and if he will indicate the languages of publication for this material.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Following is a list of the publications produced by the Home office public relations branch since 1 April 1986 for issue to police forces in England and Wales. Where the publication was produced in other languages, as well as English, this is shown. Details of publications for earlier years and of those which were produced without the assistance of the public relations branch are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Description

  Title

  Crime Prevention

  Burglary/Theft Poster

  Watch Out

  An Open Invitation

  Autocrime Posters

  Who Forgot

  Give a Thief an Inch

  Police Warning

  Don't Make Your Picnic

  Police Warning

  Vandalism/Juvenile Posters

  Suddenly It's Not So Funny

  Suddenly It Comes Home to You

  Do You Know

  Vandalism is Pointless

  Bicycle/Motor Cycle Posters

  Coded Cycle

  Lock It or Lose It

  Lock & Chain

  25

  Description

  Title

  Theft Posters

  Thieves Do a Roaring Trade

  Preventing Office Theft

  By the Time

  Game Set & Snatch

  Bogus Callers Poster

  Someone at the Door

  Bomb Warning Poster

  Bombs … Be Alert

  Xmas Theft Posters

  An Unlocked Car

  Keep a Hold on Your Bag

  Autocrime Posters (Weatherproof)

  You are at Risk

  There Has Been a Spate

  Car Thieves Operate

  Have You Locked Your Car

  Home Security Booklet

  How to Protect Your Home

  Home Security Leaflet

  How to Protect Your Home (Magpie)

  Home Security Leaflet

  As Safe as Houses

  Home Security Leaflet

  Coded for Keeps

  Vandalism Leaflet

  Facing up to Vandalism

  Armed Robbery Leaflet

  Protection Against Armed Robbery

  Caravan and Boat Leaflets

  Keep Your Caravan Safe

  Keep Your Boat Crimetight

  Autocrime Leaflet

  Your Car is at Risk

  Bogus Callers Leaflet

  Knock Knock

  Leaflet for Farmers

  The Big Steal Is On

  Holiday Advice Leaflet

  You Can't Take it With You

  Video Theft Leaflet

  Video/Theft Alert

  Retail Theft Booklet

  Profit from Prevention

  Crime Leaflet

  Crime Prevention Makes Sense (Punjabi, Hindi, Gujerati)

  Crime Leaflet

  Crime Prevention Makes Sense (Bengali, Urdu)

  Booklets for Industry

  Design Solutions Autocrime

  A Guide to the Security Homes

  Community Programme

  The Community Programme

  Violent Crime Leaflet

  Violent Crime

  Police Advice for Women

  Practical Ways to Crack Crime

  1st Edition

  2nd Edition

  3rd Edition

  Practical Ways to Crack Crime

  The Family Guide

  Crime Leaflet

  Police Advice on Preventing Crime

  Neighbourhood Watch/Homewatch Material

  A Guide to Community Action

  Incident Report Card

  Window Sticker

  Burglars Beware Sticker

  Logo Sticker

  Door Sticker

  Xmas Theft Sticker

  Keep a Hold on Your Bag

  26

  Description

  Title

  Cycle Coding/Locking Material

  Lock and Chain—Bookmark

  Coded Cycle—Sticker

  Have You Locked Your Bike—Lamppost Sticker

  4D Special Agent Material

  Bookmark

  Sticker

  Membership Card

  Door Sticker

  Stop! Chain the Door

  Anti Burglary Sticker

  Burglars Beware

  Autocrime Sticker

  Watch Out

  Jigsaws

  Police Jigsaw

  Pack

  Peter Pan

  Pack

  Protecting Your Home (Magpie)

  Booklet

  Crime Prevention Publicity Catalogue

  Booklet

  Crime Prevention News

  A Quarterly Magazine

  Criminal Justice

  Working Paper 1986

  Criminal Justice

  Key Statistics

  Crime Booklet

  Tackling Crime

  Crime Leaflets

  Tackling Crime

  Miscellaneous

  Shotgun Booklet

  Shotguns—A Guide to the Law

  Gun Permit Leaflet

  Gun Permits for Visitors

  Gun Clubs Leaflet

  Approval of Gun Clubs

  Gun Sense Leaflet

  Gun Sense is Good Sense

  Firearms Folder

  Firearms Buy in Scheme

  Witness in Court Leaflets

  Witness in Court

  Victims of Crime Leaflet

  Victims of Crime

  Knives Amnesty Poster x 3

  Amnesty for Knives

  Crossbow Leaflet

  Crossbows Act

  Interception Leaflet

  Interception of Tele-communications

  Firearms Leaflet

  Firearms—Changes in the Law

  Firearms Poster

  Amnesty—Firearms

  Security Leaflet

  Complaints Against Security

  Booklet

  Police National Computer Unit

  Booklet

  Scientific Research and Development Branch

  Booklet

  Civil Protection

  Booklet

  Protect and Survive

  Leaflet

  Complaints Against the Police (Welsh, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujerati, Hindi, Chinese)

  Leaflet

  The Police are Ignorant

  27

  Description

  Title

  Booklet

  Homes Security Booklet

  Leaflet

  The Work of the Coroner

  Leaflet

  The New Fixed Penalty Scheme

  Leaflet

  The Forensic Science Service

  Police Recruitment

  Poster

  Undergraduates

  Poster

  Special Constabulary

  Poster

  Get Yourself a Real Job

  Poster

  A Job That Earns Respect

  Poster

  Serving the Community

  Poster

  Preserving the Peace

  Booklet

  Police Career—Graduate

  Booklet

  Police Officer

  Booklet

  Special Constabulary

  Booklet

  The Police Staff College Bramshill

  Leaflet

  The Police—A Career for Ex-Servicemen and Women

  Leaflet

  Police Special Reserve

  Leaflet

  Police Ethnic Recruitment

  Leaflet

  Police Cadets

  Card

  Police Recruitment Pay Scale

  Card

  Police Force Address List

  Schools Pack

  The Story of our Police

  Disclosure of Information
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the disclosure of information from the electoral register without the consent or knowledge of the voter; whether he has any plans to introduce regulations to allow voters to consent to the sale of their name and address; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  During 1989 we received two letters from members of the public and one from an hon. Member about disclosure of information from the electoral register without the elector's consent. We have no plans to introduce regulations to require the consent of electors to the sale of their names and addresses. The operation of the electoral registration system requires that all the information in the register should be freely available to the public. The provisions of the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 governing the publication and supply of the register reflect this fact and the conclusion that its use by commercial organisations could not effectively be prevented.

  Police Assaults (Wales)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figures, on a force by force basis, of police officers who suffered violent assaults over the recent Christmas and new year period in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constables concerned that, during the period from 22 December 1989 up to and including 1 January 1990, the numbers of police officers in Wales who were physically attacked were as follows:

  Number

  Gwent

  8

  Dyfed Powys

  5

  North Wales

  19

  South Wales

  33

  Cigarette Sales
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government propose to take to enforce the law on the prohibition of selling cigarettes to children under the age of 16 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The enforcement of the law is a matter for trading standards officers and the police. However, we are concerned that the prohibition on sales of tobacco to children should be effective and are currently considering what steps might be taken to strengthen the law in this area.

  Birmingham Six
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusion he has reached as a result of the meeting he had this week with the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs about the Birmingham Six.

  Mr. Waddington
  I explained to Mr. Collins when I met him on 8 January that I was giving very careful consideration to further material which had been submitted to me on behalf of the Birmingham Six. I will decide as soon as possible whether that further material justifies any intervention on my part.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet members of the European Parliament Committee set up to consider the soundness of the conviction of the Birmingham Six.

  Mr. Waddington
  As I said in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 30 November 1989, I understand that the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has not yet decided whether to conduct an inquiry into the case of the Birmingham Six, and if so, what its terms of reference should be. We believe that it would be inappropriate for the European Parliament to inquire into the convictions of the Birmingham Six, which we regard as a matter wholly outside the Parliament's competence.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now had an opportunity of considering fresh evidence presented to him before Christmas by lawyers representing the Birmingham Six; and if he has reached a conclusion.
  29
  Mr. Waddington
  I am considering very carefully the further material which has been presented to me by a solicitor on behalf of the Birmingham Six, and will decide as soon as possible whether it justifies any intervention on my part.

  Mr. Albert Baker
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet able to make a further statement as to the case of Mr. Albert Baker and his request for a transfer to a prison in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mellor
  Mr. Baker was informed in a petition reply dated 24 November 1989 that, because of the risk to his own safety if transferred to Northern Ireland, it had been decided to refuse his latest request.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent petitions have been received from Mr. Albert Baker, Her Majesty's prison Full Sutton, No. 241254.

  Mr. Mellor
  Mr. Baker last petitioned on 12 September 1989, when he wrote about the withdrawal of his special category status in 1973 following his transfer from a prison in Northern Ireland. A reply was sent on 22 November.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates, and for what reasons, Mr. Albert Baker, Her Majesty's prison Full Sutton, No. 241254, was held in a punishment unit.

  Mr. Mellor
  Mr. Baker was removed from normal association under the terms of prison rule 43 when, on reception at Full Sutton prison on 23 November 1989, he refused to wear prison clothing. When he agreed to do so on 2 December, he was placed on ordinary location.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he intends to reply to the correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, East and from Mr. Cohn Wallace in August 1989 concerning the case of Mr. Colin Wallace; and if he will make a statement as to the reason for the delay in replying.

  Mr. John Patten
  I hope to be able to reply shortly to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) and to Mr. Colin Wallace. It has not been possible to send earlier substantive replies pending completion of our consideration of relevant material contained in Mr. Paul Foot's book, "Who Framed Colin Wallace".

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has concluded his consideration of the conviction of Mr. Colin Wallace for manslaughter in the light of evidence of a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice set out in the book entitled, "Who Framed Colin Wallace", by Paul Foot, referred to in his written reply of 15 May 1989,Official Report, column 96; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend hopes shortly to complete his consideration of the material contained in Mr. Foot's book.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will institute an inquiry 30
  into the conduct of the Sussex police force when investigating the murder charge against Mr. Colin Wallace in the light of allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice made in the book, "Who Framed Colin Wallace", by Mr. Paul Foot and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I will shortly write to the hon. Member.

  Replies to Correspondence
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to reply to correspondence sent from(a) hon. Members and (b) the public.

  Mr. Waddington
  The average time taken in my Department during the fourth quarter of 1989 to reply to letters to Ministers and to the Secretary to the Immigration and Nationality Board, the great majority of which were from hon. Members, was 37 days. Information is not held centrally on the time taken to reply to letters from members of the public.

  Prison Diets
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of Her Majesty's prisons in the United Kingdom supply diets in accordance with religious belief on a regular basis; and what preparations are being made by prisons to supply such diets, on request, on a regular basis;

  (2) if he will issue instructions to the governors of Her Majesty's prisons to make necessary arrangements to enable prisoners who wish on religious grounds to eat particular diets, to be able to receive such diets on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has received over the past year, including from those detained in prison, about difficulties in obtaining halal and kosher food on a regular basis.

  Mr. Mellor
  Other than the annual census of religious registration in prisons each February, details are not recorded centrally of inmates who belong to religious faiths or of their location. In total about 144,000 meals are served daily to inmates in prison service establishments in England and Wales, of which about 6,500 (5 per cent.) are estimated to be variations from the normal dietary on account of religious belief.

  All meals are prepared according to centrally determined dietary scales designed to meet published nutritional standards. Each establishment prepared special meals and also varies its standard menus to take into account recognised food preferences.

  The number of meals served each day to certain minority faiths is estimated as follows:

  4,700 for Muslims

  1,000 for Jews

  400 for Sikhs

  300 for Hindus

  160 for Buddhists

  Halal meat may be purchased locally on an occasional basis in recognition of those Muslims who do not wish to eat non-halal meat. Substitutes for bacon and pork are provided and vegetarian margarine is issued. Alternatively, Muslims may apply either for a vegetarian diet or a vegan diet which excludes all animal and dairy products.
  31
  A kosher diet is not provided in prison service establishments in England and Wales. The arrangements are that substitutes for bacon and pork are issued in their place and kosher margarine is issued in lieu of the ordinary margarine. Orthodox Jews may apply for a vegan diet if this is considered preferable.

  The Home Office is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Muslim and Jewish authorities as part of the continuous review of the facilities which are offered to prisoners belonging to these faiths.

  Mr. Rupert Taylor
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the disciplinary proceedings taken against the Metropolitan police constable, found by a High Court jury on 5 December 1989, to have planted cannabis on Mr. Rupert Taylor.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. I understand that following the award to Mr. Taylor an investigation into the circumstances of his case is being carried out by an officer from the Thames Valley police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. No decision has yet been taken as to whether any officer connected with the case will face disciplinary proceedings.

  In order for an officer to be found guilty at a disciplinary hearing the offence must be proved beyond reasonable doubt and not, as in civil proceedings, on the balance of probabilities.

  Detective Superintendent John Moore
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to when Detective Superintendent John Moore retired; and what his age and length of service were at the time of retirement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to where and in what capacity(a) Detective Superintendent Alan Watson, (b) Detective Sergeant Michael French, (c) Detective Constable John Brand, (d) Detective Constable Thomas Sutcliffe, (e) Police Constable George Cole, (f) Detective Sergeant David Millichamp, (g) Detective Constable Terence Woodwiss, (h) Detective Constable Douglas Bell, (i) Detective Sergeant Richard Bryant, (j) Detective Constable Colin Morris, (k) Detective Constable Frederick Jennings, and (l) Police Constable William Coltey are still serving.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Detective Superintendent David Palmer-Hall
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if during his service with the Metropolitan police, Detective Superintendent David Palmer-Hall was seconded for work with the Jordanian Government.
  32
  Mr. Waddington
  No.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Metropolitan police as to how long and in what capacities Mr. David Palmer-Hall was employed by the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Mr. Palmer-Hall joined the Metropolitan police in 1950 and retired in 1980. He served in Special Branch from 1952 until his retirement.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables of Surrey and Hampshire on the progress of their investigations into the disappearance over 24 hours of former Detective Superintendent David Palmer-Hall.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of Surrey, whose force was in charge of the inquiry into the disappearance, that the police have completed their investigation and it has not revealed any criminal activity relating to former Detective Superintendent Palmer-Hall's brief absence from home.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what employment Mr. David Palmer-Hall has had with Her Majesty's Government since 1982.

  Mr. Waddington
  There is no record that Mr. Palmer-Hall was employed by the Home Office during the relevant period. My Department does not maintain records of employment in other Departments.

  Sikh Priests
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement setting out his policy in respect of priests of the Sikh religion applying to enter the United Kingdom for the purposes of carrying out religious duties for a specific period; and whether the policy has been discussed with the Government of India.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The provisions in the immigration rules (HC. 388) for the admission of ministers of religion apply to all religions.

  Civil Emergency Centres
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account he has taken of developments in East-West relations in reviewing his policy on the building of civil emergency centres by county and district councils.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]: The Government keep under review their civil defence planning assumptions in the light of the possible threat of hostilities. Such assumptions must take into account military capabilities as well as likely intentions and the climate of relations between East and West. In the present rapidly changing situation it would be premature and irresponsible to reduce our basic preparedness for ensuring the protection of the population and the continuity of government in war.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many outstanding applications from local authorities over television concessionary
  33
  licences are currently being considered by the National Television Licensing Records Office in Bristol and how many of these were submitted (a) six months ago and over, and (b) three months ago and over;

  (2) what is the average time the National Television Licensing Records Office in Bristol aims to deal with applications from local authorities for concessionary television licences on behalf of their residents.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 January 1990] : Of the 33,000 schemes submitted since the regulations were changed in 1988 25,000 have been dealt with, a further 4,000 will shortly receive their licences and 4,000 remain unresolved pending further information which has been requested from the local authorities concerned. Statistics of waiting times are not readily available, but many original applications took a long time because of their number and the need for further detailed inquiries. NTVLRO now aims to resolve new applications within three weeks of receiving all the necessary information from the local authority concerned.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many representations have been received from local authorities in the past 18 months regarding difficulties over concessionary television licences being granted to those living in old-age pension accommodation;

  (2) if he, or any Minister in his Department, will receive a deputation from the Walsall metropolitan borough council over the difficulties it is having in obtaining television concessionary licences for residents living in old-age pension designated accommodation.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 January 1990] : Between the change in the regulations in May 1988 and the end of December 1989 we received 83 letters from local authorities, 68 forwarded by hon. Members, about the concessionary television licence scheme. Ministers also received two delegations from local authorities.

  I would be happy to consider any letter from, or on behalf of Walsall metropolitan borough council, setting out why a meeting would be useful.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the annual cost of granting the concessionary television licence available to sheltered housing residents to every pensioner in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 January 1990] : Reduction of the annual licence fee for all pensioner households to the £5 concessionary rate would cause a revenue loss estimated at £365 million a year. To make up the shortfall the fee for all other colour licence payers would have to increase from £66 to £98.

  Vehicle Smoke Tests
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police prosecutions, under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, of vehicles producing excessive smoke, have taken place in each of the last five years.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 January 1990] : The available information is given in the table for 1985 and 1986. The emission of smoke proceedings were brought under the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978.
  34

  Proceedings at Magistrates courts in England and Wales

  1985

  1986

  Emission of smoke etc. causing danger

  286

  338

  Other emission of smoke offences

  389

  309

  Sources: Offences relating to motor vehicles England and Wales 1985, 1986 Supplementary tables. Published by the Home Office.

  Since 1987, the statistics collected no longer separately identify offences of emission of smoke. Since October 1986, vehicles defect offences can also be dealt with by the use of fixed penalties, but emission of smoke offences are not shown separately in these statistics.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Official Duties
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list his official duties for 15 January.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  This morning I had meetings with the Prime Minister and other colleagues, and with Duchy of Lancaster officials. This afternoon I shall spend time attending to Duchy business.

  Bolton
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next intends to visit Bolton.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I last visited Bolton in November 1988. I have no plans to visit again in the immediate future, but I am always willing to come and support my hon. Friend.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Order Paper
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what measures he is considering to reduce the amount of material printed on the Order Paper.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  A significant reduction in the average size of the daily Vote bundle has already been achieved as a result of the new arrangements introduced last April for printing early-day motions. That is expected to result in at least 4,000 fewer pages being printed each year, and in savings in production costs of at least £300,000 a year. I have now also initiated a general examination of the form of the Vote bundle, including the Order Paper, and if my hon. Friend has any specific suggestions for reducing further the amount of material printed, I hope that he will not hesitate to put them to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee.

  Prime Minister's Press Secretary
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will establish facilities in the House for the Prime Minister's press secretary.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have no plans to do so.

  Public Accounts Committee
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any plans to relieve overcrowding in the Committee Room Corridor prior to and during sittings of the Public Accounts Committee.
  35
  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I am aware of the great interest that both the press and the public have shown in sittings of the Public Accounts Committee. I have asked the authorities of the House to ensure that those waiting for admittance to the Committee do not impede access along the Committee Corridor.

  Souvenir Kiosk
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the takings at the House of Commons kiosk in(a) the four weeks to Christmas 1989 and (b) the year to 31 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Kiosk takings for the four-week period to Christmas 1989 were £207,647 and the figure for the 12-month period to Christmas was £645,325. Both amounts include VAT.]

  Parking (Disabled)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make more car parking facilities available in the precincts of the House for those who are disabled including staff employed by right hon. and hon. Members.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  As I advised the hon. Member on 26 October, column 524, the parking arrangements for disabled drivers were confirmed by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee in January 1988. At that time it was found that the spaces available were sufficient to meet the requirement, but if the hon. Member will let me have details of any specific difficulties being experienced, I shall invite the Sub-Committee to consider them.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to make any changes in the level of financial support given to the provision of British Rail local services.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government show their firm commitment to maintaining essential local services by paying substantial subsidies to British Rail, amounting to some £500 million in the current financial year. By 1993 Network SouthEast should no longer require revenue subsidy, but we shall still be paying well over £300 million per year in today's prices to subsidise provincial rail services.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Rail; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I plan to meet the chairman of British Rail on 17 January when we will discuss a variety of railway matters.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss matters of safety.

  Mr. Portillo
  We expect to receive next month the chairman's first report on the implementation of Sir 36
  Anthony Hidden's recommendations following the Clapham junction accident. My right hon. Friend hopes to discuss this report with the chairman soon afterwards.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on plans for the high-speed railway line to the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Parkinson
  British Rail is now negotiating a detailed agreement with its joint venture partners and developing its plans for the Channel tunnel rail link. It aims to introduce a Bill for the new line later this year.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to improve transport links between Yorkshire and the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  Improvements to the M 1, A1(M) and A 1 will upgrade links to the Channel tunnel from Yorkshire and the north-east via the M25 and M20. British Rail published its proposals on 14 December, and a copy has been sent to all hon. Members.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met the chairman of British Rail to discuss plans for international rail services through the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend has discussed a wide range of issues at his meetings with the chairman of British Rail. These have included the board's plans for international rail services through the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. John Evans
  ?: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on plans for the high-speed rail link to the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  British Rail is now negotiating a detailed agreement with its joint venture partners and developing its plans for the Channel tunnel rail link. It aims to introduce a Bill for the new line later this year.

  Rural Transport
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about rural transport.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have received very few recent representations about rural transport services. Bus mileage in country areas has increased since bus deregulation. The investment in British Rail's provincial sector is such that we shall shortly be in the position where four fifths of the rolling stock has been renewed.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the present state of rural transport.

  Mr. Portillo
  Bus mileage outside London and the metropolitan areas has increased by some 21 per cent. since bus deregulation, with some 83 per cent. run commercially. The investment in British Rail's provincial sector is such that we shall shortly be in the position where four fifths of the rolling stock has been renewed.

  Urban Transport
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department is taking to assist inner urban areas.
  37
  Mr. Parkinson
  Our measures to assist inner urban areas include financing local road schemes through transport supplementary grant; constructing trunk roads where appropriate; providing grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 for public transport; and consolidating the regeneration of London's docklands with the approval of the Jubilee line extension.

  Urban Traffic
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about traffic congestion in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I receive regular representations on the problem of congestion in urban areas, particularly in London where it is most acute. I have recently published a discussion document "Traffic in London" inviting comments on my proposed initiatives for tackling congestion in London. The proposals aim to improve the quality and capacity of the capital's transport network to benefit public and private transport users, residents and businesses.

  Electronic Road Pricing
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken by his Department as to the feasibility of introducing electronic road pricing in the United Kingdom's major cities.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Department monitors a wide range of measures for dealing with traffic congestion, including road pricing, and has undertaken some preliminary background work into the possible implications of introducing electronic road pricing in London.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has arranged any surveys of public attitudes towards road pricing; and whether he has any plans to do so.

  Mr. Atkins
  No.

  Bridge Operation
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's one-man bridge operation at night project.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The first phase of the project has been completed and a second phase is being considered.

  Coastguard Service
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek additional means to improve the efficiency of the coastguards and other search and rescue services along the north Devon coast and the Bristol channel.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Following the closure of the coastguard centre at Hartland in December 1988, a number of measures have been taken in order to ensure that there is adequate provision of resources for maritime search and rescue in the area. The facilities available to Her Majesty's coastguard as the co-ordinating authority are equal to those in other areas of the United Kingdom 38
  coastline. The enhanced watch levels at Swansea have been maintained since the closure of the Hartland centre. Swansea now has a greater staff level than some centres which handle a larger number of incidents per annum.

  London Regional Transport
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of London Regional Transport; and if he will discuss matters of safety.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I frequently meet the chairman of London Regional Transport and discuss various matters including safety.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of London Regional Transport; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of London Regional Transport on 21 December. A range of issues was discussed.

  London Buses
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on plans for the deregulation of buses in London.

  Mr. Portillo
  We are committed to the deregulation of bus services in London in the 1990s.

  Marchioness
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement regarding progress of the inquiry into the collision involving the Marchioness and Bow Belle dredger on the River Thames.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The inquiry into the collision involving the Marchioness and the Bow Belle has reached an advanced stage. It is expected that the inspector leading the inquiry will be in a position to submit his findings to the chief inspector of marine accidents very soon. The report of the chief inspector will then be published at the earliest practicable date.

  Tyneside
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to visit Tyneside.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend visited Tyneside on 24 November 1989. I last visited it on 26 October 1989. We have no plans for further visits in the near future.

  Motorway Delays
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department measures the finiancial cost of delays on motorways; and what is the figure for the latest year.

  Mr. Atkins
  There is no way of making accurate estimates of the overall cost of delays on motorways. The Department does, however, use computer programs to assess the cost of traffic delays on particular stretches of motorway under specific conditions.

  Underground Services (South-East London)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning future plans for new underground railways serving south-east London.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Jubilee extension to docklands will improve accessibility to Southwark and Bermondsey. London Regional Transport is also considering further the case for extensions of the East London line and the docklands light railway to parts of south-east London.

  Thames Riverbus
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the reduction in the Riverbus service on the Thames and on the levels of Government subsidy offered for this service.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government have made a grant of £500,000 available to the consortium responsible for the riverbus service. The revisions to the service, which come into operation today, are intended, in the light of operating experience, to tailor the service more closely to demand. I am pleased that the plans are for a fast, frequent and reliable riverbus service on the River Thames.

  Railway Stations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a special grant to enable British Rail to staff rail stations that are currently unstaffed.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. Decisions on the staffing of individual stations are management matters for the board in the light of the overall objectives set by the Government and local requirements. Decisions on staffing levels at stations in the metropolitan counties are a matter for the local passenger transport executives. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has written to the hon. Member on this matter.

  Traffic (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to relieve traffic congestion in London.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 14 December 1989.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on consultation to date following publication of the London assessment studies proposals in December 1989.

  Mr. Atkins
  Full public consultation is currently under way. The deadline for comments is 28 February 1990.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has sent copies of the London road assessment studies to the leaders of local community road action groups, as promised by him when he met the London Labour group of hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Copies of the consultants' reports have been supplied free of charge, to all representative local organisations which so far have been identified by hon. Members as being based within their constituencies.
  40
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on sending an official from his Department to meetings called by a borough council or a local community roads action group to explain his road option preferences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department has informed each borough council that officials are able to attend one local authority-controlled meeting in their area and has asked them to nominate the venue. That programme is now being firmed up with the local authorities concerned.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authority road schemes will be started next year with a transport supplementary grant.

  Mr. Atkins
  Local highways authorities have indicated that construction work on 74 major road schemes (each costing £1 million or more) which have been accepted for transport supplementary grant support will start in the financial year 1990–91.

  A1
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the road safety benefits which could arise from dualling of the A 1 throughout its length.

  Mr. Atkins
  Current traffic flows on the single carriageway sections of the A1 do not justify dualling throughout.

  Road safety benefits are part of the criteria taken into account in the cost benefit analysis when decisions are made on which schemes to undertake. The safety and accident situation on the A1 in Northumberland, as with all trunk roads, is monitored continuously and checked.

  M1 (Junction 21)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the disruption at junction 21 of the M1.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave on 28 November 1989 at column 186. The Department has since received two further representations.

  East London Assessment Study
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responses he has received to the east London assessment study stage 2 consultants' report.

  Mr. Atkins
  Comments are being received from a variety of sources, including right hon. and hon. Members, local authorities, interested groups, national organisations, and members of the public.

  European Community Model Driving Licences
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the new-style European Community model driving licences will be introduced in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  The new-style European Community model driving licence will be issued from early April 1990 to drivers with a full ordinary driving entitlement due to come into force on or after 1 June 1990.
  41
  Existing driving licences will remain valid after that date—there will be no need for drivers to exchange them for the new-style licences.

  Learner Drivers
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning changing the law governing the supervision of learner drivers.

  Mr. Atkins
  Over 200 representations have been received. These were taken into account in formulating the proposals contained in the consultation document to which I referred in my answer to a question from my hon. Friend on 20 December (Official Report, Volume 164, column 278).

  Road and Bridge Maintenance
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much spending on roads and bridge maintenance will increase in each of the next three years.

  Mr. Atkins
  For national roads, planned expenditure on the maintenance of roads and bridges for the current year and for each of the next three years is as follows:

  Capital maintenance £ million

  Current maintenance £ million

  1989–90

  1337

  199

  1990–91

  412

  120

  1991–92

  444

  127

  1992–93

  448

  135

  1 Forecast outturn.

  The Government no longer make plans for local expenditure on highway maintenance. However, the standard spending assessment for local highway maintenance for 1990–91 will be £1,578 million, compared with the needs assessment of £1,478 million used in the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement.

  Investment
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much will be invested in road and rail
  over the next three years.

  Mr. Portillo
  The figures requested are as follows:

  £ billion

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Total

  National roads12

  1·7

  1·8

  1·8

  5·3

  Rail13

  1·6

  2·1

  2·3

  6·0

  1 Local authorities also invest in road and rail, including expenditure on structural maintenance of local roads which falls within authorities' current expenditure budgets. The level of investment undertaken is a matter for the authorities concerned. For 1990–91 estimates of probable investment in local roads and non—BR rail systems are over £950 million and over £60 million respectively.

  2 Including structural maintenance.

  3 British Rail and London Regional Transport. Future investment by London Regional Transport has not yet been allocated between rail and non-rail expenditure (which is currently running at £50 million per annum).

  Priority Routes
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions he proposes to apply to his proposed red routes; and if he will make a statement.
  42
  Mr. Atkins
  The basis of our proposal is that there should be no stopping on the red routes during peak periods. Stopping, loading and unloading may be permitted at certain times at some strictly limited and clearly marked places where the flow of traffic would not be impeded. Consideration will be given to legitimate interests of frontages, and to the case for exemptions, which will need to be minimised. Final decisions will be taken in the light of consultation and a pilot scheme starting in summer 1990.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road miles will be involved in the priority route network announced in December.

  Mr. Atkins
  The network proposed in the "Traffic in London" discussion document covers approximately 300 miles of roads.

  Airports
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the percentage growth in passengers in the two years 1988 and 1989 in each United Kingdom airport handling more than 3 million passengers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The following is the information:

  Millions of terminal passengers

  1987

  1988

  Percentage increase

  Heathrow

  34·743

  37·510

  8·0

  Gatwick

  19·381

  20·744

  7·0

  Manchester

  8·609

  9·504

  10·4

  Glasgow

  3·365

  3·634

  8·0

  Millions of terminal passengers

  1988 (January-October)

  19891 (January-October)

  Percentage increase

  Heathrow

  31·763

  33·472

  5·4

  Gatwick

  18·452

  18·763

  1·7

  Manchester

  8·527

  9·127

  7·0

  Glasgow

  3·166

  3·369

  6·4

  1 Full year figures not yet available. 1988 period adjusted for comparison.

  Source: Civil Aviation Authority.

  Hydrography
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the payments made to the hydrographers' department for charts for the last five years by his Department: and if he will list the number of charts ordered by his Department for the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Vehicle Inspectorate Agency
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the vehicle inspectorate agency for the current year and for the longer term,

  Mr. Atkins
  When the Vehicle Inspectorate became an executive agency on 1 August 1988 it was set a key performance target to improve the cost efficiency of its
  43
  main activities by 3·7 per cent. over a two-year period from 1 April 1989. Full details of the inspectorate's 1989–90 financial performance and service targets are given in its business plan, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The targets for 1990–91 will be included in the next business plan, which should be available shortly. A copy of that plan will also be lodged with the Library.

  London Assessment Studies
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many invitations to speak at public meetings on the London assessment studies have been received by his Department; and how many he has(a) accepted and (b) refused.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department has informed each borough council that officials are able to attend one local authority-controlled meeting in their area and has asked them to nominate the venue. This programme is now being firmed up with the local authorities concerned. Groups asking for officials to attend other meetings are being referred to the local authorities concerned.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which voluntary organisations his Department has sent free copies of the appropriate London assessment studies.

  Mr. Atkins
  Copies of the consultants' stage 2 reports have been supplied free of charge, to all representative local organisations that have been identified by Members as being based within their constituencies. Further requests for free copies submitted in that way will be actioned as they are received.

  "The Road User and the Law"
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to implement the recommendations of the Government's White Paper "The Road User and the Law"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsible road user behaviour is fostered by effective and fair traffic laws. We are currently consulting on detailed aspects of the White Paper proposals with a view to introducing legislation as soon as time is available.

  BBC Travel Information
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding the setting up and introduction of a national travel information service; what action he intends to take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I plan to visit the BBC travel unit next month. My predecessor and officials from the Department have had several discussions with the BBC and with others involved in the provision of travel information about ways of improving the co-ordination and dissemination of information. Our aim is to facilitate more economical and efficient road travel by improving the quality of information available to drivers both while planning journeys and while on the road.

  Satellite Communications
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what storm warnings, distress warnings, urgency messages or other broadcasts on satellite communication in the Indian INMARSAT coverage area were received before, during and after Typhoon Gay in the Gulf of Thailand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The promulgation of storm warnings is by coast radio stations. INMARSAT satellities are at present not used for such broadcasts. If INMARSAT was used for distress and urgency messages, they would not have been monitored by the United Kingdom Rescue Co-ordinating Centre.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies are being undertaken into the incidence of satellite communication failure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The question of communication failure is an operational matter for INMARSAT.

  Oil Discharges (Liberian Ships)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response has been received from the authorities in Liberia to three cases of possible illegal discharges of oil from Liberian ships in 1986 and 1988.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Liberian authorities have submitted a copy of their interim investigative report on one incident but the final outcome is not yet known. In the other two cases, we are advised that investigations have not yet been completed.

  Greater Manchester Relief Road
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for public consultation for the Worsley section of the schematic route of the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road to be undertaken in advance of consultants having finalised any route options.

  Mr. Atkins
  We expect to consult the public next year. We shall need to indicate broad options. Detailed design would only follow the formal announcement of a preferred route.

  Driver Licensing
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received over the EEC directive on driver licensing harmonisation from people providing community transport in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Twenty-eight bodies interested in community transport responded to the consultation paper on the future strategy on minibuses published in August 1989. Since then representations on minibuses have also been received from 62 hon. Members some of which were concerned with the implications for community transport. The views expressed will be taken into account in the negotiations in the Council of the second directive on the driving licence.

  Rumble Strips
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy with respect to laying down of rumble strips on trunk roads to curb excessive traffic speed; and what advice he gives to local authorities.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department seeks to facilitate the safe and free flow of traffic on trunk roads. At places with a history of accidents caused by excessive speeds, rumble strips can be an effective measure, used either on their own or in combination with other measures. In or near built-up areas, the increased traffic noise which rumble strips generate has to be taken into account in devising appropriate measures.

  Similar considerations apply to local authority roads. Advice to local authorities is published in "Roads and Traffic in Urban Areas" (HMSO) and DTp circular Roads 17/78, together with departmental standard TD 6/79, dealing with transverse yellow bar markings at roundabouts.

  Chester Road, Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific issues concerning traffic management on the A56 Chester road, Manchester between Longford bridge and Great Stone road have been raised with his Department by Trafford borough council; and what was the response.

  Mr. Atkins
  The council's agents asked for our agreement to modify the timings at the pelican crossing here, and to set back the stop lines, instal overhead signal poles and increase the zig zag markings. We have already agreed to all those measures: formal authoritisations will be issued in the next few days. We have not agreed to the council's suggestion that the light source at this and other such crossings should be changed.

  Yellow Lines
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any proposals to remove yellow parking lines in London.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for providing yellow lines rests with the local authorities on local roads and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on trunk roads. In "Traffic in London", published on 14 December 1989, the Government propose new marking and signing arrangements for a priority route network for London, which will comprise trunk roads and certain major local roads. We also propose that the local authorities in London review the provision of yellow lines on their other local roads in accordance with guidelines to be set by my right hon. Friend and the results of a study by the Department of Transport into more positive systems for designating kerbspace.

  Channel Tunnel Safety Authority
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority will publish its first annual report.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has today published its first annual report, covering the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989, and has arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Vehicle Smoke Checks
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of(a) buses and (b) heavy goods vehicles, tested by his Department's Vehicles Inspectorate failed the visual smoke check (i) in the annual test and (ii) in roadside checks in the 1988–89 period; and what is his estimate of the total number of vehicles producing excessive smoke in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]: In 1988–89 1·42 per cent. of PSVs and 1·057 per cent. of HGVs failed the visual smoke check in the annual test. Information concerning vehicles found emitting excessive smoke at roadside spot checks is not available. A random survey of heavy goods vehicles carried out in May 1988 showed 3·6 per cent. were emitting excess smoke. If that were reflected in the vehicle fleet as a whole, approximately 20,000 heavy goods vehicles might be producing excessive smoke in Great Britain. The Department has no figures for Northern Ireland.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State For Transport how many vehicles were(a) banned and (b) received vehicle rectification notices as a result of visual smoke checks in the 1988–89 period.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]: Following is the information:

  (a) Information is not available to identify the number of vehicles banned for smoke defects.

  (b) The vehicle defect rectification scheme is administered by the police. The Department has no data on this.

  Cyclists
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has in regard to the number of people who cycle to work in London and as to what proportion of the total number of commuters this constitutes.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]: The 1981 Greater London transportation survey of London residents indicated that some 155,000 work journeys were made by pedal cycle. That represented about 3 per cent. of all work journeys by London residents; estimates from the Department's 1985–86 national travel survey suggest that there has been little change in that proportion.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufacturing Industry (Competitiveness)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the results of any studies his Department has conducted into the competitiveness of British manufacturing industry as against other OECD countries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In 1989 my Department commissioned a study by the PA Consulting Group entitled "Manufacturing into the late 90's". A copy is available in the Library.

  Sub-Post Offices
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by location for the counties of Yorkshire and Humberside, any proposed closure of small rural sub-post offices due to take place during the coming year.

  Mr. Forth
  This is a matter for the Post Office, but I understand that it has no plans to close any rural post offices. Post Office Counters Ltd. is committed to maintaining the rural network and only when it is impossible to find a sub-postmaster, even working reduced hours, does a rural office close.

  Companies House
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Companies House agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Redwood
  Targets for Companies House covering the two-year period to 1990–91 were announced by the Secretary of State in March 1989. These are:

  (i) A 10 per cent. reduction in the proportion of companies which have not filed all the accounts and annual returns required by the Companies Act, so that by June 1991 the compliance rate will be increased to 83 per cent.;

  (ii) A 20 per cent. reduction in the time taken to process documents, so that by April 1991 documents are on average available to the public within 18 working days of being delivered to Companies House;

  (iii) A 12 per cent. increase in output per member of staff;

  (iv) A 7 per cent. decrease in unit costs in real terms. Companies House's targets are currently being reviewed in the context of the agency's 1990 corporate plan.

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the National Weights and Measures Laboratory agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Forth
  In May 1989, Lord Young, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, approved the corporate plan of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory executive agency. This plan, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, contains specific targets for the current year. Targets for the longer term will be approved by the Secretary of State in subsequent corporate plans.

  Warren Spring Laboratory
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Warren Spring Laboratory agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will be announcing the performance measure targets for the Warren Spring Laboratory agency before the beginning of the next financial year.

  Government Chemist
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the laboratory of the Government chemist for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I expect to announce targets for the laboratory of the Government chemist before the beginning of the next financial year.

  Maluku Islands
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about United Kingdom trade links with the Maluku Islands, Indonesia.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has no knowledge of any specific United Kingdom trade links with the Maluku Islands, Indonesia. United Kingdom firms usually tend to adopt a comprehensive marketing policy towards Indonesia, largely through agents in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to monitor employers' compliance with the requirement in section 235 of the Companies Act 1985 that firms with more than 250 employees must include a statement in their annual report and accounts, outlining their policy on the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Redwood
  Responsibility for the content of accounts and directors' reports rests with the directors, with auditors required to state whether the accounts meet the statutory requirements. Companies House staff carry out certain checks on annual accounts, but do not arrange for the contents to be scrutinised in detail except in response to specific complaints.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requests he has received from ASEAN countries for an agreement of trade in rain forest timber, along the lines of that negotiated with New Zealand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  No such requests have been received.

  Smoke Detectors
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to introduce safety regulations covering smoke detectors containing radioactive Americum 241.

  Mr. Forth
  These products will be subject to the proposed Radioactive Products (Safety) Regulations which I propose to take in March 1990. They will come into force in September 1990. These products are at present subject to the general safety requirement of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

  West Germany (Trade)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in manufactured goods with West Germany.

  Mr. Redwood
  In the first 11 months of 1989 imports of manufactures from the Federal Republic of Germany exceeded United Kingdom exports to that country by £9 billion.

  Merger Controls
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the adoption of the European Community merger control regulation.

  Mr. Redwood
  I welcome the adoption of this regulation which followed major progress over past months on a number of issues during which the United Kingdom played a constructive role throughout. The adoption of this regulation provides a welcome clarification of powers, giving business greater certainty about which jurisdiction will be exercised and how it will be exercised.

  As from 21 September 1990 mergers with a Community dimension involving large companies—broadly those mergers with a combined worldwide turnover of more than 5 billion ecu (around £3·7 billion) and with a Community turnover in excess of 500 million ecu (around £370 million)—will be subject to examination by the European Commission. We expect this to include about a dozen United Kingdom mergers per year. Mergers which primarily concern one member state in that more than two thirds of the turnover of each company concerned is in one and the same member state remain subject to national control.

  The United Kingdom was successful in ensuring that the criteria for the assessment of mergers are strongly competition based. Mergers which create or enhance a dominant position and significantly impede competition must be prohibited. Technical and economic progress can be taken into account so long as they do not pose a barrier to competition.

  The United Kingdom's objective that there should be a clear separation of the roles of the Commission and member state authorities has also been substantially achieved. Normally the Commission will have exclusive competence over those mergers with a Community dimension as described above. The United Kingdom was successful in limiting the scope for member states to intervene on competition grounds in such mergers. A member state may intervene only where it demonstrates to the Commission that a dominant position significantly impeding competition exists in a distinct market in its territory and the Commission is satisfied that the market cannot be adequately protected under the regulation.

  A tight line has been drawn round the grounds other than competition on which a member state can intervene in mergers. Only public security, prudential controls and media diversity are recognised as legitimate national interests allowing intervention.

  Outside the thresholds mentioned above, the Commission can intervene under the regulation only at the specific request of a member state and then only to remedy competition defects in that member state. The merger
  50
  regulation disapplies regulation 17, thereby restricting the Commission's powers to intervene under treaty articles 85 and 86. This should reduce the uncertainty which currently exists and which is an unwelcome hazard to business.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Internal Market Council held on 21 and 22 December 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Council made important progress on almost all items on a long agenda. Agreement was reached on the EC merger control regulation, to deal with mergers with a Community dimension. Political agreements were also reached on the second life insurance services directive, three directives on rights of residence for non-economically advice persons, and on testing and certification. Common positions were agreed on measures concerning package travel, active implantable medical devices, nutritional labelling of foodstuffs and permitted residues of veterinary medicinal products.

  The Council agreed to consider further the Commission's analysis of barriers to takeovers once the Commission's programme of specific recommendations is published at the end of March. A helpful statement on implementation of single market measures was also agreed.

  The proposed directive on public purchasing (excluded sectors) was discussed. Although agreement was not reached, useful progress was made. It may be possible to agree the directive during the Irish Presidency.

  The Council also discussed the proposed European company statute, transEuropean infrastructure., the "social economy" (the co-operative, mutual and nonprofit making sector), legal protection of computer programmes, irradiation of foodstuffs and mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

  Knitwear and Textiles
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give further details of the collaborative ventures to which the Minister for Industry referred on 12 December,Official Report, column 984, in which the Government are prepared to play a part to assist the knitwear and textile industries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Support is available to the knitwear and textile industries for pre-competitive collaborative research under the four main schemes covered by the research and technology initiative.

  The schemes are:
  LINK, which encourages firms to collaborate with universities and polytechnics in pre-competitive research
  EUREKA, which encourages firms to enter collaborative ventures with firms in other European countries Advanced technology programme (ATP), which assists companies to collaborate in selected fields of new technology
  General industrial collaborative programmes, which provide support for projects at research and technology organisations and for other collaborative projects not covered under the above headings

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total sum allotted in each of the next three financial years referred to by the Minister for
  51
  Industry on 12 December, Official Report, column 984, as available for collaborative ventures between the Government and the knitwear and textile industries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No specific sum is allocated to collaborative research ventures by the garment and the knitwear and the textile industries. Proposals put forward, either by companies in these industries or by the research and technology organisations serving them, are judged on their merits and given appropriate support under the terms of the research and technology initiative.

  Merchant Shipping
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of British merchant shipbuilding capacity.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 9 January,Official Report, column 598.

  Albania
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on United Kingdom trade with Albania.

  Mr. Redwood
  Over the last three years United Kingdom trade with Albania has totalled between £2·5 million and £4 million a year. My Department gives advice to British companies interested in the market, but the assistance we can give is limited by the absence of diplomatic relations and the scarcity of market information. The London chamber of commerce organised a trade mission to Albania in 1988 and hopes to develop closer links with the Albanian chamber.

  Romania
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on United Kingdom trade with Romania.

  Mr. Redwood
  Her Majesty's Government of course warmly endorse the political changes which have recently taken place in Romania. We hope and expect that these changes will lead to a strengthening of our relations, particularly in trade. Between 1982 and 1989 (up to and including October) our exports to Romania declined from £115 million to £30 million. Significant improvements to this figure will depend, inter alia, on the availability of hard currency, but we note and welcome Romania's intention to aim for a better-balanced trade with the United Kingdom. We share that intention and will do our best to help. We are also investigating ways of facilitating United Kingdom investment in the economies of eastern Europe, including Romania.

  Immediate Romanian requirements include food, fertilisers, pesticides, animal foodstuffs, seeds, agricultural equipment and some consumer goods. There is also likely to be a demand for photocopiers, typewriters, TV studio equipment and film material. My Department is in touch with potential British suppliers. In the longer term we would hope for improvement in the aviation sector where the Romanians are building civil aircraft under licence from British firms.

  China
  Dr.Thomas
  To ask Secretary of Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on United Kingdom trade with the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Redwood
  Normal commercial business relations with China continue, although the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Community have suspended bilateral ministerial and high-level exchanges, trade in arms and concessional finance for new projects, following events in Peking in June last year.

  In the first 11 months of 1989 the value of United Kingdom exports to China was £363 million.

  Foreign Shareholdings
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what occasions he or his predecessors have used their powers under the Industry Act 1975 to restrict the size of foreign shareholdings in British companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]: The powers under section 13 of the Industry Act 1975 have never been used.

  Industrial Decline
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors account for the decline in output of the textile, footwear, metal goods, motor vehicle and mechancial engineering industries since 1979; and in which other countries there has been a comparable decline.

  Mr. Redwood
  The period 1979–88 has witnessed rapid structural change both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Some industries have experienced a rise in output while in others output has fallen. The changes reflect the shifting pattern of demand, the changing nature of international competition, and the ability of individual countries to respond to these developments. Such structural change is an integral part of the process by which economies develop and grow.

  The pattern of structural change has not been very different in the United Kingdom from that in other major industrial countries. Thus, according to published OECD data, output of textiles, footwear and metal products all fell in at least several of the major seven OECD countries over the period 1979–88 and in no case did the United Kingdom suffer the greatest reduction. The OECD includes mechanical engineering in the wider category of non-electrical machinery, United Kingdom output of which rose at a rate broadly comparable with that of the other major European countries. Only in motor vehicles was United Kingdom output growth over the period 1979–88 significantly below that of all the other major OECD countries. However, the decline in United Kingdom motor vehicles output was reversed in the mid-1980s and prospects for further recovery are excellent.

  Accounting Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how, and in consultation with what bodies, he formulates the accounting policy for the corporate sector;
  53
  (2) if he will list the non-Government bodies, committees or institutes which are permitted to make the accounting policy for the corporate sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Redwood
  Company accounts are regulated in Great Britain by provisions in the Companies Act 1985 (to be amended by the Companies Act 1989), which reflect both European Community obligations and certain domestic considerations. Significant proposed changes to this legislative framework are usually the subject of wide consultation. In addition, accounting standards are promulgated by the members of the consultative committee of accountancy bodies, on the basis of proposals developed by its accounting standards committee. The professional accountancy bodies also issue technical guidance to their members.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any disciplinary action has been taken within his Department against officials involved in handling any aspect of the Barlow Clowes case.

  Mr. Ridley
  The question of any disciplinary action against individual civil servants is one for my Permanent Secretary. The House was informed last year that the then Permanent Secretary had considered whether the facts set out in Sir Godfray Le Quesne's report would give rise to a case for disciplinary action, and had decided that they did not. The matter was reviewed in the light of the PCA's report and my Permanent Secretary decided that there was no case for disciplinary action, a decision with which I concur.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of his Department's officials or former officials have been told that they may be asked to give evidence in any legal proceedings initiated by the Department against third parties in respect of Barlow Clowes.

  Mr. Ridley
  No, because it is not yet clear which officials or former officials, if any, will be required to give evidence in any actions which are brought.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of the officials consulted by Sir Godfray Le Quesne, QC for his report into Barlow Clowes have been promoted or have retired prematurely since the time they were responsible for the Barlow Clowes case.

  Mr. Ridley
  Three officials have been promoted and one has taken early retirement.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of former members of the Shanghai municipal council still alive who have lodged claims under the Foreign Compensation (People's Republic of China) Order; and how many of these claims result from loss suffered through detention in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Twenty-four living former employees of the Shanghai municipal council have lodged claims with 54
  the foreign compensation commission under the Foreign Compensation (People's Republic of China) Order 1987 in respect of either pay or pensions. The United Kingdom/China claims agreement under which the order was issued does not extend to claims arising from detention in Japanese prisoner-of-war or civilian internment camps.

  Know-How Fund
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will extend the know-how fund to include Czechoslovakia;

  (2) if he will extend the know-how fund to include Romania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The extension of the know-how fund for Poland and Hungary to other reforming eastern European countries is under consideration.

  Human Rights
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, and to what extent, the human rights situation in a foreign country is taken into account in evaluating licences for the export of military or police equipment to that country.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who will reply as soon as possible.

  Eastern Europe
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the allocation of Government aid to research and combat the causes and effects of environmental pollution in the newly emerging democracies of eastern Europe.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are fully committed to improving the environment in the whole of Europe. We believe that environmental problems are best tackled through international co-operation, and we are working within the EC to establish how best we can help in eastern Europe. The European Communities' £210 million assistance budget for 1990 to Poland and Hungary includes the environment as a priority area. The G24 countries, which are co-ordinating their assistance for eastern Europe, are also looking at ways to help in this area.

  Dolphins
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations are being made to the Governments of Japan, Peru and Sri Lanka to reduce their annual kill of dolphins, porpoises and other cetaceans.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Japanese Government have told us that they are concerned to conserve the Dall's porpoise, the main species caught in Japan. They estimate that new regulations introduced at the beginning of 1989 will have reduced the annual catch by more than 20 per cent. and from this year the regulations will be further strengthened and consideration given to a further reduction in the numbers caught. We have asked the Governments of Peru and Sri Lanka for further information and I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research is being done or has been commissioned by his Department in respect of initiatives to be taken at the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As a depositary power of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, the United Kingdom is naturally keen to work for the success of the review conference. To this end, a considerable amount of research has been undertaken by the Department into matters covered by the treaty, and there have been a number of discussions with the other depositary powers, and with other parties to the treaty.

  NATO
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 January,Official Report, column 511, what factors account for the discrepancy between the official North Atlantic Treaty Organisation figure for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation combat-capable aircraft of 6,700 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation total of 6,600 provided in his answer.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The 6,600 figure is a misprint. The correct figure is 6,700.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 January,Official Report, column 511, whether he will list those versions and variants of types of combat aircraft listed in footnote 1, page 27 of "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts" that are in addition to those aircraft included in footnotes 1, 4 and 5.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A list of the types of combat aircraft included in the NATO CFE proposal of 13 July is being placed in the Library of the House.

  All the types of aircraft included in the publication "Conventional Arms Control: The Facts" are covered in the footnotes on page 27.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the types of aircraft that have been added to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation total of combat-capable trainers in addition to those included in footnote 5, page 27 of "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts".

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A list of the types of combat aircraft included in the NATO CFE proposal of 13 July is being placed in the Library of the House.

  All the types of aircraft included in the publication "Conventional Arms Control: The Facts" are covered in the footnotes on page 27.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the current North Atlantic Treaty Organisation arms control proposals for reductions in the number of combat aircraft include any sub-ceilings according to(a) member country and (b) type of combat aircraft.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Nimrod 56
  is a version or variant of one of the aircraft types listed in footnote 1, page 27 of "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts".

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Nimrod is included in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation total of combat-capable aircraft.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Yes.

  Missile Technology Control Regime
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has concerning the policy of(a) the Soviet Union and (b) the People's Republic of China towards the missile technology control regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are not aware of any policy statements by the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China on the missile technology control regime. However, we believe that all potential supplier countries are increasingly concerned by the problem of missile proliferation. We have called on all states to tighten their policies in this area, and have said that we would welcome their adherence to the missile technology control regime guidelines in the interest of international peace and security.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the imposition of sanctions upon countries and companies that transgress the terms and conditions of the missile technology control regime.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Export controls in the United Kingdom are designed to ensure that companies do not act in contravention of our international commitments, including those under the missile technology control regime. Appropriate legal action is taken against any company which is found to infringe these controls. It is not our policy to seek to impose sanctions on any other countries or foreign companies which might be thought to have transgressed the terms and conditions of the regime. Controls under the regime remain the national responsibility of each participating country.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the terms of the missile technology control regime have constrained any United Kingdom companies from exporting certain technologies or components.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A number of export licence applications have been refused by the Department of Trade and Industry as a result of our commitments under the missile technology control regime.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Departments are involved in ensuring the implementation of the terms of the missile technology control regime.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for the issuing of export licences
  57
  under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments as appropriate.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what means of control are exercised by his Department upon United Kingdom companies in reference to the implementation of the terms of the missile technology control regime.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Such control is exercised by means of export licences under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, which are determined by the Department of Trade and Industry. Export licence applications for equipment and technology to which the missile technology control regime applies are referred to this Department by the Department of Trade and Industry before a decision is taken on whether to issue a licence.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government policy towards the retention, by any other country, of a minimum offensive chemical weapon capability in the aftermath of a chemical weapon convention being concluded.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the implications for the chemical weapon convention talks of the United States' policy to retain a limited stockpile of chemical weapons after a chemical weapon convention has been signed.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is envisaged in the negotiations in Geneva for a chemical weapons convention that there will be a transition period following the entry into force of the treaty. During this period any chemical weapons stocks possessed by states parties will be destroyed. President Bush's proposal at the United Nations General Assembly for retention of a small stockpile until all CW-capable states are party to the convention is not inconsistent with this.

  Middle Fast
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the implications for regional security of the deployment of(a) ballistic missiles and (b) anti-tactical ballistic missiles in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As a founder member of the missile technology control regime, we are naturally concerned about the proliferation of ballistic missiles in regions of tension. We also question the wisdom of deploying anti-tactical ballistic missiles in response to such proliferation.

  Iraq
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to whether Iraq has developed the capability to deliver an inter-continental ballistic missile; and if he will make a statement.
  58
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Iraqi Government announced on 7 December that they had launched a rocket capable of carrying satellites into space. Reports have also suggested that Iraq is developing a military missile with a range of 2,000 km. There is no further information that I can give to the hon. Gentleman. However, we are concerned about the destabilising effect that such a programme, if it exists, could have on the middle east region.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's latest assessment as to Iraq's anti-tactical ballistic missile capability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Iraq has claimed to be developing an anti-tactical ballistic missile. We have no reason to doubt this claim.

  Romania
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to his European Community counterparts the lifting of regulations on the export of powdered milk and rice and other food aid to Romania on humanitarian grounds as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Since the revolution in Romania, the European Community has responded speedily to requests for emergency food and medical aid. On 29 December the Commission announced and began deliveries of emergency food aid. So far £4·6 million has been allocated by the Commission for food and medical aid. The Commission is urgently considering a request by the Romanian Government for a large quantity of food aid and is expected to make a proposal after Vice-President Andriessen has visited Bucharest. There are no regulations which prevent the export of powdered milk, rice and other food supplies to Romania.

  Ukraine
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the USSR about contravention of human rights pursuant to the Helsinki and Vienna accords in the Soviet Republic of Ukraine.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have regularly and frequently pressed the Soviet Union to comply fully with its CSCE obligations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised our continuing concerns about human rights in the Soviet Union with Mr. Shevardnadze when he was in London on 19 December. A senior official, Mr. David Ratford, visited the Soviet Union from 8 to 11 January for a full exchange with the Soviet authorities on all aspects of human rights issues.

  Kai Tak Refugee Camp
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conditions in which the 50 Vietnamese held in the special camp outside Kai Tak refugee camp are held; how long they have been held in these conditions; and what plans there are for their future.

  Mr. Maude
  The 52 Vietnamese held in the camp at Kai Tak are people who had left Vietnam to settle in China,
  59
  but who had subsequently entered Hong Kong illegally. Such people are normally returned to China; but in the case of this group, who are ethnic Vietnamese, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is exceptionally arranging for them to be resettled overseas. The conditions under which they are held is similar to those of other Vietnamese illegal immigrants from China. The group of 52 have been in Hong Kong for over three years.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Refugees
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what funds the Church Commissioners devote to helping(a) refugees and (b) other immigrants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alison
  None, because the Commissioners' funds are not by law available for those purposes. Their primary duty is the support of the full-time parochial ministry of the Church of England and the bulk of their income is used for that purpose.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Council Inspectors
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase the number of wages councils inspectors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None.

  TABLE I

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

  Doncaster A

  Doncaster B

  Doncaster C

  Mexborough

  Permanent

  HEO

  1

  1

  1

  1

  EO

  9

  8

  7

  —

  AO

  25

  25

  26

  17

  AA

  4

  5

  4

  3

  Messenger

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Casual

  Casual AO

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Casual AA

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Total

  39

  42

  39

  26

  Notes:

  HEO =Higher Executive Officer.

  EO = Executive Officer.

  AO = Administrative Officer.

  AA = Administrative Assistant.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list(a) the jobcentres and (b) unemployment benefit offices that are (i) to be closed and (ii) transferred to agencies.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis) on 1 December 1989{Official Report, col. 461–62). It is the intention that the employment service (ES) should be

  Local Offices, Doncaster and Mexborough
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants signed on each week of 1989 at(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough unemployment benefit offices; what delays there were in interviewing them; what requests have been received for additional staff; and what has been his response.

  Mr. Eggar
  Information about the number of claimants who signed on at these offices each week during 1989 is not available.

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

  Mr. Nicholls
  A graded breakdown of the staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices is given in table 1.
  New claimants are normally interviewed by an executive officer (new client adviser). In each of the Doncaster unemployment benefit offices four executive officers are directly involved with interviewing and counselling new claimants. In Mexborough unemployment benefit office three executive officers interview and counsel new clients.
  Additionally in each office two clerical staff provide support services for the new client advisers, which includes making appointments for unemployed people to make their claims.
  No formal representations have been made to local management about staffing levels in these offices.

  launched as an executive agency in April 1990. It will establish a new network of offices, bringing together the full range of employment service activities in single locations wherever possible.

  Plans are being developed for this new network and when decisions have been taken the hon. Member for the constituency concerned will be informed.

  Job Interview Guarantee Scheme
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made on the job interview guarantee scheme; how many claimants and employers have become involved; how many claimants and employers have participated in the work trials on offer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The job interview guarantee was formally launched in 20 pilot areas in November 1989. The latest available information is that 1,088 individuals and 258 employers have participated in the initiative. So far, two employers have signed agreements to participate in work trials, although many employers have indicated their interest in taking part, and two individuals are currently participating in them.

  The progress of the pilots has been encouraging. So far, 473 people have been placed in jobs. Almost 60 per cent. of participants in job preparation courses have found employment.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any restrictions on where trainees in employment training can take their holiday entitlement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no restrictions on where trainees in employment training can take their holiday entitlement.

  Ex-Trainees
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Training Agency has taken any action to recover payments made to ex-trainees who have,

  Average Expenditure by employers on vocational training

  ECU per employee per year

  Production and construction

  Wholesale and retail distribution

  Credit institutions

  Insurance (excl. social insurance)

  Denmark

  390

  630

  840

  540

  Germany

  390

  490

  850

  540

  France

  330

  240

  580

  380

  United Kingdom

  260

  110

  140

  170

  Ireland

  220

  210

  100

  60

  Portugal

  90

  60

  70

  170

  Luxembourg

  90

  110

  120

  30

  Netherlands

  90

  20

  150

  100

  Belgium

  80

  80

  340

  380

  Italy

  60

  70

  70

  60

  Employment Provision (Disabled)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce the conclusions of the ministerial review of employment provision for disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13 November(Official Report, column 58). The review is at an advanced stage. The consultative document which will follow the review will be published as soon as possible.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department's current review of
  62
  for whatever reason, failed to sign on at the end of their training and have continued to receive their benefit and training premium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Agency has in appropriate cases taken steps to recover payments of ET training allowances paid to people no longer entitled to them.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 271, in what ways a preventive inspection visit is different from a basic inspection visit.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The term "preventive" is synonymous with "basic" in describing inspection visits made to assess employers' compliance with the requirements of health and safety legislation and to provide advice about the various ways in which employers can monitor, maintain and improve health and safety standards.

  Industrial Training
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the most recent available extracts of the average expenditure per employee on industrial training by each nation of the European Community, split by major industry group and by source of funds.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows employers' expenditure on training for 1984, and is derived from the Eurostat publication "Labour Costs 1984, Volume 1 Principal Results", a copy of which is in the Library. These estimates are of limited value since they exclude the major costs of training, in particular wages and salaries of instructors and all but full-time trainees.

  services for people with disabilities will consider the need for legislation to outlaw unjustifiable discrimination on the grounds of disability.

  Mr. Eggar
  Successive Governments have judged that education and persuasion of employers is the most effective approach to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The role of legislation is being considered in the review of services to people with disabilities which this Department is currently undertaking.

  A consultative document covering the conclusions of the review will be published soon.

  Employees' Rights
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for compliance with the European social charter of fundamental rights of employees in respect of the aspects covered by his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it quite clear at the European Council meeting in December in Strasbourg that the Government could not endorse the proposed charter of fundamental social rights of workers. The question of compliance does not, therefore, arise.

  Action for Jobs
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the total expenditure on the Action for Jobs campaign in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 was attributed to printed material in each year; how much was attributed to television advertising in each year; and how much was attributed to other expenditure in each year.

  Mr. Eggar
  Expenditure on Action for Jobs television advertising in 1985–86 was nil; in 1986–87, £9·3 million; and 1987–88, £3 million. Expenditure on producing, printing and distributing the Action for Jobs booklet in 1985–86 was nil; in 1986–87, £1·2 million; and in 1987–88, £0·5 million. Other expenditure relating to the Action for Jobs campaign in 1985–86 was £40,000; in 1986–87, £3·4 million; and in 1987–88, £4·5 million.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of employment in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the rest of the European Economic Community and (c) the countries covered by the European Free Trade Association.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available information is shown in the table:

  Employment in the European Community and the European Free Trade Association

  Thousands

  a. Civilian employment

  b. Civilian workforce Labour force3

  Employment rate (a/b) per cent.

  EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

  1987

  United Kingdom

  24,747

  27,739

  89

  Belgium

  3,660

  4,126

  89

  Denmark

  2,609

  2,765

  94

  France

  20,988

  23,519

  89

  Germany

  25,456

  27,864

  91

  Greece1

  3,598

  3,884

  93

  Ireland

  1,074

  1,306

  82

  Italy

  20,584

  23,416

  88

  Luxembourg2

  164

  167

  99

  Netherlands

  5,251

  5,830

  90

  Portugal

  4,226

  4,452

  95

  Spain

  11,383

  14,332

  79

  EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION

  1987

  Austria1

  3,300

  3,430

  96

  Finland

  2,413

  2,544

  95

  Iceland

  129

  129

  100

  Norway

  2,090

  2,135

  98

  64

  a. Civilian employment

  b. Civilian workforce Labour force3

  Employment rate (a/b) per cent.

  Sweden1

  4,337

  4,421

  98

  Switzerland1

  3,273

  3,297

  99

  1 Figures are total employment and total labour force as no civilian employment and civilian labour force figures are available.

  2 Figures shown are for 1986 which are the latest available.

  3 Figures are civilian labour force except for United Kingdom which are civilian workforce.

  Source Labour Force Statistics 1967–1987 (OECD) except United Kingdom (ED)

  Health and Safety Inspectorate
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are currently employed by the health and safety inspectorate; and how many were employed in the same month of 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 January 1990, 624·5factory inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 January 1979 the total was 709·5.

  Private Licensed Coal Mines
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the private licensed coal mines known to the mines and quarries inspectorate, giving the numbers employed below ground in each case.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Following is a list of private licensed mines held by Her Majesty's inspectorate. Figures for persons employed at individual mines are not readily available.

  County and mines

  Country code

  Fife

  Lassodie No. 2 mine

  Strathclyde

  Viaduct 'A' LM

  Cumbria

  Mainband mine

  Central

  Rashiehill mine

  2

  Fife

  Harviestoun mine

  4

  Lassodie mine

  4

  Saline mine

  4

  Lothian

  Blinkbonny mine

  7

  Strathclyde

  Backshot mine

  10

  Craigman mine

  10

  Glenview mine

  10

  Polnessan LM

  10

  Viaduct 'B' LM

  10

  Clwyd

  Coed Talon M2

  21

  Tan Llan M2

  21

  Lodge Drift LM

  21

  Dyfed

  Brynglas mine

  22

  Blaengrennig No. 2 mine

  22

  Bodyst Uchaf mine

  22

  65

  County and mines

  Country code

  Bwlch mine

  22

  Dynant Fach No. 1 mine

  22

  Dynant Fach No. 2 mine

  22

  Graigddu No. 2 mine

  22

  Royal Oak

  22

  Tan-y-Garn mine

  22

  Waunhir No. 2 mine

  22

  Ystrad Anthracite mine

  22

  Penywaun No. 2 mine

  22

  Oak mine

  22

  Gwent

  Blaencuffin mine

  23

  Cwm Glo mine

  23

  Little Cwm

  23

  Nant Merddog

  23

  Old Unemployed

  23

  Pantygasseg

  23

  Pantygasseg No. 3

  23

  Rithan

  23

  Tai Level Lo mine

  23

  Upper-Rha-Bryn-Oer mine

  23

  Winstone mine

  23

  Blaentillery No. 2 mine

  23

  Blaentwina Drift mine

  23

  Mid Glamorgan

  Caeglas level mine

  25

  Fforch-y-Garran mine

  25

  Ffynonau Duon No. 2 M

  25

  Ffynonau Duon No. 2 S

  25

  Ffynonau Duon No. 3 M

  25

  Ffynonau Duon No. 4 M

  25

  Garnwern mine

  25

  Glo Mynydd mine

  25

  High Street

  25

  Nantglas Newydd

  25

  Scranton mine

  25

  Mid Glamorgan

  Wern Tarw No. 2 mine

  25

  Tyn Wern mine

  25

  Craig-y-Pant mine

  25

  West Glamorgan

  Pentwyn No. 3

  28

  Nant-y-Cafn

  28

  Lyn

  28

  Abbey mine

  28

  Blaenmerrig mine

  28

  Blaenpergwm mine

  28

  Brawds Level mine

  28

  Bryndulais No. 2 mine

  28

  Bryn-y-Garn mine

  28

  Byrnant Varteg mine

  28

  Crugau mine

  28

  Crugau No. 2 mine

  28

  Darrell mine

  28

  Elwyn mine

  28

  Evawill mine

  28

  Evans No. 4 mine

  28

  Forest No. 3 mine

  28

  Glanderi mine

  28

  Gleison mine

  28

  Glen mine

  28

  Graig-y-Llyn mine

  28

  Gwynfryn No. 2 mine

  28

  Heol Hen mine

  28

  Hirfynydd mine

  28

  Ivyrock No. 2

  28

  Llechart No. 2

  28

  Meudwy

  28

  Nanthir

  28

  New Penrhiw

  28

  Parc Level

  28

  Rhaeadr No. 2 mine

  28

  Rheola

  28

  66

  County and mines

  Country code

  Sarn Helen

  28

  Tyn-y-Graig

  28

  Venallt mine

  28

  Nant-y-Glo mine

  28

  Cam Cornel No. 2 mine

  28

  Danygraig No. 3 mine

  28

  Ivy Rock No. 3 mine

  28

  March Hywel No. 2 mine

  28

  Nant-y-Mynydd No.2

  28

  Ponty mine

  28

  New Parc mine

  28

  Nantmely No. 2 mine

  28

  Penhydd Newydd mine

  28

  Cumbria

  Ladysmith M3

  39

  Clrghyl Drift mine

  39

  Blenknsopp Castle M

  39

  Wrytree Farm Drift M

  39

  Barhaugh mine

  39

  Ayle East Drift mine

  39

  Blagill mine

  39

  Derbyshire

  Amber Valley mine

  40

  Derbyshire

  Doe Lea mine

  40

  Moorside mine

  40

  Strathfield mine

  40

  Durham

  Lonnen drift mine

  43

  Greenland drift mine

  43

  Drovers drift mine

  43

  Middridge drift mine

  43

  Newfield No. 2 drift

  43

  Smithy Dene mine

  43

  Woodside drift mine

  43

  Barras Hill mine

  43

  Greenland drift mine

  43

  Woody Close drift mine

  43

  Eldon drift mine

  43

  Osmond Croft mine

  43

  Eldon drift mine

  43

  Gloucestershire

  Addis Hill mine

  46

  Cannop drift mine

  46

  Cannop engine mine

  46

  Danby Lodge No. 2 mine

  46

  Favourite mine

  46

  Hayners Bailey mine

  46

  Hopewell in Wimberry

  46

  Morses level

  46

  New Road (Forest) level

  46

  Quidchurch No. 5

  46

  Reddings level No. 2

  46

  Stapledge No. 1

  46

  Stapledge No. 2

  46

  Wallsend mine

  46

  Addis Hill mine No. 2

  46

  Beech drift mine

  46

  Old Park No. 2 mine

  46

  United Mining Parkhill

  46

  Hamblin Gale mine

  46

  Quidchurch No. 7 mine

  46

  Lancashire

  Grime Bridge M7

  55

  Dyneley M7

  55

  Merrills Vale M7

  55

  Royd Wood M7

  55

  Thieveley M

  55

  Merseyside

  Castle M7

  58

  Quaker House M7

  58

  67

  County and mines

  Country code

  Northumberland

  Falstone mine

  61

  Shadfen Park drift mine

  61

  Tows Bank drift mine

  61

  Falstone No. 2 mine

  61

  Whittle mine

  61

  Staffordshire

  Above Park M10

  68

  Acres Nook M10

  68

  Apedale 1 to 4

  68

  Apedale 5 to 6

  68

  Bank Top No. 2 M10

  68

  Draycott Cross M10

  68

  Haying Wood No. 2 M10

  68

  Little Sheriff M10

  68

  New High Carr No. 3 mine

  68

  Parklands No. 5 M10

  68

  Podmore Hall M10

  68

  Apedale 7 to 8

  68

  Hulme mine

  68

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the prosecutions mounted by the mines and quarries inspectorate against the owners of private mines in 1978–79 and each year since, giving the outcome in each case.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows:

  Outcome

  Fine (f)

  1979 Ystrad Mine, Dyfed

  Guilty

  2,800

  1980 Danygraid Mine, West Glamorgan

  Guilty

  7,400

  1982 Nant Medlyn Mine, West Glamorgan

  Guilty

  1,500

  1985 Darran Mine, West Glamorgan

  Guilty

  9,200

  1987 Lassodie Mine, Fife

  Guilty

  1,500

  1987 Saline Mine, Fife

  Guilty

  300

  1988 Hall of Auchincross Mine, Ayrshire

  Guilty

  650

  1989 Wrytree Drift Mine, Northumberland

  Guilty

  5,400

  1989 Robin Rock Mine, Northumberland

  Guilty

  3,000

SCOTLAND

  Shotts Prison
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about his plans for Shotts prison.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In October 1988 we published a discussion paper, "Assessment and Control", on the management of violent and disruptive prisoners, which included proposals for a new facility at Shotts prison. Responses were received from 34 organisations and individuals. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are still considering the responses received and last month I met a delegation from the Shotts local community to hear their views.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of inmates presently in Shotts prison; and if he will make a statement on the numbers planned for the next 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At the end of December 1989, there were 455 places available at Shotts prison and 68
  442 prisoners. A further 12 places will become available in a new unit to be opened in April 1990. Plans for a new maximum security complex, providing a further 60 places, were discussed in the consultation paper "Assessment and Control", published in October 1988. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are still considering the responses to the discussion paper,and no decision has yet been reached on further developments at Shotts.

  Native Pinewood
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his most recent estimate of the area of genuinely native pinewood in Scotland that is owned by the Forestry Commission; and how this has changed since the definitive survey by Steven and Carlisle, published in 1959;

  (2) what is his most recent estimate of the area of genuinely native pinewood in Scotland; how this has changed since the definitive survey by Steven and Carlisle, published in 1959; and what were the principal causes of these changes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are some 12,500 hectares of native pinewood in Scotland, of which the Forestry Commission manages about 2,500 hectares. It is not possible to say how this has changed since 1959 as the survey by Steven and Carlisle was not undertaken in a way which enabled areas to be measured.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the Forestry Commission expects to complete its first register of native pinewoods;

  (2) what plans the Forestry Commission has to monitor the extent and nature of changes to the native pinewoods in Scotland following the announcement of the new grants arrangements; and what plans it has to monitor the progress of this part of the woodland grant scheme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Forestry Commission's register of native pinewoods will be an open one to which qualifying pinewoods will be added as further evidence becomes available. The commission anticipates that the main areas of native pinewoods will be registered in the next six months.

  Entries on the register will be reviewed periodically which will enable the extent and nature of any changes to be determined. The commission collects detailed information on all proposals made under the woodland grant scheme, and this includes any applications for grants for native pinewoods.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Forestry Commission has to restore and regenerate native pinewoods in its ownership; whether the commission has set an area target and timescale for this work; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Forestry Commission will follow its recently published "Guidelines for the Management of Native Pinewoods" in managing its own native pinewoods. Management is a continuous process and the commission has not therefore considered it appropriate to commit itself to target areas or timescales.

  Forestry Commission
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of every piece of land and buildings, owned by the Forestry Commission in Scotland, which has been sold in the last 10 years; and if he will give such details by district location.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 6 November 1989 at columns 486–87 and on 3 February 1989 at column 415, to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 5 December 1984 at columns 139–50 and to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 25 July 1984 at columns 665–83. These gave lists of all the forest areas sold between 27 July 1981, the date the Forestry Act 1981 came into force, and 31 March 1989.

  A list of all the other areas of land and buildings sold by the Forestry Commission over the last 10 years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Blind Persons' Privilege Tickets
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in securing the continuation of blind persons' privilege tickets from those companies which will succeed the Scottish Bus Group following privatisation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This matter is currently under consideration but I hope that it will be possible to reach a conclusion shortly.

  Redundant Mineworkers Payments Scheme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers and percentages of unemployed persons removed from unemployment registers as a result of changes that took effect in August 1989 in the redundant mineworkers payments scheme, by region.

  Mr. Lang
  The latest estimates, which are subject to revision as later data become available, suggest that the unemployment figures for Scotland have been reduced by some 1,200 as a result of mineworkers taking advantage of changes in the redundant mineworkers payments scheme. This is equivalent to 0.5 per cent. of those unemployed in Scotland at August 1989.

  Figures for local authority regions within Scotland are not available.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has on the cost of the collection of debts arising out of the non-payment of rates in the 12-month period prior to the introduction of the community charge;

  (2) what are the (a) current and (b) projected costs for the collection of poll tax debts.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Although local authorities make returns to my Department of the administrative cost of collecting the community charge and previously made similar returns in respect of rates, the returns do not show separately the cost of collecting debts.
  70
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether all local authorities in Scotland have offered the facility of single payment by one member of the household on their community charge payment forms; and what the response to this facility has been.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In order to increase the accountability of local authorities to their electorates, the community charge legislation requires every person who is liable to pay the personal community charge to be sent a demand notice. Where more than one person in a household receives a demand notice it is a matter for members of that household to decide whether each individual should pay his or her own bill or whether to adopt some other arrangement.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department has issued to Scottish local authorities on use of the debt recovery mechanisms outlined in the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 and the application of the provisions of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 in relation to the recovery of poll tax payments from those who have defaulted on such payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]None. It is for local authorities to consider the most effective method of recovering debt, including community charge arrears.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds for mentally ill patients have been taken out of service over the last 10 years, showing the closed beds by health board area in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not centrally available in the form requested. Figures given in the table show the change over the last 10 years in the available staffed beds in psychiatric specialties in Scotland:

  Average available staffed beds

  Health board

  1979

  1989

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,505

  1,266

  Ayrshire and Arran

  781

  807

  Borders

  325

  272

  Dumfries and Galloway

  881

  579

  Fife

  880

  942

  Forth Valley

  925

  850

  Grampian

  1,580

  1,543

  Greater Glasgow

  4,146

  3,314

  Highland

  876

  562

  Lanarkshire

  1,754

  1,404

  Lothian

  2,176

  2,090

  Orkney

  1

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  1,694

  1,342

  Western Isles

  8

  3

  Scotland

  17,531

  14,973

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all new day care facilities and other residential projects for the mentally ill currently being planned by health boards or social work departments in the coming year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information, set out by health board location, is as follows:
  71

  Day care facilities

  Residential accommodation

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Garnock Day Hospital, Irvine

  Core and Cluster Development, Irvine Group Tenancy House, Ayr

  Argyll and Clyde

  Joint development between Health Board, Local Authority and Church of Scotland in Elderslie

  Cluster Accomodation, Paisley

  Borders

  Firholm Day Unit, Peebles

  Day Unit, Hawick

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Day Care Unit, Dumfries

  Domus Unit, Stranraer

  Fife

  Day Care Unit, Glenrothes

  Day Care Unit, Cowdenbeath

  Forth Valley

  Day Unit, Clackmannan County Hospital

  Various locations in Falkirk. Joint venture with Health Board, Local Authority and Voluntary Organisations

  Grampian

  Joint development between Health Board, Local Authority and Voluntary Agencies. Location still to be determined

  Greater Glasgow

  Day Care Centre at the Scottish Association for Mental Health, Training Centre, Glasgow

  Queen's Cross and Belleisle Street, Glasgow—Joint ventures with Voluntary Organisations

  East End and Drumchapel, Woodside "E" and Priesthill, Glasgow—Core and Cluster projects in association with Voluntary Organisations

  Anniesland and Allerton, Glasgow—Joint developments with Voluntary Organisation

  Highland

  Day Centre, Bruce Gardens, Inverness

  Day Centre, Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness

  Travelling Day Centre—use of mini-bus to visit different locations outside Inverness

  Day Centre, Inverness—joint venture with Alzheimer's Scotland

  Timbury Unit Day Centre, County Hospital, Invergordon

  Lanarkshire

  Day Hospital, Motherwell

  Blantyre—Joint venture with Health Board and Voluntary Organisations

  Day Centre, Motherwell. Joint venture with Health Board and Alzheimer's Scotland

  Halfway House, Carluke

  Lothian

  Day Care Unit, Herdmanflat, Haddington

  Uphall, West Lothian. Joint venture with Health Board, Local Authority and Voluntary Organisation

  Day Care Hospital with respite care facilities at Restalrig, Edinburgh. Joint venture with Health Board and Local Authority

  Various locations in Edinburgh. Joint venture with Health Board and Local Authority

  Day Hospital, Newbattle, Midlothian

  Myreside, Edinburgh. Joint venture with Health Board and Church of Scotland

  Mental Health Centre, Midlothian. Joint venture with Health Board and Local Authority

  Tayside

  Dudhope House, Dundee

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the change in the number of sight tests carried out in Scotland after the introduction of charges for the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The results of a survey on the total number of sight tests in the first quarter of 1990 compared with earlier periods should be available after Easter.

  RENAVAL Programme
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the areas which meet the criteria qualifying them for European regional development fund assistance under the terms of the RENAVAL programme; what applications he has submitted for any of these areas; which have been successful; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Bids to establish eligibility for Strathclyde and Fife under RENAVAL were submitted to the European Commission in May 1989. We still await a response. Providing a favourable decision is reached,
  73
  detailed programmes of measures will be drawn up by Government in consultation with the relevant local authorities and other public agencies.

  Correspondence
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow can expect to receive a substantive reply to his letter of 30 November 1989, which was addressed to the Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment, concerning Mr. A. Renaud, 2 Shaw place, Greenock.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I replied to the hon. Member on 11 January.

  Environment
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific research projects and studies regarding(a) environmental pollution, (b) climate changes and their effect on (i) the health of the people and (ii) wildlife in Scotland his Department is funding or sponsoring.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 December 1989]The main sources of funds for research in the broad areas of environmental pollution and climate change are United Kingdom Departments and research councils. Scottish Departments, however, have funded a range of projects in the areas in which the hon. Gentleman has expressed an interest and these reflect their own policy and programme responsibilities.

  Research funded by the Scottish Development Department deals with issues particular to Scotland and is designed to be complementary to that sponsored through United Kingdom Departments. Annex A shows projects related to environmental pollution currently being funded by SDD.

  The broad objectives of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland are to ensure that the work undertaken makes a significant contribution to and, where appropriate, leads the agricultural R and D effort in the United Kingdom, while including work of special relevance to the soils, crops and livestock of northern Britain. Some of this research is concerned with aspects of environmental pollution—for example, how soil processes affect nutrient availability particularly as regards element cycling and flows; the effect of pollutants from the atmosphere entering the soil-plant-animal system; and how soil water is affected by fertilisers and pesticides. Annex B lists currently funded agricultural and related research concerned with environmental pollution.

  Research on fisheries and the aquatic environment is undertaken by DAFS as part of a Great Britain programme co-ordinated with the main stocks of fish and shellfish in Scottish waters, and also investigates the impact of natural and manmade changes on those stocks and on the environment which supports them.

  The marine research programme involves study of the hydrography, chemistry and biological productivity of the sea, and includes examination of the effects of pollution from disposal in the sea of materials such as oil compounds, dredge spoils, industrial waste, materials from marine fish farms, and sewage. DAFS also commissions work on seals and fish-eating birds.

  On the freshwater side, where the DAFS interest is primarily in salmonid fish, research is commissioned into the impact of environmental stresses generated by surface
  74
  water acidification, coniferous afforestation, fish farming, and land use change upon both freshwater fisheries and the freshwater environment.

  The Scottish Home and Health Department, through its chief scientific office, aims to identify, encourage, promote and support good quality research relevant to the improvement of health and the National Health Service in Scotland. One project related to environmental pollution is currently funded by SHHD—"A study of neuropsychological function in children exposed to low levels of lead in the environment".

  At present, Scottish Departments are not funding work directly related to climate changes and their effect on (i) the health of the people and (ii) wildlife in Scotland where given the global nature of such changes lead responsibility rests with other United Kingdom Departments.

  Annex A

  The Scottish Development Department is currently funding the following research projects in the environmental pollution arena.

  Trace Element Toxicity in the River Don

  Acidification of Inland Waters

  Environmental Effects of Fish Farming

  Monitoring of Phosphorus, Chlorophyll and Water Clarity on Loch Leven

  Effect of Afforestation on Catchment Yields

  Radionuclide Transfer in Heather-Dominant Ecosystems

  Annex B

  DAFS—Relevant Agricultural Research

  Predictive models of losses of nitrogen from the soil-plant system.

  The retention or movement of heavy metals in polluted soils and their availability to herbage.

  Effect of organic matter content of soil on the cycling of radio-caesium and its availability to various upland plant species.

  Factors affecting the uptake of radio-caesium by sheep.

  Lead deposition from the atmosphere on Scottish soils.

  Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in hill and upland environments.

  Proton budgets for hill and upland soils under sown grass pasture and grazed indigenous vegetation.

  The extent of acidification and pollution of Scottish soils in hill, upland and marginal areas in recent decades.

  The role of individual soil properties on the relationship between soil acidity and aluminium.

  The ameliorating effects of selective liming on acidified catchments.

  Movement of nitrates and pesticides in soil and water and gaseous soil emissions.

  The effects of afforestation of blanket peat on water quality.

  The hydrological and hydrochemical consequences of various forestry practices.

  The effects of hill farm management systems on soil hydrology and hydrochemistry.

  Reduction of the potential for silage effluent pollution.

  The chemical and biological properties of animal wastes.

  Environmentally acceptable animal waste management systems.

  Systems to minimise the pollution of the environment by agricultural inputs and wastes.

  The detoxification and use of organic wastes.

  The evaluation of algal culture on settled effluent from aerobic treatment of pig slurry.

  Biomass composition and nutrient cycling in algal ponds.

  The physiological regulation of microalgal growth in multi-pass fermenter systems.

  The potential for integration of farm waste treatment and aquaculture.

  The improvement of energetic efficiency of aerobic treatment of farm waste.

  The potential of nematodes and selected micro-organisms as indicators of pollution.
  75
  Inputs and outputs at a series of long-term environmental monitoring sites.

  Elimination or reduction of silage effluent.

  Extracts of Convictions
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to make mandatory the availability of extracts of convictions in the Scottish courts, including the district courts, at reasonable cost to members of the public and their advisers who can demonstrate a legitimate interest therein.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]Extracts of conviction are already available to those with a legitimate interest in them. Problems which have arisen in respect of records stored on computer are at present under consideration.

  Random Breath Tests
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now introduce a system of random breath tests for drivers in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]Earlier last year the Government embarked on a public consultation exercise on whether police breath testing powers should be extended. A considerable number of representations was received proposing a variety of measures including support for the introduction of random breath testing. The Government are still considering the important issues which would be involved in giving the police increased powers in this area.

  Warrant Sales
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many warrant sales were carried out on behalf of regional councils against those defaulting on domestic rate payments in each year since 1979 until the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]This information is not available.

HEALTH

  Hypothermia
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of cases where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many of each annual total were people aged(a) 65 years and over (b) 80 years and over.

  Mr. Freeman
  The number of deaths with mention of hypothermia on the death certificate for persons of (a) all ages (b) 65 years and over, (c) 80 years and over, in England and Wales, 1979–1988 were:

  Year

  All ages

  65 years and over

  80 years and over

  1979

  863

  688

  374

  1980

  596

  497

  237

  1981

  685

  574

  326

  1982

  664

  541

  319

  1983

  538

  450

  261

  76

  Year

  All ages

  65 years and over

  80 years and over

  1984

  555

  462

  257

  1985

  827

  708

  417

  1986

  837

  698

  439

  1987

  559

  448

  276

  1988

  440

  354

  205

  Fostering, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by age the number of children currently in foster care in the Doncaster area; and what the figures were(a) 10 years ago and (b) five years ago.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The most recent data available relates to 31 March 1988; 1981 is the earliest that such data is available. The number of children in the care of Doncaster district council, boarded with foster parents is given in the table showing those children boarded out in the Doncaster district area and in other areas. Information is not available about the numbers of children in the care of other local authorities who are boarded out in the Doncaster area.

  Boarded out by Doncaster

  31 March 1981

  31 March 1983

  31 March 1988

  Age band

  Own area

  Other areas

  Own area

  Other areas

  Own area

  Other areas

  Under 1

  7

  0

  5

  0

  6

  0

  1 to 4

  49

  2

  46

  2

  36

  1

  5 to 9

  48

  6

  57

  4

  45

  0

  10 to 15

  79

  18

  77

  13

  68

  2

  16 and over

  12

  2

  26

  5

  17

  0

  All children

  195

  28

  211

  24

  172

  3

  Resource Management Initiative
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the six pilot sites of the Government's resource management initiative scheme; and if he will list for all sites the number of times they have been updated and the dates.

  Mr. Freeman
  The six acute hospital pilot sites for the resource management initiative (RMI) are:

  Arrowe Park Hospital (Wirral)

  Freeman Hospital (Newcastle)

  Guy's Hospital (Lewisham and North Southwark)

  Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (Huddersfield)

  Pilgrim Hospital, Boston (South Lincolnshire)

  Royal Hampshire County Hospital (Winchester)

  During the early part of 1988 Clatterbridge hospital (Wirral), originally a pilot site, withdrew from the RMI but work resumed as a result of a merger with Arrowe Park hospital in the summer of 1989. The Pilgrim hospital, Boston, was adopted as a pilot site in April 1988. On 20 March 1989 I announced the extension of resource management and the names of 50 hospitals to prepare for it in this financial year. On 14 December 1989 I announced the names of 20 hospitals, from the list of 50, which will implement the main resource management process in 1989–90.

  Psycho-geriatric Provision, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers of psycho-geriatric and geriatric beds in each hospital within the Doncaster area health authority on 1 January 1980, 1 January 1985, 1 January 1989 and at 1 January 1990.

  Average daily number of available beds, Geriatric and Psycho-geriatric specialties National Health Service hospitals, Doncaster district health authority

  Year ending:

  Hospital

  31 December 1979

  31 December 1984

  31 March 1989

  Geriatric

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary

  20·5

  21·6

  20·0

  Fullerton Hospital

  0·0

  34·0

  34·0

  Tickhill Road Hospital

  171·0

  178·2

  121·8

  Conisborough Hospital

  101·0

  99·0

  96·2

  Montagu Hospital2

  25·1

  25·4

  21·0

  TOTAL

  317·6

  358·2

  293·0

  Psycho-geriatric1

  Tickhill Road Hospital

  44·5

  88·3

  98·1

  Loversall Hospital

  30·0

  0·0

  0·0

  TOTAL

  74·5

  88·3

  98·1

  1 In 1979 beds for psycho-geriatric patients were not always separately identifiable from those designated mental illness.

  2 Transferred from Rotherham district in the 1982 reorganisation.

  Sources: 1979, 1984: SH3 return (geriatric, psycho-geriatric specialties); 1989: KHO3 returns (ward classifications: general patients—elderly, mental illness-elderly).

  Food Hygiene (Military Aircraft)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what food hygiene regulations apply to military aircraft operated by(a) the Royal Air Force and (b) foreign air forces operating out of the United Kingdom that are equipped for carrying passengers.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. The Food Safety Bill proposes the removal of immunity from food safety law from most Crown premises from 1 April 1992. Ground-based military catering establishments (but not the aircraft themselves) will then be within the scope of the food hygiene regulations.

  The Bill also seeks powers to enable Ministers to make an order extending the definition of premises to include aircraft of any specific description for the purposes specified in the order. The Government have no plans at present to make such an order in respect of military aircraft.

  Social Factor Questions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure confidentiality, after general practitioners have asked social factor questions of new patients from April 1990, when they are passed on to the local family practitioner committee.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Many general practitioners, in accordance with their training, already seek and record information about their patients concerning social and
  78
  Mr. Freeman
  The available information is given in the table:

  lifestyle factors relevant to their health, for example housing circumstances, diet, exercise, use of tobacco and consumption of alcohol.

  General practitioners will be obliged to record from April 1990 the history and findings arising from a health check-up to ensure that a full medical record is maintained. However there is no requirement that specific information about social factors should be passed on to family practitioner committees.

  General practitioners have always been obliged to return patients' records to the family practitioner committee so that they can be forwarded to a new doctor. Both general practitioners and family practitioner committees have a duty to maintain confidentiality and there is no suggestion that the arrangements to be introduced from April 1990 will result in a greater likelihood of breaches of confidentiality.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the various issues of the Census Newsletter., in respect of the 1991 census of Great Britain, are freely available to members of the public; and where they can be obtained.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. Copies of the Census Newsletter can be obtained from Census Division (Room 823), Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, St. Catherine's house, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP or Customer Services, General Register Office, Ladywell house, Ladywell road, Edinburgh EH12 7TF.

  Migrants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inquiries have been received by his Department regarding migrants and the Child Migrants Trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has received 22 inquiries since 1987 about child migrants and the Child Migrants Trust.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial contribution his Department is making to the costs incurred by Nottinghamshire county council in seconding Margaret Humphries from her normal duties to work connected with migrants and the Child Migrants Trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department is making no financial contribution.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department first received the request for grant funding from the Child Migrants Trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department received an initial inquiry from the Child Migrants Trust about financial assistance on 16 June 1988. A formal grant application was received on 26 January 1989.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department first requested additional information on the grant funding of the Child Migrants Trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Officials from the Department requested additional information from representatives of the Child Migrants Trust at a meeting to discuss the grant application on 29 August 1989. This information was received by the Department on Thursday 11 January 1990.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has received about the amounts spent by the tobacco industry as part of its campaign to encourage retailers to support the law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children under 16 years; and if he will give the amounts spent for the years 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information on this campaign is contained in the first and second reports of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship.

  These reports, copies of which are held in the Library, show that approximately £1 million was spent in each of the years, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Details of expenditure in 1988–89 are not yet available but will be included in the committee's third report.

  West Midlands RHA
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority to discuss the budget for the forthcoming year.

  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Sir James Ackers
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will dismiss Sir James Ackers from his position as chair of the West Midlands regional health authority.
  80
  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Income Support Exemptions
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to local authorities that people on income support or an equivalent level of income should be exempt from charges for services such as home help.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have no plans to do so.
  Anyone who feels unable to afford local authority charges for domiciliary care can make representations to the authority which may reduce the charge to the amount it considers reasonable for him or her to pay.

  Community Care
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that standards of community care are of a national minimum quality.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The need to secure and safeguard the necessary quality of community care is integral to the proposals set out in the White Paper "Caring for People". A wide range of measures will be taken. Some are provided for in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill. In particular we are seeking powers to require local authorities to draw up and publish plans for community care services, and to assess the needs of people requiring social care.

  In drawing up contracts for service provision from independent suppliers, local authorities will need to specify the quality and standards expected. Authorities will also be required to set up independent inspection units charged with inspecting and reporting on local authority residential care homes, as well as registering and inspecting independent residential care homes.

  The Department proposes to issue guidance on the establishment of these units and the assessment of quality of provision.

  These arrangements will be monitored by the Department's social services inspectorate whose advisory and supervisory functions will be strengthened.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote and encourage independent advocacy schemes for disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has approved a grant under section 64 of the Health and Public Services Act 1968 in 1989–90 towards the administrative costs of national citizen advocacy, which aims to promote the development of high quality citizen advocacy for mentally handicapped people in the United Kingdom. We are also contributing towards the cost of a project run by "one to one", an organisation which recruits and trains volunteers to act as friends, enablers and advocates of mentally handicapped people. We have no plans for formal independent advocacy schemes for other groups of disabled people.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will take steps to ensure that local authorities are authorised to make payments to disabled people for the purchase of care or personal assistance services.

  Mr. Freeman
  Local authorities are not authorised to make such payments and we have no plans further to do
  81
  so. Nevertheless the White Paper "Caring for People" proposes that local authorities should set up systems for assessing the care needs of disabled people and arranging packages of care to meet them. Disabled people and their carers should be fully involved in this process.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has just published a Command Paper, "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" containing proposals for improvements in the structure of social security help for disabled people. These improvements, which will increase social security spending in 1993–94 by some £300 million as announced last week, reflect the Government's aim of ensuring a better life for Britain's disabled people.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is funding any independent case management schemes for disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 20 December at column 339.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he now intends to implement section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter on 19 December 1989 at column 170.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health authorities have now decided to take local action to fund increases for NHS clerical and administrative staff who were previously paid above the maximum of their former grade and who have assimilated to the minimum of their new grade;

  (2) how many health authorities must now decide to take local action to fund increases for NHS clerical and administrative staff who were formerly paid on the maximum point of their salary scale and who have assimilated to the penultimate point of their new salary scale;

  (3) if he will now consider issuing a variation order to the regrading structure national agreement relating to NHS clerical and administrative staff;

  (4) what representations he has received from local health authorities regarding the need to issue a variation order to the regrading structure national agreement relating to NHS clerical administrative staff.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Such information is not held centrally. We have received no representations from health authorities about the need to issue orders varying the agreement reached last year in the administrative and clerical staffs Whitley council and have no plans to do so.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the change in the number of sight tests carried out after the introduction of charges for the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Figures on the number of NHS sight tests carried out between 1 April and 30 82
  September 1989 will shortly be available. The results of a survey on the total number of sight tests in the first quarter of 1990 compared with earlier periods should be available after Easter.

  Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the years 1987 and 1988 the estimated percentage of women delivering in(a) England and (b) England and Wales whose deliveries were (i) spontaneous, including abnormal presentation of head and breech spontaneous, (ii) instrumental, including forceps vacuum and breech extractions, (iii) caesarean section and (iv) other and unspecified means.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available for the years requested nor for England and Wales. The information for the latest year available, 1985, is given in the following table:

  Deliveries Percentage of deliveries by method of delivery: 1985 England

  Mode of delivery

  Percentage of all deliveries

  Spontaneous delivery

  (including breech spontaneous and abnormal presentation of head)

  78·8

  Instrumental delivery

  (including forceps, vacuum and breech extraction)

  10·7

  Caesarean section

  10·5

  Other and unspecified means

  0·1

  Note Percentages do not total 100 because of rounding.

  Source Hospital In-Patient Enquiry 1985.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the years 1987 and 1988 the estimated percentages of women delivering in(a) England and (b) England and Wales (i) whose labours were induced, (ii) whose labours were of spontaneous onset and (iii) who had elective caesarean sections.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available for the years requested nor for England and Wales. The information for the latest year available, 1985, is given in the following table:

  Deliveries Percentage of deliveries by method of delivery: 1985 England

  Mode of delivery

  Percentage of all deliveries

  Induced labour

  17·5

  Spontaneous onset

  65·5

  Elective caesarean section

  4·9

  Accelerated labour

  12·1

  Source Hospital In-Patient Enquiry 1985.

  NHS Working Party
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state(a) the members of the working party on National Health Service costing and their expertise, (b) the terms of reference of this working party, (c) when the working party expects to report and (d) whether he will place its conclusions in the Library.
  83
  Mr. Freeman
  The working party is made up of a number of health authority directors of finance and departmental officers, including accountants and an economist.

  Its remit is:

  (i) to assist the NHS Management Executive in developing the principles for costing and pricing hospital services; and

  (ii) to provide guidance to the NHS on the application of these principles.

  The NHSME will shortly issue a discussion draft on the cost allocation principles for contract pricing. More detailed guidance will follow later in the year.

  When the guidance exists in final form it will be placed in the Library.

  Working for Patients
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance(a) for computerisation and information technology and (b) otherwise, he proposes to offer to general practitioners of medicine to carry out additional duties arising from the implementation of his White Paper, "Working for Patients"; and, in each case, what is his estimate of the cost of such assistance.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr. Warren) on 28 November 1989 at columns 228–231. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation, in recognition of the additional work which practices will need to undertake in 1990–91 to prepare for fund-holding, costs incurred on these tasks will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £16,000. Practices which join the fund-holding scheme will be eligible for an annual management allowance of up to £32,000. The cost will depend on the number of fund-holders.

  Prescription Pricing Authority
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional capital and revenue provision he has made in 1989–90 and succeeding years in the budget of the Prescription Pricing Authority for England; and what proportion of this is accounted for by the additional work for the authority arising from the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Freeman
  The revenue allocation for the Prescription Pricing Authority for 1989–90 is £2·64 million higher than for 1988–89. The capital allocation is £0·9 million lower. Allocations for future years, including sums for work which the Prescription Pricing Authority is undertaking in respect of White Paper initiatives, have not yet been finalised.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he and his predecessors have taken since 1984 to identify alleged false prescriptions or overprescriptions; and what action has been taken as a result.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Arrangements exist for the Prescription Pricing Authority to forward to family practitioner committees, for their consideration, investigation and appropriate action, prescriptions where some irregularity is suspected. No central record is kept of the action taken by family practitioner committees in these cases, or in others which may come to their attention. Since 1984 doctors of the Department's regional medical 84
  service have visited over 2,800 practices whose prescribing costs overall were significantly above the local average. This has led to an estimated saving of around £15,000 per practice in a full year in 1989–90.

  Census
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend procedures relating to the disclosure of information from the next census to take into account access to (i) the electoral register, (ii) the extract of the poll tax register and (iii) anonymous poll tax data; whether access to any of these could undermine the confidentiality of the census; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  As in past censuses, no information on identified individual people or households will be passed to anyone other than employees of the registrars general. Thus current procedures already prevent such information being passed to electoral registration officers or community charge registration officers. Furthermore, stringent measures already exist to guard against possible indirect disclosure of information on individual people or households through the published statistics and no incidents of such disclosure have been reported from the 1981 census. It is planned to strengthen these measures further for the 1991 census by doubling the minimum thresholds, below which no statistics, other than a simple total of people and households will be released for any area, to 16 households and 50 people.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reassure individuals who complete the census that they will not be identified from the information subsequently disclosed by his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Reassurance on confidentiality will be given on the front page of the census forms in the message addressed to heads of households and others responsible for completing the forms. It will also be reinforced in publicity material issued before the census.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will describe the uses of census data that specifically require the collection of the date of birth rather than the age of a person; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The question on date of birth is asked primarily because it has been found to give more accurate statistics than can be obtained by a question simply on age. As the census is taken in April the information on date of birth is used to produce the mid-year population estimates by age as at 30 June. Also, four dates of birth have been used to select the OPCS longitudinal study sample from the 1971 and 1981 censuses. OPCS plans to include in this study the appropriate sample of records from the 1991 census.

  Birmingham Health Resources
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assurances have been given to the West Midlands regional health authority about the availability of the resources which will be required to implement the latest proposals entitled "Building a Healthy Birmingham."
  85
  Mr. Freeman
  The overall level of resources available for the Health Service is determined each year in the public expenditure round. All RHAs are then told what resources they will be allocated in the next financial year. No Secretary of State could give any RHA assurances beyond this period because this is dependent upon the outcome of subsequent expenditure surveys.

  999 Calls
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average response time for the 999 calls for December 1989 in each of the health authorities covering south Yorkshire.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Details for activation and response times are not held centrally for December 1989. I suggest the hon. Member contacts the chairman of Trent regional health authority for the information he seeks.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out on the impact on the number of people seeking eye tests of the introduction of a charge.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have recently commissioned a survey of the volume of sight tests. The survey will collect information on the numbers carried out during the first quarter of 1990 and the results compared with demand in earlier periods.

  The findings should be available after Easter when we would expect to provide a summary for the Library.

  Mentally Ill
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the provision of community care for the mentally ill.

  Mr. Freeman
  In addition to the initiatives referred to in "Caring for People" (Cm 849), we have recently announced the establishment of a National Health Service loans fund, which we hope will enable the early provision of community facilities for people with a mental illness or handicap.

  Hospital Capital Spending
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on future hospital capital spending.

  Mr. Freeman
  Exchequer provision for health authority capital spending for the next three years was announced in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement. Government spending on capital in the NHS will amount to some £1,086 million next year, a real terms increase of 12·4 per cent. over 1989–90. In addition health authorities will continue to benefit from receipts from land and property sales.

  The Government attach the highest priority to improving and modernising health buildings and throughout England over 500 schemes each costing over £1 million with a total value of over £5 billion are at various stages of planning, design and construction.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost of printing stationery changes involved in changing the name of family practitioner committees in the first year of implementation.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the cost of this proposal. The amount involved is likely to be very small as FPCs will be able to run down existing stocks in advance of the change and, where appropriate, use existing stocks until they are exhausted.

  Perinatal Deaths
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department proposes to take to reduce the perinatal death rate in those health authority areas where that death rate is higher than the national average.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the Government reply to the First Report from the Social Services Committee, Session 1988–89 on Perinatal, Neonatal and Infant Mortality (CM 741), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Air Ambulances
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how long he has committed Government resources to the London Air Ambulance.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has committed resources for three years from January 1989.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government are contributing to the financing of(a) the Cornwall First Air Ambulance and (b) the London Air Ambulance.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is contributing from central funds £673,000 (revenue) and £1,349,000 (capital) to the London Air Ambulance.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions(a) the London Air Ambulance and (b) the Cornwall First Air Ambulance have been called out.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally by the Department.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision there is for carrying journalists or photographers on(a) the London Air Ambulance and (b) the Cornwall First Air Ambulance.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no provision for carrying journalists or photographers on either of these services.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he, or one of his Ministers, has met representatives from(a) the Cornwall First Air Ambulance and (b) the London Air Ambulance, or has plans to do so.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have met representatives of the Cornwall First Air Ambulance Service operating company. I have no plans at present to meet other representatives.
  87
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he, or one of his Ministers, has visited or plans to visit(a) London Air Ambulance and (b) the Cornwall First Air Ambulance.

  Mr. Freeman
  Neither I nor my colleagues have visited either of these services and there are currently no arrangements to do so.

  Personal Stereos
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any evidence to suggest that the use of personal stereos causes a hearing loss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are aware of the recent report by the National Deaf Children's Society which warns that personal stereos may be causing damage to the hearing of children and young people. However, we have not yet seen a copy of this report. There is evidence that prolonged exposure to loud noise may constitute a risk to hearing.

  Unregistered Homes
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people currently live in unregistered homes, with fewer than four occupants.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Registered Homes Tribunals
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tribunal cases there have been where it has come to light that the proprietor of a registered home has previous criminal convictions which would have made him unsuitable or ineligible to run a home.

  Mr. Freeman
  As at 31 December 1989 there have been six tribunal decisions confirming an authority's decision either to cancel or to refuse an application for registration because the appellant is not considered to be a fit person to be running a home in the light of a previous criminal conviction.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he gives to the decisions of the registered homes tribunals and whether he has accepted any of their recommendations.

  Mr. Freeman
  The registered homes tribunals are independent statutory bodies. They are mainly concerned with appeals against the decisions of district health authorities and local authorities which are the registering authorities for nursing homes and most independent residential care homes respectively.

  The Secretary of State is the registering authority only for voluntary children's homes and no appeal against his decisions has been made to the registered homes tribunal.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the decisions of the registered homes tribunal are circulated.

  Mr. Freeman
  Distribution of decisions of the registered homes tribunal includes the following:

  Directors of Social Services Local Authorities England

  General Managers District Health Authorities England

  88

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  British Federation of Care Home Proprietors

  Council on Tribunals

  MIND (National Association for Mental Health)

  National Care Homes Association

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations

  Social Care Association

  Welsh Office

  Libraries of the Houses of Parliament

  Residential Care
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures he has for 1984–85 and for the latest available year of the average annual cost per client in residential care for the elderly in(a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset and (d) Wiltshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 18 December 1989]The annual gross cost per client/place (excluding capital charges) for the elderly accommodated in the residential care homes operated by each of the local authorities in question is:

  1984–85 £

  1989–90 £

  Somerset

  5,138

  7,564

  Devon

  4,837

  7,263

  Dorset

  5,477

  6,460

  Wiltshire

  4,662

  6,724

  The figures for 1989–90 are estimates only and are the costs per place filled, whereas the 1984–85 figures are the actual cost per resident.

  The figures are taken from the "Personal Social Services Statistics" publications of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures he has, for 1984–85 and for the latest available year, of the average annual cost per client in residential care for children in(a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset and (d) Wiltshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 18 December 1989]The annual gross cost per client/place (excluding capital charges) for children accommodated in community homes operated by each of the local authorities in question is:

  1984–85 £

  1989–90 £

  Somerset

  14,862

  22,323

  Devon

  14,990

  21,387

  Dorset

  15,557

  15,654

  Wiltshire

  13,667

  17,477

  The figures for 1989–90 are estimates only and are the costs per place filled, whereas the 1984–85 figures are the actual costs per resident child.

  This and other information on the unit costs of children in residential care can be found in the "Personal Social Services Statistics" publications of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Health Targets
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has adopted targets for the reduction in consumption of(a) saturated fats, (b) sugar, (c) sodium chloride and (d) alcohol; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 21 December 1989]The Chief Medical Officer's Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) has considered the consumption of saturated fatty acids and sodium chloride in relation to cardiovascular disease and dietary sugars in relation to general health and made the following recommendations which we have accepted:

  (a) saturated fatty acids—the maximum intake for saturated plus trans fatty acids should be 15 per cent. of total food energy. (COMA Report "Diet and Cardiovascular Disease")

  (b) sugars—as sugars are the most important dietary factor in the cause of dental caries everyone should reduce the amount and frequency with which they take sugars. COMA did not, however, recommend a specific target. (COMA Report "Dietary Sugars and Human Disease")

  (c) sodium chloride-as the dietary intake of salt is needlessly high there should be no further increase in consumption and ways of decreasing current levels should be sought. COMA did not, however, recommend a specific target. (COMA Report "Diet and Cardiovascular Disease")

  Newly diagnosed cases of cancer, rates (per 100,000 population) for female breast1 and the cervix uteri2 by age group for Northern regional health authority, Yorkshire regional health authority and United Kingdom, 1980–84

  TABLE 1

  Malignant neoplasm of female breast

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  1980

  55–59

  154·53

  179·02

  169·40

  60–64

  169·97

  184·29

  178·86

  65–69

  189·92

  211·35

  199·94

  70+

  200·96

  211·15

  229·43

  1981

  55–59

  150·31

  177·90

  161·78

  60–64

  155·90

  176·95

  169·94

  65–69

  161·71

  180·18

  198·30

  70+

  193·70

  221·28

  231·54

  1982

  55–59

  171·76

  175·51

  168·52

  60–64

  167·92

  198·63

  188·24

  65–69

  162·79

  191·07

  200·32

  70+

  178·76

  217·68

  231·39

  1983

  55–59

  138·56

  171·57

  168·01

  60–64

  156·15

  185·43

  177·16

  65–69

  163·89

  194·23

  200·11

  70+

  198·25

  232·22

  235·77

  1984

  55–59

  162·49

  176·41

  167·42

  60–64

  192·38

  171·53

  182·96

  65–69

  213·23

  206·57

  197·79

  70+

  198·68

  225·25

  235·04

  TABLE 2

  Malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  1980

  55–59

  45·28

  48·82

  35·31

  60–64

  37·25

  43·98

  35·55

  65–69

  35·17

  27·39

  30·36

  70+

  30·92

  34·06

  24·67

  90
  The COMA panel on recommended daily amounts is currently considering setting benchmark figures for intakes by the population of saturated fatty acids, sugars and salt.

  As far as alcohol is concerned we have accepted the views of three medical Royal Colleges that 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 units per week for women are sensible limits for the consumption of alcohol.

  We are committed to ensuring that the best possible information about sensible eating and drinking is made available so that individuals can make informed choices.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings) on 13 December,Official Report, columns 677–79, he will extend the information provided about rates of cancer of the breast and cervix, and in similar form, for women aged 55 to 59 years, 60 to 64 years, 65 to 69 years and 70 plus years in the Northern and Yorkshire health regions and for the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 8 January 1990]The information is shown in the following tables:
  91

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  1981

  55–59

  28·63

  34·64

  31·09

  60–64

  47·88

  27·30

  33·18

  65–69

  45·18

  37·04

  32·67

  70+

  32·55

  22·72

  24·21

  1982

  55–59

  25·29

  49·18

  29·71

  60–64

  50·59

  44·03

  34·21

  65–69

  47·74

  28·04

  30·96

  70+

  24·87

  31·69

  23·64

  1983

  55–59

  34·37

  28·43

  26·79

  60–64

  34·13

  39·74

  32·41

  65–69

  29·45

  32·18

  28·49

  70 +

  22·14

  27·94

  24·14

  1984

  55–59

  22·90

  31·71

  24·57

  60–64

  38·08

  45·62

  31·79

  65–69

  21·59

  43·43

  30·43

  70+

  27·00

  25·66

  23·63

  Potassium Iodate
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many of the potassium iodate tablets held to counter possible ionising radiation have been held in stock for more than 10, five, two and one years, respectively; and how many are presently in stock altogether;

  (2) what is his estimate for the shelf life of potassium iodate tablets.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]Arrangements for the stocking and issue of potassium iodate tablets form part of the contingency plans for both civil and defence nuclear installations. It should be noted that iodine tablets are a counter-measure for any long-term adverse health effects of radio-iodine only.

  Contingency planning for civil nuclear accidents is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy (in respect of England and Wales) and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, advised by the nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Contingency planning for defence nuclear accidents is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  The Central Electricity Generating Board has advised that it holds half a million tablets of potassium iodate centrally and another half million tablets distributed to the nuclear generating sites, all stock being batched in September 1989.

  The Ministry of Defence has advised that it holds 2 million tablets of potassium iodate batched in 1986, and 2 million tablets batched in 1980–82 which have been examined and are still in good contition. Shelf life cannot be accurately predicted but stock quality and requirements are continually being reviewed and revised if necessary.

  A further stock of tablets is also held by operators of sites such as British Nuclear Fuels plc and Atomic Energy Authority Technology.

  In addition small stocks of potassium iodate and potassium iodide are held for other medical purposes by some manufacturers, pharmacists and hospitals.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been made of the amount of radiation recorded in Britain arising from the Chernobyl incident; and what assessment has been made of the implications of the amount of radiation recorded for the future incidence of radiation-induced congenital abnormalities and incidence of radiation-induced cancers over the next 30 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 9 January 19901]There have been many studies of the occurrence and behaviour in Britain of radionuclides from the Chernobyl reactor accident.

  Early measurements of dose rates, radionuclide concentrations in air, deposition, environmental materials and foods were collated by the National Radiological Protection Board. More detailed studies of the deposition on grass and soil have been carried out, and aerial surveys have been conducted in some areas. Extensive monitoring of radionuclides in foods has been carried out in England and Wales and in Scotland, and of radionuclides in surface and coastal waters of the British Isles. Studies of the levels in people have also been made. Numerous other studies have also been reported in the scientific literature.

  The radiological impact of the Chernobyl accident has been assessed by OECD for many European countries. Estimates have been made of both the maximum levels of individual exposure and the typical levels of individual exposure for the United Kingdom together with the collective exposure of the entire United Kingdom population. Using the most recent risk estimates the theoretical number of fatal cancers arising in the United Kingdom from Chernobyl is estimated to be about 100 and the corresponding number of non-fatal cancers as 60. The majority of these would be expected to occur within 30 years. These figures can be compared with the annual mortality from cancer in the United Kingdom of around 100,000 to 150,000. The number of heriditary effects arising in the United Kingdom population over all time from the Chernobyl accident is estimated to be a few tens.

  A list of major relevant publications is shown in the table:
  93
  References

  1. Levels of radioactivity in the United Kingdom from the accident at Chernobyl USSR on 26 April 1986. A compilation of results of environmental measurements in the United Kingdom. July 1986, HMSO.

  2. Horrill A. D. et al. Chernobyl fallout in Great Britain. DOE Report No: DOE/RW/88.101, 1988.

  3. Miller G. R. et al. Radioactivity in Scottish soils and grassy vegetation. SDD/NERC project T07006 el, 1989.

  4. Sanderson D. C. W. et al. A feasibility study of airborne radiometric survey from United Kingdom fallout. SURRC report 88–03, 1988.

  5. Sanderson D. C. W. and Scott E. M. Aerial radiometric survey in west Cumbria, 1988. Final report: project NE1, 1989.

  6. Radionuclide levels in food, animals and agricultural products (post-Chernobyl monitoring in England and Wales). Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/ Welsh Office. HMSO, 1987.

  7. Radionuclide levels in food, animals and agricultural products 1987 (post-Chernobyl monitoring in England and Wales). Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Welsh Office. HMSO, 1988.

  8. Scottish Development Department. Statistical Bulletin Number 1(E) 1988. Chernobyl accident, monitoring for radioactivity in Scotland, April 1988.

  9. Scottish Development Department. Statistical Bulletin Number 2(E). Environmental monitoring for radioactivity in Scotland, 1983 to 1987, July 1989.

  10. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Directorate of Fisheries Research. Aquatic environment monitoring report No. 15: radioactivity in surface and coastal waters of the British Isles. Monitoring of fallout from the Chernobyl reactor accident. 1986.

  11. Fry F. A. and Britcher A. Doses from Chernobyl radiocaesium. The Lancet, July 19, 1987.

  12. Bailey, M. R. et al. Measurements of the body content of radioactive caesium in residents of Yorkshire. NRPB-R213, 1987.

  13. Fry, F. A. et al. Radiocaesium in a group of adults resident in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Radiation Protection—Theory and Practice. 4th SRP Int. Symp. 1989.

  14. East, B. W. and Robertson I. Measurement of radioactivity from Chernobyl in population groups in Scotland. DoE report No. DOE/RW/88, 103, 1988.

  15. Boddy, K. et al. Study of measurements made on a whole-body radioactivity counter installed in the West Cumberland hospital. DoE report No. DOE/RW/89, 045, 1989.

  16. Boddy, K. et al. Monitoring of the general population with a mobile whole-body monitor and installed counters. DoE report No. DOE/RW/89, 064, 1989.

  17. OECD/NEA. The radiological impact of the Chernobyl accident in OECD countries. Paris, OECD, 1987.

  18. Morrey, M. et al. A preliminary assessment of the radiological impact of the Chernobyl reactor accident on the population of the European Community. Luxembourg, CEC. Report No. EUR11523, 1987.

  19. Simmonds, J. R. Europe calculates the health risk. New Scientist, 23 April 1987.

  20. UNSCEAR. Sources, effects and risks of ionising radiation. 1988 report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to the General Assembly, with annexes New York, United Nations, 1988.

  21. Clarke, R. H. Current radiation risk estimates and implications for the health consequences of the Windscale, TMI and Chernobyl accidents. IN Medical response to effects of ionising radiation (Gittus, J. and Crosbie, W. A., eds.). Elsevier, p. 102, 1989.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who holds stocks of iodine tablets; and how many tablets are in stock per head of population and per head of population under the age of 18 years.
  94
  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]Stocks of potassium iodate tablets are held at all CEGB nuclear installations and at some nearby sites, chiefly police stations and hospitals. These are specifically for issue to staff and people living in the vicinity of a nuclear installation should an accident occur in which radioactive iodine is released.

  These supplies are in excess of those needed for a reference accident and supplies would be ample for an extended distribution if needed in the event of a more severe accident. In addition stocks held elsewhere could be made available within hours depending on the location of the accident.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer if inheritance tax liabilities in respect of shares in closely held unquoted trading companies were rolled over until the shares were realised as cash or marketable securities.

  Mr. Lilley
  Information on which to base an estimate of cost is not available.

  Gains
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost to the Exchequer if all gains pre-1985 were to be exempted from tax instead of gains pre-1982.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that a reliable estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  British Rail Investment
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the cost to the Exchequer of British Rail's investment programme of £3·75 billion over the next three years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  British Rail's investment: programme of £3·75 billion over the next three years will be financed from its own internally generated cash flow, which does not constitute public expenditure, and from external finance, which does. The Government's public expenditure plans for the next three years provide for a total of £2·2 billion of external finance for British Rail, of which grants account for £1·25 billion.

  HMSO
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for Her Majesty's Stationery Office Agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood) on 21 December 1989 (Official Report, col. 372) in respect of the financial target of £2·9 million for 1990.

  Other performance targets I have agreed for 1990 are as follows:

  95

  Value for money

  2 per cent. improvement in 1990 on 1989 for purchases of stationery and paper; office machinery and printing and binding.

  Service and Quality

  Print orders delivered to time

  Vital 100 per cent.

  Overall 95 per cent.

  Print orders delivered without fault

  100 per cent.

  Print production jobs delivered to time

  Basic: 100 per cent.

  Overall: 95 per cent.

  Print production jobs delivered without fault

  : 100 per cent.

  Stock catalogue items

  90 per cent. of customers orders despatched within five days of receipt.

  95 per cent. of all items and 97 per cent. of priority items despatched "first time" from stocks

  Publications—80 per cent. of customer orders and telephone orders from Publications Centre despatched within four days and 90 per cent. within five days of receipt.

  In the longer term these targets should, where appropriate, become progressively more demanding.

  Construction Company Earnings
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual increase in the net earnings of construction companies between 1974 and 1979; and what has been the average annual increase since 1979.

  Mr. Major
  Based on figures extracted from published accounts, the average annual increase in net income of large construction companies was 12·5 per cent. between accounting years 1974 and 1979 and 11·6 per cent. between accounting years 1979 and 1988. Net income is defined as gross trading profit plus other revenue income less depreciation. The underlying figures are published in the MA3 series of business monitors "Company Finance".

  Inflation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's target for inflation for the last quarter of 1991.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government do not set specific targets for the rate of inflation. Tight monetary policy, supported by a firm fiscal position, will ensure that inflation moderates from its current level.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place between the Treasury and the National Audit Office concerning the Government's proposal to reorganise the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 12 January 1990]There have been no discussions between the Treasury and the National Audit Office on these proposals.

ENVIRONMENT

  Inland Waterways
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the present state of inland waterways.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The British Waterways Board is responsible for most of the inland waterways in Britain. The board is committed to realising the full potential of its waterways as an environmental and leisure resource and, where practicable, for freight transport. The Environment Select Committee, which reported on the board last August, found that the canals appeared to be in a better state overall than for many years previously.

  Housing Exhibition
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to housing to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Chope
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 12 to 16 March 1990.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities in England which had compiled their community charges register by 1 December 1989 as required.

  Mr. Chope
  All 366 charging authorities in England and Wales had compiled a community charges register by I December. Details of individual authorities' excellent register returns have been available from the Library of the House since 13 December.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the £10 premium received by
  97
  unemployed people who are participating in the employment training scheme is disregarded for community charge purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The training premium paid to those participating in the employment training scheme is disregarded in the calculation of community charge benefit.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether 18-year-olds on the YTS are liable for the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Those people who are on the youth training scheme and aged 18 or over are subject to the community charge. They will be able to apply for community charge benefit to help them with their payments.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the purposes for which a charging authority can use the information disclosed to it by a community charge registration officer for purposes other than those associated with the community charge; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Charging authorities derive their powers and duties from the Local Government Finance Act 1988, and in that capacity they have no functions other than those conferred in that Act.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the disclosure of anonymous poll tax data without the consent or knowledge of the poll tax payer; whether he will summarise the representations and place them in the Library; whether he plans to consult other organisations before introducing any regulation that allows for the disclosure of anonymous poll tax data; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Office of the Data Protection Registrar has written seeking assurances about the disclosure of anonymous community charges register data and asking to be consulted on the regulations. Our intention is to consult other organisations before introducing any regulations allowing community charges registration officers to release non-personal data to third parties.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities on the need to disclose anonymous poll tax data; whether he will place a copy of the representations in the Library; what plans he has to ensure that the regulations that allow disclosure of anonymous poll tax data protect individuals from identification; and whether he will make a statement.

  Member

  Nominating Body

  Yorkshire Regional Rivers Advisory Committee

  Mr. J. Whitworth (Chairman)

  —

  Mr. J. C. Cooke

  Country Landowners Association

  Mr. R. Pigg

  National Farmers Union

  Mr. J. Armitage

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  Ms S. Marsden

  Eye on the Aire

  Dr. S. A. Bucknall

  Countryside Commission

  Dr. P. Knights

  Nature Conservancy Council

  Mr. P. Andrew

  Confederation of British Industry

  Mr. M. Wright

  Central Electricity Generating Board

  Councillor C. D. Swinglehurst

  North Yorkshire County Council

  Mr. I. White

  British Waterways Board

  Councillor R. Mitchell

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Mr. C. Hawkesworth

  Sports Council

  98
  Mr. Chope
  One representation has been received on this subject from a local authority, making a case for allowing officers of the authority other than those involved in community charge registration to derive aggregate information from the register for planning and research purposes and for allowing the transfer of aggregate data to other authorities. The intention is that the regulation governing the release of data by community charges registration officers will enable them to release statistical data; there is no intention to create a power that enables an individual's privacy to be breached.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether all local authorities on their community charge payment form are obliged to offer the facility of single payment by one member of the household, in accordance with former normal practice.

  Mr. Chope
  In order to increase the accountability of local authorities to their electorate, the community charge legislation requires every person who is liable to pay the personal community charge to be sent a demand notice. Where more than one person in a household receives a demand notice, it is a matter for members of that household to decide whether each individual should pay his or her own bill or whether to adopt some other arrangement.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total revenue which local authorities in Great Britain expect to receive from(a) community charge and (b) business rates in 1990–91; and what was the income from (c) personal rates, and (d) business rates in 1989–90 in actual terms and as a percentage of (a) and (b) respectivel.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]The information in the form requested is not available.

  Regional Rivers Advisory Committees
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the nominating body for all those who so far have been appointed to the regional rivers advisory committees in(a) Yorkshire Water and (b) Severn Trent Water areas.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I am advised by the National Rivers Authority that the information requested as regards the regional rivers advisory committees for its Yorkshire and Severn Trent regions is as follows:
  99

  Member

  Nominating Body

  Mr. G. A. Wilford

  York Waterworks Company

  Dr. A. J. Shuttleworth

  Yorkshire Water Plc

  Miss M. Rooker

  Council for the Protection of Rural England

  Mr. J. N. Thompson

  Peak District National Park

  Chairman Regional Flood Defence Committee—to be appointed

  Mr. J. A. Fawcett (Chairman Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee)

  Severn Trent Regional Rivers Advisory Committee

  Dr. H. Tebbutt (Chairman)

  —

  Mr. D. Grigg

  National Farmers Union

  Lord Guernsey

  Country Landowners Association

  Mr. F. Walmsley

  Countryside Commission

  Mr. J. Thompson

  Nature Conservancy Council

  Mr. C. Nicholson

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  Mrs. V. Gillespie MBE

  Council for the Protection of Rural England

  Mr. B. Scott

  Severn Trent Water Plc

  Mr. M. White

  Confederation of British Industry

  Mr. P. J. Mitchell

  Confederation of British Industry

  Councillor Mrs. P. R. Merritt

  Gloucestershire County Council

  Councillor Sir Richard Knowles

  Birmingham City Council

  Councillor D. R. Jones

  Montgomeryshire District Council

  Councillor P. E. Beeby

  Rushcliffe District Council

  Mr. D. Pryor

  Sports Council

  Mr. S. Sim

  British Waterways Board

  Mr. J. Betteridge

  National Federation of Anglers

  Mr. C. G. Hawthorne (Chairman Regional Flood Defence Committee)

  Mr. F. Jennings (Chairman Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee)

  Environmental Labelling
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his eco-labelling initiative.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 9 January by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) (Official Report, Vol. 164, columns 589–91).

  AIDS
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to carry out research to determine the longevity of HIV AIDS virus carried in untreated sewage into the sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Research to date shows that the numbers of HIV AIDS virus particles decrease very rapidly once infected fluids have left the body.

  Sewage
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost of compliance with the proposed European Council directive Com(89)518 requiring the cessation of the disposal of sewage into the sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department has commissioned a study of the potential environmental benefits to the marine environment that may arise from treatment beyond the preliminary stage of sewage discharged to the sea; and of the costs of such further treatment. The study is expected to be completed shortly.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any popularly used inland bathing waters in the United Kingdom designated for compliance under the 76/160/European Community bathing water directive.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are no inland waters in the United Kingdom identified as bathing waters under directive 76/160/EEC.

  Pesticides
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring his Department is undertaking of pesticides in streams and water supplies.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Water undertakers are responsible for monitoring the levels of pesticides in water supplies in accordance with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. In addition to the continuing role of local authorities in checking the quality of water supplies in their areas, the new drinking water inspectorate is responsible for ensuring that drinking water quality standards are met. The National Rivers Authority also monitors surface waters for those pesticides that are classified as European Community list I dangerous substances.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made an assessment of the environmental impact of pesticide use on agricultural and other land.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The environmental impact of pesticide use is routinely assessed as part of the approval process specified in the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 made under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. The agreement of the Ministers of six Departments is needed before a pesticide can be approved for use, and Ministers are required to consult the
  101
  independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, which considers scientific information on all aspects of pesticide use, including the effect on agricultural and other land.

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Historic Royal Palaces Agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Detailed performance measures and targets for the Historic Royal Palaces Agency's commercial and non-commercial operations will be set out in its first corporate plan, which will be submitted for my approval in March. The corporate plan will provide the basis for the agency's performance—oriented management regime in its first full year of operation—1990–91—and beyond.

  For the remainder of the current financial year the agency has continued with the management arrangements inherited from the Department, with the specific financial target of increasing the agency's surplus on its commercial activities from £2·3 million in 1988–89 to £3·8 million in 1990–91.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department is taking to ensure that there is adequate good quality housing suitable and available for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Government's housing policies are aimed at securing decent housing provision for all our citizens, able bodied and disabled alike. Within the Housing Corporation programme, a place has always been found for spending to meet the needs of disabled people, and we have recently announced a doubling of that programme over the next three years. The new home renovation grant system, which will come into operation in April, will include special arrangements to facilitate works to enable disabled people to continue living in their own homes.

  Cryptosporidium
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken about the recommendations of Sir John Badenoch's committee as to the result of interim conclusions; and what response he has had from water undertakers, local authorities and health authorities in relation to cryptosporidium.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To discharge the remit of the group of experts on cryptosporidium in water supplies to make an interim report by the end of July 1989, Sir John Badenoch wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 25 July setting out the group's preliminary conclusions on measures to safeguard water supplies and on public health aspects of infection with cryptosporidium. The letter, a copy of which was placed in the Library, made it clear that further substantive reports containing conclusions and recommendations on the control of cryptosporidium would be prepared in due course by the group.
  102
  My Department sent Sir John's letter to water undertakers in August 1989 and endorsed the main recommendations. Copies of the letter were also sent by the Department of Health to the chief environmental health officers of local authorities and to the district general managers of health authorities and to other interests.

  A co-operative research programme has now been put in hand involving Government Departments. water undertakers, the Water Research Centre and the Foundation of Water Research to take forward the expert group's research recommendations.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect chlorination has on cryptosporidium; and what steps are being taken to protect public health from cryptosporidial infections in domestic water supplies.

  Mr. Trippier
  Cryptosporidium is unaffected by chlorine in the concentrations that can be used to treat drinking water. Sir John Badenoch. chairman of the group of experts on cryptosporidium in water supplies, wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 25 July 1989 setting out the group's preliminary conclusions on measures to safeguard water supplies and on the public health aspects of infection with cryptosporidium. The letter, a copy of which was placed in the Library, made it clear that further substantive reports containing conclusions and recommendations on the control of cryptosporidium would be prepared in due course by the group.

  My Department sent Sir John's letter to water undertakers in August 1989 and endorsed the main recommendations. Copies of the letter were also sent by the Department of Health to the chief environmental health officers of local authorities and to the district general managers of health authorities and to other interests.

  A co-operative research programme has now been put in hand involving Government Departments, water undertakers, the Water Research Centre and the Foundation of Water Research to take forward the expert group's research recommendations.

  Toxic Pollution
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to evaluate the toxic pollution dangers of the use of(a) diacid ester hardeners, (b) acrylate, (c) silicate and aqua-reactive acrylic, (d) tanning/formaldehyde and (e)` resoranol/formaldehyde grouts in tunnel construction in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department of the Environment is not taking any specific action to evaluate the toxic pollution dangers of the materials listed in the question used as grouts in tunnel construction. There are general requirements in the Water Act 1989 to ensure that the use of substances, including chemical grouts, does not cause pollution of surface or ground waters. Substances in contact with water that is supplied for drinking, washing and cooking are subject to specific provisions in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989.

  Landfill Sites
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds the Government are allocating to enable waste disposal authorities and other local authorities to locate and rehabilitate former landfill sites which now constitute a real or potential health hazard.

  Mr. Trippier
  Provision for credit approvals for local authority capital expenditure already reflects estimated expenditure needs to meet statutory responsibilities, including public health requirements to monitor and take action over potential hazards. For 1990–91 onwards, this will include specific provision for the capital cost of remedial works to deal with landfill gas on closed or completed sites. If a former landfill site is derelict, appropriate schemes may be eligible for reclamation under derelict land grant or through the urban programme.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government are taking to ensure that a clear and comprehensive register is kept of types, quantities and locations of materials currently being deposited in landfill sites and falling under the definitions of materials covered by the special waste regulations.

  Mr. Trippier
  There is an existing requirement under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 for landfill operators to keep a register containing details of the types and quantities of special waste received and to record the location of each deposit by reference to the register.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the location of landfill sites known to cause groundwater contamination.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Complete and reliable information on landfill sites known to cause groundwater contamination is not held centrally. Waste disposal authorities and the NRA can advise on instances of groundwater contamination in their areas.

  Oxide Emissions
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government are taking to encourage the reduction of sulphurous and nitrous oxide emissions from oil refineries, manufacturing plants and coking plants.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department issued a consultation paper on 31 August 1989 explaining in detail our proposals for implementing the EC Large Combustion Plants Directive, which applies to plants that are equal to or greater than 50MW thermal. Such plants are responsible for 85 per cent. of United Kingdom emissions of sulphur dioxide and about 40 per cent. of oxides of nitrogen. A copy of the paper is in the Library of the House.

  The Environmental Protection Bill now before the House includes proposals to develop the current control regime operated by HMIP into a system of integrated pollution control. This will require major emitters to use best available techniques not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC) to minimise releases of all pollutants, including sulphurous and nitrous oxides.

  Motor Vehicles (Dumping)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government are taking to combat the illegal dumping of motor vehicles in rural areas.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Under sections 3 to 5 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 local authorities have a duty to remove abandoned motor vehicles from any land in the open air provided that they have placed a notice on each vehicle 15 days previously and that the owner of the land raises no objection. In addition, they have powers to dispose of the vehicles and to recover expenses incurred.

  East Sussex County Council
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his standard spending assessment for East Sussex county council has taken account of the recent pay rise of the council's chief executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The standard spending assessment for East Sussex county council will be calculated in accordance with the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) laid before the House of Commons on 11 January.

  Hylands Park
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if a new date has been announced for the postponed public inquiry into the Hylands park, Chelmsford planning application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The public inquiry was postponed at the request of Chelmsford borough council to allow further negotiations to take place on these proposals. A new date will be arranged for the inquiry when those negotiations are completed.

  Showmen's Guild
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken by his Department since 30 June 1989 to deal with the problems being experienced by members of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain in the home counties and in particular (i) the Plantation, Redhill, (ii) Salfords, Reigate and (iii) the Turning Wheel, Crawley.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department has been preparing a consultation paper on measures designed to ease the problems experienced by travelling showpeople in obtaining planning permission for sites from which to base their operations. The sites mentioned by the hon. Member have been the subject of enforcement action, including appeals to the Secretary of State, which have been decided. My right hon. Friend has recently received an appeal against a refusal of planning permission for the use of land at the Plantation, Redhill; that will be the subject of a public local inquiry.

  Commercial Properties (Revaluation)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the revaluation of commercial properties since the publication of the details of the revaluations.
  105
  Mr. Chope
  I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and from other sources. A non-domestic revaluation is now essential in order to remove the distortions caused by using values that are 17 years old. Any property tax, such as rates, must be based on up-to-date values if it is to be fair. The revaluation will, of course, reflect the level of market rents.

  Moorland
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase access to moorland in the United Kingdom for walkers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The existing network of 140,000 miles of rights of way in England and Wales already provides extensive opportunities for access to all types of countryside. Local authorities also have the power to enter into agreements with landowners where necessary to secure additional access to areas of open country, including moorland.

  City Grants
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of city grants he expects to award in 1989–90.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We expect to approve city grants totalling about £60 million by the end of the financial year.

  National Parks
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to increasing the number of national parks.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has no such specific proposal in mind at present, but is always ready to consider suggestions.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he is having with his counterparts in overseas countries concerning the Montreal protocol and the limitations of chlorofluorocarbon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Revisions to the Montreal protocol have recently been discussed by the European Community Environment Council. The protocol is to be revised at the second meeting of its parties to be held in London in June. The United Kingdom Government will be calling for the complete phasing out of CFCs. We are working for the general adoption of this position and to enlarge the numbers of signatories to the protocol.

  Control of Pollution Act
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions occurred under section 3 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in 1988; and how many were successful.

  Mr. Trippier
  In 1988 there were 227 prosecutions under section 3, of which 172 were successful.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to legislate for the replacement of toxic waste incineration emissions with closed loop technology.

  Mr. Trippier
  Emissions to atmosphere from toxic waste incinerators are closely controlled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Environmental Protection Bill currently before the House will strengthen those controls by requiring operators of prescribed processes to use the best available techniques, not entailing excessive costs, to minimise releases of prescribed pollutants.

  My Department is promoting awareness of low-waste or clean technology through the environmental protection technology (EPT) scheme. A booklet on clean technology was published in November 1989 describing examples where British industry has successfully introduced new cleaner technology to bring about environmental and economic benefits. My Department will also be hosting in September a three-day seminar on the subject of "Cleaner Production" to promote the exchange and dissemination of information about clean technology at the international level.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make pollution prevention an integral part of all waste disposal plans.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am considering the need for such a provision.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make the submission of a detailed waste minimisation plan a pre-condition for the issue of every waste disposal site licence.

  Mr. Trippier
  Waste disposal licences generally control activites at the point of waste disposal, not of waste production. Consequently, it would be inappropriate to require waste licence holders to produce waste minimisation plans.

  Pollution Prevention
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give details of studies into pollution prevention conducted by his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) if he will list the amount spent by his Department for each year since 1979 on research into pollution prevention.

  Mr. Trippier
  The figures for expenditure by the Department of the Environment on research on environmental protection, excluding countryside research, between 1979–80 and 1988–89 are as follows:

  £ million

  1979–80

  12·6

  1980–81

  18·3

  1981–82

  18·3

  1982–83

  17·5

  1983–84

  17·2

  107

  £ million

  1984–85

  16·4

  1985–86

  20·3

  1986–87

  21·5

  1987–88

  23·4

  1988–89

  22·6

  reports of the studies supported by this expenditure covering the years 1984–88 are listed in the DoE biennial R and D reports, copies of which are held in the Library of the House. The list for 1989 is in preparation and will be published in the next DoE R and D report.

  Plastics (Recycling)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the recycling of plastics within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The recycling of plastics is currently being specifically addressed by an expert working group consisting of representatives from Government, local authorities, industry and the voluntary sector with the aim of improving the rate of plastics recycling.

  Leakage Control
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1989,Official Report, column 211, why he has decided not to publish a further edition of the leakage control policy and practice report.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Decisions on whether to prepare and publish reports on such operational matters are for the water industry.

  Road Building
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of an increased road-building programme.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The expanded road programme announced in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity", took account of all relevant factors including environmental effects. Individual road projects are subject to environmental appraisal.

  Leigh Interests plc
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Leigh Interests regarding the Environmental Protection Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have received representations from Leigh Interests concerning the responsibility for control of treatment facilities and landfills under parts I and II of the Bill.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Thanet)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account has been taken, in deciding the standard spending assessment figure, of the number of retired residents within the Thanet district council area;108
  and what account was taken in deciding the allowance made for visitors under grant-related expenditure allocation.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of elderly people and the number of elderly people living alone or on income support are included in the component of the standard spending assessment for personal social services for Kent county council. Retired people are included in the estimates of total population used in other SSA components. Details may be found in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) (HC 049) laid before the House on 11 January. Within grant-related expenditure assessment (GREs), 2 per cent. of the control total for the recreation element was distributed on the basis of visitor nights.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the increase in the standard spending assessment for Thanet district council over the 1989–90 grant-related expenditure assessment; and what is the average standard spending assessment increase for the same period for the other Kent districts.

  Mr. Chope
  The 1990–91 standard spending assessment for Thanet district council has increased by 6·5 per cent. over the comparable adjusted figure for the 1989–90 grant-related expenditure assessment. The mean-average increase in 1990–91 SSA over comparable adjusted 1989–90 GREA for the other Kent district councils is 18·2 per cent.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward measures to reduce emission of carbon dioxide ahead of the second world climate conference in November 1990.

  Mr. Trippier
  Effective measures to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide must be taken in the international context and such measures will be considered at the second world climate conference. Nevertheless, within the Department of the Environment we have recently announced changes to the building regulations, which will result in significant improvements in energy efficiency and we shall continue to keep all areas of our responsibilities under review. The principal sources of emissions of carbon dioxide are from the energy and transport sectors, and measures to reduce these are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Energy and for Transport.

  North Sea
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of radiation from artificial nuclides entering the North sea emanates from(a) wastes from the nuclear power industry, (b) radioisotope production, (c) uses of radioactivity in medicine, (d) teaching and research operations, (e) fall-out from nuclear weapons testing and (f) fall-out from other sources.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is not available in the form requested. Estimated inputs of radioactivity to the North sea from nuclear establishments are contained in the report of the "Quality Status of the North Sea" (1987), a copy of which is in the Library. Also, a European Community study known as "Project Marina", assessing
  109
  the radiological exposure of the population of the European Community from radioactivity in the north-east Atlantic has been undertaken; a report of which should be published in due course by the Commission of the European Community.

  Deer
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the circulation of the Nature Conservancy Council report by V. P. W. Lowe on "Wild and Feral Deer in Great Britain", reference number NCC/NERC contract HF3/05/43.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  This interim report was circulated in 1979 and 1980 among Government Departments, and some other interested organisations, including the British Deer Society and the Institute of Biology.

  Wath upon Dearne (Waste)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the conclusion by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that the toxic elements in the waste held at Wath upon Dearne are not hazardous.

  Mr. Trippier
  As I have already indicated in my letter to the hon. Member, we accept the conclusion of the report by the Environmental Protection Agency that, on the basis of the specific criteria applied under the US Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act, the wastes are non-hazardous. I am considering, as a matter of urgency, what further action can be taken.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the environmental implications of opencast mining operations.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The environmental implications of opencast mining operations can often be considerable. It is for this reason that while it is necessary to recognise the economic benefits of mineral production it is essential that the impact of proposals on the environment is carefully assessed, and where necessary an environmental impact statement prepared. It is also necessary to ensure that sites are well managed in environmental terms and restored to a high standard. All mining operations should take account of best environmental practice. Recently published guidelines on opencast mineral workings set tough environmental standards.

  Gallstone Crushing Equipment
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is spent annually on ultrasonic gallstone crushing equipment; and where in the south-east these machines are located.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply. Extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripters were used originally for treating kidney stones. With assistance from the Department of Health, Trent regional health authority is carrying out an evaluation of the use of a lithotripter in the treatment of gallstones.
  110
  We are aware of one lithotripter located within a National Health Service hospital in the south-east which might be used to treat gallstones. This is at St. Peter's hospital in London. There are also facilities at private sector hospitals.

  We have no details of the prices paid for these machines, since these are confidential between the buyers and sellers.

THE ARTS

  Wilding Report
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the merger proposed in the Wilding report between the Crafts Council and the Arts Council.

  Mr. Luce
  I shall make an announcement as soon as I have had an opportunity to consider the responses to the Wilding report.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what recent representations he has received about the Wilding report on funding the arts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received about 6,000 responses, of which approximately 4,500 are postcards. I shall be announcing my response to the report as soon as possible.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the regional implications of the Wilding report.

  Mr. Luce
  I shall announce my response to the Wilding report as soon as possible.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from the north-west about his proposed reorganisation for regional arts administration.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received a number of representations from individuals and organisations in the north-west area about the Wilding report.

  Industrial Museums
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what financial support his Department gives to working industrial museums.

  Mr. Luce
  The many working industrial museums around the country play an important part in preserving our industrial heritage.

  Funding from the Office of Arts and Libraries for local museums in England is disbursed via the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) and the network of seven area museum councils and a number of working industrial museums benefit from these funds. Additionally, the Science museum, on behalf of the MGC, administers a grant scheme which has recently expanded in scope to assist with the preservation as well as the purchase of industrial and scientific material. In November 1989 I announced an increase of £1 million over the next three years to the local museums purchase funds, of which this is one.

  The MGC is also able to offer professional advice and operates a capital grant scheme to assist with the cost of

  111
  housing collections. Area museum councils give grants for restoration and conservation and also offer advice on a wide range of subjects, including interpretation, training and marketing and management.

  Library Service
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on public spending plans for the library service.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 11 December 1989 (Official Report, column 447).

CIVIL SERVICE

  Agency Status
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he has any plans to announce further candidates for agency status.

  1988–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Student

  20,000

  20,000

  20,000

  20,000

  20,000

  Student days

  77,000

  76,000

  75,000

  75,000

  75,000

  Course days

  4,900

  4,700

  4,545

  4,545

  4,545

  Ratio of course days to student days

  15·7

  16·2

  16·5

  16·5

  16·5

  Percentage of students at Grade 7 and above

  23·8

  25·5

  27·5

  30·0

  33·2

  Private sector students

  420

  500

  600

  870

  1,200

  Percentage

  2·1

  2·5

  3·0

  4·4

  6·0

  Course evaluation indicators in top two (of six categories per cent.)

  76

  77

  78

  79

  80

  In addition, there are targets for "cost per student day".

  For 199073x2013;91 and subsequent years, additional targets will be set in respect of an overall value-for-money indicator, the percentage of students studying for externally validated qualifications, examination pass rates, and the college's incomes from consultancy as a percentage of total incomes.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Funeral Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for funeral payments were granted from the social fund during the last 12 months for which he has figures available; and what was the average amount paid.

  Mr. Scott
  In the 12 months ending November 1989 a total of 41,247 funeral payments were awarded. The average payment was £522.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by location for south Yorkshire, the Department of Social Security offices that are due to close during the coming year; how many staff will be transferred; and to what locations.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  A review of the organisational pattern of all local offices is under way, including those in south Yorkshire. No firm proposals have yet been
  112
  Mr. Luce
  Ten executive agencies have been established so far, and Departments have announced a further 43 activities as candidates for agency status. In addition, a variety of activities are currently being considered internally by Departments as potential candidates for executive agency status, and I expect that a number of these will be formally announced as candidates in due course.

  Civil Service College
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service, what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Civil Service college for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Luce
  The Civil Service college executive agency's primary measure of performance will be its ability to cover its costs from income. Other targets for the current and next four years are as follows:

  produced. Full consultation with all interested parties will take place in the normal way at the appropriate time if any changes are proposed.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what account is taken of the wind chill factor in determining the temperature information for cold weather payments.

  Mr. Scott
  None.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list individually the new description of the areas covered by national climatological message stations, in relation to cold weather payments.

  Mr. Scott
  The changes to the descriptions of areas linked to the national climatological message stations in the schedule to the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988/1724) are listed in regulation 3 of the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/2388).

  Income Support
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number of people living within the(a) Doncaster and (b) Wath-on-Dearne Department of Social Security areas, are in receipt of income support for the latest available date for which he has figures; and what are the figures for 12 months ago.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is set out in the table:
  113

  Local office

  Numbers in receipt of Income Support on

  30 November 1988

  30 November 1989

  Doncaster (East)

  10,164

  10,039

  Doncaster (West)

  12,951

  13,388

  Wath-on-Dearne

  7,118

  7,552

  Source: 100 per cent count of cases in action. The figures given include a small number of cases not actually in receipt of benefit.

  Resettlement Agency
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Resettlement Agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Resettlement Agency was initially set the following specific targets, which are subject to annual review:Efficiency and effectiveness of Units

  (a) To achieve a cumulative reduction of a least 1·5 per cent. per annum in the running costs of DSS resettlement units net of accommodation charges over the next three years (ie 1989–90 to 1991–92) without reducing standards. The savings will be made available for redeployment within the Agency budget, in accordance with nil cost package. The chief executive will produce proposals for use of the 1989–90 savings to the July 1989 meeting with Under-Secretaries.

  (b) To establish a training strategy for staff, by March 1990.

  (c) To present manpower proposals, based on the 1988–89 staff inspection to the September 1989 meeting with Under-Secretaries.

  (d) To devise a scheme to assist resettlement units' managers to compare the effectiveness of units on a common basis, with an interim report in March 1990.

  Replacement programmes
  As provided for in the financial plan, to close:—

  1990–91 2 Units

  1991–92 4 Units

  Efficiency and effectiveness of replacement provision
  To commission and mount a research study to monitor the 36-bed direct access hostel opened in January 1989 and run by the London borough of Lewisham as part of the scheme to replace the Camberwell resettlement unit in 1985. The objective will he to examine the service provided both to ensure value for money and that a good standard of care and resettlement results.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department is making of the adequacy of disability benefits to meet daily living costs and extra costs of disability.

  Mr. Scott
  The findings of the surveys of disability carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) between 1985 and 1988 clearly showed that in general the benefits paid to meet the extra costs of disability, attendance allowance and mobility allowance, are more than sufficient to cover the average extra costs of disability. The initial results of a follow-up to the OPCS surveys in the family expenditure survey confirm these findings. The OPCS surveys provided comparisons between the incomes of disabled people and their counterparts in the general population but did not assess the adequacy of income maintenance benefits paid to disabled people.
  114
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, in the last six months, his Department has issued revised guidelines to doctors assessing fitness for work of people in receipt of disability benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  No.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to revise restart interviews, availability for work tests, and actively seeking work requirements, as they affect people who receive benefit as a result of their disablement.

  Mr. Scott
  Payment of most benefits for the disabled does not require disabled people to be available for, or actively seeking, employment. In the case of unernployment benefit and income support on the basis of unemployment, regulations provide for full account to be taken of any limitations imposed by disablement. We have no plans to alter this approach. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has responsibility for the administration of the law governing claims for unemployed people, including the conduct of restart interviews.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, pursuant to his statement on benefits for the disabled of 10 January, the new disablement employment credit will be available to all those who gain low-paid work after claiming a state benefit relating to their disablement; if there will be a child care addition; and if those on the benefit will receive additions for work expenses related to their disablement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government propose that the new disability employment credit to be introduced in April 1992 will be available to people receiving the new disability allowance or to those who were receiving invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance or the income support or housing benefit disability premium before starting work. Claimants will also need to satisfy a doctor that they are only partially capable of work. Precise details of the new benefit are still to be considered.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider extending the scope of the mobility allowance scheme to cover applicants who can show that they would have qualified for the allowance if they had made application before becoming 66 years of age and are now prevented from receiving the allowance only because they were unaware of the cut-off age of 66 years; and if he will estimate the costs involved in any such extension.

  Mr. Scott
  Although mobility allowance can be claimed during the year in which a person is aged 65, the medical eligibility criteria need to be fulfilled before the person reaches that age. We regard a year as a reasonable period to allow for making a claim, especially as the steady growth in the number of recipients indicates that the existence of the allowance is widely known. I regret that it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the cost of an extension of the upper age limit for claiming.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further plans he now has to increase the availability of mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.
  115
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he is giving to the introduction of a costs allowance for disabled people not helped by either mobility allowance or attendance allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 10 January, at columns 941–52, that the Government propose to introduce a new disability allowance for people of working age and below which will extend help with the extra costs of disability to people with moderate to severe disabilities who do not at present qualify for mobility allowance or attendance allowance. For people whose disability begins before age 65, the new allowance will subsume the help currently given through attendance allowance and mobility allowance within a common structure and extend help to people with care and mobility needs who do not currently qualify for attendance allowance or mobility allowance.

  Disability Income
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the cost of implementing a comprehensive disability income scheme along the lines proposed by the disability benefits consortium.

  Mr. Scott
  The comprehensive disability income scheme described by the disability benefits consortium in its paper circulated on 15 December 1989 is not described in sufficient detail for a reliable estimate of its cost to be made.

  Statistics
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department has produced advice on the disclosure of statistical data which are derived from information that concerns living individuals, so as to ensure that the disclosure in question does not identify individuals; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  This Department has not produced advice on the disclosure of statistical data. The Government statistical service produced and published in 1984 a document which provides strict guidance in this area and the Department closely follows this advice—"The Government Statistical Service Code of Practice on the Handling of Data Obtained from Statistical Enquiries", Cmnd. 9270. A copy is available in the Library. The relevant sections are contained in pages 5 and 6 of the paper.

  OPCS Reports
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to which organisations his Department has circulated copies of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys reports for comment.

  Mr. Scott
  Copies of the OPCS reports dealing with the prevalence of disability and the financial circumstances of disabled people were sent by the Department to the following organisations of and for disabled people:

  Access Committee for England

  Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis

  Age Concern1

  Arthritis Care

  116

  Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

  British Diabetic Association

  British Epilepsy Association

  Centre on Environment for the Handicapped

  Disability Alliance2

  Disablement Income Group

  Disabled Living Foundation

  Help the Aged1

  Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  National Association for Mental Health

  National Council for Carers

  Parkinson's Disease Association1

  Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation

  Royal National Institute for the Blind

  Royal National Institute for the Deaf

  Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

  Scottish Council on Disability

  Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped

  SENSE—National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association Spastics Society

  Wales Council for the Disabled.

  1 These organisations received only copies of the reports dealing with the circumstances of adults and not those dealing with children.
  2 A federation of over 80 organisations of and for disabled people.

  Copies of these reports were also sent to a number of other bodies with an interest in issues concerning disabled people such as Motability and the local authority associations.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations have been made to his Department about the accuracy of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys findings on extra costs incurred by disabled people as a result of their disability.

  Mr. Scott
  The findings of the surveys of disability carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys were based on a sample of over 10,000 people. Representations have been received from the Disablement Income Group, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and the Spastics Society. These organisations carried out three separate studies based on 10 or 13 cases, which suggested that the extra costs of disability were higher than the averages found by OPCS.

  Ombudsman Reports
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reports his Department has received from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on matters referred to the commission by hon. Members concerning the administration of his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  DHSS and DSS cases investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to conclusion, with reports issued

  Year

  Number

  1985

  176

  1986

  186

  1987

  182

  1988

  162

  1989

  260

  These cases include only two-three DH cases each year.

  Source:

  1Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration Annual Reports 1985–88.

  2Provisional figure, DSS only.

  Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the membership and functions of the joint working group on occupational and personal pensions; when it was set up; if he will place a record of its proceedings in the Library; and whether it has considered the need for advice to members of personal and other money-purchase pension schemes on the age at which they should consider discontinuing their contributions to those schemes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The occupational pensions schemes joint working group was set up and is run by representative bodies in the pensions industry. Its members are the Association of British Insurers, the Association of Consulting Actuaries, the National Association of Pension Funds and the Society of Pensions Consultants. Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security nor departmental officials have any involvement with the group. Inquiries concerning group proceedings should be directed to the group members.

  Quite separately, from time to time officials in the Department consult representatives of various organisations concerned with occupational and personal pensions through a consultative group which meets when the need arises. The bodies circulated are the following:

  Association of British Insurers

  Association of Consulting Actuaries

  Association of Pension Lawyers

  British Bankers Association

  Building Society Association

  Friendly Societies Liaison Committee

  Government Actuary's Department

  Inland Revenue

  National Association of Pension Funds

  Nationalised Industries Pension Group

  Occupational Pensions Board

  Securities and Investments Board

  Security of Pensions Consultants

  Unit Trust Association

  Discussions are informal. No minutes are kept.

  On the question of advice to pension scheme members, it is for an individual member of an occupational or personal pension scheme to seek advice appropriate to his or her needs.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the reform of the system of national insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  A reform of the system of national insurance contributions for employees was introduced last October. We have no current plans for further major reforms. Some minor changes are proposed in the Social Security Bill.

  Claimants
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants registered as of no fixed abode there were in England and Scotland in each year from 1979 to 1989.
  118
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Social Security Spending
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount spent on social security in the United Kingdom, in actual and at 1989 prices, for each of the years 1978–79 to 1990–91, or for the latest year available; and what was the percentage increase for each year.

  Mr. Scott
  The information for Great Britain is set out in the table. Information about costs of benefits in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  DSS total expenditure

  Cash (£ million)

  In 1989–90 prices (£ million)

  Real terms percentage increase over preceding year

  Outturn

  1978–79

  16,437

  38,677

  —

  1979–80

  19,416

  39,119

  1·1

  1980–81

  23,463

  39,978

  2·2

  1981–82

  28,582

  44,319

  10·9

  1982–83

  32,451

  46,930

  5·9

  1983–84

  35,159

  48,579

  3·5

  1984–85

  38,119

  50,176

  3·3

  1985–86

  41,487

  51,826

  3·3

  1986–87

  44,424

  53,685

  3·6

  1987–88

  46,265

  53,094

  -1·1

  Estimated outturn

  1988–89

  47,595

  50,919

  -4·1

  1989–90

  52,600

  52,600

  3·3

  Planned

  1990–91

  55,600

  52,952

  0·7

  1991–92

  59,900

  55,119

  4·1

  1992–93

  63,500

  56,729

  2·9

DEFENCE

  HMS Conqueror
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now place in the Library a copy of the captain's narrative of HMS Conqueror's Falklands deployment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The narrative concerns classified operational matters.

  Military Training
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many episodes of injury attributable to excessive heat or insolation have occurred to members of the forces since 1978 and the last year for which figures are available; how many of these occurred during military exercises and other forms of training; and how many deaths were recorded from such causes in the same period.

  Mr. Neubert
  The figures requested relating to episodes of injury and death attributable to excessive heat or insolation within the Services area are as follows:
  119

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Total 1978–88

  Injuries only (males and females)

  Tri-Service

  Total

  25

  42

  51

  26

  34

  86

  83

  73

  81

  100

  62

  663

  Non accidental

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Accidental:

  Off duty

  2

  3

  8

  4

  9

  9

  6

  6

  11

  6

  2

  66

  Exercises

  4

  16

  7

  4

  4

  15

  13

  12

  4

  21

  12

  112

  Other training

  6

  6

  23

  11

  12

  44

  48

  28

  46

  54

  23

  301

  Other on duty

  3

  16

  12

  7

  9

  18

  16

  27

  20

  19

  25

  172

  Not known on/off

  10

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  Fatalities only (males and females)

  Tri-Service

  Total

  2

  2

  3

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  1

  12

  Non accidental

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Accidental:

  Off duty

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Exercises

  1

  2

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  7

  Other training

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  4

  Other on duty

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Not known on/off

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the forces have(a) collapsed and (b) died while taking part in a mud run in the last five years.

  Mr. Neubert
  Statistical information specifically relating to injuries on the mud run is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Only one death is recorded in the period 1983–88 which can be attributed to a mud run.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men taking part in the combat fitness test have collapsed and required medical attention; and how many have died, since April 1984.

  Mr. Neubert
  Statistical information specifically relating to the combat fitness test is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if external medical advice has been sought regarding health dangers from mud runs.

  Mr. Neubert
  No, but due consideration is given by tri-service medical authorities to any advice or information, from whatever source, which might prove beneficial to the health and safety of service personnel.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions when there has been a collapse of a service man due to heatstroke, disciplinary action has been brought against the senior or junior officers involved.

  Mr. Neubert
  None over the last 10 years for which records are available.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was given to the family and the solicitor of Sub-Lieutenant Simon Rowland regarding the circumstances of his collapse; and if he intends to make publicly available any information on this case of heatstroke.

  Mr. Neubert
  No approach has been made to my Department by a solicitor acting on behalf of Sub-Lieutenant Rowland. My officials have, however, written to Mr. and Mrs. Rowland to say that a full and 120
  comprehensive summary of the Board of Inquiry report will be sent to them as soon as it is possible to do so. It is not Ministry of Defence policy to release outside the Department information of a personal or medical nature, other than to the person concerned or to the nominated next of kin.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical advice he has received regarding the body temperature likely to be generated on a mud run.

  Mr. Neubert
  Advice relating to heat injury, its prediction, prevention and treatment is provided by the defence medical services. It does not specifically relate to mud runs.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the disciplinary investigation that was ordered after the collapse from heatstroke of Sub-Lieutenant Simon Rowland.

  Mr. Neubert
  As a result of the Board of Inquiry held to consider the collapse of Sub-Lieutenant Rowland, the Flag Officer Naval Air Command directed that the Naval Provost Marshall carry out a disciplinary investigation. The report has now been received and is being studied by the Flag Officer Naval Air Command. A decision on any further action will be made as soon as possible.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce automatic courts-martial of training instructors in all cases of death or permanent injury due to heatstroke in training or assessments.

  Mr. Neubert
  No. In any such case it is the responsibility of the relevant service authority to determine what, if any, disciplinary action should be taken.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department defines episodes of injury attributable to excessive heat or insolation.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Department defines "episodes of injury attributable to excessive heat or insulation" with reference to two statistical classifications; the "Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases,
  121
  Injuries and Causes of Death (ICD)" and the "NATO Armed Forces Supplement to the Manual of the ICD: External Cause of Injury Code, STANAG 2050".

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cause of death was given by the post mortem in the case of Timothy Lester, a sapper in the Royal Engineers who died in a British military hospital in Hanover, West Germany, on 27 May 1989; and how his death was recorded.

  Mr. Neubert
  The report of a post mortem examination on Sapper Timothy Lester recorded the cause of death as shown by examination appearing to be:

  (a) cerebral oedema

  (b) hepato-renal failure

  (c) heat-stroke injury

  which was recorded on the death certificate.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the case of the lieutenant in REME who died in Hong Kong on 11 July 1980 was included in the figure of 11 deaths from heatstroke given in the letter of 29 June 1988 to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South.

  Mr. Neubert
  Yes.

  Weapons
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy on the introduction of new weapons into service that are known to be banned under bilateral treaties between NATO and Warsaw pact countries to which Britain is not a signatory.

  Mr. Neubert
  The United Kingdom does not possess any such weapons, nor have we plans to acquire any.

  Service Schools
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the conditions of service and methods of determining pay of locally employed teachers in service schools are being reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Neubert
  The pay and conditions of service of all locally entered staff employed by the MOD overseas are kept under regular review.

  European Defence
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the considerations which have prompted him to decide that the United Kingdom should participate in the European co-operative long-term initiative for defence;

  (2) what benefits will accrue to the United Kingdom from participation in the European co-operative long-term initiative for defence;

  (3) what sums of money have been committed to the European co-operative long-term initiative for defence; and what sums are likely to be committed in the next five years.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much money Her Majesty's Government have committed to the European co-operative long-term initiative for defence; and if he will make a statement;
  122
  (2) when parliamentary approval was given for funding for the European co-operative long-term initiative for defence; under what Vote subhead it appears; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  EUCLID was launched by the Defence Ministers of the Independent European Programme Group in June 1989 to establish a European defence research and technology programme in a number of key areas for the future. Its aim is to improve the value for money from defence research by making more efficient use of the resources available in Europe. This is turn should facilitate co-operation on resulting projects.

  No money has yet been committed by any nation to EUCLID. It is expected that the first detailed collaborative programmes will be agreed in the course of this year. The precise extent of United Kingdom funding will then be determined, and will come from moneys voted for by defence research.

  I refer to the replies given to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 24 July 1989 and to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 14 December 1989.

  laser Weapons
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the laser weapon fitted to HMS Coventry; what is its applicability as a weapon for all services; whether the manufacturer is British; and if he will make a statement about his policy on the introduction of the laser weapon.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Laser dazzle devices have been developed as an additional, non-lethal means of self-defence for Her Majesty's ships. They are supplied by the British company, Irwin-Desman Limited. The Government's aim in equipping Royal Navy ships with such devices is to safeguard the lives of British service men.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's policy on the use by Royal Navy ships of the laser dazzle sight system during naval exercises;

  (2) whether Royal Navy ships have used the laser dazzle sight system during naval exercises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The laser dazzle device is not used by the Royal Navy during naval exercises.

  Weapons (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy as to the use of weapons not officially issued by the Army serving in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Only authorised weapons should be used by the Army in Northern Ireland.

  Captain Fred Holroyd
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will acquire for the library of the Ministry of Defence a copy of the book "War Without Honour" by Fred Holroyd.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A copy is already held in the Ministry of Defence library.
  123
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ascertain from Major-General McGhie the precise contents of the statement referred to in the Adjournment debate on 29 November 1989,Official Report, column 818.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. Major-General McGhie died in 1985.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received concerning a request for a second medical opinion by a doctor, military or civilian, regarding the case of Captain Fred Holroyd, retired.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not aware of any recent representations.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what undertakings have been given to Captain Fred Holroyd (retired) since September 1976 concerning investigation of his allegations relating to events in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not aware of any undischarged undertakings.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been any developments relating to the case of Captain Fred Holroyd following the Adjournment debate on 29 November 1989,Official Report, columns 812–20.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not aware of any.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 9 January,Official Report, column 805, whether a decision on the procurement of a radar for the European fighter aircraft will be made prior to his meeting with the West German Defence Minister.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No. A decision on the choice of radar is a matter for the four participating countries.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the need to maintain sufficient industrial capacity to meet future defence requirements in the procurement plans for the radar for the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In accordance with our procurement policy, the objective of the procurement strategy for the radar for the European fighter aircraft (EFA) has been to obtain a radar which meets the operational requirements of the partner nations at the best possible value for money. We always take into account the availability of suppliers to meet future requirements when assessing the value for money offered by competing bids.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the inclusion of aircraft in the CFE negotiations has had any effect on the procurement plans for the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There has been no change in the declared production offtake of 250 aircraft.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been any changes to the projected in-service date of the European fighter aircraft in the last two years.
  124
  Mr. Alan Clark
  Our aim remains to bring EFA into service in the mid-1990s.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects a decision to be taken on which industrial consortium will be allocated the contract to develop the nose radar for the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I cannot forecast when a decision on the choice of radar might be made; but am anxious for the negotiations to be concluded as soon as possible.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to discuss the development of the European fighter aircraft with the Governments of the other three nations participating in the programme.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My right hon. Friend meets his colleagues in the EFA project at regular intervals in a variety of fora. He expects to meet his German counterpart shortly for discussions on a wide range of issues.

  West German Defence Minister
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his West German counterpart.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My right hon. Friend will be meeting Dr. Stoltenberg shortly for discussions on a wide range of issues.

  Ambulance Duties
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost per Army man hour of deploying the Army on ambulance duties.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 8 January 1990] : I am replying on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Only extra costs directly attributable to the ambulance dispute are reported for recovery from other Government Departments. Such extra costs are not directly related to the number of man hours worked. The estimated extra costs up to 30 November 1989 are £0.85 million.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  New Forest (Hunting)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library(a) copies of the licences to hunt issued by the Forestry Commission for each of the last four years in respect of the New Forest and (b) in respect of each licence a copy of the special list of conditions.

  Mr. Curry
  The documents requested by the hon. Member have today been placed in the Library of the House.

  Bovine Spongiform EncephaIopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the north Yorkshire trading standards department concerning bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
  125
  Mr. Maclean
  None, but my officials met the county trading standards officer for north Yorkshire in his capacity as secretary of the local authorities national animal health panel on 27 October 1989 to discuss various issues concerning BSE and will be meeting him again shortly.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy that have been identified(a) on farms, (b) in slaughterhouses, (c) in auction markets and (d) in other places, by county.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]The information is not available in the form requested. It should be noted that as a result of the measures which my right hon. Friend announced on 8 November, those bovine tissues most susceptible to harbouring the BSE agent must be removed from human consumption for all animals more than six months old. So even if infected animals, or those suffering from pre-clinical infection, find their way to the slaughterhouse, these vulnerable tissues will be removed from them. The total number of cases of BSE in cattle confirmed in each county/region of Great Britain up to 5 January 1990 is set out in the following table (as these figures relate to confirmed cases, they differ from those for reported cases):

  County/Region

  Cases

  Cleveland

  8

  Cumbria

  140

  Durham

  26

  Humberside

  25

  Northumberland

  40

  Tyne and Wear

  1

  Yorkshire North

  272

  Yorkshire South

  13

  Yorkshire West

  24

  Cheshire

  149

  Derbyshire

  102

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  173

  Lancashire

  142

  Leicestershire

  193

  Manchester

  4

  Merseyside

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  47

  Salop

  223

  Staffordshire

  139

  West Midlands

  8

  Warwickshire

  83

  Bedfordshire

  26

  Cambridgeshire

  29

  Essex

  34

  Hertfordshire

  40

  Lincolnshire

  83

  Norfolk

  111

  Northamptonshire

  76

  Suffolk

  102

  Berkshire

  81

  Buckinghamshire

  60

  Hampshire

  403

  Isle of Wight

  57

  Kent

  232

  London

  2

  Oxfordshire

  147

  Surrey

  100

  Sussex East

  119

  Sussex West

  240

  Avon

  145

  Cornwall

  790

  Devon

  1,139

  126

  County/Region

  Cases

  Dorset

  779

  Gloucestershire

  336

  Somerset

  674

  Wiltshire

  563

  Clwyd

  75

  Dyfed

  290

  Glamorgan Mid

  18

  Glamorgan South

  39

  Glamorgan West

  4

  Gwent

  80

  Gwynedd

  33

  Powys

  78

  Borders

  10

  Central

  11

  Dumfries

  42

  Fife

  10

  Grampian

  52

  Highland

  18

  Lothian

  9

  Orkney

  3

  Shetland

  2

  Strathclyde

  67

  Tayside

  22

  Total

  9,048

  In the period 21 June 1988 (when BSE became notifiable) to 30 September 1989 (the most recent date for which information is available), 79 confirmed cases occurred at slaughterhouses and 56 at markets. This information is not available on a county basis.

  Two confirmed cases have occurred at an import lairage in Dorset and five at artificial insemination centres in Devon, Dyfed, East Sussex, North Yorkshire and Somerset.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been notified in each county for each year up to the end of 1989;

  (2) how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been notified each year in each county of the United Kingdom up to the end of 1989;

  (3) if he will list the number of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cases notified for each year up to the end of 1989.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 January 1990]BSE became a notifiable disease in Great Britain on 21 June 1988. The details of suspect cases of BSE notified since then are as follows:

  21 June 1988–31 December 1988

  1 January 1989–31 December 1989

  Cleveland

  2

  11

  Cumbria

  49

  131

  Durham

  4

  26

  Humberside

  10

  32

  Northumberland

  21

  30

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  1

  Yorkshire North

  77

  280

  Yorkshire South

  6

  14

  Yorkshire West

  11

  24

  Cheshire

  38

  152

  Derbyshire

  28

  97

  Hereford and Worcester

  54

  163

  Lancashire

  59

  132

  Leicestershire

  55

  181

  Manchester

  2

  8

  Merseyside

  2

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  8

  51

  Salop

  53

  217

  Staffordshire

  43

  126

  West Midlands

  2

  7

  Warwickshire

  17

  89

  Bedfordshire

  2

  25

  127

  21 June 1988–31 December 1988

  1 January 1989–31 December 1989

  Cambridge

  7

  28

  Essex

  2

  43

  Hertfordshire

  11

  36

  Lincolnshire

  34

  71

  Norfolk

  27

  101

  Northamptonshire

  12

  80

  Suffolk

  31

  86

  Berks

  27

  62

  Bucks

  10

  71

  Hants

  116

  379

  Isle of Wight

  13

  51

  Kent

  55

  205

  London

  0

  5

  Oxon

  53

  139

  Surrey

  39

  81

  Sussex East

  26

  122

  Sussex West

  85

  213

  Avon

  21

  161

  Cornwall

  256

  642

  Devon

  292

  941

  Dorset

  184

  747

  Gloucestershire

  113

  286

  Somerset

  171

  605

  Wiltshire

  158

  561

  England

  2,286

  7,518

  Clwyd

  13

  90

  Dyfed

  67

  273

  Glamorgan Mid

  7

  12

  Glamorgan South

  8

  40

  Glamorgan West

  2

  7

  Gwent

  23

  69

  Gwynedd

  10

  32

  Powys

  24

  94

  Wales

  154

  617

  Borders

  1

  11

  Central

  4

  13

  Dumfries

  17

  53

  Fife

  0

  14

  Grampian

  18

  59

  Highland

  3

  20

  Lothian

  6

  9

  Orkney

  2

  7

  Shetland

  0

  1

  Strathclyde

  16

  87

  Tayside

  10

  31

  Scotland

  77

  305

  Northern Ireland

  4

  54

  Totals

  2,521

  8,494

  1 Became notifiable 29 November 1988.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last discussed with the National Farmers Union compensation payments on cattle suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will increase compensation payments to 75 per cent.

  Mr. Maclean
  I meet representatives of the National Farmers Union frequently to discuss agricultural matters. As regards compensation, we believe that 50 per cent. is fair, given that the animals are terminally ill and worthless for all practical purposes, but are valued as though unaffected by BSE. This means that in many cases owners receive more in compensation than they would get if they were able to sell the animals. One hundred per cent. is paid for animals which are not confirmed as having BSE.

  Organic Produce
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of organic(a) root vegetables, (b) other vegetables, (c) apples, (d) beef and (e) lamb sold in the United Kingdom is satisfied by domestic production.

  Mr. Curry
  This information is not available.

  Enzymes
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what analysis has been conducted to establish the implications for animal welfare of the use of the meat tenderiser papain.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the full statement I made on this matter during the Adjournment debate on 7 November 1989.

  Infected Place Notice
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department, on Lansdowne Farm Ltd., East Retford, Nottinghamshire, what conclusion was reached as to the origin of the group C organisms which were discovered in the liver, ovaries and oviducts but not in the intestines.

  Mr. Maclean
  No conclusion was reached as to the origin of the group C organisms found in the livers, ovaries and oviducts but not in the intestines of the birds taken during the investigation at Lansdowne Farm Ltd.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department on Lansdowne Farm Ltd., East Retford, Nottinghamshire, on what basis birds were selected for slaughter.

  Mr. Maclean
  The birds taken were randomly distributed throughout each house. The birds were selected by a MAFF official of the veterinary investigation service assisted by representatives from Lansdowne Farm Ltd.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department on Lansdowne Farm Ltd. East Retford, Nottinghamshire, the phage type of the enteritidis strain alleged to have been recovered and the serotype of the group C organism recovered.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following is the information:

  (i) The group D isolates were all identified as Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4.

  (ii) he group C isolates were identified as Salmonella infantis.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department on Lansdowne Farm Ltd., East Retford, Nottinghamshire, whether the hen carcases remained in the sacks in which they were placed at the farm; at what temperature they were stored; and whether any other material was stored in the same refrigerator.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following is the information:

  (i) The hen carcases remained in the sealed plastic bags into which they were placed at the farm.

  129

  (ii) They were stored at 8.5 deg C.

  (iii) T other material was stored with the birds.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department on Lansdowne Farm Ltd, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, whether any person who moved the unopened bags to the post mortem room took part in the post mortem procedures; in which room the examinations were carried out and under what circumstances; and whether any other work was carried out in the same room at the same time or immediately before.

  Mr. Maclean
  One person who moved the unopened bags to the post mortem room took part in the post mortem procedures.

  The examinations were carried out in the post mortem room at Sutton Bonington veterinary investigation centre on 8 November 1989. The post mortem room was cleansed and disinfected on 7 November and no work was subsequently carried out in that room until the birds were examined post mortem on the morning of 8 November. Post mortem tables were cleaned and disinfected between each batch of birds examined and fresh sets of gloves and sterile instruments were used to collect and examine samples of different organ types from within each batch.

  The birds were examined on the morning of 8 November and no other work was carried out in the post mortem room at the same time or immediately before these examinations took place.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department on Lansdowne Farm Ltd, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, how many salmonella colonies were examined from each plate subcultured for typing; how many colonies were identified as type D; how many times and over what period the plates were examined; and after how many examinations the group D types were isolated.

  Mr. Maclean
  Not less than three non-lactose fermenting colonies were examined from each plate showing typical salmonella growth characteristics. Four colonies were identified as group D salmonella. Each plate of brilliant green agar was examined twice at 24 and 48 hours after incubation at 37 deg C. Group D salmonellas were isolated from three subcultures at 24 hours and one subculture at 48 hours.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in relation to the issuing of an infected place notice by his Department on Lansdowne Farm Ltd, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, whether the investigation concluded that the group C organism was present.

  Mr. Maclean
  The investigation concluded that group C organisms were present.

  Bovine Animals (Head Meat)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ban the use of head meat from bovine animals whose crania have been opened for the purpose of brain removal.

  Mr. Maclean
  The offal ban prohibits the use of brains for human food but allows meat from bovine heads to be 130
  utilised. It is not my intention to change this policy. Whatever method is used to remove the brain every precaution should be taken, in all circumstances, to avoid cross-contamination of the meat.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the risk of cross-contamination from bovine brains of the use of head meat from bovine animals as a result of abattoir practices.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is incumbent on operators and enforcement authorities at all times to ensure that cross-contamination is avoided from any source during the preparation of meat for human consumption. Brains from adult cattle may not enter the human food chain and the risk of cross-contamination where the crania has been split is extremely small so long as good hygienic practices are followed. The Southwood working party concluded that the risk to humans from BSE is remote.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he gives to environmental health officers about the danger of cross-contamination from animal brains on to other head meat as a result of abattoir practices.

  Mr. Maclean
  My staff are always available to advise environmental health officers on hygienic practices. The advice will depend on the circumstances of the case.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from producers in relation to the policy of environmental health officers from Carrick district council and other authorities in the south-west to prevent the use of head meat from bovine animals whose crania have been opened for the purpose of brain removal.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am not aware of any such representations.

  Lead Contamination Tests
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he hopes to publish the results of the lead contamination tests made on 14 December on calves at Higher Norton farm, East Allington, Totnes, Devon.

  Mr. Maclean
  The results of these tests were made available to the owner of the holding on 5 January.

  Fish Fanning
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if grants for the establishment of fish farming facilities are to be made available through the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.

  Mr. Curry
  Grants for approved fish farming projects, jointly assisted by my Department and the European Commission, may be made under the provisions a Council regulation (EEC) No. 4028/86 on Community measures to improve and adapt structures in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. I shall be writing shortly to the hon. Member about points raised recently by one of his constituents.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest estimates in pound sterling of the annual costs of crop damage in the United Kingdom resulting from sulphur dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Curry
  Such estimates are not available and could not be provided on the basis of existing data. Crop damage due to sulphur dioxide is unlikely to be detectable at current ambient concentrations.

  Coffee
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Director General of Fair Trading has made in investigating the retail price of coffee.

  Mr. Curry
  The investigation is still in progress. We understand that it is proceeding satisfactorily.

  North Sea
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which in 1989 conducted operations to incinerate toxic wastes in the North sea.

  Mr. Curry
  Complete information about other countries' incineration activities in the North sea in 1989 is not yet available. In 1988 waste originating from Austria, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom was incinerated in the North sea.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which in 1989 conducted operations to dump sewage sludge in the North sea.

  Mr. Curry
  Only the United Kingdom dumped sewage sludge in the North sea in 1989. There was no environmentally acceptable land-based disposal option for the sludge. Strict controls were applied to ensure that the disposals met national and international requirements and that no harm was caused to the marine environment.

  Organophosphorous Sheep Dip
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence has been received by his Ministry regarding immune system damage from organophosphorous sheep dip; and what further investigations are now being conducted.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. If any evidence of immune system damage from the use of organophosphorous sheep dips were to come to light, this would have to be fully investigated by Ministry scientists and the independent veterinary products committee, under Medicines Act procedures.

  Lime
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in the United Kingdom during 1988 and 1989 were reported to have 132
  used large quantities of lime for the first time in order to preserve their crops from the effects of increased pH acidity levels in soils; and whether these reports originate from clearly defined geographic areas.

  Mr. Curry
  Data are not available in the form requested. However, ADAS, which has close contact with the situation in the field in England and Wales, has received no reports of farmers using larger than normal quantities of lime for the first time in 1988 or 1989.

  Importation of Bees Order
  Sir Dennis Walters
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Importation of Bees Order 1980 can be retained after the completion of the single market in 1992; and what discussions are taking place within the Community on the future of the order.

  Mr. Curry
  The Commission has proposed that after 1992 national measures on animal health, including bee health, should be replaced by EC controls. The proposals for bees would not, as drafted at present, permit a total ban on imports to the United Kingdom. Discussions are at an early stage, and we shall continue to press for the highest level of safeguard.

  Free Foodstuffs (EC)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the products underused when Economic Community surplus food is made available for free distribution to pensioners in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1988 the United Kingdom's full allocation of produce was taken up under the EC surplus food scheme. All the produce allocated in 1989 had been released from intervention stores and I believe that it will all be used.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the types of food, the quantities ordered and the locations of the distribution of all free foodstuffs received from Economic Community states for free distribution to pensioners in the United Kingdom over the past six months.

  Mr. Curry
  In the six months from July to December 1989 some 1,495 tonnes of beef, and 2,000 tonnes of butter were delivered to designated organisations participating in the EC surplus food scheme in the United Kingdom. The distribution arrangements are a matter for those organisations, but they are required to notify officials of their planned distributions. I will supply details of those notified over the last six months as soon as possible.

  The hon. Member refers to distribution to pensioners, but pensioners as a group are not eligible. Those eligible to receive produce under the current scheme are people on income support or family credit and those living in welfare hostels or who have no fixed abode. Pensioners falling into one or other of these categories are, of course, eligible.

  SOVIET CITIZENS: UK VISAS
  SOVIET CITIZENS: UK VISAS
  NATO: WEAPONS REDUCTION IMPLICATIONS
  NATO: WEAPONS REDUCTION IMPLICATIONS
  MERCENARIES: UN CONVENTION
  MERCENARIES: UN CONVENTION
  HOTELS AND HOSTELS: PLANNING CONTROL REVIEW
  HOTELS AND HOSTELS: PLANNING CONTROL REVIEW
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: SECONDARY RESIDENCES
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: SECONDARY RESIDENCES
  EASTMAN DENTAL HOSPITAL: ACCOMMODATION COSTS
  EASTMAN DENTAL HOSPITAL: ACCOMMODATION COSTS
  BLOOD PRODUCTS
  BLOOD PRODUCTS
  HERBAL, ETC., MEDICINES: PRODUCT LICENSING
  HERBAL, ETC., MEDICINES: PRODUCT LICENSING
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL, STRASBOURG: SOCIAL CHARTER
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL, STRASBOURG: SOCIAL CHARTER
  DRUG SEIZURE STATISTICS 1985–89
  DRUG SEIZURE STATISTICS 1985–89
  THE SINGLE MARKET: RETENTION OF WORKS OF ART
  THE SINGLE MARKET: RETENTION OF WORKS OF ART
  BSE: TYRRELL REPORT
  BSE: TYRRELL REPORT
  CHOCOLATE: RETAIL PRICE
  CHOCOLATE: RETAIL PRICE
  BREATHALYSERS
  BREATHALYSERS
  CHILDREN BORN TO PRISONERS: AFTER-CARE
  CHILDREN BORN TO PRISONERS: AFTER-CARE
  "CRACK": SEIZURES
  "CRACK": SEIZURES
  FOREIGN NATIONALS: PAROLE ELIGIBILITY
  FOREIGN NATIONALS: PAROLE ELIGIBILITY
  ELECTRICITY GENERATION COSTS
  ELECTRICITY GENERATION COSTS
  SCOTLAND: CRIMINAL LAW PROCEDURE
  SCOTLAND: CRIMINAL LAW PROCEDURE
  KINCRAIG REPORT
  KINCRAIG REPORT