Written Answers of 25 January 1990

TRANSPORT

  Dock Workers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former registered dock workers have been made redundant on a port-by-port basis since the abolition of the dock labour scheme; how much the Government have contributed to the redundancy payments; how many of these redundancies are because firms went into liquidation and how many through shedding of labour; how many stevedoring firms have gone into liquidation and where; what is his estimate of the cost of further redundancies on both these bases still to come; and if he will make a statement on the liquidations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Total Government expenditure to date on compensation under the Dock Work Act 1989 is £84·5 million, of which £27·7 million relates to employees of firms which became insolvent. I am not able to forecast the numbers of redundancies or any insolvencies during the remaining period of the compensation scheme, but over 90 per cent, of the claims so far received were in the first three months since the scheme started in July. The table shows redundancies in each port.

  Port

  Total redundancies

  Number of employers who became insolvent

  Resulting redundancies (including in first column)

  Aberdeen

  149

  2

  149

  Ardrossan

  15

  —

  —

  Ayr

  14

  —

  —

  Barry

  21

  —

  —

  Bristol

  62

  —

  —

  Blyth

  32

  —

  —

  Boston

  28

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  160

  —

  —

  Charlestown

  1

  —

  —

  Clyde

  108

  —

  —

  Dundee

  95

  1

  95

  Falmouth

  7

  —

  —

  Fleetwood

  44

  —

  —

  Forth

  152

  —

  —

  Fowey

  44

  —

  —

  Garston

  108

  1

  29

  Goole

  78

  —

  —

  Grimsby and Immingham

  511

  3

  374

  Great Yarmouth

  101

  1

  101

  Hull

  314

  —

  —

  Ipswich

  50

  —

  —

  Kings Lynn

  41

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  402

  1

  69

  London

  748

  1

  40

  Lowestoft

  27

  —

  —

  Manchester

  116

  —

  —

  Medway

  42

  —

  —

  Newport

  84

  —

  —

  Par

  28

  —

  —

  Penzance

  7

  —

  —

  Plymouth

  16

  —

  —

  Port Talbot

  4

  —

  —

  Seaham

  10

  —

  —

  776

  Port

  Total redundancies

  Number of employers who became insolvent

  Resulting redundancies (including in first column)

  Sharpness

  2

  —

  —

  Silloth

  1

  —

  —

  Southampton

  250

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  31

  —

  —

  Swansea

  79

  —

  —

  Tees and Hartlepool

  252

  —

  —

  Tyne

  59

  —

  —

  Weymouth

  4

  —

  —

  Wisbech

  11

  1

  11

  Workington

  10

  —

  —

  4,318

  11

  868

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) body and (b) persons are responsible for listing, collating or co-ordinating the proposals and programmes of major road maintenance on main traffic routes in Greater London; what public notification is given of such works; and if he will consider publishing maps at monthly intervals, showing known works and temporary traffic diversions.

  Mr. Atkins
  The programming and publicity arrangements for road maintenance works are the responsibility of the highway authority concerned. In the case of trunk roads, the Department announces its annual programme of major schemes shortly before the start of each financial year and publishes maps indicating the location and likely timing of schemes. The Department provides details of planned major lane closures likely to involve delays to road users in fortnightly bulletins, which are circulated to the media and others.

  Light Dues
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been paid in light dues to the general lighthouse fund in each of the past four years, specifying the amounts paid by the different types of vessels.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Light dues income to the general lighthouse fund was £42·34 million in 1985–86, £48·75 million in 1986–87, £56·14 million in 1987–88 and £50·2 million (provisional) in 1988–89. An analysis of dues collected by different types of vessel is only available for 1985–86 and 1988–89.

  1985–86

  1988–89

  Tankers (Oil)

  13,308,897

  13,743,034

  Tankers (Other)

  1,585,544

  2,781,020

  General Cargo

  8,449,257

  10,493,157

  Bulk Carriers

  4,733,613

  6,103,137

  Container Ships

  10,529,134

  13,466,394

  Passenger (including cruise)

  549,922

  595,784

  Ferries

  461,715

  716,574

  Towed

  12,052

  40,735

  Pleasure (over 20 NRT)

  2,421

  1,003

  Yachts (over 20 NRT)

  12,153

  15,325

  Tugs

  9,299

  7,825

  Fishing Vessels

  —

  447,361

  Other

  2,842,889

  2,717,434

  777
  The analyses by vessel type are cash received figures uncorrected for repayments and other accounting adjustments, and therefore differ in total from the total income figures shown above taken from the GLF accounts.

  Near Miss
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the near miss involving an RAF Tornado and flight BA 5950 on Friday 19 January.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The incident took place at 13.30 hours, approximately five miles west of Barnard Castle, Yorkshire.

  The BA5950 was en route from Heathrow to Newcastle at 12,500 ft and was receiving a radar advisory service from Pennine radar at Manchester. No avoiding action was taken and the Tornado aircraft passed 800 ft below the British Airways aircraft.

  The circumstances surrounding the incident will be fully investigated by the independent joint air miss working group.

  Viking Trader
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of his inspectors' visit to the Viking Trader at Fleetwood in the week beginning 15 January.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A Department of Transport marine surveyor attended the Viking Trader on 19 January to investigate concerns that had been expressed about one of the securing pins holding the bow visor. Temporary securing arrangements were made to the surveyor's satisfaction, and the vessel allowed to sail. It is understood that the visor has now been welded permanently closed.

  A1
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the Al southbound carriageway was closed on the afternoon of 22 January south of the A605 interchange; what advance warning was given to the radio networks and motorists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The southbound carriageway was closed to deal with a chemical spillage from an overturned heavy goods vehicle. The closure lasted for three hours, during which a diversionary route was set up by the police. Local radio stations were informed.

  Methanol
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of whether there will be a market for methanol as a fuel for cars in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]There is no natural market for methanol in the United Kingdom because of its high production costs and the lack of any manufacturing or distribution infrastructure. When substituted for petrol or diesel, methanol's attractive clean burning properties may be offset by problems such as:

  the toxic effects of methanol itself;

  relatively high tailpipe emissions of formaldehyde;

  its low energy density;

  its corrosive properties; and

  its cold starting difficulties, unless conventional petrol is used as an additive.

  778
  These problems will need to be overcome before a significant market for methanol-fuelled vehicles is likely to develop.

  Clean Fuel
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to introduce clean fuel technology in the United Kingdom similar to the legislation proposed by President Bush in the United States of America.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]The main thrust of President Bush's proposals is to secure further reductions in the emission of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and the oxides of nitrogen in those areas of the United States of America that are failing to meet air quality standards.

  Regulation on vehicle emissions in the United Kingdom requires agreement in the European Community, and we have played an active role in developing new standards.

  From 1992, three-way catalysts will have to be fitted to virtually all new cars.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rent and Rate Arrears (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the present level of(a) rent arrears and (b) rate arrears owed to Lambeth borough council.

  Mr. Chope
  The arrears of rent reported by Lambeth borough council on its housing subsidy claim return at the end of March 1989 were £17·5 million.

  Local authorities report rate arrears to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and these are published in "Rate Collection Statistics". The latest reported figure for Lambeth shows rate arrears of £33·3 million at the end of March 1986.

  Authorities have a statutory duty to make their accounts within six months and to publish them within nine months of the end of the financial year; Lambeth borough council has not yet published accounts for the years 1986–87 to 1988–89. For the latest position on arrears I would therefore refer the hon. Member to the chief executive.

  Humberside
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and Wales regarding the possibility of abolishing the county of Humberside.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The commission was directed to carry out the further review of Humberside by the end of January 1990 if possible. Its programme of work is, however, for it to determine with the resources at its disposal, and I understand that the review is not expected to be completed before late spring. I regret that I cannot at present give a firmer forecast.
  779

  Dogs
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the registration of dogs during 1989.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave him on Wednesday 13 December 1989 at column 721.

  London Authorities (Accounts)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which London authorities in each of the last complete financial years have been unable to file unqualified audited accounts with his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities are not required to file their statement of accounts with the Department.

  Glis glis
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions his Department has issued licences to trap glis glis during each of the last five years; under what circumstances and to whom such licences were issued; how many animals were taken; and what conditions he imposed on the handling and disposal of the trapped animals.

  Mr. Trippier
  Licences to trap glis glis have been issued on two occasions to the seven local authorities within whose boundaries the species occurs. The first licence ran from June 1987 to February 1988 and the current one from March 1989 to February 1991. These licences were issued for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety or preventing serious damage to property. A total of 102 animals were taken under the first licence; figures for the numbers taken in the first year of the second licence will be available shortly. The current licence is subject to specific conditions which were introduced following consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council. One of these obliges the licensee to send a written report to the Secretary of State detailing numbers of animals taken and killed, numbers taken and released elsewhere, if any, numbers taken and disposed of in another manner, to be specified; the type of trap or traps used; the particular circumstances that justified the taking of the animals.

  Privately Rented Housing
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Acts of Parliament since 1960 and their dates of implementation which relate to the operation of the privately rented housing market.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is given in the table. In some cases the commencement date refers only to the relevant part or parts of the Act.

  Act

  Commencement Date

  Protection from Eviction Act 1964

  17 December 1964

  Rent Act 1965

  8 December 1965

  Rent Act 1968

  8 June 1968 (consolidation Act)

  Housing Act 1969

  25 August 1969

  Rent (Control of Increases) Act 1969

  1 January 1970

  Housing (Finance) Act 1972

  10 August 1972

  Counter-Inflation Act 1973

  22 March 1973

  Furnished Lettings (Rent Allowances) Act 1973

  29 April 1973

  780

  Act

  Commencement Date

  Rent Act 1974

  14 August 1974

  Housing Rents & Subsidies Act 1975

  11 March 1975

  Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976

  1 January 1977

  Protection from Eviction Act 1977

  29 August 1977 (consolidation Act)

  Rent Act 1977

  29 August 1977 (consolidation Act)

  Housing Act 1980

  28 November 1980

  Rent (Amendment) Act 1985

  23 May 1985

  Housing Act 1988

  15 January 1989

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the standard spending assessment for Ashfield district council, Nottinghamshire, was arrived at.

  Mr. Chope
  The standard spending assessment for Ashfield district council was calculated according to formulae set out in the revenue support grant distribution report (England) approved by the House of Commons on 18 January.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice has been given to employers about their responsibility for collecting cash from poll tax defaulters.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]Attachment of earnings is one of the remedies available to a charging authority that has obtained a liability order from a magistrates court in respect of an individual who has failed to pay the community charge. The attachment order served on employers will contain all the information necessary for the correct deductions to be made. Community charge practice note No. 15 contains a model form of attachment order and explanatory notes which a local authority may use in correspondence with individual employers. Employers will be entitled to deduct £1 towards their administrative expenses each time an attachment is made.

  County Councils
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to abolish county councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None.

  Rateable Values
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the rules by which valuation officers arrive at the rateable value of manufacturing, commercial and retail premises.

  Mr. Chope
  The principles of rating valuation, which govern assessments made by the valuation officer, are set out in schedule 6 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988, and are supplemented by a number of regulations and orders made under that schedule. Apart from these provisions, there are no rules for the assessment of any class of property.
  781

  OMNIPAC
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter from the Manufacturing, Science and Finance trade union of 12 September 1989 on the subject of OMNIPAC.

  Mr. Trippier
  I can find no trace of the letter. If the Manufacturing, Science and Finance trade union would be kind enough to send me a further copy of its letter, I will ensure that it receives a reply.

  Dangerous Wastes
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to revise the controls on dangerous and difficult wastes.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have today published a consultation paper which reviews the operation of the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980, No. 1709) and sets out the changes that the Government propose to make to strengthen and improve the controls applied to dangerous and difficult waste.

  The proposals made in the consultation paper are complementary to the measures on waste disposal included in the Environmental Protection Bill. However, they are designed to deal with those wastes that are particularly dangerous or difficult to dispose of and for which special provision is required. We have carried out a fundamental review of the 1980 regulations. The starting point of the review was the announcement in December 1985 of our conclusions on the report of the joint review committee. We have subsequently taken account of the proposal for a directive on hazardous waste which the European Commission published in July 1988 to supersede the existing directive on toxic and dangerous waste (78/319/EEC); complementary work on the definition of hazardous waste carried out by the OECD; and the definition of such waste contained in the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal which the Government signed on 6 October 1989.

  The changes proposed in the consultation paper include:

  (a) a new, broader definition of special waste. In future, special waste will be denned by reference to eleven characteristic properties and will explicitly include substances which present an immediate, delayed or accumulative risk to the environment as well as those harmful to human health. It will also include clinical waste;

  (b) a requirement that before special waste is removed from the producer's premises there must be a contract which ensures its disposal at an appropriately licensed site;

  (c) a requirement on disposal authorities to recover a reasonable charge for consignment note forms, including the cost to authorities of administering and monitoring the operation of the consignment note system;

  (d) a prohibition on disposers accepting special waste unless they have contracted to do so and have a licence which authorises its disposal. On rejection of a consignment the carrier will be required to return it without undue delay to the person from whom he collected it;

  (e) a prohibition on carriers mixing different consignments of special waste and from mixing special waste with non-special waste. Disposers will also be prohibited from mixing special waste with non-special waste except for the purpose of improving safety during disposal or ensuring that it is disposed of without causing danger to public health, serious detriment to local amenities or risk to the environment; and

  (f) a requirement on disposal authorities to keep a public register of consignment notes for each licensed site in their
  782
  area. Safeguards will be provided to prevent the disclosure of information which would prejudice to an unreasonable degree the producer's commercial interests.

  The Government are committed to improving standards in waste management and disposal. These proposals are specifically designed to ensure that dangerous and difficult waste is managed and disposed of safely, without endangering human health or harming the environment. I am arranging for copies of the consultation paper to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions during the past 10 years discharges(a) to the air and (b) to water from the Sellafield nuclear complex have been found to exceed maximum permissible limits; what is the frequency of official inspections; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  During the past 10 years there have been no occasions recorded when radioactive discharges to the air, or to water, from the Sellafield nuclear complex have been found to exceed maximum permissible limits. Other discharges to air are subject to the requirement that the best practicable means are used to prevent emissions and are not subject to maximum permissible limits. Other discharges to water are the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority. Currently HMIP inspectors spend an average of about five man days per month on the Sellafield site.

  Turton Report
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will now declassify the Turton report on the Crown Suppliers; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library;

  (2) what criteria are used for classifying Government documents; and how these were applied in the case of the Turton report on the Crown Suppliers.

  Mr. Chope
  Government documents are given a security classification if unauthorised disclosure would damage the interests of the nation. The Cabinet Office review team's report of September 1985 on the future of the Crown Suppliers was not classified. It did, however, contain commercially sensitive information and other sensitive material given to the review team in confidence. The trade unions were consulted on the report, excluding only such sensitive material, in December 1985. It is not usual for officials' advice to Ministers to be disclosed. I, therefore, see no reason to change the decision taken by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) not to publish it more widely; nor do I propose to place a copy in the Library.

  Local Government Superannuation Schemes
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis it is now proposed that the cost of pensions increases should be transferred to the local government superannuation funds in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Local Government announced on 24 April 1989 that he proposed, subject to consultation with the relevant local government interests, to transfer the cost of pensions increases to the local government superannuation funds as from 1 April 1990 on the basis that the
  783
  present requirement that they should be in a position to meet all foreseeable future liabilities in respect of basic pensions only should be replaced by a provision that they should be able at any point in time to meet three quarters of a combined liability for basic pensions and pensions increases. He estimated that on that basis most local authorities in England and Wales would be able to reduce their overall annual expenditure on superannuation by about £6 per head of adult population.

  Local government interests have made representations to the effect that it may be appropriate for the funds to be required to meet a rather higher proportion of their new combined liability at any one time. I have come to the conclusion, however, that a 75 per cent, rate of funding would be entirely prudential, as explained by my right hon. Friend, and would minimise the number of authorities who were required to increase expenditure on superannuation in consequence of the transfer of responsibility for payment of pensions increases to the funds.

  I shall, however, keep the level of liabilities that funds are required to be in a position to meet under review, with a view to increasing it in future years as such increases become appropriate.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the results of the survey of bathing water quality made in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The results for the survey carried out during the 1989 bathing season showed that 76 per cent, of the 401 identified bathing waters in England and Wales met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC bathing water directive. This compares with 66 per cent, of the 364 identified bathing waters in 1988.

  These figures are encouraging, though some of the improvement is no doubt attributable to the good weather last year. Nevertheless, the results show that we are continuing to make good progress in cleaning up our bathing waters. We have already announced a £1·4 billion capital investment programme over the next 10 years as a result of which we expect over 95 per cent, of our bathing waters to meet the directive's standards by the mid-1990s and to achieve full compliance within 10 years.

  The 1989 results for England and Wales are set out in the table in summary form. I shall arrange for a more detailed summary of the results to be placed in the Library, and we shall also be sending the results to the Commission of the European Communities.

  Bathing Waters Survey—1989 Results for England and Wales Compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC):

  COLIFORM STANDARDS

  Pass

  Fail

  Total

  Northumbrian Region

  20

  12

  32

  Yorkshire Region

  18

  4

  22

  Anglian Region

  23

  5

  28

  Thames Region

  3

  0

  3

  Southern Region

  45

  20

  65

  Wessex Region (South Coast)

  25

  2

  27

  South West Region

  113

  19

  132

  Wessex Region (Bristol Channel)

  6

  5

  11

  Welsh Region

  40

  8

  48

  North West Region

  11

  22

  33

  Totals

  304

  97

  401

  784

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will give the location of the landfill sites officially described as poor by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in its evidence to the House of Commons Environment Select Committee inquiry into toxic waste, HC22 1988–89.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 January 1990]The responsibility for enforcing landfill site licences rests with the waste disposal authority. The HMIP monitors the performance of waste disposal authorities, which includes visiting a selection of sites. In view of the historical nature of much of the information, it would be neither fair nor helpful to give the locations of those previously listed as "poor".

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Student Loans
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received from banks on the subject of student loans.

  Mr. Jackson
  None.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much the establishment of the headquarters of the Student Loans Company in Glasgow will cost the Government.

  Mr. Jackson
  The terms of the lease required by the Student Loans Company are commercially confidential. If asked to reveal the terms in confidence by the National Audit Office or the Public Accounts Committee, we shall of course do so. The rent payable is within the terms of the departmental minute laid before the House on 22 November.

  Teacher Training Places
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teacher training places there will be this autumn; how many applicants there are so far; and what were the comparable figures in previous years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  A total of 23,244 places have been allocated to teacher training institutions in England and Wales for 1990. Equivalent target intake allocations for 1986 to 1989 were 18,613, 19,637, 20,509 and 21,187 respectively.

  Data on applications are collected by the Central Register and Clearing House Ltd. and 40,325 applications for teaching places in 1990 were recorded at mid-January. Figures for 1986 to 1989 are not comparable with current figures. They no longer include applications to 19 institutions that now recruit through UCCA. The basis for the collection of data has also changed. However, the figures at mid-January for 1986 to 1989 were 20,839, 22,019, 20,532 and 36,314 respectively.

  Teachers'Pay
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to change the principles upon which teachers are remunerated; and if he will make a statement.
  785
  Mrs. Rumbold
  No.

  Homosexuality
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the Government's current policy with regard to teaching about homosexuality in sex education lessons in schools.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Guidance on teaching about homosexuality in maintained schools in England is provided in the Department's circular 11/87 which was issued to all such schools in England in September 1987. A copy of the circular is in the Library.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how long schools will have to adapt to their new budgets under the LMS system.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Circular 7/88 on LMS provides for the budgets of county and voluntary schools generally to be determined entirely by their LEA's formula by 1 April 1994 where schemes will have been introduced on 1 April 1990. LEAs may propose a longer transitional period for individual schools with particularly high staff costs.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many OECD member countries provide full cost-of-living student grants and free tuition to all first degree students.

  Mr. Jackson
  None. The analysis in annex C of the White Paper "Top-up Loans for Students" showed that, by international standards, the British system is generous in the level of the grant after means-testing, in the proportion of higher education students provided for, and in including free tuition. No other country attempts to provide support at this level to such a high proportion of these students.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take to deal with concern about key stage 4 of the national curriculum.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am today inviting the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council to undertake a number of tasks designed to help secondary schools accommodate the curricular needs of pupils in the last two years of compulsory education. I am also today setting out in a speech to the Society of Education Officers the flexibility which will be available to schools in planning the curriculum in these years. A copy of the speech has been placed in the Library and the texts of the letters are as follows:

  Duncan G. Graham, Esq. CBE

  Chairman and Chief Executive

  National Curriculum Council

  15–17 New Street

  York YO1 2RA

  25 January 1990

  Dear Duncan,
  In my speech today to the Society of Education Officers I am making a statement of general policy on Key Stage 4 in the
  786
  National Curriculum. I enclose a copy of the speech. I recognise that the education service has had a number of anxieties about Key Stage 4 which need to be addressed now. What I have to say benefits from useful advice which I have received from you and your colleagues and from the School Examination and Assessment Council.
  Much of the planning for Key Stage 4 needs to be carried out by individual schools, using the various flexibilities that I am describing in my speech. But there is also preparatory work to be done at the centre, and I hereby invite NCC to undertake some of that work. I am writing similarly to Philip Halsey about the work that I want SEAC to undertake, and I expect your two Councils to keep in touch with each other and with my officials in carrying out the work.
  The tasks that I wish NCC to undertake are threefold. First, I believe that it would be of value to schools to have illustrations of curriculum planning for Key Stage 4. Schools must make their own planning decisions, but it would help them to see various possibilities illustrated in a booklet. It would be especially valuable to give examples of planning based on the thinking of actual schools. I ask NCC to work on a draft booklet with the aim that it should be published in the Summer of this year.
  The second task concerns the curriculum for pupils who will not take a full GCSE course in non-core foundation subjects of the National Curriculum. I suggested in my response to the interim report of the Geography Working Groupt that the Group might consider how schools might be enabled to select a range of content, still within the statutory requirements, from the full curriculum for Key Stage 4, so as to preserve the depth, vigour and challenge of geographical studies up to age 16. I now confirm my view that schools should be able to select from a range of options for pupils who do not take a full GCSE course in single National Curriculum subjects, and that there should be scope for schools to combine these options, or parts of them, with each other or with subjects outside the National Curriculum to form a GCSE course.
  The draft attainment targets and programmes of study for technology are, I believe, flexible enough to accommodate a range of courses at Key Stage 4 and to be combined with other subjects inside and outside the National Curriculum for GCSE purposes. I ask NCC to give attention to these possibilities in writing non-statutory guidance for technology. For all future foundation subjects, I shall ask NCC to give particular attention during the statutory consultation process to the arrangements for those not taking a full GCSE course in the subject at Key Stage 4.
  You will see from my letter to Philip Halsey that I expect Examining Groups to develop proposals for combined GCSEs and submit them to SEAC; and that SEAC will need to work out procedures to ensure that such GCSEs are rigorous and conform to the requirements of the National Curriculum where appropriate. I should be glad to know, however, if you feel NCC can make any further contribution in this area in addition to relevant material in non-statutory guidance on particular subjects.
  I am considering the arrangements that might be made to allow a small number of pupils, exceptionally, to drop certain subjects before the end of Key Stage 4. I do not intend, however, that any pupils shall be able to drop English, maths, science, technology, and a modern foreign language.
  Arrangements will be needed for pupils who obtain a good GCSE in one or more of these subjects before the end of Year 11, or who have already reached level 10, and remain in Key Stage 4. You have given me some preliminary thoughts on this in relation to the core subjects, but you then noted that more work needed to be done. I now ask NCC, in consultation with SEAC, to advise me on the curricular options and associated examination arrangemens that should be available for such pupils. I would like this advice by September of this year. For modern foreign languages I expect advice in the first place from the Working Group which is now considering attainment targets and programmes of study for modern languages in the National Curriculum.
  I am copying this letter to Philip Halsey at SEAC and Hywel Evans at the Curriculum Council for Wales.
  Yours sincerely, John MacGregor
  787

  Philip Halsey Esq. CB LVO

  Chairman and Chief Executive

  School Examinations and Assessment Council

  45 Notting Hill Gate

  London W 1 1 3JB

  25 January 1990

  Dear Philip,
  In my speech today to the Society of Education Officers I am making a statement of general policy on Key Stage 4 in the National Curriculum. I enclose a copy of the speech. I recognise that the education service has had a number of anxieties about Key Stage 4 which need to be addressed now. What I have to say benefits from useful advice which I have received from you and your colleagues and from NCC.
  Much of the planning for Key Stage 4 needs to be carried out by individual schools, using the various flexibilities that I am describing in my speech. But there is also preparatory work to be done at the centre, and I hereby invite SEAC to undertake some of that work. I am writing similarly to Duncan Graham about the work that I want NCC to undertake, and I expect your two Councils to keep in close touch with each other and with my officials in carrying out the work.
  I am reaffirming today that there should be a single framework of assessment with 10 levels of achievement on the National Curriculum scale for all pupils; and that at the end of Key stage 4 the GCSE will be the main form of assessment. SEAC already have work in train to develop revised GCSE National Criteria embodying the statutory attainment targets and programmes of study for the core subjects; and new GCSEs will similarly need to be developed against revised National Criteria for each of the other foundation subjects. I would hope that the revised assessment instruments thus developed could also be used to assess attainment against the National Curriculum levels within a narrower range of knowledge, skills and understanding than required to obtain a full GCSE.
  But I am also concerned that there should be flexibility in the development of GCSEs that combine parts of two, or conceivably more, foundation subjects, or that combine a foundation subject with a subject outside the National Curriculum. It will be for Examining Groups, with LEAs and schools, to develop proposals for such GCSEs and submit them to SEAC. But I would like to be assured that there will be machinery in place to scrutinise such proposals carefully, and to consider their curricular implications. Such GCSEs will need to be rigorous and to confirm where appropriate to the requirements of the National Curriculum. I ask SEAC to work out procedures for their consideration, in consultation with NCC, and to report to me by the end of this year.
  I am also declaring today that I expect the vocational examining bodies to be able to submit for approval qualifications covering parts of the National Curriculum. I ask SEAC to work out principles for the guidance of the vocational examining bodies, consulting NCC, and to report to me on this also by the end of the year.
  I am copying this letter to Duncan Graham.

  Full-time mainscale teachers in MNPS in 1988 by LEA and Incentive allowance

  Incentive Allowances

  Total with allowance

  All main scale teachers

  Per cent. with allowance

  None

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  Barking

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Barnet

  1,317

  61

  402

  3

  192

  65

  723

  2,040

  35

  Bexley

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Brent

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Bromley

  826

  48

  425

  14

  203

  71

  761

  1,587

  48

  Croydon

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Ealing

  1,240

  35

  392

  —

  176

  47

  650

  1,890

  34

  Enfield

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Haringey

  1,039

  1

  285

  3

  165

  43

  497

  1,536

  32

  Harrow

  680

  53

  289

  5

  84

  35

  466

  1,146

  41

  Havering

  1,033

  47

  412

  6

  189

  36

  690

  1,723

  40

  Hillingdon

  757

  42

  392

  10

  192

  45

  681

  1,438

  47

  Hounslow

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Kingston

  497

  30

  186

  3

  85

  25

  329

  826

  40

  Merton

  434

  145

  262

  6

  128

  7

  548

  982

  56

  Newham

  672

  140

  442

  5

  152

  59

  798

  1,470

  54

  Redbridge

  787

  56

  354

  7

  129

  41

  587

  1,374

  43

  Richmond

  489

  27

  140

  1

  55

  25

  248

  737

  34

  788
  Yours sincerely, John MacGregor

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will be writing to the School Examinations and Assessment Council and the Curriculum Council for Wales shortly about the involvement of the CCW in this work.

  Civil Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 11 January, column 693, if the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament document (CND-5), was amongst the deemed relevant information to which he refers.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department is well aware of the views expressed in CND-5. The creation of a civil plutonium safeguards agency would merely duplicate the existing arrangements which are working satisfactorily.

  Incentive Allowances
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Woolwich of 20 December,Official Report, column 253, in March 1988 and March 1989 how many teachers were employed by each local authority in England; how many teachers were in receipt of an incentive allowance for each local authority in England; what percentage this was of the total employed by each local authority; and how many teachers in receipt of an incentive allowance in each local authority in England held allowances that were (a) incentive A, (b) incentive B, (c) incentive C, (d) incentive D and (e) incentive E.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 16 January 1990]The table shows for each LEA in England for which figures are available the numbers and percentages of full-time main scale teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools (MNPS) who held an incentive allowance in March 1988. There are 17 authorities from whom the March 1988 return has not yet been received or whose return has not been fully processed. The England total includes an overall estimated component for the missing authorities. Similar figures are not yet available for March 1989.
  789

  Incentive Allowances

  Total with allowance

  All main scale teachers

  Per cent. with allowance

  None

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  Sutton

  519

  37

  224

  19

  109

  44

  433

  952

  45

  Waltham Forest

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  ILEA

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Birmingham

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Coventry

  1,478

  6

  477

  6

  285

  78

  852

  2,330

  37

  Dudley

  1,327

  133

  512

  18

  192

  67

  922

  2,249

  41

  Sandwell

  1,542

  73

  548

  7

  238

  71

  937

  2,479

  38

  Solihull

  873

  102

  372

  10

  162

  27

  673

  1,546

  44

  Walsall

  1,510

  129

  528

  5

  203

  59

  924

  2,434

  38

  Wolverhampton

  1,345

  108

  435

  10

  171

  66

  790

  2,135

  37

  Knowsley

  829

  69

  303

  3

  143

  35

  553

  1,382

  40

  Liverpool

  2,261

  6

  1,013

  8

  417

  113

  1,557

  3,818

  41

  St. Helens

  986

  45

  317

  2

  99

  43

  506

  1,492

  34

  Sefton

  1,158

  104

  436

  12

  204

  44

  800

  1,958

  41

  Wirral

  1,395

  125

  527

  1

  236

  80

  969

  2,364

  41

  Bolton

  1,379

  99

  348

  24

  141

  59

  671

  2,050

  33

  Bury

  766

  65

  233

  5

  113

  23

  439

  1,205

  36

  Manchester

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Oldham

  1,270

  126

  290

  1

  114

  15

  546

  1,816

  30

  Rochdale

  1,278

  3

  371

  4

  113

  24

  515

  1,793

  29

  Salford

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Stockport

  1,296

  150

  373

  2

  157

  42

  724

  2,020

  36

  Tameside

  1,136

  5

  293

  —

  123

  47

  468

  1,604

  29

  Trafford

  771

  93

  308

  3

  98

  30

  532

  1,303

  41

  Wigan

  1,874

  6

  548

  2

  201

  59

  816

  2,690

  30

  Barnsley

  1,188

  49

  261

  1

  136

  31

  478

  1,666

  29

  Doncaster

  1,576

  12

  412

  5

  186

  66

  681

  2,257

  30

  Rotherham

  1,368

  126

  330

  5

  184

  48

  693

  2,061

  34

  Sheffield

  2,084

  51

  1,049

  13

  383

  70

  1,566

  3,650

  43

  Bradford

  2,835

  117

  709

  2

  324

  65

  1,217

  4,052

  30

  Calderdale

  912

  20

  343

  4

  144

  36

  547

  1,459

  37

  Kirklees

  1,989

  178

  532

  16

  219

  46

  991

  2,980

  33

  Leeds

  3,087

  171

  1,358

  16

  569

  90

  2,204

  5,291

  42

  Wakefield

  1,568

  47

  414

  2

  211

  35

  709

  2,277

  31

  Gateshead

  937

  78

  298

  1

  112

  33

  522

  1,459

  36

  Newcastle

  1,330

  111

  460

  5

  193

  39

  808

  2,138

  38

  North Tyneside

  1,203

  80

  279

  —

  130

  19

  508

  1,711

  30

  South Tyneside

  853

  47

  227

  —

  102

  25

  401

  1,254

  32

  Sunderland

  1,501

  171

  502

  9

  188

  51

  921

  2,422

  38

  Avon

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Bedfordshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Berkshire

  2,760

  251

  1,062

  7

  377

  74

  1,771

  4,531

  39

  Buckinghamshire

  2,404

  191

  939

  8

  355

  82

  1,575

  3,979

  40

  Cambridgeshire

  2,610

  239

  803

  —

  382

  90

  1,514

  4,124

  37

  Cheshire

  3,982

  116

  1,436

  40

  635

  218

  2,445

  6,427

  38

  Cleveland

  3,027

  189

  929

  21

  391

  41

  1,571

  4,598

  34

  Cornwall

  1,829

  179

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1,003

  2,832

  35

  Cumbria

  2,131

  219

  655

  12

  242

  17

  1,145

  3,276

  35

  Derbyshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Devon

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Dorset

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Durham

  2,946

  101

  691

  2

  270

  126

  1,190

  4,136

  29

  East Sussex

  2,268

  90

  693

  5

  333

  62

  1,183

  3,451

  34

  Essex

  5,816

  543

  2,157

  16

  800

  287

  3,803

  9,619

  40

  Gloucestershire

  1,977

  229

  657

  11

  340

  31

  1,268

  3,245

  39

  Hampshire

  5,649

  538

  1,955

  17

  1,011

  88

  3,609

  9,258

  39

  Hereford

  2,502

  291

  1,005

  16

  336

  104

  1,752

  4,254

  41

  Hertfordshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Humberside

  3,912

  200

  1,600

  10

  526

  129

  2,465

  6,377

  39

  Isle of Wight

  436

  56

  165

  6

  60

  17

  304

  740

  41

  Kent

  5,281

  567

  2,248

  33

  891

  280

  4,019

  9,300

  43

  Lancashire

  6,110

  453

  1,850

  4

  778

  156

  3,241

  9,351

  35

  Leicestershire

  4,076

  119

  1,693

  23

  555

  128

  2,518

  6,594

  38

  Lincolnshire

  2,126

  112

  836

  10

  271

  51

  1,280

  3,406

  38

  Norfolk

  2,791

  164

  960

  9

  345

  54

  1,532

  4,323

  35

  North Yorkshire

  2,614

  295

  926

  25

  351

  89

  1,686

  4,300

  39

  Northampton

  2,644

  136

  960

  4

  407

  132

  1,639

  4,283

  38

  Northumberland

  1,359

  144

  420

  21

  174

  37

  796

  2,155

  37

  Nottinghamshire

  4,445

  266

  1,613

  11

  693

  126

  2,709

  7,154

  38

  Oxfordshire

  1,796

  151

  737

  25

  341

  79

  1,333

  3,129

  43

  Salop

  1,857

  1

  602

  6

  349

  25

  983

  2,840

  35

  Somerset

  1,440

  287

  612

  53

  229

  34

  1,215

  2,655

  46

  Staffordshire

  4,028

  317

  1,840

  10

  641

  175

  2,983

  7,011

  43

  Suffolk

  2,446

  205

  953

  11

  287

  77

  1,533

  3,979

  39

  Surrey

  3,185

  360

  938

  10

  562

  112

  1,982

  5,167

  38

  Warwickshire

  1,702

  168

  787

  10

  335

  48

  1,348

  3,050

  44

  790 791

  Incentive Allowances

  Total with allowance

  All main scale teachers

  Per cent. with allowance

  None

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  West Sussex

  2,475

  288

  707

  6

  334

  87

  1,422

  3,897

  36

  Wiltshire

  2,184

  137

  669

  49

  306

  59

  1,220

  3,404

  36

  England

  198,000

  14,100

  70,000

  1,000

  29,400

  7,000

  121,500

  320,000

  38

  1— Incomplete return for March 1988.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the table on surplus school places given in the answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn,Official Report, 16 February 1989, column 319, with the latest available information for 1988–89, and any estimate for 1989–90.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]I presume that the hon. Member should have referred to column 315, rather than column 319. The information for 1988–89 is given in the table. Figures from local education authorities of the number of surplus places which they removed in 1989–90 are not yet available.

  Year

  The number of surplus school places removed 000s

  The Public Expenditure White Paper target 000s

  Per cent.

  (a)

  (b)

  a/b

  1988–89

  118

  137

  86

  The figure in column (a) is a grossed up total based on returns from 86 local education authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC Directives
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement(a) regulation 4056/86 relating to competition rules to maritime transport and (b) regulation 3975/87 relating to competition rules to air transport;

  (2) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement directive 88/593 relating to jams;

  (3) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement directive 85/573 relating to coffee and chicory extracts;

  (4) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement (a) directive 88/380 relating to the certification of seeds and (b) directive 88/572 which amends directive 77/93 relating to plant health;

  (5) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement directive 89/105 relating to price transparency in the prices of medicines and social security refunds;

  (6) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement (a) directive 85/323 and (b) directive 85/324 on microbiological controls;
  792
  (7) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement directive 86/197 relating to the obligation to indicate ingredients and alcoholic strengths;

  (8) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement directive 86/102 relating to emulsifiers (modification);

  (9) what representations he has made to the European Commission over the failure of France to implement directive 88/320 relating to good laboratory practices and the non-clinical testing of chemicals.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 January 1990]My Department has made no specific representations about failure by the French authorities to implement the directives mentioned. However, if my hon. Friend is aware of any specific difficulties caused for United Kingdom business we would of course be willing to take this up with the Commission or bilaterally with the French authorities. Responsibility for ensuring member states' compliance with EC directives rests with the Commission which can take a member state to the European Court of Justice for failure to comply with EC legislation.

  The United Kingdom has, however, led the way in bringing the issue of implementation to the fore at political level in Brussels, and through our bilateral contacts with other member states. This has in itself put pressure on Governments with a record less good than ours.

  Of the measures mentioned I should point out that two directives 85/323 and 85/324 cannot be implemented until further decisions are taken in Brussels. The United Kingdom has not implemented these directives. A further two directives 89/105 and 89/593 were not required to be implemented in member states at the time the Commission produced its latest report on implementation of single market measures.

  Postage Stamps
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many complimentary presentation packs of new definitive stamps were sent to hon. Members of Parliament in(a) 1989, (b) 1988 and (c) 1987; and what was the cost to the Post Office;

  (2) what is the cost to the Post Office of sending each hon. Member of Parliament a complimentary presentation pack of new definitive stamps to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the introduction of the penny post.

  Mr. Forth
  This is an operational matter for the Post Office and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend about it.

  Microwave Television Channels
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry following his Department's announcement of 23 August on choice of frequency for microwave television
  793
  channels what progress has been made in exploring the feasibility of establishing networks at 40 GHz; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  As indicated in the announcement on 23 August, technology to operate microwave television delivery services at 40 GHz exists, but development is needed to make equipment generally available. Consultations showed that a number of organisations are interested in developing equipment, and the firm decision to make frequencies available at 40 GHz should enable them to make decisions about the development and production of equipment in time for the new local delivery services proposed in the Broadcasting Bill. It will be for the Independent Television Commission to specify the areas to be served and to oversee the planning of the services.

  Merchant Shipbuilding
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow on 17 January,Official Report, column 315, he will list the types and tonnages of the merchant vessels ordered and the shipyards which were awarded these orders.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Following is the information:

  Builder

  Type of Vessel

  Gross Tonnage (Estimated)

  D. Abels Boat Builders

  Passenger ferry

  106

  Brook Yachts International

  Yacht

  1,042

  Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd

  Trailing suction dredger

  3,499

  Aluminium Shipbuilders Ltd

  Wave piercing catamaran ferry

  400

  Campbeltown Shipyard Ltd

  Fishing Vessel

  220

  Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd

  Trawler

  555

  Cargo vessel

  2,275

  Cargo vessel

  2,275

  Ro-ro ferry

  2,970

  Richard Dunston (Hessle) Ltd

  Cargo vessel

  2,275

  Cargo vessel

  2,275

  Mooring vessel

  400

  Mooring vessel

  400

  Docking tug

  700

  FBM Marine Ltd

  Fast ferry

  420

  Harland and Wolff Ltd

  Crude oil tanker

  78,400

  Crude oil tanker

  78,400

  Crude oil tanker

  78,400

  Kvaerner Govan Ltd

  LPG tanker

  34,800

  LPG tanker

  34,800

  McTay Marine

  Ro-ro ferry

  750

  Ro-ro ferry

  750

  Survey vessel

  105

  Tug

  475

  Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd

  Tug

  350

  Swan Hunter (Wallsend) Ltd

  Antartic logistic/

  Research vessel

  5,650

  Yorkshire Dry Dock Ltd

  Passenger vessel

  1,700

  Total

  334,392

  Missile Technology Control Regime
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 56, how many export licence applications have been refused by his Department as a result of the United Kingdom's commitments under the missile technology control regime; and if he will list them.
  794
  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of standard EN71 on bicycle safety(a) as a toy safety standard for cycles up to 435 mm maximum seat height, and (b) for bicycles of 635 mm used by older young persons;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of standards EN71 and BS 5665 taken together (a) for bicycles up to 435 mm and used by children up to four years of age and (b) for cycles up to a maximum seat height of 635 mm used by older children; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what consideration he has given in considering the safety of bicycles between 435 mm and 635 mm maximum seat height, to the advice of the independent testing authority that compliance with ISO 8098 is an adequate and equivalent test to the proposals effected on 1 January 1990;

  (4) what representations he has received from the cycle industry about the effect of standard EN71 on safety, when applied (a) to cycles up to 435 mm and (b) to those up to 635 mm; and if he will temporarily suspend the application of directive EN71.

  Mr. Forth
  The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989 came into force on 1 January 1990 and implement the toy safety directive which is a Community obligation. A manufacturer, importer or retailer is under an obligation to supply toys which conform to the essential safety requirements. Compliance and CE marking may be achieved by self-certification when the toy is manufactured in accordance with European harmonised standards (EN 71). Alternatively, when toys do not conform in whole or in part to harmonised standards, type approval may be sought from an approved body. The approved body is concerned to establish that the model submitted for approval meets the essential safety requirements and in so doing may, if the harmonised standard is inappropriate, have regard to other appropriate tests.

  Representations have been made by the cycle industry about the level of safety and appropriateness of EN71 (BS 5665). I am concerned by the suggestions that the tests specified in the European harmonised standard may not provide the level of safety required by the essential safety requirements. The United Kingdom delegation to the European committee for standardisation (CEN) sought to have the braking test specified in the International Standard Organisation's standard 8098 incorporated into the harmonised standards but there was insufficient support for this from other CEN delegates. The matter is being urgently considered. If the Department concludes that any harmonised standard does not meet the essential requirements the procedure is for the Government to refer the matter to the standing committee set up under the directive for reconsideration. If appropriate we will proceed accordingly. In the meantime my officials have been in touch with the manufacturers concerned and advised them about the type approval means of compliance.
  795

  Soil Scientists
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the reasons for the withdrawal of funding to soil scientists involved with the International Standards Organisation Committee on Soil Quality and Pollution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 24 January 1990]The assisted international travel scheme provides assistance towards the travel costs of delegation leaders and principal experts attending standards meetings overseas. The intention is to help individuals, representatives and employees of organisations which are not directly or indirectly public funded. The Government provide a substantial allocation of funds, but it would not be appropriate to accept an open-ended commitment. The Department has therefore given BSI, which administers the scheme, a priority ranking for claims on those funds which gives top priority to meetings of European standards bodies engaged on work to complete the single market.

THE ARTS

  British Library
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether, pending the sale of the Store street site, Her Majesty's Government will advance funds to the British Library to enable the safekeeping of the oriental collections in their present accommodation until such time as the St. Pancras building is ready to house them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The British Library board has already decided in principle to take advantage of the opportunity to unite the oriental collections and the India Office library and records before the St. Pancras building is completed. This is expected to bring benefits to both management and readers. I am confident that the British Library will continue to exercise a proper concern for the safekeeping of its collections and the needs of readers.

  Sir Douglas Bader (Log Book)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if his Department has any plans to bid for the log book of Sir Douglas Bader at the forthcoming auction.

  Mr. Luce
  The Office of Arts and Libraries does not bid for any items at public auction. Decisions on bidding for Sir Douglas Bader's log book are a matter for the trustees of the individual museums.

  National Railway Museum
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside of 16 January,Official Report, columns 210–11, what approaches were made for funding fro his Department to assist with the replacement of the roof of the national railway museum at York; what response he made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 24 January 1990]The national museums and galleries for which I am responsible submit a corporate plan to my office every year detailing 796
  their priority concerns and their bids for funding. As a result of the priorities put forward in the science museum's 1988 corporate plan, I announced in November 1988 that the provision for the building programme funds at the science museum included additional allocations of £1 million in both 1989–90 and 1990–91 towards the cost of reroofing the national railway museum.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Investment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his reply dated 4 December concerning investment in manufacturing industry,Official Report, column 19, what is the corresponding increase in the motor vehicles, mechanical engineering, textile and clothing industries, respectively; and if he will publish a table showing the increase in investment in those industries between 1973 and 1988 at constant prices together with the increase in output, exports and imports.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Figures comparable to those provided in my earlier reply are not available at this level of industry detail. Estimates of exports and imports at constant prices had not been produced prior to 1978, and reliable investment figures by industry are not yet available for 1988. The information available is:

  Percentage change in

  Investment

  Output

  1973–1987

  1973–1987

  1973–1988

  Mechanical engineering

  -22

  -22

  -15

  Motor vehicles

  +10

  -34

  -24

  Textiles, leather, footwear and clothing

  -33

  -18

  -19

  Note: The industries are defined in terms of the Standard Industrial
  Classification (Revised 1980) as follows:

  Mechanical engineering: Class 32

  Motor vehicles: Class 35

  Textiles, leather, footwear and clothing: Classes 43–45

  Taxation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how
  many representations he has received, and from whom, concerning the taxation of company cars; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a number of representations concerning the taxation of company cars.

  British Rail
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of British Rail's investment programme of £3·75 billion over the next three years will be financed from(a) their own internally generated cash flow, (b) PSO level crossing and section 20 grants and (c) external finance, excluding PSO, level crossing and section 20 grants.

  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 includes payments from passenger transport executives under section 20 of the Transport Act 1968 in
  797
  respect of services operated by British Rail in metropolitan areas, and from external finance. The Government's public expenditure plans for the next three years provide for a total of £2·2 billion of external finance of which grants (PSO and level crossing) account for £1·25 billion.

  Carbon Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of a carbon tax on the rate of inflation.

  Mr. Ryder
  It has not been the practice to publish estimates of the economic effects of hypothetical new taxes.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Office of Information cash limit and running costs limit for 1989–90; and whether he is proposing any changes to the services provided on an allied basis by the Central Office of Information for 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XIX, Vote 1 will be increased by £50,000, from £1,273,000 to £1,323,000. The additional expenditure is for a new service, the media advisory service and will be charged to the reserve. At the same time the running costs limit will be reduced by £779,000 from £21,850,000 to £21,071,000 in line with the latest forecast of expenditure on repayment services.

  Central Statistical Office
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Statistical Office's cash limit or running costs limit for 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XIX, Vote 18, will be increased by £508,000 from £15,342,000 to £15,850,000 and the running cost limit by £413,000, from £11,967,000 to £12,380,000. Part of the increase reflects a further transfer of provision from the Department of Trade and Industry following the establishment of the Central Statistical Office as a separate Department: a corresponding reduction will be included in a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Trade and Industry (Class V, Vote 3). In addition, the increase reflects a transfer of provision from the Cabinet Office; Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (Class XX, Vote 1) of £5,000 in respect of the challenge funding scheme for senior management development training. Finally, the remainder reflects provision to meet some of the additional administrative expenditure which arises for the Central Statistical Office as a separate Department, which will be charged to the reserve.

  Media (Wartime Advisory Service)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made regarding the Government's response, Cmnd. 9499, to the proposal made in the study group chaired by Sir Hugh Beach, Cmnd. 9112, that an advisory service for the media be established to operate during a time of tension or war.
  798
  Mr. Ryder
  After consultations involving Government Departments, regional authorities and the national and regional media a report on the feasibility of a media advisory service (MAS) was produced last year. The Government have accepted the main conclusion that the basis for a MAS to operate during a time of tension or war should be established. Such a MAS has now been formed in the Central Office of Information under Mr. Peter Brazier, a COI group director. It is expected to cost around £150,000 a year.

  Capital Gains
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals to amend the definition of a group of companies for capital gains purposes.

  Mr. Lilley
  We are proposing to include one technical change to the capital gains definition of a group in the 1990 Finance Bill. This is to prevent a company being treated as leaving a group when arrangements are entered into under which rights to profits or assets may be reduced at a future date. We propose that in general the change should be effective from Budget day 1989, when the present definition of a group took effect. But groups will be able to elect for the change to apply only from midnight tonight.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the refusal of the Consul-General (ref: VC/C/27035/89) in Bejing, China, to allow Peng Ling to join her British husband Peter Flak in Britain.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Peng Ling has not applied for a visa to come to the United Kingdom. She has been refused a visa by the Hong Kong authorities to join her British husband in Hong Kong, where her husband is understood to be working until 1991.

  Under an agreement between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese authorities residents in China who wish to join spouses in Hong Kong can apply for a one-way permit from the Chinese authorities.

  Argentina
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new regulations there are on the exclusion zones to Argentine shipping and aircraft figures around the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the joint statement issued after the Anglo-Argentine talks in Madrid last October, a copy of which, as I stated in my reply of 20 October to my right hon. Friend, the Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell), was placed in the Library of the House, it was announced that two small changes to the Falkland Islands protection zone would be made:

  (a) he limits of the protection zone would be aligned with that of the Falkland Islands Interim Conservation and Management Zone, reducing its size slightly in the South West corner;

  (b) the requirement that Argentine merchant shipping should not enter the protection zone without prior agreement would be dispensed with.

  799
  These changes subsequently came into effect on I December and 1 January respectively.

  Palestine Liberation Organisation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had communications with members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation; what was discussed; and what decisions were made.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Qaddumi in Paris on 22 December and I met Bassam Abu Sharif on 8 January, as part of our continuing dialogue with the PLO on the prospects for peace in the middle east.

  Middle East
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to offer the good offices of Her Majesty's Government for talks, in London between members of the Israeli Government and members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We support the expansion of contacts between Israelis and Palestinians, including the PLO. The present efforts to arrange talks between the Israeli Government and representative Palestinians in Cairo offer the best way forward.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 12 January, column 796, on the non-proliferation treaty, what response he has made to the proposal by Dr. Lowry to which his reply makes reference.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Department replied that it was not United Kingdom or NATO strategy to make premature reductions in defence commitments. There would therefore be no immediate diversion of manpower into tackling the problems of pollution.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has concerning the policy of(a) the Republic of South Africa and (b) Namibia towards the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The South African Government have
  expressed interest in acceding to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and we have made it clear that we would welcome a decision on their part to do so. With regard to the second part of the question, only independent states may accede to the treaty and it will be for Namibia, once independent, to decide its policy on this matter.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy towards the imposition of sanctions upon countries which transgress the terms and conditions of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We adhere strictly to our own obligation under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty not 800
  in any way to assist, encourage or induce any non-nuclear weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

  British Diplomats
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to increase the number of British ambassadors and high commissioners who are(a) black and (b) Asian.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  FCO recruitment literature makes clear that the FCO is an equal opportunities employer.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation his Department has had with the Norwegian Government about the dumping of toxic industrial waste in the North sea.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is in touch with the Norwegian and other interested Governments through the Oslo commission. The waste which the United Kingdom permits to be dumped in the North sea is not toxic.

  Daya Bay Power Plant
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress, and any problems encountered, in the construction of the two units for the Daya Bay nuclear power plant joint venture with the Guangdong Power Company; when Daya Bay is expected to be commissioned and at what cost in(a) Hong Kong dollars and (b) pounds sterling; and what safety oversight role is being carried out by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. Maude
  Construction of the Daya Bay plant is proceeding according to schedule and in compliance with the quality requirements. Units I and II of the plant are scheduled to be commissioned by October 1992 and July 1993 respectively. The project costs are not expected to exceed the budget of HK$28·7 billion or £2·7 billion. As far as we are aware the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is not carrying out any safety oversight role in connection with the project.

  Tibet
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made, and intend to make, to the Government of China to end the state of martial law in Lhasa.

  Mr. Maude
  The Chinese Government are well aware of our hope that, following the lifting of martial law in Peking, they will take further steps to strengthen the protection of human rights in China, including the lifting of martial law in Lhasa. Together with our European Community partners, we intend to register our concerns about human rights in China, including Tibet, in the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
  801

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to whether(a) Argentina, (b) Brazil, (c) Iraq, (d) Israel, (e) Iran, (f) India, (g) Pakistan, (h) North Korea and (i) the Republic of South Africa have developed the capability to build and deliver nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Iraq and Iran are both states party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and, as such, have undertaken not to develop a nuclear weapons capability. North Korea, although not recognised as a state by Her Majesty's Government, is also a party to the NPT. South Africa has expressed interest in adhering to the NPT, and has held talks with the depositary powers. Argentina and Brazil have both signed the treaty of Tlatelolco, which bans nuclear weapons in Latin America. All of the countries listed in the question have always declared that their nuclear activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes. We take every suitable opportunity to stress the importance of the international non-proliferation regime and of securing universal adherence to the NPT.

  East Timor
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of Her Majesty's Government at the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Commission on the question of East Timor and abuse of human rights.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  East Timor is not, at present, on the agenda for the forthcoming UNCHR session. We support the role of the UN Secretary-General in encouraging a bilateral settlement between Indonesia and Portugal which fully takes into account the interests of the people of East Timor. We should also examine carefully any report of human rights abuses.

  Ivory
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made an assessment of the effect of his decision to release for sale ivory stocks in Hong Kong on the population of African elephants.

  Mr. Maude
  Hong Kong is committed to comply in full with the CITES ban. The United Kingdom reservation is designed to give the territory a reasonable period in which to adjust to this. In the meantime, Hong Kong has imposed a total ban on exports to all CITES parties and on imports, which will ensure that there is no loophole for the entry of illegal ivory onto the market. There should, therefore, be no adverse consequences for the African elephant.
  802

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Sentencing
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of alleged over-lenient sentencing have been referred to him under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1988; and how many sentences have been revised upwards in consequence.

  The Attorney-General
  Sixty-seven cases of alleged unduly lenient sentencing have been referred to me. I have applied for leave to refer the sentencing in nine cases to the Court of Appeal. Leave has been granted in seven such cases and sentences have been increased in six of the cases. I have withdrawn two cases in the light of later information. I have referred one case to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland: the sentence in that case was also increased.

  Duty Solicitors
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the operation of the duty solicitor scheme.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 7 December 1989,Official Report, column 317. I have nothing further to add.

  Civil Justice Review
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Government will publish their consultation paper on the housing aspects of the civil justice review.

  The Attorney-General
  The civil justice review consultation paper on housing cases was published in 1987. Following the publication of the civil justice review's final report (Cm. 394) in June 1988 the Lord Chancellor said that there would be further consultation with court users and others with an interest in housing matters before changes were made to the procedures for handling housing cases in the county courts. He expects the consultation to be completed before the end of this year.

  Mr. Kevin Taylor
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will consult the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to him asking a police force, other than that of Greater Manchester, to investigate what transpired necessitating the discontinuance of the Taylor prosecution and, in particular, the implications arising from the application to the judge which was wrongly based.

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions has referred to the chief constable of Greater Manchester certain aspects of evidence given by police witnesses for the prosecution, for the chief constable to consider whether a police investigation should be instituted. The decision whether there should be such an investigation (and, if so, by whom) is one for the chief constable.
  803

EMPLOYMENT

  Ko Hsuan School, Chawleigh
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what work permits have been issued to teachers and staff at the Ko Hsuan School at Chawleigh in North Devon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of Thursday 11 January 1990,Official Report, column 702.

  Ethnic Background Data
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the ethnic background data for YTS trainees, for the latest available date, separately for each youth training scheme operating in(a) each of the training agency areas of Greater London, (b) Manchester, (c) Birmingham and Solihull and (d) Coventry and Warwickshire;

  (2) if he will give the ethnic background data for YTS trainees, for the latest available date, separately for each youth training scheme operated through the YTS large companies unit.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Because of the length of the replies, I will write to the hon. Member with the available information, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Merseyside Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to appoint trade union representatives to the Merseyside training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Eggar
  It will be up to key business leaders in Merseyside to prepare an application for a training and enterprise council (TEC) and to decide whether to invite a trade union representative to join the TEC board.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the newly appointed members of the Merseyside training and enterprise council together with their qualifications and experience.

  Mr. Eggar
  Key business leaders are now preparing an application for development funding for a Merseyside training and enterprise council. That application will set out the proposed board of directors for the TEC.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the payment in salary or expenses of the members of the Merseyside training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise council board members will not be entitled to draw a salary or other remuneration from public funds other than out-of-pocket expenses.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline the level of unemployment in the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow at the most recent date for which figures are available.
  804
  Mr. Lang
  I have been asked to reply.

  There were 5,014 unemployed in the Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency in December 1989, the most: recent date for which information is available.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Michael Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Lancashire.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Scotland
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next plans to visit Scotland.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Wild Animals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will co-ordinate Government legislation to prevent unnecessary suffering to wild animals.

  The Prime Minister
  Existing legislation, which has been greatly strengthened over the last decade, is already well co-ordinated. Wherever necessary, non-captive animals are protected in law, and the Protection of Animals Act 1911 forbids the causing of unnecessary suffering to all animals in captivity. The law has been further strengthened in recent years notably through the Protection of Animals (Penalties) Act 1987, the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1988 and the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988.

  Summer Time
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications of the recent directive on summer time arrangements in the Community.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Alloway
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Alloway.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Rutland Water
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister, whether she will pay an official visit to Rutland Water, in the county of Rutland.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Gloucestershire
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Gloucestershire.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Ivory
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will place in the Library copies of all representations she received before 18 January on the release of Hong Kong ivory stocks on to the market.
  805
  The Prime Minister
  No. It is not my normal practice to release such correspondence.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the implications for the survival of the African elephant species of the sale of impounded poached ivory on to the world market; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Following the decision of the seventh conference of parties to CITES the African elephant was added to appendix I on 18 January. Conference resolution 2.15 adopted by the second conference of parties to CITES indicated that confiscated appendix I specimens"should not be returned to commercial utilisation in any form".

  West Wiltshire District Council
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions she has had about the conduct of West Wiltshire district council; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None. Questions relating to the conduct of West Wiltshire district council are for the district auditor. I understand that he has begun an investigation.

  Pay Settlements
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the current level of pay settlements.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on Tuesday 23 January at column 738.

  Cabinet Office
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1989–90 cash limit and running costs limit for the "Cabinet Office: other services".

  The Prime Minister
  Both the overall cash limit and the running costs limit for "Cabinet Office: other services" (Class XX, Vote 2) have been reduced. Cash limit has been reduced by £37,000 from £16,461,000 to £16,424,000 and running costs by £44,000 from £17,905,000 to £17,861,000. These decreases go to offset corresponding increases in the cash limit and running costs limit of the Department of the Environment: administration (Class 10 Vote 5) of £61,000 and £68,000 respectively. This reflects a transfer of functions. In addition, the Cabinet Office is to receive a transfer of £24,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry: administration, regulation of domestic trade and industry and consumer protection (Class 5 Vote 3) which will increase both running costs and cash limit by the same amount. The reason for this increase is that the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has transferred to the Cabinet Office.

  Engagements
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.
  806
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 January.

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

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inquiries he has received from hon. Members during the past six months relating to the family credit system; and if he will make a statement on the working of this benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  During the past six months over 120 letters about family credit have been received from right hon. and hon. Members; these have mainly been concerned with individual cases rather than the system as such. Family credit is an income-related benefit and therefore it is necessary to ask for detailed information about earnings and other income in order to determine entitlement in accordance with the rules laid down in the legislation. In general, these arrangements work well, but we shall continue to be prepared to consider the need for changes in the light of practical experience.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families in Scotland are in receipt of family credit; and what estimated proportion these families represent of those entitled to this benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest information is for September 1989 when the number of families receiving family credit who were living in Scotland at the time their award was made was 39,000. Information about the total number of families eligible for family credit can be obtained only for Great Britain and only retrospectively, from family expenditure survey data.

  Income Support
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for income support have been made since 11 April 1988 at the local offices of his Department in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; and how many of these claims were determined.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is as follows:
  807

  Number of income support claims made since 11 April 19881

  Number of income support claims determined since 11 April 19881

  (a) Greenock ILO

  16,433

  16,300

  (b) Port Glasgow ILO

  7,148

  7,128

  (c) Strathclyde

  397,017

  394,571

  (d) Scotland

  803,789

  798,770

  1 Figures do not include claims received and determined after 29 December 1989.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people are in receipt of income support in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; and what are the corresponding figures for those in receipt of supplementary benefit for each year since 1979;

  (2) how many people were in receipt of supplementary benefit in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988; and how many are now in receipt of income support in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support live load

  Greenock ILO

  Port Glasgow ILO

  Strathclyde

  Scotland

  1979

  6,317

  2,814

  166,426

  294,116

  1980

  6,794

  3,069

  183,629

  320,260

  1981

  7,999

  3,704

  221,403

  385,238

  1982

  9,812

  4,156

  252,679

  439,419

  1983

  9,720

  4,128

  265,180

  461,461

  1984

  10,381

  4,541

  283,600

  492,775

  1985

  10,705

  4,990

  295,392

  508,970

  1986

  12,195

  5,285

  309,578

  543,025

  1987

  12,338

  5,369

  315,735

  548,272

  1988

  11,423

  4,659

  284,381

  499,890

  1989

  11,652

  4,637

  284,056

  505,052

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action, which include number where benefit payment has ceased but other action is continuing.

  Social Security Staff
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of staff employed in local offices of his Department in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland at the latest

  Caernarfon

  Number of income support claimants

  Lone parents

  Disabled1

  Pensioners

  Unemployed

  BUDGETING LOANS

  1989

  January

  321

  138

  26

  25

  119

  February

  352

  152

  28

  29

  131

  March

  366

  163

  29

  29

  130

  April

  357

  156

  28

  29

  126

  May

  365

  159

  31

  29

  126

  June

  375

  167

  31

  34

  124

  July

  380

  165

  33

  37

  125

  August

  357

  166

  31

  34

  110

  September

  340

  155

  29

  33

  120

  October

  362

  168

  32

  33

  120

  November

  371

  174

  27

  35

  128

  December

  364

  173

  24

  32

  127

  CRISIS LOANS

  1989

  808
  available date; if any changes are envisaged in the number of those employed therein the near future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The total number of staff employed in the Department's local offices on 1 January 1990 in Scotland was 6,924·5 (excluding casual staff). Included in this figure are 3,634 staff employed in Strathclyde and 213·5 in Greenock and Port Glasgow local offices. No changes in staffing are envisaged in the near future. The annual recomplementing exercise will take place in April 1990.

  Hostels
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on his plans for the long-term financial arrangements to compensate hostels which have lost income as a result of the income support changes introduced in April 1989;

  (2) (a) on what date transitional payments direct to hostels will cease to be made and (b) what financial arrangements are to be brought in from the date when transitional payments cease.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Changes to income support for hostel dwellers were introduced from 9 October 1989. The temporary arrangements for protecting hostels' income will cease from April 1991. After that date, the money being paid by the central unit will be transferred to other Departments to be channelled through existing funding sources. We expect to announce the detailed financial arrangements shortly.

  Budget and Crisis Loans
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number of claimants on income support were repaying a budget or crisis loan at the social security offices in(a) Caernarfon and (b) Porthmadog for each month since January 1989; what number of (a) one parent families, (b) sick and disabled claimants, (c) pensioners and (d) unemployed claimants on income support were repaying budget or crisis loans at (i) Caernarfon and (ii) Porthmadog for each month since January 1989.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 22 January 1990]The information available is given in the tables. The figures represent the number of loans being repaid on the last day of each month.
  809

  Number of income support claimants

  Lone parents

  Disabled1

  Pensioners

  Unemployed

  January

  26

  3

  2

  —

  19

  February

  32

  3

  1

  —

  26

  March

  37

  4

  2

  —

  28

  April

  49

  8

  3

  1

  35

  May

  45

  6

  1

  —

  35

  June

  52

  12

  1

  —

  38

  July

  61

  13

  1

  —

  45

  August

  72

  18

  1

  —

  48

  September

  84

  18

  —

  —

  61

  October

  102

  18

  1

  —

  76

  November

  79

  20

  1

  —

  55

  December

  61

  14

  1

  —

  47

  1 Applicants receiving a disability premium. It is not possible to identify separately applicants who are sick and not receiving a disability premium.

  Porthmadog

  Number of income support claimants

  Lone parents

  Disabled1

  Pensioners

  Unemployed

  BUDGETING LOANS

  1989

  January

  147

  58

  12

  13

  57

  February

  167

  66

  13

  15

  67

  March

  181

  70

  14

  18

  72

  April

  193

  79

  14

  17

  77

  May

  194

  76

  11

  16

  85

  June

  182

  68

  11

  18

  79

  July

  184

  67

  13

  16

  81

  August

  180

  66

  12

  15

  79

  September

  175

  70

  12

  18

  75

  October

  174

  72

  11

  17

  69

  November

  181

  74

  13

  16

  70

  December

  196

  80

  14

  16

  79

  CRISIS LOANS

  1979

  January

  13

  2

  —

  —

  11

  February

  19

  4

  —

  —

  15

  March

  14

  2

  —

  —

  12

  April

  15

  1

  —

  —

  14

  May

  23

  3

  —

  —

  20

  June

  17

  1

  —

  —

  16

  July

  15

  —

  —

  —

  15

  August

  13

  —

  —

  —

  13

  September

  15

  1

  —

  —

  21

  October

  22

  1

  —

  —

  18

  November

  18

  —

  —

  —

  8

  December

  15

  1

  —

  —

  13

  1 Applicants receiving a disability premium. It is not possible to identify separately applicants who are sick and not receiving a disability premium.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of income support claimants at the social security offices at(a) Caernarfon and (b) Porthmadog were (i) repaying a budgeting crisis loan from their benefit, (ii) repaying a budgeting or crisis loan at 10 per cent, or more of their benefit and (iii) repaying a budgeting or crisis loan at 15 per cent, or more of their benefit for each month since January 1989.

  Mr. Scot
  [holding answer 22 January 1990]Information regarding the percentage rate at which loans are being repaid is not collected. Information about the national and local income support caseload is collected on a quarterly basis and the number of loans being repaid on the last day of each quarter is shown in the table.
  810

  Caernarfon1

  Budgeting Loans per cent.

  Crisis Loans per cent.

  February 1989

  6·227

  0·570

  May 1989

  6·661

  0·821

  August 1989

  6·072

  1·224

  November 1989

  6·462

  1·602

  Porthmadog1

  February 1989

  3·560

  0·405

  May 1989

  4·534

  0·537

  August 1989

  4·391

  0·296

  November 1989

  4·728

  0·380

  1 Quarter ending.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of budgeting or crisis loans out on loan to claimants on income support from the offices of(a) Caernarfon and (b) Porthmadog for each month from January 1989.
  811
  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 22 January 1990]The information available is set out in the table. The information represents the amounts outstanding on the last day of each calendar month.

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  £

  £

  Caernarfon

  January 1989

  46,358·39

  2,387·73

  February 1989

  49,334·83

  2,288·22

  March 1989

  50,457·04

  1,935·39

  April 1989

  47,202·96

  2,605·87

  May 1989

  48,819·33

  2,752·90

  June 1989

  49,154·83

  3,487·62

  July 1989

  51,045·79

  4,314·49

  August 1989

  49,485·72

  4,700·18

  September 1989

  49,739·02

  5,657·84

  October 1989

  55,007·98

  7,281·69

  November 1989

  60,301·21

  7,152·50

  December 1989

  59,995·43

  8,261·09

  Porthmadog

  January 1989

  32,716·58

  967·22

  February 1989

  34,936·28

  1,132·00

  March 1989

  35,087·15

  1,011·55

  April 1989

  36,365·47

  1,079·50

  May 1989

  36,476·63

  1,377·96

  June 1989

  34,499·69

  1,335·57

  July 1989

  33,012·67

  1,162·61

  August 1989

  30,578·93

  1,306·96

  September 1989

  30,090·01

  1,552·51

  October 1989

  29,010·37

  2,176·98

  November 1989

  29,286·21

  2,564·60

  December 1989

  29,328·03

  2,257·77

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  New Parliamentary Building
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on what date he expects the new parliamentary building in Bridge street, Westminster, to be open for use by hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  As I advised the House on 28 July the contractor, Fairclough Building Ltd., had reported that the work was behind schedule and was not expected to be finished until October 1990.

  The latest forecast from the contractor indicates that their revised programme has slipped by a month.

  Subject to there being no further slippage the building should be fitted out and ready for occupation around Easter 1991.

  Queen's Consent
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Bills in the current Session have required the Queen's consent to proceed; and how many have received that consent.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Of the Bills introduced in the Commons and printed so far this Session, one will require the Queen's Consent on Second Reading and six will require the Queen's Consent on Third Reading. Consent has not yet been signified in respect of any Bill during the Session.

ENERGY

  French Nuclear Power Stations
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will institute an inquiry into potential dangers posed to the United Kingdom by French nuclear power stations located near to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  There is no reason to suppose that the standards of safety adopted by the French are any less rigorous than those applied in the United Kingdom. French reactors are built and operated to the highest safety standards. Moreover, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate has a formal exchange of information arrangement with the French nuclear safety regulatory body—the Service Central de Surete des Installations Nuclearies (SCSIN). Under this exchange the SCSIN has undertaken to inform the nuclear installations inspectorate of any matters which could affect the safe operation of plant.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action his Department is taking in respect of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England's complaint to the European Commissioner for competition, seeking an investigation under articles 85, 86, 90, 92 and 93 of the treaty of Rome, of the provisions of the Electricity Act relating to a nuclear levy and associated subsidies, to nuclear power.

  Mr. Baldry
  As is normal, the Department has been discussing its proposals with the European Commission. We are confident that the arrangements for the new industry will be consistent with the United Kingdom's Community obligations.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to publish the annual plutonium production and storage figures in the Official Report.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information referred to by the hon. Member is detailed and specialised and is already circulated widely as a press release by my Department.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy in respect of his departmental press release No. 180 of 5 December 1989, how the estimate in paragraph 1.B(a) and (b) of plutonium contents of fuel is made; how the figures in paragraph 2 (c) quoted for plutonium oxide were reached; why the figures in paragraph 2(d)(i) and (iii) for cumulative stocks of plutonium aggregate BNFL and overseas customers; what is the reason for the rounding of plutonium figures to 50 kg; and whether the figures are forwarded to the safeguards authorities with the same rounding.

  Mr. Baldry
  The estimates in paragraphs 1B(a) and (b) of plutonium contents of fuel are made from a knowledge of the irradiation levels of fuel elements. The plutonium content of these is calculated using standard computer codes and then summed for all the elements in the reactor or in the irradiated fuel stores as appropriate.
  813
  Plutonium oxide which has been separated in the reprocessing operation (paragraph 2(c) is analysed to measure its precise composition and weighed very accurately.

  The format of the press release and its predecessors followed a recommendation by the Sizewell inquiry that details of plutonium in the United Kingdom's civil reactors should be published. The column of figures at paragraph 2(d) of the release, which shows stocks belonging to BNFL and its overseas customers, is additional information included to indicate the overall stock of safeguarded plutonium held by BNFL at Sellafield. The stock of BNFL's own plutonium is less than 0·5 tonne.

  Information on stocks of plutonium, to the nearest gramme, is supplied to Euratom who are aware that some of the figures have been calculated as described above.

  Dr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what revisions have been made in the estimates of amounts 814
  of plutonium in spent nuclear fuel, as referred to in his Department's press release No. 180 of 5 December 1989, on annual civil plutonium figures.

  Mr. Baldry
  As stated in press release 180, since the figures for 1986–87 and 1987–88 were published some revisions have been made in the estimates provided by the generating boards of the amounts of plutonium in spent fuel. The changes to the estimates of plutonium were:

  Reactor discharges estimated kg of plutonium rounded to nearest 50 kg Pu

  Previous figure

  Revised figure

  1986–87

  Heysham 1

  50

  0

  1987–88

  Heysham 1

  100

  50

  Oldbury

  350

  300

  No amendments have been necessary to any measured quantities of plutonium. All of this material is accounted for and remains under safeguards

  Uranium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of(a) world uranium consumption and (b) United Kingdom uranium consumption in each year since 1960; what has been the percentage annual growth in each case; and what levels are predicted to be reached by 2000.

  Mr. Baldry
  For world uranium consumption I refer the hon. Member to the 1986 OECD/IAEA publication "Uranium Resources, Production and Demand". On United Kingdom consumption I am advised by the British Civil Uranium Procurement Organisation (BCUPO), which procures all civil uranium for electricity generation in the United Kingdom, that uranium consumption by the CEGB and the SSEB in the years in question was as follows:

  tu

  Pre-1970

  110,000

  1970

  900

  1971

  1,000

  1972

  1,200

  1973

  1,300

  1974

  1,400

  1975

  1,300

  1976

  1,400

  1977

  1,300

  1978

  1,100

  1979

  1,900

  1980

  1,900

  1981

  1,300

  1982

  1,300

  1983

  1,300

  1984

  1,500

  1985

  1,500

  1986

  1,800

  1987

  1,500

  1988

  2,000

  1989

  1,900

  1 The BCUPO is unable to provide annual figures for the period prior to 1970.

  Based on the requirements currently advised to the BCUPO by the CEGB and the SSEB, consumption in 2000 is expected to be around 1,200 tonnes.

  Nuclear Reactors (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many statements he or Ministers in his Department have made since May 1979(a) in Parliament and (b) outside Parliament on decommissioning of nuclear reactors; and if he will indicate the source of the outside information relied upon for each statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Department of Energy Ministers have made a number of statements about the decommissioning of nuclear reactors both in Parliament and elsewhere since May 1979. Such statements are not recorded centrally, and the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  In the majority of cases the source of any outside information relied upon would have been the Central Electricity Generating Board.
  816

  Magnox Nuclear Plants
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will conduct a comparative costing study of Magnox back-end fuel cycle financial requirements in those OECD countries possessing Magnox nuclear plants.

  Mr. Baldry
  No.

  Nuclear Electric
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the grounds on which he based his estimate that the new nationalised nuclear generation company will be cash positive.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government intend that Nuclear Electric will have a positive cash flow. The precise cash position of the company will depend on the outcome of contractual negotiations with the area boards. The initial contracts will be subject to Government approval.

  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will direct the new nuclear company to make public information currently restricted by commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Baldry
  Nuclear Electric plc will be operating in a commercial market. It would not be in the taxpayer's interest to have different practices on commercial confidentiality for the company than for other participants in the market.

  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the new nationalised nuclear company will hold title to all plutonium currently in the civil sector in England and Wales; and what restrictions will apply to the company's freedom to sign uranium enrichment, fuel fabrication and reprocessing contracts with French or Japanese fuel cycle companies.

  Mr. Baldry
  Nuclear Electric will take over responsibility for the Central Electricity Generating Board's plutonium. Contracts for nuclear fuel services will be entered into on a commercial basis.

  Biblis Nuclear Plant
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what volume of low level wastes will arise from the spent fuel from the Biblis nuclear plant, contracted to British Nuclear Fuels plc by the RWE Electrical Utility in the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is estimated that approximately 1000 cum of conditioned low-level waste will arise from the reprocessing of the Biblis fuel contracted to British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to publish the consultation document on the scheme for the promotion of energy efficiency in low-income households.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is my intention that the consultation document should be available before discussion of clause 10 of the Social Security Bill takes place in Standing Committee.

  Magnox Reactors
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set a maximum operational life period for the Magnox reactors.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Energy on 14 December 1989 at column 778.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the safety audits of the 11 Magnox stations are expected to be completed.

  Mr. Baldry
  Long-term safety reviews (LTSRs) of Magnox power stations are scheduled to take place as shown in the table. The stations will of course continue to be subject to normal regular inspections by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  Column 1 Station

  Column 2 Licensee's LTSR completion dates

  Column 3 Possible next LTSR (note 2)

  Calderhall (1956)

  1982; 1989

  1996

  Chapelcross (1959)

  1982; 1989

  1996

  Berkeley (1962)

  Closed 1989

  —

  Bradwell (1962)

  1987

  1992

  Dungeness A (1965)

  1990

  1995

  Hinkley Point A (1965)

  1990

  1995

  Hunterston A (1964)

  Closing in 1990

  —

  Oldbury(1967)

  1991

  1997

  Sizewell A (1966)

  1991

  1996

  Trawsfynydd (1965)

  1990

  1995

  Wylfa (1971)

  1991

  2001

  Notes:

  1. ( )=Date of commissioning.

  2. If licences wish to extend the station's operation beyond the date shown in column 3, then, a further LTSR would have to be completed by the licences and considered by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) by that date.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encepholopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy for each county of England and Wales for the four-week period ended 16 January.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is as follows:

  Slaughterhouses

  Markets

  Period

  Reported

  Confirmed

  Reported

  Confirmed

  21 June 1988–31 December 1988

  33

  27

  24

  16

  1 January 1989–30 September 1989

  73

  52

  57

  40

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the banning of ruminant-derived protein for use as animal feed for animals other than ruminants.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have received a number of representations seeking a ban on the feeding of ruminant
  818

  County

  Number

  Avon

  14

  Berkshire

  2

  Buckinghamshire

  3

  Cambridge

  3

  Cheshire

  19

  Cleveland

  3

  Clwyd

  5

  Cornwall

  81

  Cumbria

  16

  Derbys

  8

  Devon

  85

  Dorset

  83

  Dyfed

  20

  Essex

  1

  Gloucestershire

  21

  Gwent

  2

  Gwynedd

  1

  Hampshire

  24

  Hereford & Worcestshire

  12

  Hertfordshire

  4

  Isle of Wight

  9

  Kent

  11

  Lancashire

  12

  Leicestershire

  26

  Lincolnshire

  4

  Norfolk

  2

  Northamptonshire

  3

  Northumberland

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  6

  Oxon

  11

  Powys

  11

  Shropshire

  15

  Somerset

  60

  Staffordshire

  11

  Suffolk

  12

  Surrey

  6

  Sussex East

  8

  Sussex West

  13

  West Midlands

  1

  Warwickshire

  8

  Wiltshire

  35

  Yorkshire North

  23

  Yorkshire South

  3

  Yorkshire West

  1

  Total

  699

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number of animals were identified at(a) slaughterhouses and (b) livestock markets and for each of 1987, 1988 and 1989 as bovine spongiform encephalopathy suspects; and how many of those subsequently were confirmed as bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is available from 21 June 1988, when BSE became a notifiable disease, up to 30 September 1989, the end of the most recent quarter for which figures are currently available.

  derived protein to non-ruminants, and a number pointing out that there is, however, no scientific justification for such action.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that
  819
  foodstuffs imported into Britain do not contain the bovine offals currently banned from human consumption in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Such measures are unnecessary as BSE has not been confirmed in any other country except the Republic of Ireland, where the incidence is too low to justify a similar ban.

  Livestock Welfare
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of livestock when slaughtered by religious methods he proposes not to implement; which would require primary legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on religious slaughter was published on 29 October 1987 (MAFF press release No. 326/87) and a copy is available in the Library of the House. This explains the Government's conclusions on each of the council's recommendations and the reasons for them.

  Proposals for regulations to implement many of the council's recommendations were issued for public comment on 20 June 1989. Representations received are now being considered and regulations will be laid before Parliament in the near future.

  Primary legislation is required to implement a council recommendation that deer should not be slaughtered by religious methods in abattoirs, although my understanding is that no such slaughter takes place. The legislation will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary programme permits.

  Food Irradiation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what departmental representation there was at the international meeting on food irradiation organised through the international consultative group on food irradation, held in the United States between 27 November and 1 December.

  Mr. Maclean
  There was no departmental representation; the meeting was concerned solely with the harmonisation of regulations on trade in irradiated food between the countries on the continent of America in which the process is applied.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to offer new guidance concerning the disposal of organophosphate sheep dips; and if he has any proposals to ban the use of soakaways for this purpose.

  Mr. Maclean
  Sheep dip disposal is currently being reviewed by the pesticide disposal working group, which reports to the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Moreover sheep dip product licences—including organophosphates—are being included in a review of ectoparasiticide product licences commencing this year. In the light of the conclusions of these reviews I shall consider whether to revise existing guidance. Increased restrictions on the use of soakaways would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
  820

  Nitrates
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to introduce maximum limits of nitrates permissible in winter vegetables grown in intensive growing systems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Levels of nitrates in vegetables are kept under close review as part of the Government's ongoing programme of food surveillance. The committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment has examined the results of this monitoring and concluded that any possible risk to health from dietary intake of nitrates is likely to be small. Accordingly. I have no proposals to introduce maximum limits.

  Cattle Imports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he was notified of each of the bans imposed by those countries operating restrictions against the import of live cattle from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The table provides information in respect of those countries which at present do not permit the import of live cattle from the United Kingdom because of concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Country

  Date of notification

  Sweden

  21 October 1988

  Australia

  1 December 1988

  New Zealand

  20 December 1988

  Finland

  4 January 1989

  United States of America

  24 July 1989

  Member states of the European Community:

  (i) Cattle born before 18 July 1988

  28 July 1989 With effect from 1

  (ii) Cattle more than 6 months of age

  March 1990

  Israel

  Not applicable1

  1 Israel has issued no licences for imports of cattle from the United Kingdom for a number of years.

  Overfishing
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he is giving to the ruling by Sheriff Douglas Risk at Aberdeen sheriff court on 19 January that charges of overfishing are not a criminal offence under the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967; whether he has any plans to seek to amend current legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her today by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office.

  United Kingdom Fishing Fleet
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the extent of the required reduction of the United Kingdom's fishing fleet in(a) percentage terms, (b) terms of gross registered tonnage and (c) engine power and approximate number of vessels under the multi-annual guidance programme over the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested by the hon Member is as follows:
  821

  GRT

  Engine power (kw)

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Active fleet size

  30 June 1989

  165,878

  —

  849,032

  —

  Target reductions

  31 December 1990

  150,336

  9·4

  785,340

  7·6

  31 December 1991

  141,620

  14·6

  748,145

  11·9

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on commercially active fishing vessels.

  2. Flags of convenience vessels are excluded.

  3. Figures are currently being renegotiated with commision officials.

  4. Vessels numbers are not required for MAGP purposes.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the size of the United Kingdom's fleet of active, commercial fishing vessels in each of the past seven years.

  Mr. Curry
  The size of the United Kingdom's fleet of active, commercial fishing vessels in each of the past seven years is as follows:

  Year

  Number of vessels

  1982

  6,797

  1983

  7,227

  1984

  7,584

  1985

  7,920

  1986

  8,166

  1987

  8,193

  1988

  8,125

  Information for 1989 is not yet available. The figures have been taken from MAFF's annual publication "Sea Fisheries Statistic Tables" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and are as at 31 December of each year.

  Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to include a site or sites in south Wales on the short list of locations for relocation of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce, Reading.

  Mr. Curry
  A site in south Wales has been shortlisted, along with sites in other parts of the United Kingdom, for the relocation of a major part of the work of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce a decision on the relocation of part or all of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce, Reading.

  Mr. Curry
  As soon as my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland, and for Northern Ireland and the Minister of Agriculture have concluded their consideration of the advice received from the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

  Livestock Welfare
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of livestock—red meat animals—at the time of slaughter, he proposes not to implement; which would require primary legislation to implement; and if he will make a statement.
  822
  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter was published on 20 August 1985 (MAFF Press Release No. 235) and a copy is available in the Library of the House. This explains the Government's conclusions on each of the council's recommendations and the reasons for them.

  A number of the council's recommendations are included in proposals for regulations which were issued for public comment on 20 June 1989. Representations received are now being considered and regulations will be laid before Parliament in the near future.

  Primary legislation is needed to:

  require local authorities to designate an official to be responsible for welfare supervision in red meat slaughterhouses;

  enable Ministers to issue directions to local authorities on supervision and enforcement matters relating to welfare;

  give Ministers power to require slaughterhouse management to nominate a member of staff to be specifically responsible for animal welfare;

  give Ministers powers to issue codes of practice with statutory backing on matters relating to welfare of animals in slaughterhouses;

  add rabbits to the species covered by the welfare provisions of the Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980;

  require licences for slaughterhouses to be renewed on an annual basis in Scotland (this is already a requirement in England and Wales);

  provide additional powers necessary for the training and licensing of slaughtermen.

  Primary legislation will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary programme permits.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if animals imported into the United Kingdom for experimentation purposes are subject to normal quarantine regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no exceptions to the general quarantine regulations.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures for the total numbers imported into the United Kingdom for experimentation purposes during 1989 of(a) dogs and (b) primates.

  Mr. Maclean
  During 1989 647 dogs and 3,671 primates were imported into the United Kingdom for research purposes.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts over £92,500 have been let by his Department in the 1988–89 financial year and in the current financial year to date; and how many of these were(a) automatically renewed and (b) open to competition by advertisement throughout the European Community.
  823
  Mr. Cope
  The number of contracts awarded by Northern Ireland Departments and covered by the provisions of the EC supplies directive, for which the current threshold is £92,000, was 23 in the 1988–89 financial year and 26 in the current financial year to date. Of these 11 were awarded following advertisement in the EC journal and 38 were considered to be exempt from advertising and may have been awarded to the previous supplier.

  Police Liaison Committees
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many district councils in Northern Ireland have official or unofficial police liaison committees.

  Mr. Cope
  A total of 21 of the 26 district councils have police liaison committees.

  Recruitment Advertising
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the amount expended on recruitment advertising for the last three years by each

  Recruitment advertising costs incurred by the Civil Service Commission and the NIO

  Financial Year ending

  Regional press (NI)

  National press (United Kingdom)

  Professional journals etc

  Other

  Total

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  31 March 1987

  83,948·70

  13,393·19

  34,800·93

  2,381·40

  134,524·22

  31 March 1988

  84,301·05

  20,722·09

  38,771·50

  Nil

  143,794·72

  31 March 1989

  87,723·22

  22,252·29

  23,415·70

  4,617·40

  138,008·61

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will announce the results of the survey of bathing water quality made in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The results for the survey carried out during the 1989 bathing season showed that all of the 16 identified bathing waters in Northern Ireland met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC bathing water directive. The corresponding figure for 1988 was 14.

  The 1989 results for Northern Ireland are set out in summary form. Arrangements have been made to place a more detailed summary of the results in the Library and also to send copies to the Commission of the European Communities.

  Result

  Magilligan

  Pass

  Castlerock

  Pass

  Portstewart

  Pass

  Portrush (Mill Strand)

  Pass

  Portrush (Curran Strand)

  Pass

  Ballycastle

  Pass

  Brown's Bay

  Pass

  Helen's Bay

  Pass

  Crawfordsburn

  Pass

  Ballyholme

  Pass

  Groomsport

  Pass

  Millisle

  Pass

  Newcastle

  Pass

  Cranfield (Nicholson's Strand)

  Pass

  Cranfield (Cranfield Bay)

  Pass

  Tyrella

  Pass

  824
  Northern Ireland Department and the total amount, together with a breakdown of the spending between (a) regional press, (b) national press, (c) specialist or periodical press and (d) other.

  Mr. Cope
  Recruitment of all permanent non-industrial staff for NI Departments is the responsibility of the Civil Service Commission for Northern Ireland and expenditure cannot be disaggregated. Total expenditure for the last three financial years for NI Departments and the NIO is given in the table.

  The recruitment of industrial staff is usually done through job markets with some expenditure on local press advertising as follows:

  Department

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  DFP

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  DOE

  175

  175

  50

  DED

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  DENI

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  DHSS

  Nil

  Nil

  5,290·81

  DANI

  1,525

  2,001

  1,667

  NIO

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  RUC (Firearms Section)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civilian employees, and of what grades, are employed in the Royal Ulster Constabulary firearms section; what are their salaries; and what were the numbers, grades and salaries five years and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable has informed me that the information on staffing levels and salaries as at 1 January 1990 and five and 10 years ago is as follows:

  Grade

  Numbers

  Salary £ (each)

  January 1990

  Executive Officer II

  1

  9,686

  Administrative Officer

  5

  8,029

  Administrative Assistant

  27

  6,529

  Typist

  2

  6,754

  Total

  35

  January 1985

  Executive Officer II

  1

  7,481

  Administrative Officer

  3

  5,748

  Administrative Assistant

  16

  4,628

  Total

  20

  January 1980

  Administrative Officer

  5

  3,123

  Administrative Assistant

  21

  2,600

  Total

  26

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the reasons for the increase in cost of a new firearms certificate to the present level in January 1990.

  Mr. Cope
  Fees for firearms certificates are set so as to recover the costs of administering the licensing system, the largest single element of which is police staff costs. The fee

  At 31 December

  (a) shotguns

  (b) ·22 rifles

  (c) Full bore

  (d) Other firearms

  1989

  156

  37

  42

  8

  1988

  70

  29

  13

  6

  1987

  83

  15

  21

  4

  1986

  108

  4

  7

  3

  1985

  153

  7

  26

  5

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons in Northern Ireland hold certificates as firearms dealers.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that there are 155 registered firearms dealers in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland, not being firearms dealers, have firearms certificates on which are listed more than 10 firearms which are a mixture of muzzle loading and cartridge firing weapons; whether such persons are treated as collectors of firearms; and what were the numbers of such persons five and 10 years ago or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents of(a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) National Health Service residential homes and (d) National Health Service nursing homes are in receipt of income support; and if he will give details for each health board unit of management.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 January 1990]: The information in relation to (a), (b) and (c) is not readily available and there are no Health Service nursing homes. The available figures are as follows:

  Numbers of income support recipients in private and voluntary homes: May 1989

  Board/unit of management

  In homes for persons in need1

  In nursing homes

  Northern

  Antrim/Ballymena

  84

  139

  Magherafelt/Cookstown

  28

  79

  Coleraine/Ballymoney/Moyle

  166

  191

  Larne/Carrickfergus/Newtownabbey

  42

  259

  826
  for a new firearms certificate was increased from 1 January 1990 to reflect the increased costs since the fee was last set in 1986.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firearms certificates have been issued to visitors to Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for(a) shotguns, (b) ·22 rifles, (c) rifles of a calibre larger than ·22 and (d) other firearms.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is as follows:

  Board/unit of management

  In homes for persons in need1

  In nursing homes

  Southern

  Armagh/Dungannon

  74

  119

  Craigavon/Banbridge

  10

  132

  Newry/Mourne

  86

  183

  Eastern

  South Belfast

  323

  51

  East Belfast/Castlereagh

  102

  72

  North and West Belfast

  172

  242

  Down

  149

  151

  North Down/Ards

  158

  169

  Lisburn

  32

  16

  Western

  Omagh

  10

  37

  Fermanagh

  13

  33

  Londonderry/Limavady/Strabane

  192

  51

  Totals

  1,641

  1,924

  1 Excluding Abbeyfield Homes.

  Numbers of income support recipients in health and social services boards homes: May 1988, 980 (Not available by area. Source: 5 per cent. sample).

  Post Office Counters Ltd.
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Post Office Counters Ltd. was requested, prior to the nominated date of 15 January 1990, to register with the Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland in accordance with the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 22 January 1990]: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 23 January 1990 at column 635.

  Cerebral Palsy
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland What was the number of children born in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, who have been diagnosed as having cerebral palsy.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 22 january 1990]: This information is not available centrally.

  Mines
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list his powers in relation to the licensing of the opening or operation of mines in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: With the exception of precious metals the responsibility for the licensing of any prospecting or mining operations in Northern Ireland falls to the Department of Economic Development under the Mineral Development Act (NI) 1969. The Act vests ownership of most minerals in the Department and empowers it to grant prospecting licences and mining leases, licences, and permissions. Mining applications are subject, of course, to the normal planning procedures operated by the Department of the Environment (NI). The licensing of precious metals is dealt with by the Crown Estate Commissioners.

  Brandywell Stadium
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the safety and fire regulations that apply to the Brandywell stadium.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 January]: Duties are laid upon the employers of work people in the Brandywell stadium and upon the persons in control of the Brandywell stadium by the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

  Regulations made under that order which the Department of Economic Development's health and safety inspectorate considers applicable to work activities at the Brandywell stadium are:—

  The Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979.

  The Safety Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981

  The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982

  The Petroleum—Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1983

  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Brandywell football ground was last inspected in regard to fire and safety regulations and if any improvements were required.

  District council

  1986–87 actual£

  1987–88 actual£

  1988–89 actual£

  1989–90 estimated£

  Antrim

  0

  7,602

  0

  53,030

  Ards

  151,367

  64,654

  83,290

  119,596

  Armagh

  10,147

  1,461

  12,757

  3,096

  Ballymena

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ballymoney

  1,875

  0

  8,772

  59,639

  Banbridge

  3,532

  0

  0

  4,156

  Belfast

  133,753

  216,521

  196,444

  97,698

  Carrickfergus

  0

  3,474

  0

  0

  Castlereagh

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coleraine

  405,183

  34,444

  89,531

  159,385

  Cookstown

  0

  0

  10,005

  50,000

  Craigavon

  0

  0

  13,124

  690

  Derry

  2,772

  17,957

  10,465

  33,815

  Down

  58,807

  14,571

  95,044

  123,591

  Dungannon

  2,176

  20,329

  20,602

  54,523

  Fermanagh

  61,407

  160,732

  42,245

  74,066

  Larne

  49,959

  55,363

  143,653

  35,778

  Limavady

  50

  10,910

  51,990

  93,393

  Lisburn

  0

  0

  0

  12,000

  Magherafelt

  0

  0

  0

  22,000

  Moyle

  99,288

  52,633

  0

  0

  828
  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The last inspection of the Brandywell football ground by an inspector from the Department of Economic Development's health and safety inspectorate was on 8 April 1986. At this inspection it was confirmed that certain improvements had been made in compliance with recommendations arising out of an earlier inspection on 9 July 1985.

  The last inspection by the Northern Ireland fire brigade was on 14 December 1989. No improvements were required.

  Sporting Events (Disturbances)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those sporting events in Northern Ireland in 1989 at which there were disturbances either during the event or among supporters preceding or following the event which required action by the police; how many persons were arrested at each such disturbance; and what were the events and teams involved.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Tourism
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show for each of the last three years the sums paid by the Government to each district council in Northern Ireland to encourage tourism; what sums for capital expenditure have been paid to each council for tourist amenities; and what are his projections for the current and future two years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 January 19901: Government assistance to district councils for tourism development takes the form of grants toward the cost of providing tourist amenities. The amounts paid in each financial year are as follows:

  829

  District council

  1986–87 actual £

  1987–88 actual £

  1988–89 actual £

  1989–90 estimated £

  Newry and Mourne

  17,193

  25,552

  28,624

  53,423

  Newtownabbey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Down

  11,070

  3,787

  0

  14,682

  Omagh

  8,503

  7,450

  18,338

  122,268

  Strabane

  0

  655

  18,588

  45,512

  TOTAL

  1,017,082

  698,095

  843,472

  1,232,341

  Present estimates for the total expenditure for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are £1·17 million and £1·2 million respectively. Expenditure in respect of each council will depend on the extent and speed with which that council takes forward eligible projects.

  Suckler cow gross margins (£s per cow)

  Cow Type

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Lowland

  233

  140

  140

  277

  229

  Original Less Favoured Area

  232

  191

  180

  253

  299

  New Less Favoured Area'

  —

  —

  234

  282

  330

  1 Insufficient data in 1984–85 and 1985–86 to justify publication.

  Source:The Northern Ireland Farm Business Survey.

  An estimate of net profit per cow would require that farm fixed costs are allocated to individual enterprises. It is not possible to do this on a realistic basis.

  Animal Feeds
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what safeguards have been implemented to ensure that imported grain which has been contaminated with lead or other substances dangerous to animal health will not be incorporated into animal feeds sold in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: It is a requirement that animal feed, including imports and imported ingredients, comply with the Feeding Stuffs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988. These regulations, which are enforced by inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, prescribe the maximum permitted limits for undesirable substances, including lead, in animal feed.

  Students Unions
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums from public funds were paid to the student's union in each of the following institutions of higher education in Northern Ireland in the academic years 1987–88 and 1988–89, or financial years if more convenient(a) Queen's university, (b) University of Ulster, Coleraine, (c) University of Ulster, Jordanstown, (d) University of Ulster, Londonderry, (e) Stranmillis college, (f) St. Mary's college and (g) St. Joseph's college.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The sums are as follows:
  830

  Suckler Cows
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to what was the average gross margin for a suckler cow in Northern Ireland in the years 1984 to 1989; and what information he has as to the average net profit per cow.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: Average gross margins for suckler cows for the years 1984–85 to 1988–89 are presented in the table.

  Academic Years

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  (a) The Queen's University of Belfast1

  464,162

  358,315

  (b-d) University of Ulster2

  453,450

  528,000

  Financial Years

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  (e) Stranmillis College

  34,500

  36,980

  (f-g) St. Mary's College3

  27,793

  28,935

  1 At QUB there was an apparent decline in funding, but this eflects the rationalisation of overspending in a previous year.

  2 It is not possible to subdivide the amount of funding between the various campuses of the University.

  3 St. Joseph's college ceased to exist as a separate entity when it nerged with St. Mary's college on 1 September 1985 to become St. dary's college.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a separate audit is carried out into the costs of the firearms section of Royal Ulster Constabulary headquarters.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: No, but the firearms section records and associated accounts are open to audit by the National Audit Office in the same way as other accounting records maintained by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

SCOTLAND

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the future levels of hill livestock compensatory allowances; and if he will make a statement.
  831
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 23 January, column 641–42.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure each year since 1986 on hill livestock compensatory allowances.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total expenditure in Scotland on hill livestock compensatory allowances in each year since 1986 was as follows:

  £ million

  1986

  43

  1987

  43

  1988

  44

  1989

  145

  1 Provisional.

  Local Authority Spending
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average increase in local authority spending in Scotland in each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authority spending in Scotland showed an average increase of 8·3 per cent. in 1988–89 and a budgeted increase of 10·9 per cent. in 1989–90.

  Local authorities have been warned that they cannot expect such increases to be endorsed through corresponding increases in central Government support. If they persist with such overspending it will lead inevitably to higher community charges for which they will be responsible and answerable to their local electorates.

  Environmental Protection
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make funds available to local authorities for recycling and other environmental protection measures.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I support expenditure by local authorities through aggregate external finance, which assists the

  Long-term unemployed1

  Claimants

  January 1980 Registrants

  January 1983

  January 1989

  October 1989

  October 1989 as a percentage of all claimants

  Scotland

  46,915

  119,874

  106,190

  86,192

  40

  Strathclyde

  29,393

  75,242

  63,515

  53,266

  52

  Greenock and Port Glasgow2

  29,393

  75,242

  3,123

  2,498

  49

  Source: Department of Employment.

  1 Unemployed for more than 52 weeks.

  2 Figures on the number unemployed analysed by Parliamentary Constituency are available only from June 1983.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the unemployment statistics for Greenock and Port Glasgow by district electoral division, or on another convenient basis; and what were the comparable figures for 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives a breakdown of the number unemployed in each ward in Inverclyde district in December 1988 and 1989.
  832
  provision of the full range of local authority services. Within their environmental services recycling can become largely self-financing.

  Marine Fish Farms
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consents have been granted by each of the water authorities in the regions and islands for marine fish farms in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In Scotland, responsibility for aquatic pollution control and issuing consents for discharges to water lies with the river purification authorities, the seven mainland river purification boards and the three islands councils. The information requested by the hon. Member is not held centrally, but is recorded in the public registers maintained by the RPAs under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of people who were classified as long-term unemployed in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in January 1980, January 1983, January 1989 and for the most recent date for which figures are available;

  (2) how many and what percentage of claimants in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole were classified as long-term unemployed people at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  The available information is given in the table. Unemployment is analysed by duration quarterly and October 1989 is the latest date for which information is available on the number of long-term unemployed. Direct comparisons of unemployment by duration since 1979 are not possible because of the changes in October 1982 from a count of registrants at jobcentres to a count based on unemployed claimants and because of other changes in the coverage of the count.

  Ward Name

  1988

  1989

  Kilmacolm

  125

  90

  Port Glasgow East

  568

  424

  Port Glasgow South

  470

  377

  Clune Brae

  449

  353

  Port Glasgow West

  307

  254

  Gibshill

  623

  458

  Blairmore

  339

  284

  Bellville

  388

  330

  Greenock East Central

  685

  554

  Broomhill

  269

  204

  833

  Ward Name

  1988

  1989

  Gateside

  259

  243

  Bow

  444

  374

  Larkfield

  392

  311

  Upper Larkfield

  429

  314

  Greenock South

  386

  261

  Greenock West Central

  244

  165

  Greenock West End

  175

  108

  Cardwell Bay

  224

  157

  Gourock

  249

  207

  Firth

  206

  159

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of unemployment expressed as a percentage, according to the latest available figures for(a) the Greenock travel-to-work area, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; and what were the comparable figures 10 years ago.

  Mr. Lang
  The table shows the level of unemployment expressed as a percentage for the Greenock travel-to-work area, Strathclyde and Scotland as a whole, calculated on the narrow base, for December 1979 and 1989.

  The figures are affected by the changes in the compilation of the counts and are not directly comparable.

  December 1979

  December 1989

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Greenock

  10·8

  15·1

  Strathclyde

  9·5

  12·1

  Scotland

  8·0

  9·7

  Council House Sales
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many council properties have been sold to council house tenants in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in each of the past five years; and what proportion of the total stock of council properties in (a), (b) and (c) these sales represent in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 March 1989,Official Report, volume 149, column 36.

  Updated information for 1988 and for 1989 is given in the table:

  Sales to council house tenants in Inverclyde, Strathclyde and Scotland 1988–89

  Number of sales

  Percentage of stock sold1

  1988

  Inverclyde

  281

  1·5

  Strathclyde

  10,963

  2·5

  Scotland

  22,622

  2·7

  1989

  January-September

  Inverclyde

  223

  1·2

  Strathclyde2

  9,415

  2·2

  Scotland2

  21,125

  2·6

  Source: SDD S3 and Rent Returns

  1Stock at 30 September of previous year used in calculation.

  2Cumnock & Doon Valley and Monklands outstanding for July-September 1989.
  834

  Inverclyde Initiative
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been created by the Inverclyde initiative in the Inverclyde area; and, of these, how many are filled by women in full-time employment.

  Mr. Lang
  The Inverclyde initiative aims to stimulate local economic activity and create opportunities for employment. It does not itself directly create new jobs. Information is not therefore available in the form requested.

  However, total jobs created by projects which have been assisted by the Inverclyde initiative between March 1985 and March 1989 are approximately 3,100.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total amount spent by the Scottish Development Agency, by way of the Inverclyde initiative; and if he will break down the expenditure on the Inverclyde initiative, showing on what it has been spent.

  Mr. Lang
  Expenditure by the Scottish Development Agency from March 1985 to December 1989 is set out in the table.

  £ million

  Environmental improvements

  4·5

  Acquisition and preparation of sites for industrial/ commercial development

  10·7

  Acquisition/development of industrial/premises

  1·8

  Total

  17·0

  Social Work Training
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many social workers have successfully undertaken training programmes, approved by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, in order to qualify as mental health officers under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 in each of the regional and islands' councils' social work departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Detailed information in the form requested is not yet available. The following social work staff are estimated by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to have completed a training programme approved, or accepted as comparable to a programme approved, by the council in relation to the requirements of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984, as at 31 December 1989.

  Numbers

  Lothian and Borders Training Consortium

  Borders Regional Council

  88

  Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council

  Lothian Regional Council

  Northern Training Consortium

  Grampian Regional Council

  44

  Highland Regional Council

  Orkney Islands Council

  Shetland Islands Council

  Western Islands Council

  Tayforth Training Consortium

  Central Regional Council

  62

  Fife Regional Council

  Tayside Regional Council

  835

  Numbers

  West of Scotland Training Consortium

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  212

  Pesticide Research
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has now received the findings of the research into the effects of Nuvan 500 EC undertaken by members of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries marine laboratory in Aberdeen; if he will place any publications or reports concerning this research in the Library; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has received the findings of the research into less-toxic or non-toxic alternatives to the pesticide Nuvan 500 EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  A wide range of studies is being undertaken by DAFS, and other organisations, on the use and effects of Aquagard (formerly Nuvan 500 EC) and on possible alternative treatments for sea lice infestation of farmed salmon.

  A report on the toxicity of Aquagard for other species has been prepared by DAFS scientists and will be published shortly. A copy of this report and any subsequent publications of work by DAFS scientists will be placed in the Library.

  Work is in progress on identification and assessment of possible chemical alternatives to Aquagard. The work which is being partly funded by the salmon farming industry is not yet complete. I gave details of other work on other alternatives in my written replies to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 22 November.

  Urban Aid Programme
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report (a) the total allocation for the financial year 1990–91 under the urban aid

  Name

  Date of First Appointment

  Nominated by

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. J. D. Ryan CBE (Chairman)

  1 April 1979

  Mr. J. D. Barnett

  1 April 1987

  Scottish Episcopal Church, Diocese of Argyll and the Isles.

  Mr. A. H. Brabender

  1 April 1983

  Scottish Conservative Party

  Mr. J. Campbell

  1 April 1983

  Paisley and District Branch of Confederation of Health Service Employees

  Mr. L. Capaldi

  12 January 1978

  Mr. H. Ewing MP

  Mr. G. M. Deuchars

  1 April 1987

  Bank of Scotland

  Dr. S. G. McAlpine

  1 April 1983

  Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons

  Mrs. L. C. McKichan

  1 April 1987

  British Red Cross Society: Health Board

  Mr. G. McMillan

  1 April 1987

  Regional Council

  Mr. R. R. Reid

  1 April 1983

  Argyll and Bute District council and Argyll and Bute Local Health Council

  Appointed to 31 March 1993

  Mr. N. M. Faccenda

  1 April 1980

  Mr. John Mackay

  Mrs. M. A. Foggie

  1 April 1985

  Inverclyde Local Health Council

  Dr. A. M. Kelly

  1 April 1985

  Association of Clinical Biochemists

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  1 April 1981

  Cancer Research Committee

  Dr. J. Moffat

  1 April 1981

  Royal College of Psychiatrists

  GENERAL MANAGER

  Mr. I. C. Smith

  1 April 1989

  836
  programme, (b) the amount awarded to voluntary associations within that figure and (c) the proportion of the overall amount which is allocated for voluntary associations in respect of (i) Inverclyde, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government's public expenditure decisions, recently announced, will enable approved urban programme expenditure in Scotland in 1990–91 to rise to a total of £68·989 million. This represents a considerable increase over the 1989–90 programme.

  Some £39·6 million of this will be taken up by existing projects. The balance will be taken up partly by adjustments to the costs and expenditure phasing of projects already approved, but mainly by new approvals arising from the 1990–91 competition, currently in progress.

  Of the £39·6 million already allocated for 1990–91 some £23·1 million, 58·3 per cent. is for projects managed by community and voluntary groups. Approximately 64·7 per cent. of this amount is for projects in Strathclyde and 2·7 per cent. for projects in Inverclyde.

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names of the chairman and members of the Argyll and Clyde health board, their periods of office and the organisations from which they were recruited, selected and appointed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health board members are appointed as individuals on the basis of their skills and experience. The table gives the names of the chairman and members of Argyll and Clyde health board, their period of appointment and information on any nominating organisation or individual.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names of the chairman and directors of the Scottish Development

  Term of Office

  Name

  Appointment

  From

  To

  Remuneration £

  Sir David Nickson

  Chairman

  1 January 1989

  31 December 1990

  35,870

  (Member, 1 July 1988 to 31 December 1988)

  Sir Douglas Hardie CBE JP

  Deputy Chairman

  3 February 1981

  31 December 1990

  18,550

  (Member, 15 December 1978 to 2 February 1981)

  Iain Robertson

  Chief Executive

  1 September 1987

  31 August 1992

  57,000

  James S. Gordon CBE

  Member

  1 January 1981

  30 June 1990

  5,065

  Sir Robert Cowan

  Member

  1 February 1982

  31 July 1992

  Nil

  Ian C. Wood CBE

  Member

  1 April 1984

  30 June 1990

  5,065

  Sir Peter Main

  Member

  1 January 1986

  31 December 1990

  5,065

  George F. Robertson FRICS

  Member

  1 January 1987

  31 December 1990

  5,065

  Gavin H Laird CBE

  Member

  1 January 1987

  31 December 1990

  5,065

  Sir Graham Hills FRSC, FRSE

  Member

  1 January 1988

  31 December 1991

  5,065

  Jean McFadden JP, DL

  Member

  1 January 1989

  31 December 1990

  5,065

  Individuals are appointed to the agency board in recognition of the personal contribution they can make to the work of the agency and not as representatives of particular bodies. They do, of course, bring to bear experience in relevant fields of activity, including industry, property, small businesses, higher education, local government and trades unions, and appointments are made with a view to having an appropriate balance of experience and interests.

  Housing Tenure
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the proportion of different forms of housing tenure in Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information is published in Housing and Construction Statistics, part 2, table 2.22—which is available in the House Library.

  Sea Bed Monitoring
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the monitoring of the sea bed immediately adjacent to the wreckage of Piper Alpha and the surrounding area.

  Mr. Lang
  As I indicated in my previous reply to the hon. Member on 25 July last year (volume 157, columns 645–46) the results of initial monitoring work by DAFS scientists were published and copies of the reports placed in the Library.

  In addition, as part of the abandonment programme approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy under the Petroleum Act 1987, Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Ltd. and its co-venturers have been required to carry out surveys to determine the disposition of the debris, to examine the remains of the installation for petroleum leakage and to sample water sediment and fish for the presence of PCBs and radioactivity. The results of these surveys have been received and views on them will shortly be invited from representatives of the fishing industry and the Nature Conservancy Council. It will then be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy to decide what further action may be necessary under the abandonment programme in the light of the
  838
  Agency, their periods of office, their annual remuneration and the organisations and associations from which they were recruited, selected and appointed.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is set out in the table.

  results of the survey, the views of interested parties and expert advice, including that of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland marine laboratory, Aberdeen and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate.

  DAFS will continue to monitor the area around Piper Alpha as part of its general monitoring of the environmental quality of sea waters around Scotland.

  Victim Support Schemes
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Scottish Office funding for victim support schemes in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Office has assisted the Scottish Association of Victim Support Schemes for the past five years through a grant under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Scottish Office funding for the victim support movement is in line with the Government's policy to improve services to victims of crime generally. Funding has risen from £600 in 1984–85 to £286,000 in 1989–90. In Strathclyde 10 co-ordinator posts in local schemes have been funded by this means.

  Apart from a special grant of £13,000 in March 1989 to meet a specific financial difficulty, no central Government grant has been paid to the Strathclyde association (a regional body representing local schemes in Strathclyde). Strathclyde regional council provides significant funding to the Strathclyde association and actively supports the objectives of the Scottish association.

  Prison Building Programme
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current prison building programme and renovations to prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The current prison building programme is, at nearly £14 million for 1989–90, the largest to date. The projects included in the programme are carefully prioritised to ensure that the most urgent work is carried out first. This includes, in particular, work relating to security, health and safety, hygiene, medical provision and the improvement of inmate and staff accommodation.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table, taking 1979 as 100, of investment in real terms in manufacturing in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives estimated gross domestic fixed capital formation in £ million at current prices by manufacturing industry in Scotland in each year between 1977 and 1987, the latest year for which figures are available. It is not possible to provide estimates in real terms.

  Gross domestic fixed capital formation by manufacturing industry in Scotland

  £ millions

  1977

  491

  1978

  523

  1979

  561

  1980

  645

  1981

  586

  1982

  541

  1983

  470

  1984

  597

  1985

  861

  1986

  788

  1987

  738

  Source: Central Statistical Office.

  Ambulance Dispute
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the costs to date to each of Scotland's police forces caused by the industrial dispute in the ambulance service.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Police forces in Scotland have responded to over 6,700 calls for assistance since the current dispute in the Scottish ambulance service began.

  No claims for reimbursement of the costs incurred have yet been submitted by the police forces concerned to the Common Services Agency.

  School Meals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the change in the take-up of school meals, since 1986, in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Lang
  Information about school meals in Strathclyde region is collected on an education division basis and is not available separately for Inverclyde. Details on the take-up of meals in Strathclyde and Scotland during the period 1986–89 can be found in the annual reports of the school meal census, copies of which are in the Library.

  Crack
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of prosecutions concerned with the trafficking in or possession of the drug crack in each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There have been no seizures of "crack" recorded by the police in Scotland. The available information on prosecutions relating to cocaine, of which "crack" is a derivative, are published in "Statistics of the misuse of drugs: seizures and offenders 840
  dealt with, United Kingdom, 1988—Scotland Tables", a copy of which will shortly be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Manouchehr Tehrani
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding the dismissal of Mr. Manouchehr Tehrani from his employment as a consultant-surgeon at the Inverclyde royal hospital, by the Argyll and Clyde health board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. Mr. Tehrani's law agents have, however, intimated that they are taking their client's instructions concerning future action relating to his appeal against dismissal. A decision is awaited.

  Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Industry
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of people employed in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry in Scotland in each year from 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives the available information, from the censuses of employment in 1981, 1984 and 1987, showing the total number of people employed in the shipbuilding and repairing industry in Scotland in September of each ear. There is no comparable information available for 1979.

  Employees in employment in Shipbuilding and Repairing' in Scotland

  Thousands

  September 1981

  31·2

  September 1984

  22·2

  September 1987

  16·3

  Source: Censuses of employment.

  1 Activity heading 3610 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification.

  Offshore Fabrication Yards
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of people employed in the offshore fabrication yards in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Lang
  The table shows estimates of employment in the major offshore fabrication yards in Scotland in June each year from 1980 to 1989.

  June

  Employment

  1980

  6,420

  1981

  8,036

  1982

  9,392

  1983

  8,425

  1984

  6,684

  1985

  4,941

  1986

  6,817

  1987

  4,719

  1988

  2,426

  1989

  4,052

  Source: Training agency.

  Kelvin Central plc
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will provide details of the criteria used in selecting the in-house bid for Kelvin Central plc to receive financial assistance from the Scottish Transport Group;
  841
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 22 January, why the Scottish Transport Group decided not to provide financial assistance to the employee-led bid for Kelvin Central plc.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Financial assistance was made available by the Scottish Transport Group to the management-employee team led by the managing director of the company in the light of information supplied by the team about the shareholding structure and financing arrangements proposed for their bid. No request for assistance has been received for any other employee-based group.

  White Fish Quota Allocation
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail both the white fish quota allocation, by species and areas, and the final catch for the non-sector fishing boats, by species and area, for 1989.

  Mr. Lang
  The table shows the final allocations made and provisional figures for landings by non-sector vessels for the eight white fish stocks for which there were sectoral allocations in 1989.

  Non-sector allocation for 1989

  Non-sector landings in 19891

  North Sea [11a(EC), IV]

  Cod

  7,901

  6,843

  Haddock

  6,892

  6,672

  Whiting

  5,361

  2,849

  Saithe

  982

  853

  West of Scotland [Vb(EC), VI(EC)]

  Cod

  799

  816

  Haddock

  3,590

  2,674

  Whiting

  1,498

  704

  Saithe

  351

  239

  1 Provisional.

  Fisheries Conservation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implications of the Aberdeen sheriff court judgment of 19 January for fisheries conservation policy.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government are still studying the text of the judgment. Changes may be necessary in the wording of fishing vessel licences and in the basis on which prosecutions for certain categories of offence are brought before the courts. However, alleged breaches of the quotas made to individual vessels by fisheries departments will still be reported for prosecution.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the ruling by Sheriff Douglas Risk at Aberdeen sheriff court on 19 January that overfishing charges are not a criminal offence under the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967 as amended by the Sea Fish Licensing Order 1983; what action he intends to take to amend current legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The sheriff found that exceeding the allocation made in respect of an individual vessel should be regarded as a contravention of the limitations of fishing vessel licences under section 4(5) of the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967, rather than a contravention of the 842
  conditions included in fishing vessel licences under section 4(6) of the above Act. He further found that section 4(6) of the Act could not be regarded as subsuming section 4(5). This judgment has implications for the wording of fishing vessel licences and for the basis on which certain kinds of prosecutions are brought, and the Government are considering these urgently. However, alleged breaches of the quotas made to individual vessels by fisheries departments will still be reported for prosecution. In his judgment, the sheriff acknowledged that prosecutions might be brought under different subsections of the Act or that other steps might be taken to ensure that allocations are adhered to.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board and for Scotland as a whole the number of(a) acute beds and (b) non-acute beds for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Bathing Waters
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the results of the survey of bathing water quality made in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The results of the monitoring carried out by river purification boards in 1989 showed that 16 of the 23 identified Scottish waters met the mandatory standards for coliform bacteria set by the European Community bathing water directive, as compared with 12 in the 1988 bathing season.

  While this improvement is encouraging, the effects of the better weather in 1989 are likely to have been a factor in the results. In the longer term, progress will be founded on the capital works programme for which my right hon. and learned Friend announced increased provision in December 1989, with the specific objective of enabling water authorities to accelerate their spending on water and sewerage projects, and in particular to meet the target of compliance with the directive's standards at 95 per cent. of bathing waters by the mid-1990s and full compliance within 10 years.

  The 1989 results for Scotland are set out in the table. A more detailed summary of the results is being placed in the Library, and the results will also be made known to the Commission of the European Communities.

  Result

  Nairn (East beach)

  Pass

  Cullen

  Pass

  Fraserburgh

  Pass

  Aberdeen

  Pass

  Montrose

  Pass

  Arbroath

  Fail

  Carnoustie

  Fail

  St. Andrew's (West Sands)

  Pass

  Kinghorn (Pettycur)

  Pass

  Aberdour (Silversands)

  Pass

  Gullane

  Pass

  North Berwick (Milsey Bay)

  Pass

  Yelowcraigs

  Pass

  Dunbar (Belhaven)

  Pass

  Pease Bay

  Pass

  Sandyhills

  Pass

  843

  Result

  Girvan

  Pass

  Turnberry

  Fail

  Ayr (South beach)

  Fail

  Prestwick

  Fail

  Troon (South beach)

  Pass

  Irvine-Gailes (New Town)

  Fail

  Saltcoats/Ardrossan (South beach)

  Fail

  Illegal Dumping
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he takes to monitor the dumping of asbestos in the river Clyde off Cloch point; and what information he has on what other dangerous waste or products have been dumped there.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 January 1990]: The dumping of waste at sea is subject to licences, under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. No licences have been issued for disposal of asbestos at sea. Licences are issued by DAFS, however, for the disposal at sea of dredge spoil from Clyde navigation channels.

  For the dump site near Cloch point, licence holders are required to submit details of the material they intend to dump and to carry out sampling and analysis of individual consignments for contaminants including asbestos. This process has revealed only trace amounts of asbestos contamination at the Cloch point site and the levels recorded are not thought to present any threat to human or marine life.

  Scrutiny of applications and monitoring of dumping operations are carried out in accordance with international obligations of the United Kingdom under the Oslo convention on dumping of material at sea and the Government's commitment to apply to all United Kingdom waters principles laid down in the ministerial declaration of the second North sea conference. Annual reports on dumping operations are submitted to the commission of the Oslo convention.

DEFENCE

  Aircraft Crashes
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the level of training and length of experience required before aircrew can take part in Royal Air Force low-flying exercises; and what was the level of training and experience of the aircrew involved in crashes during such exercises during the last two years.

  Mr. Neubert
  Aircrew are not permitted to take part in RAF exercises, including low-flying exercises, until they have received appropriate training and have demonstrated that they possess the requisite skills. This was the case for all aircrew involved in major accidents during such exercises over the last two years.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft crashes have taken place in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) north-east England and (d) north-west England over the past 10 years.
  844
  Mr. Neubert
  There have been the following major accidents involving British military airctraft since 1 January 1980:

  Number

  wales

  118

  Scotland

  21

  North-east England

  117

  North-west England

  5

  1 Each figure includes one aircraft damaged while on the ground.

  Near Miss
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the near miss involving an RAF Tornado and flight BA5950 on Friday 19 January.

  Mr. Neubert
  An air miss report has been filed with the Civil Aviation Authority by the captain of a Boeing 737 aircraft, following an incident on Friday 19 January. The report is being investigated in the normal way. Until the investigation is complete, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

  Greenham and Crookham Commons
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) of the parcels of land at Greenham common or Crookham common acquired by compulsory purchase if he will specify(a) the details of the land acquired (b) the names of the vendors, (c) the date or dates of acquisition, (d) the statutory authority used for the purchases and (e) the consultative procedures carried out prior to acquisition;

  (2) which parts of Greenham common and Crookham common were purchased under compulsory powers; and which were purchased by voluntary agreement with the vendor by his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No parts of Greenham and Crookham commons were purchased under compulsory powers by the Ministry of Defence. Land was requisitioned under emergency powers during the last war and the freeholds were later acquired by agreement.

  Main Battle Tank
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies have been carried out to evaluate the M1 Abrams as a replacement main battle tank for the United Kingdom;

  (2) what studies have been carried out to evaluate the Leopard 2 as a replacement main battle tank for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  By the time of a decision on the tank to replace the Chieftain tank, each of the contenders will have been subjected to a process of detailed assessment against our requirement.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made any revision to the United Kingdom's requirement for main battle tanks in the light of recent events in eastern Europe.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We keep our investment in all weapons systems, including main battle tanks, under constant review.

  Soviet Military Doctrine
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has commissioned into the purported change of Soviet military doctrine from an offensive to a defensive one.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We welcome the recent shift in emphasis in Soviet military doctrine towards defensive objectives. In consultation with our allies we are studying closely statements by senior Soviet spokesmen on the subject, and will continue to watch with interest the evolution of Soviet views on "reasonable sufficiency" in defence. We are also monitoring the extent to which force structures are modified to reflect changes in doctrine.

  Armed Forces (Re-enlistment)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to encourage re-enlistment in the armed forces in an effort to combat reduced manpower projections for the 1990s; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All three services encourage the re-enlistment of ex-service personnel. It is their practice to advise those leaving of the opportunities and the methods for re-enlistment. They also approach selected ex-service personnel to remind them of the possibilities which exist for re-enlistment.

  Date

  Exhibition

  Venue

  12 August 1987

  Welsh Folk Museum

  St. Fagans, Nr. Cardiff

  12 August 1987

  National Museum of Wales

  Cardiff

  22 October 1987

  "Cadw Collection" launch

  Institute of Contemporary Arts

  22 October 1987

  "Success by Design Exhibition"

  Henry Moore Gallery, Royal College of Art

  12 November 1987

  Save the Children Fund "Treasures of Wales

  Cardiff Castle

  10 October 1988

  "Jack Jones Recent Paintings of Wales

  Stepton Bartley Gallery

  28 February 1989

  Paintings by Peter Scott

  33 New Bond Street

  13 March 1989

  Opening of Exhibition of Mountain Ash Comprehensive School Paintings

  Cathays Park, Cardiff

  11 September 1989

  Paintings by David Carpanini

  Rhondda Heritage Museum

  14 November 1989

  Oriel Gallery

  Cardiff

  Chernobyl Contamination
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department will launch a comprehensive aerial survey into the effects of post-Chernobyl contamination in north Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  No. It is unlikely that such a survey would add significantly to the data provided through existing monitoring arrangements.
  846

  Laser Systems
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to see that laser dazzle sight systems are fitted to all United Kingdom destroyers and frigates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is our policy to ensure that all HM ships are fitted with equipment appropriate to their role and theatre of operations.

  Chinook Support Helicopter
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has instructed any evaluation of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook support helicopter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter is already in service with the RAF. Its capability is kept under regular review.

WALES

  Exhibitions
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the exhibitions of paintings, photographs and sculpture which he has visited in an official capacity since 1987.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have visited the following exhibitions since June 1987.

  Hill Farmers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average income level of hill farmers in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Average farm income figures for hill and upland (LFA) farms for years 1986 and 1987 have been published in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom:
  847
  1988." Similar information for later years is due to be published, early next month, in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom: 1989."

  Water Act Authorisations
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many(a) consents and (b) authorisations have been made subject to any conditions in accordance with section 152 (4) or (5) of the Water Act 1989;

  (2) how many (a) consents and (b) authorisations he has made for the disposal of land, or rights or interests in or over any land, in accordance with section 152 (3) of the Water Act 1989;

  (3) how many requests he has received for his (a) consent or (b) general authorisation for the disposal of land, or of any interest or right in or over any land, in accordance with section 152 (2) of the Water Act 1989;

  (4) if he will list the location of all land, or the nature and location of any right or interest in or over any land, which has been subject to a request for consent for disposal in accordance with section 152 (2) of the Water Act 1989, specifying which have received his consent or general authorisation under section 152 (4), and what if any conditions were attached under section 152 (4) and (5).

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend has consented, under section 152 (2) and (3) of the Water Act 1989, to the disposal by Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig of one parcel of land forming a substantial part of the Elan Valley estate in Powys, Mid Wales.

  Under section 152 (4), my right hon. Friend gave his consent subject to the condition that disposal was to a charitable trust whose objectives are identified in the conditions of its trust deed.

  Water Act Covenants
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has had an opportunity to enter into a convenant with a company holding an appointment under chapter I of part II of the Water Act 1989 for the purposes set out in section 152 (7) of that Act; how many convenants have been entered into; on how many occasions he has declined to enter into such covenants; and what were his reasons in each case.

  Mr. Grist
  None.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the impact of mad cow disease on Wales in 1990.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is expected to continue to affect cattle in Wales in 1990 at approximately the present level. Precautionary measures have been taken to safeguard human health.

  Pig Producers
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pig producers went out of business in Wales between 1980 and 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information is not available in the form requested. The numbers of holdings classified as 848
  being of specialist pig, and mixed pig and poultry, types in 1980 and 1988 (the latest year for which figures are available) are shown in the following table:

  Number of Holdings

  Specialist pigs

  Mixed pigs and poultry

  1980

  143

  270

  1988

  84

  105

  The figures refer to statistically significant agricultural holdings only.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the total allocation for 1990–91 under the urban programme, (b) the amount allocated for voluntary organisations within that figure and (c) the percentage of the total figure which is allocated for voluntary organisations in respect of (i) the local authorities of South Glamorgan, (ii) the county of South Glamorgan, (iii) the city of Cardiff, (iv) the borough of the Vale of Glamorgan and (v) any other local authorities in South Glamorgan.

  Mr. Grist
  The information as requested is shown in the following table:

  Urban programme

  (a) Total 1990–91 urban programme allocation

  £29,187,000

  (b) Total allocated to voluntary organisations

  £34,493,205

  (c) Percentage of voluntary organisations share allocated to:—

  (i) local authorities of South Glamorgan

  15·4 per cent.

  (ii) South Glamorgan County Council

  8·5 per cent.

  (iii) Cardiff City Council

  6·1 per cent.

  (iv) Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council

  0·8 per cent.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what considerations are taken into account in deciding the appointment of the general managers of family practitioner committees.

  Mr. Grist
  In recruiting general managers, the overriding consideration for the employing authorities must be to identify and appoint the best qualified candidates. In making their individual choices FPCs will have been particularly anxious to secure managers able to undertake the additional tasks arising from the White Papers "Promoting Better Health" and "Working for Patients".

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that community health councils will have a role to play in ensuring public participation in the planning of health care services.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's proposals for the restructuring of community health councils in Wales, which are currently out to consultation, do not envisage any change in their primary role. They will continue to monitor the quality of services and comment on issues relating to changing patterns of service which have a bearing on the welfare of patients. The consultation
  849
  document makes it clear that CHCs are expected to provide the major consumer voice on local health service issues. The proposals are intended to strengthen and focus that consumer voice and provide a more strategic overview of DHA and FPC activity from the consumer perspective.

  Health Planning Forum
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to include representatives of consumers on the Welsh health planning forum.

  Mr. Grist
  Members of the planning forum are selected for their personal contribution rather than as representatives of a particular interest. Nonetheless, the forum sub-groups being established to develop work in the key areas of health gain and people-centred services will have a user input; and we are sympathetic to the forum itself including an explicit consumer voice.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult the Welsh counties committee before setting(a) the time-limit for transitional arrangements and (b) the permanent formula for calculating school staff salary budgets under local financial management.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Advice on the transition arrangements and formula funding is contained in circular 36/88. The Welsh counties committee was included in the list of organisations which were invited to comment on the draft circular.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will extend the proposed transitional period to the year 2000 for variations according to actual, and not average, staff salary bills, in the staff salary component of local financial management schemes in maintained schools.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  There are no plans for a general extension of the transition period beyond April 1994. We shall, however, look sympathetically at proposals to extend the transition period selectively for schools which would otherwise be faced with annual reductions of 1 per cent. or more in their total budgets because their staff costs are above the LEA average.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow county councils to set a school staff salary formula under local financial management, which reflects actual salary costs in individual schools.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Our position on calculating teacher salary costs in primary schools was outlined in my reply on 20 April last to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard). Secondary schools' budgets will be based on average teachers' salary costs. This is because to fund the actual salary costs of individual schools would mean funding schools according to numbers of teachers rather than numbers of pupils. This would be counter to the policy aim of putting pupil numbers at the heart of funding.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow each county council local discretion in setting the formula for the staff salary component under local financial management in maintained schools.
  850
  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Each LEA was required to devise its own formula having regard to local needs and circumstances and after consultation with the governing body and head teacher of all the schools that will be covered by its LMS scheme. The formula must be based on an assessment of schools' objective needs and conform to the requirements of the Education Reform Act and the guidance in circular 36/88.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that no Welsh health authority implements a decision to close a geriatric hospital on a temporary basis without full consultation with the appropriate county social services department and voluntary organisations;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to treat all proposed temporary hospital closures in South Glamorgan as though they were proposals for permanent hospital closures, for the purpose of the consultation procedure laid down.

  Mr. Grist
  We have no plans to change the present policy in respect of hospital closures in this context. This recognises that temporary closures can be part of the day-to-day management of the resources of a health authority and an issue for local decision. None the less, any such closure amounting to a substantial change in service is subject to such advance consultation as is reasonably possible with the relevant community health council. We would always expect health authorities to give full and careful consideration to the needs of patients when making alternative provision for them.

  Inflation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to recompense health authorities for the financial year 1990–91 for the underestimation by the Government of the rate of inflation for 1989 as measured by the Government's published retail price index;

  (2) what financial assistance he will make available to South Glamorgan health authority to make good its published estimated financial deficit for the year 1990–91;

  (3) what proposals he has for recompensing health authorities drawing up their budgets for the next financial year for the underestimation of inflation, both as measured by the retail price index and by the sectoral health service price index in the year just finished.

  Mr. Grist
  I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), on 11 January. He will note that the recurrent revenue cash increase for hospital and community health services in Wales is 8·2 per cent. and, in addition, health authorities are expected to realise, as a minimum, a further 1·3 per cent. from new cash-releasing cost improvement and income-generation schemes. This gives an effective increase in resources of at least 9·5 per cent.

  The estimated excess cost of inflation to be met by authorities in 1989–90 was 1·72 per cent. The recurrent effect of this leaves an increase of almost 7·8 per cent. available for hospital and community health services in Wales in 1990–91 which represents a real terms increase of

  851
  nearly 3 per cent. after taking account of the 5 per cent. forecast of general inflation given in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.

  The figures will vary as between authorities in Wales depending on the funding they receive for centrally directed developments and the distribution of equalisation provision in accordance with the latest formula assessment relative to resource requirements. The latter is included in the figures given for initial allocations to authorities in my earlier reply.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place copies in the Library of the correspondence between his Department and the South Glamorgan health authority regarding financial recompense in the setting of the authority's 1990–91 budget for the underestimation of the rate of inflation in the current year.

  Mr. Grist
  Apart from follow-up action to the annual review meeting which is referred to in a separate reply given to the hon. Gentleman today there has been no correspondence between the Department and South Glamorgan health authority regarding the funding of the excess costs of 1989–90 inflation.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place copies in the Library of the minutes of meetings between his Department and Welsh health authorities regarding financial recompense in the setting of the authorities 1990–91 budgets for the underestimation of the rate of inflation in the current year.

  Mr. Grist
  I presume the hon. Gentleman is referring to the annual review meetings between the Department and Welsh health authorities which were held during the autumn and which included discussion of authorities' 1989–90 financial positions. By mutual agreement these meetings were not minuted, but points of action arising are

  Average daily available beds

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Acute:

  Clwyd

  1,420·5

  1,434·4

  1,391·1

  1,400·8

  1,399·3

  1,371·2

  1,342·6

  1,337·2

  1,354·9

  1,307·1

  East Dyfed

  761·8

  763·9

  740·9

  742·2

  741·6

  708·1

  690·1

  694·9

  692·9

  691o1

  Gwent

  1,517·9

  1,541·4

  1,548·9

  1,535·4

  1,515·1

  1,478·9

  1,466·2

  1,388·7

  1,388·0

  1,382·6

  Gwynedd

  6862

  687·8

  681·7

  683·6

  670·4

  685·6

  716·5

  718·7

  705·1

  681·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,915·8

  1,886·6

  1,859·4

  1,842·4

  1,846·1

  1,844·1

  1,835·5

  1,813·5

  1,784·4

  1,878o3

  Pembrokeshire

  245·7

  246·5

  248·7

  254·2

  264·1

  260·8

  261·1

  266·6

  258·0

  266·1

  Powys

  292·2

  240·4

  226·8

  229·2

  241·5

  237·4

  237·7

  221·0

  220·3

  195·5

  South Glamorgan

  1,864·9

  1,826·3

  1,818·4

  1,820·3

  1,864·1

  1,851·4

  1,839·3

  1,751·0

  1,753·7

  1,733·1

  West Glamorgan

  1,428·3

  1,447·8

  1,455·1

  1,440·4

  1,450·0

  1,398·2

  1,421·3

  1,448·0

  1,339·9

  1,3367

  Wales

  10,133·3

  10,075·1

  9,971·0

  9,948·5

  9,992·2

  9,835·7

  9,810·3

  9,639·6

  9,557·2

  9,472·2

  Non-Acute1

  Clwyd

  1,632·0

  1,580·5

  1,600·3

  1,525·5

  1,551·0

  1,522·3

  1,469·0

  1,431·9

  1,335·8

  1,271·7

  East Dyfed

  1,336·5

  1,300·2

  1,273·8

  1,057·9

  1,127·3

  1,092·0

  1,079·9

  1,063·3

  969·9

  943·2

  Gwent

  2,364·7

  2,381·9

  2,286·9

  2,178·1

  2,176·3

  2,194·6

  2,153·2

  2,120·1

  2,113·1

  2,017·2

  Gwynedd

  883·3

  880·5

  863·1

  845·6

  843·3

  856·9

  894·1

  911·2

  905·0

  906·3

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,027·6

  2,977·8

  2,933·5

  2,883·7

  2,876·9

  2,904·8

  2,808·7

  2,684·9

  2,597·2

  2,396·3

  Pembrokeshire

  220·6

  220·1

  212·0

  219·1

  211·3

  209·3

  206·3

  206·4

  198·1

  198·5

  Powys

  973·3

  940·0

  933·8

  914·9

  846·8

  849·9

  819·5

  793·4

  779·8

  773·3

  South Glamorgan

  1,718·7

  1,688·4

  1,702·5

  1,702·6

  1,703·0

  1,691·9

  1,707·1

  1,709·3

  1,644·2

  1,627·0

  West Glamorgan

  1,166·0

  1,158·8

  1,162·9

  1,165·8

  1,146·9

  1,151·3

  1,181·9

  1,126·1

  1,110·3

  1,056·0

  Wales

  13,322·7

  13,128·2

  12,968·8

  12,492·9

  12,482·8

  12,472·5

  12,319·7

  12,046·6

  11,653·4

  11,189·5

  1 Includes geriatrics, younger disabled, obstetrics, GP maternity, mental illness, mental handicap, adolescent psychiatry, mental illness children, psychogeriatric and elderly mentally infirm.

  852
  being pursued with individual authorities. Where authorities projected overspending due to higher than expected inflation during the current financial year, they were reminded of the need to maintain budgetary control and requested to provide details of how they planned to restore financial balance.

  School Staff Salary Budgets
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the formula for calculating school staff salary budgets under local financial management for maintaned schools.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  We have received a number of representations from local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers of schools, and teacher unions.

  South Glamorgan Health Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next expects to meet the chairman and general manager of South Glamorgan health authority; and what matters he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no immediate plans to meet the chairman and general manager of South Glamorgan health authority.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each district health authority and for Wales as a whole the numbers of(a) acute beds and (b) non-acute beds for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is shown in the following table:

  Welsh Language Studies
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by grade the total number of staff in his Department above the principal who are able to fulfil the whole of their responsibilities in the Welsh language.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: No such criterion is used; but the following information relates to numbers of Welsh speakers above grade 7 (principal):

  1 Grade 2

  4 Grade 3

  1 Grade 4

  14 Grade 5

  39 Grade 6.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by grade those of his officials whose duties are related solely to the Welsh language.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The information is as follows:

  1 HEO

  2 EO

  1 AO

  2 Typists

  Other staff who are primarily responsible for Welsh language matters also have other duties. In addition, there is a range of posts across my Department in which Welsh language matters form part of the duties of officials.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the applicability of the Council of Europe's charter on minority language to the Welsh language and Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The Government's policies in relation to the Welsh language compare very favourably with the measures outlined in the Council of Europe's draft charter on regional and minority languages.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when and for how long he last visited Nant Gwrtheyrn, on official business.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: I have not yet been able to visit the national language centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn.

  CADW
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the annual expenditure of CADW in each financial year since its establishment.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  £000

  Outturn

  1984–85

  3,611

  1985–86

  6,205

  1986–87

  4,173

  1987–88

  5,806

  1988–89

  5,250

  Plans

  1989–90

  5,907

  Welsh Office
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the legislation for which the Welsh Office has been the sponsoring Department since 1980.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: My Department has sponsored the following two items of primary legislation since 1980.

  Conwy Tunnel (Supplementary Powers) Act 1983

  Welsh Development Agency Act 1988

  Simultaneous Translations
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what are the responsibilities of his Department's translation unit with regard to simultaneous translation at meetings;

  (2) what provision exists within the Welsh Office for simultaneous translation at meetings involving outside bodies.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: The main conference room in the Welsh Office has simultaneous translation facilities. The Welsh Office translation unit can arrange for interpreters to be available as needed.

HEALTH

  Leukaemia
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be in a position to give figures of cancer registration data for cases of diagnosed leukaemia in children by(a) each year since 1985 to date and (b) by regional health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  OPCS publishes annual cancer statistics using data collected by 11 regional registries and the Wales cancer registry which are funded by the regional health authorities. The timing of publications is largely governed by when the slowest regional cancer registry provides OPCS with data. For 1985, data from the last registry were not received until September 1989. Additionally, publication of 1985 data has been affected by amendments made to the presentation of the data following consultation between OPCS and users of the data. The targets for the publication of data for individuals diagnosed in 1985 and 1986 are March and July 1990 respectively.

  Immunisation
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most recent results for the immunisation campaign using the multiple mumps, rubella, measles vaccine; and what were the targets announced in 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  As measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced in October 1988, the mid-point of the financial year, full uptake figures are not yet available. However, over the first 15 months since the vaccine's launch, more than 3 million doses have been distributed. This is double the calculated requirement for the two priority groups: children aged 12 to 15 months and those attending for their pre-school boosters. The most encouraging results can be seen in the weekly notification
  855
  for measles. Notifications for 1989 have been at the lowest recorded levels and this is likely to be a direct consequence of the keen support of the MMR programme. The uptake targets remain those agreed for the European region of the World Health Organisation—90 per cent. by 1990 for measles, tetanus, polio and whooping cough—and we hope to reach those targets in the financial year 1990–91.

  Hearing-related Problems
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the current maximum waiting time and (b) the number of people waiting for consultations for hearing-related problems in the Sheffield district health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  At 31 March 1989 the maximum waiting time for a first appointment in the ear, nose and throat specialty in Sheffield health authority was 70 weeks. The number of people waiting is not collected centrally and the hon. Member may care to contact the chairman of Sheffield health authority for this information.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current average and maximum delay between the prescription of a hearing aid, and its supply and fitting in the Sheffield district health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally. I suggest the hon. Member contacts the chairman of Sheffield health authority for the information he seeks.

  Monica Prospero
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement as to why it took 10 years to agree damages to Monica Prospero, following an abortion at Nottingham City hospital that went wrong; how the various percentage elements of the claim were calculated; and whether the health authority has now written to her apologising for the error.

  Mr. Freeman
  Claims for damages are entirely a matter for the health authority concerned, the claimants and their authorised representatives.

  West Midlands Ambulance Personnel
  Mr. Denis Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he can now report upon the result of his inquiries into the letter written to all West Midlands ambulance personnel on 18 December by the regional general manager of the West Midlands health authority threatening them and any passengers they might carry with prosecution under the Theft Act; if he has now been able to make inquiries into all the matters submitted to him in the memorandum provided by the Birmingham group of Labour hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The letter of 18 December from the general manager of West Midlands regional health authority to all West Midlands ambulance personnel pointed out that if ambulance personnel drive an ambulance when not authorised by the authority they may be liable to prosecution. This is a factually correct statement. Of course, if ambulance crews turn out in 856
  response to a control room this would not apply and West Midlands ambulance personnel are well aware that if they are responding to a call from ambulance control they are authorised to use ambulance service vehicles.

  The memorandum submitted to me on behalf of several right hon. and hon. Members for Birmingham constituencies dated 17 January concerns local operational matters which are the responsibility of the West Midlands regional health authority and I will pass the memorandum on to the chairman of that authority so that he can respond.

  Social Workers (Training)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers have successfully undertaken training programmes, approved by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, in order to qualify as mental health officers under the Mental Health Act 1984, in each of the area health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In England and Wales, approved social workers are appointed in accordance with section 114 of the Mental Health Act 1983. It is for individual social services authorities to determine how many approved social workers they need to appoint in the light of local circumstances. Information is not available centrally on how many social workers have successfully undertaken training programmes to qualify as approved social workers.

  Personal Health Information
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on issuing a health circular on ownership, confidentiality and disclosure of personal health information in the National Health Service; and when he expects to be able to announce the results of the consultation process.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I can add nothing further at this stage to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 13 December at column 681.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secure units exist in each region and for England as a whole in National Health Service hospitals; and what was the number of beds in secure units for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are now 21 regional secure units (RSUs). All regions have at least one, except South West Thames which is at an advanced planning stage. South Western and North Western RHAs each have two secure units, Oxford has three and South East Thames has five. The remaining nine regions have one each. Because of changes in the way the information has been collected since 1980, when the first permanent RSU was opened, it is not possible to provide comparative figures over time. In 1989 there were 660 available and staffed beds in RSUs, including interim units.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each year since 1979 and for each district health authority, Scottish health authority, regional health authority and for England the numbers of(a) acute beds and (b) non-acute beds.
  857
  Mr. Freeman
  Information for 1988–89 has been placed in the Library. For the information for 1979 to 1987–88, I refer the hon. Member to figures which were placed in the Library in connection with my reply to him of 16 May 1989 at column 145. Figures for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed by the Yorkshire regional health authority headquarters and administration; and if he will list the 20 highest paid personnel and indicate their duties for 1990–91 and for each of the past five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At 30 September 1988 there were 3,230 staff in post. This includes consultants and senior registrars whose contracts are held by headquarters but who may work elsewhere in the authority. The further information required is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may like to approach the chairman of Yorkshire regional health authority.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount of funding available from his Department to the Yorkshire regional health authority for 1990–91 and for each of the past five years; and on what basis this is allocated to the district health authorities in Yorkshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table shows total revenue allocations to the Yorkshire regional heath authority since 1985–86.

  £ million

  1985–86

  686·2

  1986–87

  739·2

  1987–88

  816·0

  1988–89

  892·6

  1989–90

  1965·5

  1 provisional

  Initial cash limits for 1990–91 will be announced shortly.

  Allocations to districts are a matter for regions. My hon. Friend may wish to write to the chairman of the Yorkshire regional health authority seeking the information she requires about allocations to districts within the region.

  NHS Spending (Dewsbury)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the new Dewsbury general hospital and the problems of underfunding it now faces.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Based on resource assumptions for 1990–91 Dewsbury health authority will receive a recurrent cash allocation of £33·8 million: this represents a cash increase of 8·6 per cent., and a real terms increase of 2·8 per cent. over 1989–90. For the three-year period to 1990–91 the district will have received over £2 million in growth money. The funding of individual hospitals is the responsibility of the district health authority concerned.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount of money available for National Health Service health care for Dewsbury health authority for 1990–91; and what was the figure for each of the previous 10 years.
  858
  Mr. Freeman
  Allocations to Dewsbury health authority are a matter for the Yorkshire regional health authority. My hon. Friend may wish to write to the chairman of the Yorkshire RHA for the information she requires.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the imminent closure of approximately 60 beds, in the new hospital by Dewsbury district health authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My hon. Friend made a representation about the financial position of Dewsbury health authority last October to which my noble Friend Baroness Hooper has responded.

  Contingency Fund
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has given to(a) district health authorities and (b) Dewsbury on what patient care their contingency fund should be spent on;

  (2) what guidance he has given to (a) district health authorities and (b) Dewsbury on what is a realistic amount of money to have in their contingency fund;

  (3) what guidance he has given to (a) district health authorities and (b) Dewsbury as to on what contingency their contingency fund should be spent on.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Dewsbury District Health Authority
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the chairman of Dewsbury district health authority; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. amd learned Friend the Secretary of State has not met the chairman of Dewsbury health authority recently.

  Homosexuality
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy concerning the fostering or adoption of children by homosexual couples in stable, long-term relationships.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Courts and child care and adoption agencies are required to give first consideration to promoting and safeguarding a child's welfare. Agencies must act within a framework of primary legislation and regulations which lay serious obligations on agencies to safeguard the welfare of children. These include requirements for thorough investigation and assessment of individual prospective foster parents and adopters. The law does not allow two people to adopt jointly unless they are married.

  Disablement Services Authority
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers he has in relation to the Disablement Services Authority and the provision of artificial limbs;

  (2) which part of his Department is responsible for the Disablement Services Authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Disablement Services Authority is a special health authority with full responsibility for the
  859
  provision of artificial limbs and appliances. The authority is accountable directly to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, whose powers in respect of it are the same as those in respect of all other health authorities. General oversight of the DSA is the responsibility of the deputy secretary, health and personal social services policy, supported as necessary by parts of the Department.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for an artificial limb(a) in 1986–87 and (b) currently.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the Disablement Services Authority to which the hon. Member should address his question.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the general managers of family practioners committees, their qualifications and their date of appointment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 22 January 1990]: The available information is contained in the following list. Information about the academic, professional or other qualifications of individual general managers is not held centrally. This is a matter for each family practitioner committee as the employing authority.

  FPC general manager appointments

  FPC and name

  Date of appointment

  Avon—J. Watson

  9 January 1990

  Barking and Havering—G. Shepherd

  16 October 1989

  Barnet—Ms. A. Harding

  2 January 1990

  Barnsley—P. Tallis

  20 July 1989

  Bedfordshire

  2—

  Berkshire—J. O'Brien

  1 September 1990

  Birmingham—A. Torbet

  13 November 1989

  Bolton—A. Seward

  31 July 1989

  Bradford— D. Martin

  1 October 1989

  Brent and Harrow—J. Tate

  1 August 1989

  Bromley—T. Dean

  1 November 1989

  Buckinghamshire—M. Gaffney

  2 October 1989

  Bury—P. Emmott

  17 July 1989

  Calderdale—G. Newbury

  1 January 1990

  Cambridgeshire—G. Mead

  14 November 1989

  Camden and Islington—Mrs. S. Shaw

  1 August 1989

  Cheshire—D. Thomson

  1—

  City and East London—A. Bennett

  1 August 1989

  Cleveland—J. Lewis

  1 January 1990

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly—S. Hattersley

  1 January 1990

  Coventry—M. Waterland

  6 November 1989

  Croydon—M. Outhwaite

  1 October 1989

  Cumbria—R. Macleod

  1 August 1989

  Derbyshire—K. Houghton

  18 July 1989

  Devon—E. Herbert

  30 October 1989

  Doncaster—R. Hemming

  10 August 1989

  Dorset—J. Knighton

  1 August 1989

  Dudley—J. Bromley

  30 October 1989

  Durham—P. Hawkes

  23 October 1989

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow—

  Mrs. E. M. Rose

  1 August 1989

  East Sussex—L. Screene

  3 October 1989

  Enfield and Haringey—Ms. H. Scott

  9 October 1989

  Essex—G. Butland

  1 August 1989

  Gateshead—Ms. J. Axelby

  1—

  Gloucestershire—S. Golledge

  11 September 1989

  Greenwich and Bexley—J. Strickland

  1 September 1989

  Hampshire—G. D. Hayne

  25 July 1989

  Hereford and Worcester—C. Parr

  1 November 1989

  Hertfordshire—J. L. Blakey

  1 August 1989

  Hillingdon—B. Allen

  4 August 1989

  Humberside—C. Dench

  4 July 1989

  Isle of Wight—P. Wilkening

  31 October 1989

  860

  FPC and name

  Date of appointment

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster J. James

  1 August 1989

  Kent D. Homeshaw

  2 August 1989

  Kingston and Richmond P. Hornby

  18 September 1989

  Kirklees Miss V. Aspey

  16 October 1989

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Ms. S. Osborne; Ms. S. Wiliams

  8 January 1990

  Lancashire G. Pelham

  26 July 1989

  Leeds A. Garland

  9 October 1989

  Leicestershire P. Bates

  26 July 1989

  Lincolnshire J. I. Gilmore

  1 August 1989

  Liverpool Miss C. Wall

  18 September 1989

  Manchester J. Dennis

  4 December 1989

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth P. Hill

  1 August 1989

  Newcastle T. W. Marshall

  15 January 1990

  Norfolk R. Wilcox

  1 August 1989

  Northamptonshire M. Powell

  1 August 1989

  North Tyneside

  2—

  Northumberland P. Bower

  21 December 1989

  North Yorkshire C. M. Towne

  2 October 1989

  Nottinghamshire A. Ruffell

  1 November 1989

  Oldham D. Common

  1 October 1989

  Oxfordshire Ms. J. Griffiths

  1 November 1989

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest Mrs. L. Noel

  16 October 1989

  Rochdale E. Jones

  16 October 1989

  Rotherham K. V. Wilson

  25 September 1989

  St. Helens and Knowsley J. Cullen

  4 September 1989

  Salford M. J. Clark

  1 November 1989

  Sandwell B. Maunder

  24 July 1989

  Sefton Ms. K. Rogers

  1 January 1990

  Sheffield G. Walker

  1 August 1989

  Shropshire C. Foot

  1 August 1989

  Solihull K. Higgins

  1 August 1989

  Somerset A. R. Langham

  27 November 1989

  South Tyneside G. Power

  27 November 1989

  Staffordshire M. Evans

  1 February 1990

  Stockport A. Jones

  12 July 1989

  Suffolk W. Robinson

  24 July 1989

  Sunderland D. Eltringham

  4 September 1989

  Surrey Miss A. Sutcliffe

  1 August 1989

  Tameside B. Thomas

  31 August 1989

  Trafford Mrs. D. Asher

  4 September 1989

  Wakefield M. Ramsden

  24 July 1989

  Walsall Ms. C. Eminson

  16 October 1989

  Warwickshire E. Evans

  1 August 1989

  West Sussex T. P. Knott

  31 October 1989

  Wigan J. Sumner

  14 July 1989

  Wiltshire M. Warner

  1 November 1989

  Wirral G. Greenwood

  1 January 1990

  Wolverhampton D. Lord

  1 November 1989

  1 Appointed but not yet in post.

  2 No appointment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for attendance at court by parents in cases where their children who are aged under 18 years are being tried.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for attendance at court by parents in cases where their children who are aged under 18 years are being tried.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for attendance at court by parents in cases where their children who are aged under 18 years are being tried.
  861
  Mr. John Patten
  When juveniles under 17 appear in court charged with criminal offences the court has the power to require their parents to attend. We do not have statistics on parental attendance, but they should always be there, taking their responsibility.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to make parents more accountable for the behaviour of their own children below the age of 16 years.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his proposals to increase the responsibilities of parents whose children are charged with criminal offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  We propose to strengthen courts' powers to require parents to attend court with their children and pay fines and compensation orders imposed on their children. We also intend to widen courts' powers to bind over parents to take proper care of and exercise proper control over their children who are convicted of criminal offences.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reaction he has received to his proposal to make parents of young offenders obliged to attend court and to take greater responsibility for their children's behaviour.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is well recognised that parents have an important responsibility for their children's behaviour, and my right hon. and learned Friend's proposals have been widely welcomed.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people aged under 17 years are locked up in prison establishments at the present time.

  Mr. Mellor
  According to the records held centrally, which are approximate, on 30 June 1989 about 620 persons aged under 17 were held in prison service establishments in England and Wales.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce new initiatives to combat crimes of violence.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce new initiatives to combat crimes of violence.

  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce new initiatives to combat the rising number of crimes of violence.

  Mr. John Patten
  The most effective crime prevention initiatives are taken locally to tackle local problems. Action already taken by Government includes higher penalties for violent offences; increases in police manpower and resources; and measures to deal with drug trafficking, terrorism and alcohol-related disorder.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid out in the form of compensation to the victims of violent crime in the last year for which figures are available.
  862
  Mr. John Patten
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board paid out £69,381,286 in compensation in the year ended 31 March 1989.

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire, Mr. Shaw; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire, Mr. Shaw; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed this case with Mr. Shaw. However, officials in the Home Office have maintained close contact with the Police Complaints Authority, which is supervising Mr. Shaw's investigations into the West Midlands serious crime squad. We will consider carefully whether anything emerges from this investigation which might cast doubt on the safety of the convictions of the Birmingham Six.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed this case with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the chief constable of the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the chief constable of the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed the Birmingham pub bombings case with the chief constable of the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed this case with the chief constable.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Foreign Minister of Ireland to discuss the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.
  863
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Foreign Minister of Ireland to discuss the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Foreign Minister of Ireland to discuss the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier to a question from the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore).

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the case of the Birmingham Six.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on behalf of the Birmingham Six.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to representations he has received concerning the Birmingham Six.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the investigation into the Birmingham Six to take place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his consideration of the new evidence in the Birmingham bombings case.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his consideration of the new evidence in the Birmingham pub bombings case.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his consideration of the new evidence on the Birmingham pub bombings case.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering very carefully the further material which has been presented to him by a solicitor on behalf of the Birmingham Six, and will decide as soon as possible whether it justifies any intervention on his part.

  Mr. Mullin
  .65 To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the West Midlands police officers who were involved in the Birmingham pub bombings case and who have subsequently been(a) gaoled, (b) dismissed, (c) transferred to non-operational duties and (d) severely reprimanded.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the West Midlands police officers who were involved in the Birmingham pub bombings case and who have subsequently been(a) gaoled, (b) dismissed, (c) transferred to non-operational duties and (d) severely reprimanded.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the West Midlands police officers who were involved in the Birmingham pub 864
  bombings case and who have subsequently been (a) gaoled, (b) dismissed, (c) transferred to non-operational duties and (d) severely reprimanded.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None of the police officers who were involved in interviewing those convicted of the Birmingham pub bombing have subsequently been imprisoned, dismissed from the force or reprimanded. Four of the officers concerned have been transferred to non-operational duties. In the absence of any evidence at this stage that these officers have acted improperly it would be wrong to name them.

  Prisons
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of mentally handicapped people held in prison in England and Wales.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of mentally handicapped people held in prison in England, Wales and Scotland.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 30 September 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 329 inmates in the prison system in England and Wales were reported by prison medical officers to be mentally disordered as defined by the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for t he Home Department how many people were in prison at the most recent count.

  Mr. Mellor
  On Friday 19 January, 46,755 people were held in prison establishments in England and Wales. The prison population is now 2,146 lower than at the same time last year.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population; what it was one year ago; and what projections he has made for the prison population over the next five years.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current project prison population; what it was one year ago; and what projections he has made for the prison population over the next five years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The prison population in England and Wales on 12 January 1990 was 46,504. The corresponding figure for 13 January 1989 was 48,736, including those held in police cells. The figures are an estimated 1,500 lower than would otherwise be the case due to the usual seasonal fall in the population over Christmas and the new year. Projections of the prison population are published annually in spring, in a Home office statistical bulletin "Projections of long term trends in the prison population" (the latest was issue 11/89, dated 6 April 1989). A revised projection taking account of changes in the prison population in the first half of 1989 and the anticipated effects of further measures to divert offenders from custody agreed in current public expenditure plans is as follows:
  865

  Projected prison population, England and Wales

  Numbers

  1990–91

  51,600

  1991–92

  53,000

  1992–93

  54,600

  1993–94

  56,400

  1994–95

  58,200

  Begging
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors governed the time taken to produce the figures covering the number of people in the Metropolitan police district prosecuted in 1988 for begging under section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824; when he plans to make the 1989 figures available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Home Office collects returns from all police forces covering each defendant appearing in court for a criminal offence. Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990. The Home Office is examining whether information could be provided directly from the courts, so reducing delays.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the provision of private sector remand places; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are considering the results of the further study of the cost-effectiveness of private sector involvement in the remand system which my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) announced in his statement to the House on 1 March 1989. We hope to be able to announce a decision soon.

  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of remand prisoners held in police cells; and what it was one year ago.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for numbers of remand prisoners held in police cells; and what were the comparable figures six months and one year ago.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of remand prisoners held in police cells; and what it was one year ago.

  Mr. Mellor
  Yesterday, there were no remand prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales. Comparable figures for 21 July 1989 and 20 January 1989 were 192 and 277 prisoners respectively, most of whom were on remand.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that prisoners held on remand are brought to trial within a reasonable period.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our aim is to reduce both the number of people remanded in custody and the time taken to deal with cases. Bail information schemes are now operating in 42 courts and widespread expansion is planned. These schemes enable the probation service to provide Crown prosecutors with better information on defendants, to help 866
  prosecutors decide whether they need to oppose bail. Resources have been provided for the provision of a further 500 places in bail hostels over the next three years.

  Custody time limits, first introduced on a limited basis in 1987, are now in operation in most of England and Wales. We intend to extend their operation to the remaining areas—London and eight counties in the south-east—later this year.

  Delays in the court system are also being tackled. In the magistrates courts, magistrates and clerks have been urged to concentrate on reducing delays and a new management information system is being introduced. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, has taken steps to tackle delays in the Crown court through improved management and the provision of more resources including additional judges and new court rooms. Separate initiatives are in hand on committals procedure and the development of mode of trial guidelines for magistrates, with a view to reducing the numbers committed for trial and accelerating the procedure.

  Security Services
  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is planning to reduce the numerical strength and resources of the security service in the light of political developments in eastern Europe.

  Mr. Waddington
  It is not the practice to make detailed announcement on such matters.

  Cocaine and Crack
  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of seizures of cocaine, in the most recent years for which figures are available, was of cocaine entering the United Kingdom from member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of seizures of cocaine, in the most recent years for which figures are available, was of cocaine entering the United Kingodm from member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Mellor
  Provisional figures for 1989 indicate that, of a total of 402 seizures (424 kg) of cocaine by Customs, 27 per cent. by numbers of seizures (62·8 per cent. by weight) were known to have been consigned from or routed through other member states of the European Community. This includes one seizure of 153 kg which originated in Ecuador and arrived at Southampton via Le Havre. The origin of a further 20 per cent. approximately, of the total number of seizures of cocaine by Customs was not known or not recorded. These figures may be compared with 1988 figures showing that fewer than 5 per cent. by number (1·5 per cent. by weight) of cocaine seizures by Customs were known to have originated from or arrived in the United Kingdom via other EC countries. (The figures exclude seizures of cocaine made by the police, for which the country of origin is not generally known.)

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase in the number of cases reported over the last year involving the drug crack.
  867
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase in the number of cases reported over the last year involving the drug crack.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase in the number of cases reported over the last year involving the drug crack.

  Mr. Mellor
  The provisional total number of seizures of crack reported by the police and Customs in 1989 was 139, an increase of almost 500 per cent. over 1988 (28 seizures).

  Drugs
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of illegal drugs coming from outside the European Community have been seized during the last 12 months for which statistics are available; and what was the figure in the previous 12-month period.

  Mr. Mellor
  At present only provisional figures are available for seizures of controlled drugs made by Customs in 1989. Figures for seizures of heroin, cocaine and cannabis coming from outside the European Community in 1989 are, provisionally, 247 kg of heroin, as against 218 kg in 1988; 158 kg of cocaine, as against 178 kg in 1988; and 25,750 kg of cannabis, as against 34,973 kg in 1988.

  Comparable figures for police seizures are unavailable since the country of origin is not generally known or recorded.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the annual operating cost of the new anti-drugs network recently announced by the Government.

  Mr. Illsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the annual operating cost of the new anti-drugs network recently announced by the Government.

  Mr. Mellor
  As I stated in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) on 7 December, subject to Parliament's approval of the Supply Estimates, up to £2·3 million is being made available in 1990–91 for the drug prevention initiative which was announced on 11 October 1989.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures police forces are taking in conjunction with local education authorities to warn pupils of the dangers of drug taking.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) on 5 December at column 176. Since then, Home Office circular 99/1989 has been issued to the police offering ideas on the way forward on police-schools liaison.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of illicit drugs have been made by police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise from 1989 to date; and what is the estimated value of drugs seized.

  Mr. Mellor
  Customs report a provisional total of 8,026 seizures of controlled drugs in 1989. It is estimated that 868
  these would have had an equivalent street value of some £250 million. The provisional figures for January 1990 to date are 262 seizures with an estimated street value of £151,000. Comprehensive figures are not yet available for police seizures in 1989 or 1990; the latest information is for 1988 when police made 32,947 seizures and Customs 5,288 seizures of controlled drugs.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many countries will be represented at the forthcoming world ministerial summit on drug demand reduction.

  Mr. Mellor
  The world ministerial summit to reduce the demand for drugs and to combat the cocaine threat, which will be held in London from 9 to 11 April, is being organised by Her Majesty's Government in association with the United Nations. Invitations are being extended to the member states of the United Nations, specialised agencies and related organisations, non-member observer states and intergovernmental and other organisations having standing invitations to participate in the sessions and work of the General Assembly as observers. The indications are that most countries will accept the invitation to participate in the work of the conference.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current establishment of the Police national drugs intelligence unit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The unit's complement has doubled since it was established in 1985. Including officers serving overseas, it now has a complement of 100 police, Customs and civilian staff.

  Special Constables
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to expanding the number of special constables.

  Dr. Goodson-Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of special constables now attached to police forces in England and Wales; and what steps he will take to encourage chief constables to recruit more, particularly amongst ethnic minority communities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) earlier today.

  Members' Letters
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of letters from hon. Members to his Department are answered within one month; and what plans he has to speed up this rate.

  Mr. Waddington
  During the final quarter of 1989 about 50 per cent. of letters from hon. Members to the Home Office were answered within one month of their receipt. The underlying trend over recent years has been one of steady improvement in our performance and we hope that hon. Members will see further improvements in our service, not least by their taking increased advantage of the scheme for writing direct to the immigration and nationality department with their more routine inquiries in
  869
  that area and also by writing direct to local managers about other matters handled away from the centre, where they do not require their letters to be answered personally by Ministers.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice or instructions his Department is giving to clerks of magistrates in respect of the expected change in work load following the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. John Patten
  None.

  Litter
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were fined under the Litter Act 1983 in 1989; and what proportion of these received the maximum sentence of £400.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990. In 1988, a total of 1,560 people were fined under the Litter Act 1983, of which two (0·1 per cent.) received the maximum fine of £400.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with police organisations about enforcing the present anti-litter laws.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None, but bodies representing the police service were invited to submit comments on the proposals about litter which are now contained in the Environmental Protection Bill.

  Safer Cities Initiative
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many safe cities schemes are now established; how many local initiatives prepared by safer cities teams have now been approved; and in what categories they fall.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many safer cities schemes are now established; how many local initiatives prepared by safer cities teams have now been approved; and in what categories they fall.

  Mr. John Patten
  Fifteen projects are now operating and one more should be in place next month. Two hundred and sixty grants, totalling over £1·8 million, have now been agreed to support local crime prevention initiatives. The initiatives cover a wide range of activities which come within four broad categories—physical security improvements; activities for young people; changes in local services to take account of the need to prevent crime; and educational and development opportunities for individuals and communities.

  Private Security Firms
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation regarding the private security industry.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation regarding the private security industry.
  870
  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans at present to introduce legislation to regulate the activities of the private security industry. However, in the light of the report of a Home Office working group, we have asked officials to consider the scope for improving the self-regulation of the industry.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the chief constable of the Northumbria police on the need for regulation of the private security guard industry.

  Mr. John Patten
  Last August we received representations from the chief constable of Northumbria police, in favour of legislation to regulate the private security industry.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the electronic monitoring pilot scheme in Nottingham revealed any technical faults in the equipment used; and whether he will be conducting further trials.

  Mr. John Patten
  Minor faults in the electronic monitoring equipment used in Nottingham have occurred on 13 occasions, but the trial has shown clearly that the basic technology performs satisfactorily. As indicated in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 10 January, we plan to conduct a further trial of electronic monitoring on a larger scale later this year.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the electronic tagging system.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the continuation of tagging.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave on 10 January to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Knowles) at columns 626-27.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been electronically tagged in the United Kingdom since pilot schemes commenced.

  Mr. John Patten
  As of 16 January, 40 defendants have been granted bail subject to the condition that they are electronically monitored.

  Serious Crime Squad, West Midlands
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the now-disbanded West Midlands police serious crime squad have now been charged with criminal offences; and in respect of how many former members charges are being considered.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The investigation led by Mr. Donald Shaw into the West Midlands police serious crime squad is still at an early stage. No consideration has yet been given to whether or not to institute criminal proceedings against any officer. In November last year criminal proceedings were instituted against four former members of the serious
  871
  crime squad, on charges of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. These proceedings followed a separate inquiry by the police.

  It would not be appropriate to give details of cases under consideration by the Crown prosecution service which may or may not result in prosecutions of former members of the serious crime squad.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry by West Yorkshire police, under the auspices of the Police Complaints Authority, into the West Midlands police serious crime squad.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry by West Yorkshire police, under the auspices of the Police Complaints Authority, into the now-disbanded West Midlands police serious crime squad.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the investigation team, led by Mr. Shaw, assistant chief constable of the West Yorkshire police force, is in the process of examining the files relating to all the arrests made by the squad since 1986, and has begun to investigate individual complaints made against officers of the squad. The report of each investigation will be submitted to the Police Complaints Authority and the chief constable of West Midlands as it is completed, and it will be some time before all cases have been examined.

  Rape
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with improving police support for rape victims.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Considerable progress has been made. In order to ensure privacy and comfort for victims it is now normal for the police either to provide special rape examination suites or to utilise facilities in hospitals or doctors' surgeries. Much greater emphasis is being placed on sympathetic and informal treatment of victims, with officers receiving both general awareness training on rape and more specialised training if they are to be directly involved in the investigation of offences.

  Summer Time
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of his Department's consultation on the possible introduction of single double summer time.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We shall be informing the House of the results in the near future.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with whom the responsibility for determining the summer time arrangement in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe from 1993 onwards will lie.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The start and end dates for summer time for 1993 onwards in all member states of the European Community will be determined by negotiation within the EC and ultimately by the Council of Ministers as has been the case since 1981. It is for the United Kingdom alone to determine which time zone it wishes to adopt throughout the year.

  Immigration
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) spouses and (b) children were awaiting entry clearance as at 30 November 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) spouses and (b) children were awaiting entry clearance as at 30 November 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is available only for the Indian sub-continent, where 5,800 spouses and 4,300 children were awaiting a decision on their application for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom at 30 November 1989.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a system of language tests for spouses and others seeking migration from the Indian sub-continent.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans to do so.

  Safety of Sports Grounds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of County Councils on the application of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act.

  Mr. John Patten
  None.

  DNA Testing
  Mr. Pike
  ; To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to start the DNA testing scheme for applicants for settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to start the DNA testing scheme for applicants for settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to start the DNA testing scheme for applicants for settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 27 November at column 108.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it takes to obtain a DNA test in paternity suits for each magistrates court in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information in the form sought is not readily available. But commercial testers expect to provide reports to courts within four months of a direction to do so.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to the Exchequer of a DNA test in a magistrates court taken for the purposes of a paternity suit.
  873
  Mr. John Patten
  The parties to the case pay the fees for blood tests ordered by magistrates courts in civil cases. Some parties are legally aided. The maximum fee that may be charged for a court-directed blood test, which may include a DNA test, is £115·90 per sample exclusive of VAT. So, where a party is legally aided, the maximum cost to the Exchequer of a blood test is £115·90 per sample excluding VAT.

  Independent Broadcasting Authority
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have regular meetings with the chairman of the IBA at which a wide range of broadcasting issues are discussed.

  Child Pornography
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about pornography involving children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 18 January at column 377 to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett).

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the efficiency of magistrates courts.

  John Patten
  We are still considering the case for legislation to reconstitute the magistrates courts service as an executive agency on the lines proposed in the report of the 1989 scrutiny of magistrates courts. In the meantime we are taking forward a programme of action largely drawn from the report aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the courts, including the identification and dissemination of best practice on case listing, fine enforcement and other matters; a review of criminal and domestic court procedures; the promotion of court user groups; practical evaluations of pre-trial reviews, new methods of paying fines and the use of bailiffs in executing bail warrants; the preparation of a standard specification for magistrates' courts computers; and the development of resource and other management training programmes for justices' clerks and their staff. As was indicated in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 9 November 1989 at column 262 our intention is to introduce cash limits on grants supporting current expenditure on magistrates courts.

  AIDS (Prisons)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the action the Government are taking to reduce the spread of HIV among the prison population.

  Mr. Mellor
  High priority is given to measures to prevent the transmission of HIV infection in prison. The main plank of the prevention strategy is education. Our latest initiative is a new package of education materials, including a video film, entitled "AIDS Inside and Out". Other measures include medical inquiry and examination at the reception stage, counselling of individual prisoners, and limited regime restrictions for prisoners identified as HIV antibody positive.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in prison have been diagnosed as HIV positive.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 17 January 1990 the prison population of England and Wales included 63 prisoners reported as having been identified as HIV antibody positive. By that date 270 such prisoners had been so reported since reporting began in March 1985.

  Community Radio
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects community radio franchises to be let in west Hertfordshire.

  Mr. Mellor
  We understand that the shadow Radio Authority plans in the next few months to invite letters of intent from would-be providers of new local radio services. This will assist it in establishing the nature of the demand in different areas, and in drawing up a plan for the progressive introduction of new stations over several years starting early in 1991. It is not possible at this stage to say what will happen in particular areas.

  Greenwich Mean Time
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the implications of European Community regulations for the maintenance in Britain of Greenwich mean time.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There have been no proposals for European Community regulations which would affect the continuation of Greenwich mean time in Britain; and none is expected unless requested by the United Kingdom.

  Trevi Group
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to meet his colleagues in the Trevi Group.

  Mr. Waddington
  I attended a meeting of Trevi Ministers under the French presidency in Paris on 14 and 15 December. I shall be attending the one to be held under the Irish presidency in Dublin in June.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest figure for recorded crime in Suffolk.
  875
  Mr. John Patten
  Information for 1988 was published in tables 2·5 and 2·7 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales, 1988", Cm 847, a copy of which is available in the Library. Further detailed figures for the 12 months to the end of September 1989 for local police force areas have also been placed in the Library. In the 12 months to September 1989, Suffolk police recorded 31,149 offences—125 more than in the previous 12 months.

  Neighbourhood Watch
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are currently in operation; and what was the equivalent number for 1979.

  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are now established in England and Wales.

  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in England and Wales.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are now established in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  At the end of September 1989 there were estimated to be in the region of 75,000 neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales. There were no schemes operating in 1979.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will next meet the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss new initiatives in crime prevention.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend has at present, no plans to meet the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss crime prevention. Home Office officials regularly meet representatives of ACPO to consider aspects of this subject and expect to be consulting the association in the near future about new interdepartmental guidance on crime prevention.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will next meet the AMA to discuss new ways of preventing crime.

  Mr. John Patten
  Home Office officials expect to be consulting the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and other bodies in the near future about new interdepartmental guidance on this subject.

  Coach Parking (London)
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many no-coach-parking signs have been ordered by the Metropolitan police, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the Metropolitan police currently hold a stock of approximately 40 'no coach parking' signs which are distributed according to local demand.

  Dogs
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to introduce any proposals which would seek to restrict those allowed to be in charge of dogs in public to persons over 16 years of age.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. This is a matter over which we would expect all dog owners to exercise discretion.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the possible introduction of a national lottery.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the 12 months to 16 January 1990, we received letters from 19 hon. Members and from seven members of the public either advocating, or inquiring about the merits of, a lottery or lotteries with major prizes, on a national scale, and one previous parliamentary question about any legislative plans which we might have in this respect.

  Fines
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the introduction of day or unit fines.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the introduction of day or unit fines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Experiments in four magistrates courts have suggested that a unit fine system can be operated successfully. Subject to a full evaluation of these experiments, we are likely to propose a legislative framework for unit fines.

  Prison Building
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the prison building programme.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the prison building programme.

  Mr. Mellor
  The prison building programme continues to make good progress. Out of the full programme of 28 new prisons, eight have already opened and 14 are at various stages of planning and construction, leaving only six on which construction work has not yet started. Construction is, however, planned to begin on two of these in 1991–92 and 1992–93. Sites and planning permissions are being sought for the four remaining prisons, but decisions on when and where to start building them have been deferred pending further analysis of the lower projected prison population.

  The changes in the projections have allowed the emphasis of the prison building programme to be changed from building new prisons to speeding up improvements to the existing estate. Essential health, safety and security measures are now being brought forward, while at the same time progress is being maintained on a wide range of refurbishment and redevelopment work already under way

  877
  at many establishments. Some of these developments involve virtually rebuilding older prisons which are in such excellent locations that they need to be preserved. Most important to the general quality of life in the older prisons, a substantial reduction in slopping out is a major part of the expanded programme.

  Corporal Punishment
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to reintroduce corporal punishment for serious crimes of violence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. Corporal punishment was abolished in 1948. Its reintroduction would be contrary to the United Kingdom's obligations under the European convention on human rights.

  Juvenile Crime
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of reported crime was committed by juveniles in the years 1978 and 1988.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information relates to the number of offenders who were cautioned by the police or convicted for indictable offences by the courts. In 1978, 34 per cent. of those cautioned or convicted were juveniles and in 1988 the figure was 23 per cent. Such information is available from "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", 1988 (table 5.22), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest totals for assets confiscated from convicted drug traffickers, and assets frozen, pending trials for drug trafficking offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  The figures are substantially as given in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 7 December at column 381, except that the national drugs intelligence unit's current estimate is that more than £16 million has been ordered to be confiscated since the Drug Trafficking Offences Act came into force in January 1987.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the efficiency of the Drugs Trafficking Offences Act 1986 in dealing with drug traffickers.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government have kept the provisions of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act under close scrutiny since they came into effect in January 1987. The Act has worked well and has been a major weapon in the fight against drug trafficking, both domestically and internationally. In a recent case, for example, nearly £3 million was ordered to be confiscated from a group of convicted drug traffickers, bringing current estimates of the total ordered to be confiscated under the Act to more than £16 million.

  The Government accept, however, that a provision of such significance may need adjustment in the light of experience. Some changes to the drug trafficking and money laundering provisions, to bring them fully into line with the requirements of the 1988 United Nations convention against illicit drug trafficking, are proposed in
  878
  the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation) Bill, now before Parliament. The Government are also considering the relevant recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee report on drug trafficking and related serious crime (HC 370), and is discussing with practitioners how the working of the Act might be further improved. This is a continuing process, and the Government will not hesitate to make any changes which may be found to be necessary.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of drug trafficking in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  The ministerial group on the misuse of drugs, which I chair, receives regular assessments of the extent of drug misuse and trafficking in the United Kingdom. The picture as regards heroin is mixed: although provisional figures show an increase in Customs seizures in 1989 of over 40 per cent. to 332 kilos, latest reports indicate a levelling off in some areas in the supply of heroin at street level. It is, however, clear that the United Kingdom is facing an increasing threat from cocaine: provisional figures of Customs seizures of this drug in 1989 increased by some 50 per cent. to 424 kilos and more cocaine than heroin has been seized by Customs in each of the past three years. Traffic in other drugs such as amphetamines, cannabis, LSD and MDMA (ecstasy) remains of concern.

  Victims of Crime
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government funding for victim support.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government funding for victim support.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1989–90 the Home Office granted £3·7 million for local victims support schemes and £210,000 to victim support headquarters. Details of funding for 1990–91 will be published shortly in the public expenditure White Paper.

  Rehabilitation of Offenders
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will re-examine the working of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the working of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

  Mr. John Patten
  The working of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is kept under review. Much of the pressure for change is to extend the categories which are excepted from the provisions of the Act. We consider that the Act does, on the whole, strike a reasonable balance between the need to protect the interests of the public and the interests of former offenders.

  The effectiveness of the Act depends on its provisions being made known to ex-offenders. With that aim we issue free of charge large numbers of the leaflet "Wiping the Slate Clean", which is available for example, to all citizens advice bureaux.

  Visas
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards a common visa regime within the EEC after 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes) and for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) earlier this afternoon.

  Ambulance Dispute
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the costs to date to the Metropolitan police force arising from the ambulance dispute.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in providing assistance are recoverable. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that claims for £1·5 million for the period up to 19 November have been presented and paid. Claims for a further £3·4 million for the period up to the end of December have been submitted.

  Knives
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provisions banning the public carrying of knives.

  Mr. John Patten
  Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 came into force on 29 September 1988. During 1988, there were 150 prosecutions for this offence. Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990.

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of the West Midlands police; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has had no meetings with the chief constable since he took office as Home Secretary.

  BBC
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Mellor
  I meet the chairman of the BBC regularly in order to discuss a wide range of broadcasting issues.

  Video Surveillance
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to bring the regulation of video surveillance into line with article 8 of the European convention on human rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I am not persuaded that video surveillance is inconsistent with article 8 of the convention.

  Passports
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimated response time to postal applications for passports during the Easter and summer peak periods as well as off-peak periods.

  Ms. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimated response time to postal applications for passports during the Easter and summer peak periods and in off-peak periods.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The passport department will be aiming in 1990 to process all straightforward, non-urgent passport applications within a maximum of 30 working days during the peak period between January and June, and within 20 working days at other times. Urgent cases will receive priority and should not normally be subject to delay.

  Director of Public Prosecutions
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what was discussed.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the question from the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith).

  Under-age drinking
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered extending the powers of the police to suppress under-age drinking of alcohol; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Licensing Act 1988 made it easier for police to take action against landlords who sell alcohol to people under 18. I am satisfied that police powers in enforcing the licensing law are sufficient and effective. There is also a part for schools to play in providing health education about the dangers of alcohol misuse, and for parents in discouraging their children from drinking alcohol.

  Punishment in the Community
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department if he will make a further statement on his policy on punishment within the community.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government's legislative proposals for punishment in the community will be explained in a White Paper on criminal justice, which we hope to publish shortly.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the implications of the judgement of the European Court of Justice on Torfaen borough council against B and Q concerning Sunday trading; and if he will make a further statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 7 December 1989 at columns
  881
  463–64. It is now for the courts which made referrals to the European Court to determine their cases in the light of the judgment of the court.

  Vandalism
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he collects on the current annual number of prosecutions in the United Kingdom against vandals using paint spray aerosol cans to deface walls in public places.

  Mr. John Patten
  No information is separately collected on such prosecutions. Such offences are included as criminal damage in the statistics collected by the Home Office.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police posts are to be created for 1990–91; and what proportion of these will be allocated to provincial forces.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 23 November 1989, at column 12.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequency of the present strength of the Devon and Cornwall police force.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend with advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, has decided to approve an increase of 17 posts for the Devon and Cornwall constabulary with effect from 1 April 1990.

  Drink-related Crime
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of criminal offences by young adults are drink-related.

  Mr. John Patten
  A total of 9 per cent. of young adults (those between 17 and 20) convicted in 1988, the latest year for which figures are available were convicted of drunkeness or drink-driving offences. No reliable estimate can be made of the extent to which the offences for the remaining 91 per cent. convicted were alcohol related.

  Regional Crime Squads (Drugs Investigations)
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are now employed in regional crime squad drugs wings.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There were 232 officers on the strength of regional crime squads drugs wings on 16 January. In No. 9 region, which covers the Metropolitan police district, drugs investigation is not undertaken by the regional squad but by the Metropolitan police central drugs squad. Its strength on 16 January was 110.

  My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 23 November at columns 12–13 that he is prepared to approve a further 51 police posts for regional crime squads specifically for their work in connection with drugs.

  Terrorism
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on progress in the fight against international terrorism.

  Mr. Waddington
  We continue to work vigorously with like-minded countries to strengthen the international co-operation which is crucial in preventing and combating international terrorism. The 44th United Nations General Assembly recently reaffirmed its unequivocal opposition to terrorism and urged all Governments to act firmly against it. Practical measures are being developed in bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which as part of its continuing work to improve aviation security is making good progress on a new international regime for marking explosives for detection. In the Trevi Group, EC member states have strengthened their procedures for informing one another about terrorist threats and incidents and counter terrorist measures. The group is studying further measures such as action against the financial base of terrorist groups.

  The fruit of such co-operation can be seen in the current prosecutions in Europe and the United States of a number of people suspected of involvement in terrorist activities threatening United Kingdom interests.

  Religious Broadcasting
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about religious broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have recently received written and oral representations on these matters from a number of groups and individuals, and we are taking careful account of the views put to us. The Broadcasting Bill retains certain safeguards, closely based on provisions in existing legislation, against abuse of religious broadcasting. But it provides for a less restrictive regime for religious sponsorship and advertising, and would also allow Christian and other religious groups to own radio stations in the United Kingdom for the first time. More generally, it proposes a framework under which the number of outlets for religious broadcasting could increase significantly.

  Police Rent Allowance
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the outcome of representations he has received on his decision to set aside certain elements of the police negotiating board's recommendations on rent allowance.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Draft regulations that would give effect to my right hon. and learned Friend's decisions on the police negotiating board's recommendations were sent to the board for comment on 4 January. The board was asked to submit any comments by 26 January and my right hon. and learned Friend met representatives of the staff side of the board on 17 January. We shall carefully consider their representations before laying regulations before Parliament.

  Television Shopping
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the European directive on broadcasting in so far as it relates to television shopping.

  Mr. Mellor
  The EC directive on broadcasting, which was adopted on 3 October 1989, provides in article 18 that member states shall limit to no more than one hour per day the broadcasting of forms of advertisements such as direct offers to the public for the sale, purchase or rental of products or for the provisions of services. Article 20 enables member states to lay down different conditions in respect of broadcasts intended solely for reception within their national boundaries and which may not be received, directly or indirectly, in one or more other member states.

  The Government are currently considering the detailed implementation of the directive, which must be complied with by 2 October 1991 at the latest.

  Prison Medical Officers
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prison hospital officers have nursing qualifications; what is the complement of full-time and part-time prison medical officers in England and Wales; and how many posts in each category are currently filled.

  Mr. Mellor
  About 13 per cent. of hospital officers hold a recognised nursing qualification. Of 117 authorised full-time medical officer posts 110 are currently filled. The corresponding figures for part-time medical officer posts are 129 and 112.

  Deaths
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year since 1980, the number of persons who have died(a) while in police care and (b) through police shootings.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of persons who died while in police care has been published, since 1980, in the annual reports of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, in respect of the Metropolitan police district and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, for all other police forces. Since 1982 the statistics have included brief details of the circumstances surrounding the death, and from 1987 information about persons who have died as a result of injuries caused by police officers acting in the execution of their duty. Information which is not recorded in the annual reports is not available centrally.

  Name

  First appointed

  Expiry of present appointment

  Annual salary with effect from 1 January 1990

  Sir Ian Trethowan (Chairman)

  1 October 1982

  31 December 1990

  £33,300

  Sir Patrick Meaney (Deputy Chairman)

  18 March 1985

  28 February 1991

  £13,300

  Mrs. Anna McCurley

  1 April 1988

  31 March 1991

  £ 9,950

  Those appointed to the board by the Secretary of State are to be persons who he is satisfied have no interests connected with horseracing which might hinder them from discharging their functions as members of the board in an impartial manner. At the time of their respective appointments, Sir Ian Trethowan had recently been the Director-General of the BBC, Sir Patrick Meaney was (and is) chairman of the Rank Organisation, and Mrs.

  Dr. Sinha
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on when Dr. Sinha, a constituent of the hon. Member for Newham, North-East, will be told of the further allegations to be made against him or informed that no charges are to be made.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is understood that a meeting has been arranged for 25 January, at which time Dr. Sinha, in the presence of his solicitor, will be interviewed by police officers about the further allegations that have been made against him.

  Forensic Science
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on shortages in the forensic science available to the police and to his Department.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In its reply to the Home Affairs Select Committee report in May the Government accepted the difficulties facing the Home Office forensic science service in keeping pace with the demands on it. Eighteen additional staff have been recruited to the service and at least 10 more have been approved for 1990–91, bringing the total staff in post up to 598. Work is also in hand to improve the way in which the service's available resources are used to meet the needs of its customers.

  Horserace Betting Levy Board
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the names of the chairman and members of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, their periods of office, their annual remuneration and the organisations and associations from which they were recruited, selected and appointed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Section 24(2) of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 provides that the levy board shall consist of a chairman and seven other members, of whom the chairman and two other members shall be appointed by the Secretary of State. Following is the information requested as to the names, periods of office and remuneration of the chairman and those two other members:

  McCurley was a public relations executive with Dewe Rogerson and formerly the hon. Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde.

  Section 24(2) of the 1963 Act further provides that the other members of the levy board shall comprise three appointed by the Jockey Club, one of whom is now customarily the chairman of the Horseracing Advisory Council (HAC), and the chairmen for the time being of the

  885
  Bookmakers' Committee and of the Horserace Totalisator Board (the Tote) respectively. In their capacity as members of the levy board, these members receive expenses only.

  Name

  Appointed by or as

  First appointed

  Expiry of current appointment

  Mr. M. E. Wates

  The Jockey Club

  1 January 1987

  31 July 1990

  Captain H. M. Gosling

  The Jockey Club

  1 July 1989

  31 July 1992

  Sir Nevil Macready Bt. CBE (Chairman, HAC)

  The Jockey Club (ex-officio)

  2 September 1986

  1 September 1990

  Mr. L. P. Cowburn

  Chairman of the Bookmakers' Committee

  24 October 1989

  23 October 1991

  Lord Wyatt of Weeford

  Chairman of the Tote

  1 May 1976

  30 April 1991

  Mr. Kevin Taylor
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester as to what measures are being taken to ensure the security and preservation of all police operational logs, notebooks and diaries relating to the case of Mr. Kevin Taylor.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable that all possible steps have been taken to secure the material relevant to the case.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Greater Manchester police as to whether he was involved directly or indirectly in the decision of the Greater Manchester police to investigate the affairs of Mr. Kevin Taylor.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The chief officer of any force is responsible for all operational matters.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors are taken into consideration when deciding whether a chief constable is the appropriate person to determine alleged serious misconduct by senior officers of his force.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The police authority, not the chief constable, is the disciplinary authority for officers above the rank of chief superintendent in police forces other than the Metropolitan police force.

  BOM Holdings
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations about proposed land sale transactions by BOM Holdings plc.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Homosexuals
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men are currently imprisoned in the United Kingdom for consenting homosexual acts with males between the ages of 16 and 21 years; and what is the average sentence being served by such men.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not recorded centrally.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each of the last 12-month periods from October 1986, how many deportation orders were found
  886
  The names of these five members, and information as to the capacities in which they sit as members of the levy board and their periods of appointment, are as follows:

  to be invalid subsequent to the signing of the order; and for what reasons and in how many cases the orders were revoked or withdrawn following representations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each year for which records are available how many times senior executive officers or members of the Home Office case working section have changed decisions to deport when they have been authorised by immigration inspectors.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A study of the cases handled by the immigration service between 1 August 1988 and 31 July 1989 has shown that up to 5 September 1989, a total of 22 of the 2,096 decisions taken by inspectors had been changed by members of the Home Office deportation section.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each 12-month period from June 1985 how many notices of intention to deport have been issued under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971(a) for working in breach of condition and (b) for breach of limited leave to enter; of these, how many have been initiated by the deportation case working section of the Home Office; how many by immigration officers and/or inspectors; of the total, how many resulted in removal from the United Kingdom; and how many deportees were then permitted to remain.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The readily available information about the number of notices of intention to deport issued and the number of deportation orders enforced under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 is published in table 24 of the Home Office volume "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1988" (Cmnd. 726) and in table 14 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue 45/89 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Third Quarter 1989", copies of which are available in the Library.

  The breakdown of information between overstayers and workers in breach is not available before August 1988. In the 12 months ending June 1989, a total of 2,666 notices of intention to deport were issued under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971, of which 713 were authorised by the deportation section for overstaying; 1,953 were authorised by inspectors of which 1,295 were for overstaying and 658 for working in breach. Information about these subsequently permitted to remain is not available.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how immigration officers and inspectors
  887
  obtain access to Home Office information and representations in respect of intended deportees; and when the officers seek authorisation from inspectors to serve a notice of intention to deport.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In some cases information is available to the immigration service before inquiries are initiated. In other cases it may be obtained by telephone, or the decision will be deferred until the information is available. All members of the immigration service engaged in enforcement work are aware that they must not reach a decision until satisfied that all the relevant information has been taken into account.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) of cases referred by immigration officers to immigration inspectors for authorisation to serve a notice of intention to deport for breach of condition or overstaying under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971, on how many occasions immigration inspectors have declined to give authorisation in each six-month period for the last five years;

  (2) of cases referred by immigration officers to the Home Office deportation case working section for authorisation to serve a notice of intention to deport under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971, on how many occasions the case working section has declined to give authorisation in each six-month period for the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which Home Office office the head of the immigration service reports.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The chief inspector of the immigration service reports to one of the two assistant under-secretaries in the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office.

  Immigration Act 1988
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many training courses or seminars have been held about the operation of section 5 of the Immigration Act 1988; when they were held, who attended; and what information was made available to attendants.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A seminar about the provisions of the Immigration Act 1988 was held in June 1988, attended by training liaison officers representing all immigration service ports. Local training seminars then followed and videos of the original talks were distributed for the information of all grades. In August 1988 a seminar was attended by deportation section staff and those inspectors with delegated authority to authorise the issue of a notice of intention to deport. This was followed up by a further seminar in June 1989 to review the operation of these arrangements. Immigration service law enforcement courses from September 1988 have specifically covered the

  Establishment

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  11989

  Ashford

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  1(1)

  —

  —

  Bedford

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1(1)

  —

  Birmingham

  —

  —

  2(2)

  —

  1(1)

  1(1)

  —

  Brixton

  4(4)

  5(5)

  2(2)

  2(2)

  3(3)

  1(1)

  1(1)

  888
  deportation provisions of the Immigration Act 1988 and include lectures from senior officers of the immigration service and the deportation section of the relevant division of the immigration and nationality department. There have been nine such courses so far covering some 150 staff.

  Risley Remand Centre
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the full report of the Home Office inquiry conducted by the director of the prison service, south-west region, into the disturbances at Risley remand centre in May 1989.

  Mr. Mellor
  The full report was an internal management document, but a summary including the list of all the recommendations resulting from the inquiry has already been placed in the Library, and action taken as indicated in the reply of my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) to a question by the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle) on 25 July 1989 at columns 607–08.

  Prisoners (Psychiatric Treatment)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners currently on remand have been psychiatric inpatients; and how many prisoners currently on remand were unable to give a permanent address when the order for their remand was given;

  (2) if he will give the numbers of convicted prisoners who (a) have received and (b) are receiving psychiatric treatment for the latest available date;

  (3) if he will give, for the latest available date or whole year, the numbers of prisoners on remand who have previously received or are receiving psychiatric treatment, for each remand centre.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of inmates who have received or are undergoing psychiatric treatment, or who were unable to give a permanent address when the order for their remand was given, is not recorded centrally.

  Remand Centres (Suicide)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each remand centre, the numbers of inmates who committed suicide for each year since 1983; and if he will give similar figures for the prison officers.

  Mr. Mellor
  The table gives the numbers of inmates who have died in remand centres and local prisons in each of the last seven years, and in respect of whom a suicide verdict was returned at the inquest. The figures in brackets give the numbers of those inmates who were being held on remand.

  Before 1 January 1990 no central record was kept of the causes from which serving prison officers died. The information requested is therefore not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  889

  Establishment

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  11989

  Canterbury

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  3(3)

  —

  1(1)

  Cardiff

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  1

  —

  —

  Dorchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  —

  Durham

  —

  1(1)

  2(2)

  —

  3(3)

  1(1)

  2(1)

  Exeter

  —

  2(2)

  1

  1(1)

  1

  1

  1(1)

  Gloucester

  1(1)

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  —

  —

  Leeds

  1(1)

  1(1)

  2(2)

  —

  2(2)

  4(4)

  2(2)

  Leicester

  —

  1(1)

  2(2)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lewes

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Lincoln

  —

  —

  1(1)

  1(1)

  2(2)

  1

  —

  Liverpool

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Manchester

  1(1)

  —

  1(1)

  2(2)

  3(2)

  —

  3(3)

  Norwich

  1(1)

  2(1)

  —

  1(1)

  1(1)

  —

  —

  Pentonville

  1

  1(1)

  2

  —

  2(2)

  1(1)

  —

  Risley

  —

  —

  1(1)

  1(1)

  3(3)

  4(4)

  —

  Shrewsbury

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  —

  Swansea

  —

  1(1)

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  —

  Wandsworth

  —

  1

  2

  —

  3

  1

  1

  Winchester

  2(2)

  —

  —

  —

  1(1)

  —

  2(1)

  Wormwood Scrubs

  —

  1

  2(2)

  1(1)

  2(2)

  2(2)

  1(1)

  Total

  13(10)

  18(13)

  21(15)

  13(12)

  33(27)

  21(18)

  17(11)

  1 Inquests have yet to be held on eight other inmates who died in 1989 and whose deaths were thought to have been suicides. These deaths occurred at Risley (2); Brixton (2); Cardiff, Hindley, Swansea and Manchester, and five of the inmates were being held on remand.

  Speed Limits (Enforcement)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues to police forces concerning different courses of action to be pursued against motorists exceeding speed limits.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. The responsibility for enforcing road traffic law, including the speed limit, rests with individual chief officers of police.

  Prisoners' Pay
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the basic pay paid to inmates in prisons in England and Wales; when this was last increased; and what is the highest weekly pay that can be earned by an inmate who is in full-time employment in a prison establishment in England and Wales.

  Mr. Mellor
  The basic pay, which is paid to inmates who are unemployed or incapacitated through illness or injury, is £1·65 per week. The maximum pay that can be earned under various incentive schemes is £5·55 per week. Rates were last increased in April 1989.

  Violence, Drugs and Sex
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of people at present serving sentences in Her Majesty's prisons are doing so for offences which involve violence, drugs or sex.

  Mr. Mellor
  Nearly 50 per cent. in 1989, compared with less than a third in 1979.

  Judicial Inquiries
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the criterion in the past when independent judicial inquiries have been instituted to inquire into matters of national importance and interest; and whether these criteria are applicable in the matters appertaining to Mr. John Stalker.

  Mr. Waddington
  Successive Home Secretaries have reserved such inquiries for circumstances where the whole efficiency of a force is called into question, or where there has been serious public disorder, or some similar circumstance where wide-ranging and serious disquiet is felt about a matter affecting a large proportion of a force.

  I do not consider that these criteria apply to the events surrounding Mr. John Stalker's suspension from the Greater Manchester police force and his subsequent reinstatement therein.

  LONDON UNDERGROUND: CRIME STATISTICS
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: CRIME STATISTICS
  EC INTER-GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE: PREPARATORY WORK
  EC INTER-GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE: PREPARATORY WORK
  DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS: STAFFING
  DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS: STAFFING
  NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW
  NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW
  GREECE: DETENTION FOR POLITICAL BELIEFS ALLEGATION
  GREECE: DETENTION FOR POLITICAL BELIEFS ALLEGATION
  HUMAN CELLS: IN VITRO FERTILISATION
  HUMAN CELLS: IN VITRO FERTILISATION
  EMBRYO RESEARCH
  EMBRYO RESEARCH
  EMBRYOS: FREEZING AND RETENTION
  EMBRYOS: FREEZING AND RETENTION
  OPTICAL SERVICES REVIEW
  OPTICAL SERVICES REVIEW
  BATHING WATER QUALITY SURVEY
  BATHING WATER QUALITY SURVEY
  DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES: CONTROL PROPOSALS
  DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES: CONTROL PROPOSALS
  HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS: STATISTICAL DATA
  HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS: STATISTICAL DATA