Written Answers of 2 July 1990

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Football Licensing Authority
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recruitment procedure to be followed for the chief executive and other staff of the Football Licensing Authority.

  Mr Waddington
  This will be a matter for the Football Licensing Authority but we expect that the chief executive and other executive staff will be seconded from the civil service, and that other staff will be recruited by the authority locally or by competition as appropriate.

  Women Prisoners
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women currently held at Her Majesty's pleasure are allowed to keep their children with them during their detention.

  Mr. Mellor
  There are no women detained during Her Majesty's pleasure, under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, or serving life sentences, who currently have their children with them in prison. If the mother of a baby receives a custodial sentence of any length, she may apply to be admitted with her child to a prison mother and baby unit. Approval of such an application depends upon there being an available place and upon the mother's admission being considered to be in the best interests of the child. A child is not normally allowed to remain with its mother in prison beyond the age of 18 months.

  Blundeston Prison, Suffolk
  Mr David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about staffing levels and industrial relations at Blundeston prison, Suffolk in the light of the present dispute in the prison service.

  Mr. Mellor
  At present there are 240.5 staff in post at Her Majesty's prison Blundeston. Of these, 149 are officers, including principal and senior officers, compared with the target officer in post figure set for 31 March 1991 of 148.

  The Prison Officers Association has not declared a dispute at the prison.

  Prison officers voted in June to take national industrial action. A majority of POA members at Blundeston voted in favour of national industrial action.

  West Yorkshire Police
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Yorkshire on the full cost of the police operation at Millfield quarry lagoon, Hurbury, Wakefield on Sunday 17 June.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of West Yorkshire police that the full additional cost of the police operation at Hurbury was £10,073.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter dated 24 May from the hon. Member for South Hams concerning the transfer to Dartmoor prison for Mr. Willcox, currently a prison officer at Ford open prison, west Sussex.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have written to my hon. Friend today.

  Offences
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to introduce legislation to make any class of person responsible in law for an offence of which he had no prior knowledge.

  Mr. Waddington
  The criminal law contains a range of provisions establishing liability, from knowing of and intending to commit an offence, to offences of strict liability not requiring conscious knowledge, for instance those involving motor vehicle defects. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular legislative proposal in mind perhaps he would let me know of his precise concern.

  TVS Entertainment Ltd.
  Mr. Fisher
  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 as to whether he intends to investigate allegations of forged documents relating to TVS Entertainment Ltd.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis this matter is now the subject of a police investigation.

  Football Match Tickets (Sales)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department intends to implement the recommendation contained in Lord Justice Taylor's final report into the Hillsborough disaster that it should be made an offence to sell tickets on the day of a football match without authority from the home club to do so; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We hope to reach a conclusion shortly on whether to create such an offence.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the
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  selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with Public Record Office inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  Documents originating from the Home Office are recorded on official files which are indexed according to standard subject headings.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of, and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Waddington
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with its duties under the Act, the Department ensures that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Trafalgar Square (Incidents)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 35, if he is able to provide the details of age, sex, offence, last known address and prison or place of confinement of those people who were remanded and are still remaining in custody following the incidents in Trafalgar square on 31 March.

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

  Birmingham Six
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers of the Devon and Cornwall police are working on the inquiry into the Birmingham pub-bombing cases.

  Mr. Waddington
  I understand from the chief constable of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary that 45 police officers from that force are currently engaged in carrying out inquiries into various matters which have been raised about the safety of the convictions of the Birmingham Six.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the trial Judge, Lord Bridge, has been consulted either by his Department or by any of the various inquiries since 1986 into the safety of the Birmingham pub-bombing convictions.
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  Mr. Waddington
  No.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference of the inquiry by the Devon and Cornwall police into the Birmingham pub-bombing convictions; and if they have been amended since the inquiry was first commissioned.

  Mr. Waddington
  In March 1990, I asked the chief constable of the West Midlands police for a report on a number of matters arising out of representations made by the solicitor acting on behalf of the Birmingham Six. Since then, I have asked the chief constable for a report on a number of further matters which have been raised with him about the safety of the convictions of the Birmingham Six. The chief constable has asked the Devon and Cornwall constabulary to undertake inquiries on my behalf.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps the Home Office has taken to satisfy itself that the named day-to-day care person, with a statutory responsibility under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, within the National Institute for Medical Research, carried out his or her duties to the full, relating to Professor Feldberg's experiments;

  (2) what steps the Home Office has taken to satisfy itself that the named veterinarian, with a statutory responsibility under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, within the National Institute for Medical Research, carried out his or her duties to the full relating to Professor Feldberg's experiments.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It would not be right to make any comment on matters such as these while the Medical Research Council is conducting an inquiry into the circumstances which gave rise to the allegations about the work carried out by Professor Feldberg.

  Homosexuals
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy on the treatment of lesbians and gay men under the law.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 1 February 1990 at columns 304–6, and to my letter to him of 1 June 1990, a copy of which is in the Library.

  "The Sentence of the Court"
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish a new edition of the handbook, "The Sentence of the Court".

  Mr. Waddington
  I am glad to say that a new edition is published today and is being distributed to all judges and magistrates. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Animal Procedures Committee
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to announce any further appointments to the Animal Procedures Committee.
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  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am pleased to be able to announce the appointment to the Animal Procedures Committee of Professor Margaret Brazier, of the department of law, university of Manchester and Professor Onora O'Neill, of the department of philosophy, university of Essex. I am grateful to Professor Brazier and Professor O'Neill for agreeing to serve on this committee.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding applications for(a) registration and (b) naturalisation are awaiting

  Citizenship applications outstanding in caseworking groups

  Registration

  Naturalisation

  Total

  December 1987

  n/a

  n/a

  55,374

  March 1988

  45,723

  28,674

  74,397

  June 1988

  n/a

  n/a

  79,143

  September 1988

  n/a

  n/a

  95,971

  December 1988

  n/a

  n/a

  119,276

  March 1989

  84,438

  41,154

  125,592

  June 1989

  86,452

  52,318

  138,770

  September 1989

  70,858

  63,877

  134,735

  December 1989

  55,239

  64,930

  120,169

  March 1990

  38,832

  65,050

  103,882

  May 1990

  33,755

  64,273

  98,028

  n/a = not available

  The average processing times for cases completed in May 1990 was 24 months for registrations and 29 months for naturalisations. We aim to reduce these waiting times as soon as practicable.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been taken out of tax over the past 11 years; if he has any plans to take more people out of tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  If the 1978–79 income tax regime were reintroduced after indexation of thresholds to 1990–91 levels, the number of individual taxpayers would increase by a little under 2 million. Tax thresholds have been increased by almost 25 per cent. in real terms under this Government. We shall continue to review their levels in the future.

  Taxation (Performers)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what authority the Inland Revenue has decided to distinguish between established performers/artists who are being taxed under schedule D and new performers/artists who are to be taxed under schedule E;

  (2) with whom the Inland Revenue has agreed a gradual transition to the schedule E treatment of performers.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The Inland Revenue has a duty to implement tax law. The change in the tax treatment of certain performers/artists is based on decisions made in the courts. The arrangements to put their tax treatment on to the correct basis over a transitional period were made by the Inland Revenue, with
  394
  decision at the latest available date and at each quarter since 31 December 1987; what is the average time taken from receipt of application to taking a decision on each application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 26 June 1990]: The available information about outstanding cases relates to applications in the nationality division caseworking groups and is in the table. In addition, on 31 December 1987, there were an estimated 210,000 applications in Lunar house that had not reached caseworking groups, and these were transferred to the nationality division over the course of the next 18 months.

  the approval of Treasury Ministers, under its powers for the general "care and management of the income tax in the Taxes Management Act 1970.

  These arrangements have been discussed, over an extended period, with representatives of all sides of the theatre industry and take into account their concern that an abrupt change to schedule E for all those involved could be disruptive to the industry, and, in some cases, cause hardship.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what relative consideration the Inland Revenue has given to the cases of Fall v. Hitchen and Davies v. Braithwaite, in deciding whether schedule E was the correct schedule of charge for income tax for performers and artists undertaking theatrical engagements;

  (2) on what legal authority the Inland Revenue based its claim that generally performers and artists undertaking theatrical engagements under standard contracts are, in law, employees.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: I understand that the Inland Revenue's view on the taxation position of theatrical performers working under standard contracts is based on legal advice they have received relating to the 1972 Fall v Hitchen High Court case, which indicated that a typical standard contract of engagement, based on terms agreed between Equity and theatre managements, was a contract of employment, and a number of subsequent Court decisions on the general issue of whether people are employees or self-employed. The Revenue has explained its views on these issues to the theatre industry on several occasions in the past.

  In Fall v Hitchen the High Court considered, and distinguished, the earlier judgment in Davis v Braithwaite. I understand that the Revenue took both cases, and other relevant cases, fully into account in forming their views on the correct tax treatment of theatrical performers.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors led to the revision of the figures for manufacturing investment in the north-east for the years 1979 to 1987 between the answer of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South of 6 June 1989,Official Report, column 70, and his answer of 25 June 1990.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: The figures have not been revised. As stated in these replies the information provided on 6 June 1989 was based on constant 1985 prices while that provided on 25 June was based on current prices. The earlier constant price figures used price indices which are applicable to manufacturing investment for the United Kingdom as a whole. The Central Statistical Office, which now has responsibility for the figures, considers these may be inappropriate for individual regions because of the different mix of industries and the possibility of differing prices and price movements in each. There are no regional price indices.

  Natural Beauty Products, Bridgend
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his statement of 18 June,Official Report, columns 777–80, if he will indicate by weight and volume the loaded capacity of the vehicles which arrived at the Natural Beauty Products in Bridgend on 2 February, and the assessment the value added tax official then made of the weight, and value, actual and auction, volume, of the finished goods, raw materials, factory equipment and office equipment which he intended to remove from the factory.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: Customs and Excise had no responsibility for any vehicle that arrived at Natural Beauty Products in Bridgend on 24 February.

  On 1 February, Customs instructed the bailiff to commence removal of the finished goods subject to distraint. Although a Ford Transit van and Ford Cargo 60 cwt. pantechnicon called to the premises, only the latter was used to remove the goods. On 2 February a Ford Cargo lorry and a furniture removal van arrived at the pemises but no goods were removed because of the prior appointment of an administrative receiver. On both these dates the provision of the transport was arranged by the bailiff.

  Customs and Excise made no assessment of the weight of the goods subject to the levy. The total volume was estimated to require four 60 cwt. pantechnicons to complete the removal of all items subject to distraint.

  The administrative receiver's estimate of the book value of the finished goods, raw materials, factory equipment and office equipment was £228,875. No deduction was made for possible tax liability and no account was taken of any other expenses or charges that may accrue on their disposal. The estimated auction value was £29,200.

HEALTH

  Community Care
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation he has had regarding funding for care in the community in future years.
  396
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have discussed all aspects of community care, including funding, with a wide range of interested organisations.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to consider how best to fund a scheme to look at the design and provision of wheelchairs for use on public transport services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have no plans to fund such a scheme. The accommodation of wheelchairs on public transport is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  National Assistance Act
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received advocating the replacement of section 47 of the National Assistance Act 1948;

  (2) what plans he has to reform section 47 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Representations were received in the form of amendments to the National Health Service and Community Care Bill, and correspondence from Age Concern, (England).

  We have no plans to reform section 47 but we shall be keeping the operation of these provisions under review as our new community care arrangements take effect.

  HIV
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total number of people who have been infected with HIV.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest estimate of the total number of people who have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in England and Wales was published by the Public Health Laboratory Service in January 1990 as a supplement to the communicable disease report. In this report, "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in England and Wales to end 1993" (the Day report), it was estimated that there were between 12,250 and 26,400 HIV-infected people in England and Wales at the end of 1988.

  A separate group is currently preparing new estimates of short-term predictions of HIV incidence and prevalence estimates of the numbers of AIDS cases in Scotland as a revision of the earlier report of national working party on health service implications of HIV infection (the Tayler report). Copies of both the Day and Tayler reports are available in the Library.

  Reported incidence in Northern Ireland is too low to make accurate estimates of the likely spread of HIV infection.

  Results from the HIV prevalence monitoring programme using the unlinked anonymous technique will help to reduce uncertainty in these estimates.

  Dental Laboratories
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the proportion of the total fees paid to dentists under the national health service which is
  397
  attributable to dental laboratory costs; and what arrangements exist to ensure that such proportion is duly paid to the laboratories.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the current scale of fees for national health service dental treatment which came into effect on 1 October 1989, approximately 18 per cent. of the total fees to be paid to dentists is attributable to dental laboratory costs. The price which individual dentists pay for laboratory-made dental appliances is, however, entirely a private arrangement between the dentist and the laboratory concerned.

  GPs (Home Visits)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to introduce a charge for general practitioner home visits.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No.

  Child Migrants Trust
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department gives to the Child Migrants Trust; and if he will make a statement regarding future developments.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 27 June at column 249.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which officials at national, regional or local level are responsible for drawing up rules for family practitioner committees on the appointment of their chief executive.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 25 June at column 88.

  Cigarette Advertisements
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to implement the recommendation of the third report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship that all cigarette advertisements should carry a health warning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This was not a formal recommendation of the committee as a whole, but the view of the chairman expressed in his foreword. The Government fully accept the chairman's concerns, and is currently negotiating with the tobacco industry on this matter. We hope to make an announcement shortly.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish any written evidence given by the national health service trusts unit to district health authorities, regional health authorities, project managers or trust sponsors on the preparation or revision of draft business plans for units seeking self-governing status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We intend to publish a compendium on national health service trusts in the 398
  autumn, which will update and bring together advice on the establishment and operation of NHS trusts which has been provided by the Department.

  Social Work
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on general social work practice within local authorities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department promotes effective and efficient social work by working constructively with local authorities, and representatives of the professions concerned, to promote the development of services which will provide quality of care combined with value for money for clients.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has made any estimate of the possible cash savings arising as a result of the assessment and case management procedure contained in the Government's community care proposals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We expect local authorities to make more cost effective use of resources as they develop their ability to offer a more individual response to clients' needs through improved procedures for assessment and case management. The extent to which this will be achieved will depend on the decisions of individual authorities.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what external evaluation of his Department's draft guidance on the implementation of the Government's proposals on community care took place between the deliberations of the guidance working parties and their despatch to interested organisations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Representatives from external organisations contributed to the community care development project groups whose reports helped to inform the draft guidance. The Department has recently sent this draft guidance for formal consultation to a wide range of external bodies involved in community care services. These include the local authority associations, the Association of Directors of Social Services, national health service regional general managers, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, representative organisations of the medical and nursing professions and other representative organisations.

TRANSPORT

  Dial-a-Ride
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from dial-a-ride, regarding transport arrangements for the disabled; and what measures he intends to introduce.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are many dial-a-ride and similar services for people with disabilities in operation all over the country. Outside London their funding and development is a matter for local authorities. London Transport has responsibility for administering the scheme in London.

  Disabled People (Transport Access)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to hold discussions with United Kingdom passenger transport authorities on improvements in access by disabled citizens to fixed and mobile facilities.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department is in regular contact, both direct and through the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, with transport authorities and operators throughout the country to promote ways of improving access for people with disabilities both to vehicles and systems.

  London Underground
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State how many times in the last month the fire brigade has been called to be in attendance at a London underground station.

  Mr. Freeman
  London Underground tells me that its record consists of four-week periods rather than calendar months. Figures are not yet available for the whole of the four-week period ending 23 June 1990, but from 27 May to 21 June the fire brigade was called to be in attendance at a London underground station on 474 occasions. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 8 May,Official Report, column 7.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to visit the north-west to discuss with interested parties the maximisation of benefit from the channel tunnel to the region.

  Mr. Freeman
  I look forward to several visits to the north-west and would be happy to meet my hon. Friend.

  Transport Infrastructure, Essex
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the adequacy of the transport infrastructure in Essex.

  Mr. Atkins
  My hon. Friend's report entitled "South Essex Transport—A Preliminary Report" is the only representation I have received on this matter. It is being considered by my officials and a full reply will be sent shortly.

  Beaches
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the statutory provisions relating to vehicular access to public beaches.

  Mr. Atkins
  No public general Act contains any provision relating expressly to such access.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a requirement that vehicles satisfy a maximum exhaust carbon emission test as part of the MOT test.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) on 28 June,Official Report, column 305.

  Concessionary Fares
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in light of the recent decision by the House of Lords in the case of James v. Eastleigh borough council, what advice he is now offering to transport undertakings, in respect of concessionary fares for elderly people.

  Mr. Freeman
  This decision has no relevance for local authority concessionary fares schemes for people of pensionable age, which are based on statutory provision unaffected by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

  Railways
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total financial subvention from public funds for running the railways in each of the EC countries; and how many miles of track each country has.

  Mr. Freeman
  The most recent comprehensive information available to my Department on the public subsidy levels of the European Community's railway systems is contained in the 10th Commission report on the transposed annual accounts of railway undertakings for 1986 [COM (89) 364 final]. These have been converted to sterling on purchasing power parity, together with figures for route mileage; track mileage figures are not available.

  Country

  Support (£ million sterling)

  Route mileage

  Belgium

  454

  2,221

  Denmark

  158

  1,547

  France

  1,845

  21,602

  Greece

  123

  1,549

  Ireland

  92

  1,215

  Italy

  4,403

  10,009

  Luxembourg

  83

  170

  Netherlands

  319

  1,766

  Portugal

  161

  2,255

  United Kingdom

  815

  10,374

  West Germany

  2,138

  17,052

  Notes:

  1. COM (89) 364 does not include details in respect of Spain, which was not a member of the EC in 1986. The figure for route mileage in Spain is 7,844.

  2. The subsidy figure for the United Kingdom includes support for the British Railways Board (£810 million) and for the Northern Ireland Railway Company (£5 million).

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his response to proposals for an integrated high speed rail network to service United Kingdom industry and commerce from the year 2000 onwards.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will be glad to look at any proposals put to me by British Rail for high-speed passenger services.

  Wrentham Bypass
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the status, programming, funding and timetabling of the proposed by-pass of Wrentham, on the A12 in Suffolk.

  Mr. Atkins
  Wrentham by-pass forms part of my Department's proposals for the A12, Saxmundham by-pass to the Lowestoft widening scheme, which was included in the report "Trunk Roads, England: Into the
  401
  1990s" published earlier this year. The design commission for part of the scheme including a by-pass of Wrentham, has been awarded by the Department to Suffolk county council. Council staff will carry out preliminary investigation of the options for a dual carriageway by-pass before the public are consulted next year. Announcement of a preferred route will follow. Timing of construction will be dependent on the completion of the remaining statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Most individual documents are not separately registered. Documents are lodged on registered files which are part of a structured filing system which is regulated by the Department's chief registrar.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of, and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Atkins
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with duties under the Act, the Department is obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  A40 (Improvement)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 26 June to the hon. Member for Uxbridge, what were the reasons for the increase in the estimated cost of the A40 Western avenue improvement at the junction with Long lane, Hillingdon from £18.2 million between November 1987 at 1986 prices to £34.1 million at 1987 prices.

  Mr. Atkins
  The most significant element in the increase in the estimated cost of constructing the scheme was that the cost of piling and structural work in London has 402
  exceeded the rate of inflation. In addition, there were increases in the cost of London Underground's scheme to reconstruct Hillingdon station to higher, more up to date standards.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Greece
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom has taken within the Council of Ministers of the European Community to urge Greece to release the 250 conscientious objectors detained in Avlona military prison.

  Mr. Maude
  None. Under Greece's military service provisions, conscientious objectors can opt for unarmed military service of double the annual period. But it is an offence to refuse to do military service altogether.

  NATO Summit
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed during the recent NATO Foreign Ministers meeting at Turnberry.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The meeting usefully prepared the ground for discussion at this week's NATO summit, on how NATO should adapt to changing times. We also discussed the external aspects of German unification; the future of CSCE; and current arms control issues. A copy of the communique has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average time taken to issue explanatory statements by entry clearance offices following receipt of an appeal or request to provide one.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The majority of posts are able to meet our targets of despatching settlement appeals to the appellate authorities within three months of the date of receipt and visit appeals within one month. Staffing levels are being increased at the few posts which, because of growing demand for visas, have been unable to meet these targets during the past year.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of, and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do
  403
  so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Documents in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are normally placed on departmental files and processed in accordance with departmental instructions and registry practices.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 25 June to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, whether he has received any representations from institutions in other European countries about the recent changes in the natural history museum.

  Maintained school leavers in England Aggregated over 1986, 1987, 1988

  Percentage of all leavers with grades A-C at GCSE/'O' level/CSE

  Local education authority

  Modern foreign language

  Rank

  Mathematics

  Rank

  English

  Rank

  Barking

  6·0

  (95)

  17·9

  (92)

  24·0

  (95)

  Barnet

  28·0

  (1)

  46·5

  (1)

  51·9

  (2)

  Bexley

  15·2

  (32)

  33·0

  (15)

  40·7

  (26)

  Brent

  12·9

  (53)

  24·4

  (70)

  33·7

  (69)

  Bromley

  19·3

  (12)

  35·0

  (10)

  44·1

  (12)

  Croydon

  14·8

  (35)

  28·6

  (48)

  40·1

  (32)

  Ealing

  9·6

  (84)

  24·4

  (72)

  30·4

  (79)

  Enfield

  16·5

  (22)

  31·2

  (27)

  38·7

  (41)

  Haringey

  11·5

  (68)

  19·5

  (89)

  32·1

  (75)

  Harrow

  18·2

  (15)

  43·9

  (2)

  53·5

  (1)

  Havering

  11·7

  (65)

  30·0

  (38)

  38·6

  (42)

  Hillingdon

  9·8

  (81)

  30·1

  (35)

  35·0

  (60)

  Hounslow

  12·8

  (55)

  28·2

  (50)

  35·4

  (57)

  Kingston upon Thames

  20·7

  (6)

  32·9

  (16)

  51·2

  (4)

  Merton

  16·5

  (21)

  28·7

  (47)

  36·9

  (49)

  Newham

  7·7

  (93)

  18·8

  (91)

  28·5

  (87)

  Redbridge

  14·5

  (38)

  30·0

  (37)

  37·6

  (47)

  Richmond upon Thames

  20·4

  (7)

  32·8

  (17)

  42·8

  (18)

  Sutton

  25·8

  (2)

  40·0

  (3)

  46·2

  (7)

  Waltham Forest

  9·0

  (87)

  15·9

  (94)

  24·5

  (94)

  Birmingham

  11·2

  (70)

  20·8

  (80)

  32·2

  (74)

  Coventry

  11·6

  (66)

  22·3

  (76)

  34·3

  (63)

  Dudley

  14·2

  (39)

  27·2

  (58)

  33·9

  (68)

  Sandwell

  8·0

  (91)

  15·4

  (96)

  24·6

  (93)

  Solihull

  20·0

  (8)

  34·0

  (13)

  45·6

  (8)

  Walsall

  12·8

  (56)

  21·9

  (78)

  32·8

  (73)

  404
  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not received any such representations. We understand that the museum will continue to meet its statutory national and international obligations.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Danny McNamee
  Mr. Terry Field
  To ask the Attorney-General why the appeal on behalf of Danny McNamee currently imprisoned in Parkhurst prison was cancelled for July and put back to November; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The listing of cases in the Court of Appeal criminal division is entirely a matter for the Court. I understand that Mr. McNamee's application for leave to appeal against conviction was originally listed to be heard by the court on 16 July but was relisted for 12 November, with the agreement of the parties, to enable the court to deal with another case on 16 July.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  GCSE Results
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, by county education authority in England, in rank order, the percentage of all pupils gaining a higher grade GCSE pass A to C in(a) a modern European language, (b) mathematics and (c) English, in 1989.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information for 1989 is not yet available. The table gives information for school leavers, for county and metropolitan local education authorities, aggregated over the three years 1986–88 to reduce sampling error.
  405

  Percentage of all leavers with grades A-C at GCSE/'O' level/CSE

  Local education authority

  Modern foreign language

  Rank

  Mathematics

  Rank

  English

  Rank

  Wolverhampton

  10·9

  (72)

  19·8

  (85)

  29·7

  (84)

  Knowsley

  3·7

  (96)

  15·8

  (95)

  20·5

  (96)

  Liverpool

  10·5

  (76)

  20·1

  (83)

  30·0

  (82)

  St. Helens

  14·0

  (40)

  29·5

  (41)

  33·2

  (71)

  Sefton

  14·5

  (36)

  27·9

  (52)

  42·6

  (19)

  Wirral

  15·3

  (30)

  28·8

  (45)

  39·8

  (34)

  Bolton

  15·5

  (28)

  30·6

  (30)

  40·7

  (28)

  Bury

  13·1

  (50)

  35·9

  (7)

  42·8

  (17)

  Manchester

  9·3

  (86)

  19·7

  (88)

  27·1

  (91)

  Oldham

  10·9

  (73)

  20·7

  (81)

  25·7

  (92)

  Rochdale

  10·0

  (80)

  23·6

  (74)

  35·5

  (56)

  Salford

  11·2

  (71)

  25·3

  (67)

  34·6

  (62)

  Stockport

  13·7

  (45)

  31·2

  (25)

  44·4

  (11)

  Tameside

  13·0

  (51)

  29·6

  (40)

  39·6

  (36)

  Trafford

  24·2

  (3)

  36·4

  (6)

  45·5

  (9)

  Wigan

  18·1

  (16)

  34·2

  (12)

  42·0

  (22)

  Barnsley

  8·1

  (90)

  19·9

  (84)

  28·4

  (88)

  Doncaster

  9·7

  (82)

  25·6

  (65)

  29·5

  (86)

  Rotherham

  12·7

  (58)

  23·8

  (73)

  30·7

  (77)

  Sheffield

  12·6

  (61)

  25·2

  (68)

  35·4

  (58)

  Bradford

  11·8

  (64)

  19·8

  (86)

  29·6

  (85)

  Calderdale

  12·2

  (62)

  22·0

  (77)

  33·9

  (67)

  Kirklees

  16·3

  (25)

  27·3

  (56)

  36·1

  (52)

  Leeds

  13·4

  (49)

  25·8

  (64)

  34·1

  (65)

  Wakefield

  10·5

  (77)

  24·4

  (71)

  29·8

  (83)

  Gateshead

  8·3

  (89)

  21·3

  (79)

  28·3

  (89)

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  10·3

  (78)

  17·5

  (93)

  28·0

  (90)

  North Tyneside

  12·0

  (63)

  26·8

  (59)

  35·9

  (53)

  South Tyneside

  8·8

  (88)

  23·3

  (75)

  30·6

  (78)

  Sunderland

  7·8

  (92)

  19·7

  (87)

  30·0

  (81)

  Inner London

  9·7

  (83)

  20·5

  (82)

  30·1

  (80)

  Avon

  13·7

  (43)

  28·5

  (49)

  40·1

  (33)

  Bedfordshire

  13·9

  (41)

  28·8

  (46)

  38·9

  (40)

  Berkshire

  19·7

  (9)

  33·3

  (14)

  41·0

  (25)

  Buckinghamshire

  23·5

  (4)

  37·3

  (5)

  47·8

  (5)

  Cambridgeshire

  17·6

  (17)

  29·4

  (43)

  40·1

  (31)

  Cheshire

  16·3

  (24)

  30·9

  (29)

  40·6

  (29)

  Cleveland

  12·9

  (54)

  30·1

  (34)

  35·2

  (59)

  Cornwall1

  13·5

  (48)

  31·3

  (24)

  43·2

  (16)

  Cumbria

  13·6

  (47)

  32·3

  (19)

  37·6

  (45)

  Derbyshire

  11·5

  (67)

  27·9

  (51)

  34·1

  (64)

  Devon

  12·7

  (57)

  27·9

  (53)

  38·9

  (39)

  Dorset

  16·5

  (23)

  31·2

  (26)

  43·9

  (14)

  Durham

  10·1

  (79)

  24·7

  (69)

  33·4

  (70)

  East Sussex

  13·8

  (42)

  29·4

  (44)

  41·7

  (23)

  Essex

  16·2

  (26)

  32·3

  (20)

  40·2

  (30)

  Gloucestershire

  18·4

  (14)

  31·3

  (23)

  43·5

  (15)

  Hampshire

  15·2

  (31)

  32·5

  (18)

  41·0

  (24)

  Hereford and Worcester

  15·4

  (29)

  29·9

  (39)

  42·0

  (21)

  Hertfordshire

  19·5

  (10)

  34·9

  (11)

  45·3

  (10)

  Humberside

  12·9

  (52)

  25·9

  (63)

  34·1

  (66)

  Isle of Wight

  6·2

  (94)

  19·4

  (90)

  31·5

  (76)

  Kent

  17·3

  (18)

  31·6

  (22)

  39·4

  (37)

  Lancashire

  15·2

  (33)

  30·2

  (33)

  38·3

  (43)

  Leicestershire

  9·4

  (85)

  27·6

  (54)

  35·5

  (55)

  Lincolnshire

  16·2

  (27)

  30·5

  (31)

  37·6

  (46)

  Norfolk

  12·7

  (59)

  30·0

  (36)

  35·8

  (54)

  North Yorkshire

  22·5

  (5)

  35·2

  (8)

  44·0

  (13)

  Northamptonshire

  10·8

  (74)

  26·2

  (62)

  36·1

  (51)

  Northumberland

  15·0

  (34)

  31·8

  (21)

  42·3

  (20)

  Nottinghamshire

  10·7

  (75)

  25·5

  (66)

  32·9

  (72)

  Oxfordshire

  14·5

  (37)

  30·2

  (32)

  38·9

  (38)

  Shropshire

  16·6

  (20)

  29·5

  (42)

  39·6

  (35)

  Somerset

  13·7

  (46)

  27·4

  (55)

  37·3

  (48)

  Staffordshire

  12·6

  (60)

  26·5

  (61)

  34·8

  (61)

  Suffolk

  11·4

  (69)

  26·5

  (60)

  37·9

  (44)

  Surrey

  19·3

  (11)

  39·1

  (4)

  51·4

  (3)

  Warwickshire

  16·7

  (19)

  31·2

  (28)

  40·7

  (27)

  West Sussex

  18·9

  (13)

  35·1

  (9)

  47·4

  (6)

  Wiltshire

  13·7

  (44)

  27·2

  (57)

  36·9

  (50)

  Total England

  14·1

  —

  28·4

  —

  37·5

  —

  1 Including Isles of Scilly·

  406 407
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in rank order the percentage of all pupils gaining five or more higher grades A to C at GCSE in 1989, by county education authority in England.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information for 1989 is not yet available. For the latest available information I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Nicholas Bennett) on 18 January 1990,Official Report, column 333·

  Sciences
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to ensure that there is ample provision within the national curriculum to allow for taking the three main sciences separately to O-level standard.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The national curriculum for science sets out a balanced science curriculum. This includes the material from the three main sciences appropriate at GCSE level as a basis for further study in the separate sciences at A-level. It will be possible for schools to cover the curriculum through separate subject science teaching but decisions on the proposed arrangements for assessment of science at age 16 have not yet been taken.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any evidence of links between spending on education, excluding teachers' salaries, and achievements by children at nine, 13, 16 and 18 years plus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such evidence. Socio-economic background is known to be linked with examination achievement at 16 and 18 years plus; research has indicated that there is no marked correlation between education spending and pupils' achievements once allowance has been made for these links.

  Higher Education
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of home students currently in higher education, both full-time and sandwich students other than postgraduates in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (2) what is the number of full-time home postgraduate students studying at levels beyond first degree in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is as follows.

  Home students in higher education in the United Kingdom by country of study and level of courses, 1987–88

  Country of study

  Postgraduate

  First degree and other higher education

  Total

  England

  37·7

  405·6

  443·2

  Wales

  2·6

  27·1

  29·7

  Scotland

  6·0

  70·8

  76·8

  408

  Country of study

  Postgraduate

  First degree and other higher education

  Total

  Northern Ireland1

  1·3

  14·5

  15·8

  United Kingdom

  47·6

  517·9

  565·5

  1 Data for students in higher education outside universities relate to 1986–87·

  Source: Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, 1989 edition (HMSO).

  Derby City Technology College
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he is using to decide on the establishment of a city technology college in Derby.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The criteria for choice of city technology college locations are set out in the booklet "City Technology Colleges—A New Choice of School", published in October 1986. This is available in the Library. My right hon. Friend will make his decision with regard to these criteria and in the light of comments received during the consultation he is currently undertaking with interested parties in the area.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much private sector money has been(a) pledged and (b) received for the proposed city technology college in Derby.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A total of £1·15 million has so far been promised by the private sector for the proposed Derby city technology college. Of this sum, £233,000 has been received.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to ensure that progress regarding planning permission for the land for the city technology college in Derby is halted pending the conclusion of the consultation process.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has taken no such steps.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much public sector money has been allocated for the proposed city technology college in Derby.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The total of public sector money spent upon the proposed city technology college in Derby amounted to £1·145 million by the end of May 1990. Apart from some small administrative costs, no further funds have been, or will be, allocated until my right hon. Friend has made his decision upon the proposal.

  City Technology Colleges
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to issue guidelines for consultation for the establishment of a city technology college; and if he will lay them before Parliament.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend will be issuing no such guidelines. He will take decisions concerning the proposals to establish city technology colleges on which he is currently consulting in the light of all comments received from any interested parties.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department's library maintains an online database which records every document published by the Department. Comprehensive printed lists are generated each month and cumulated annually. They are available to the public.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he has made for calculating the general schools budget of a local education authority with regard to funding of grant-maintained schools should all the schools within that local education authority become grant maintained.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend will keep in mind the prospective need for such arrangements as the grant-maintained sector grows.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list of those primary schools which(a) have closed in England during the last three years, (b) have been considered by him and their closure approved and (c) have been considered by him and their closure rescinded; and if he will give for each school the number of pupils attending.
  410
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: I have today written to the hon. Member with the information he requested. Copies have been placed in the Library.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My office is situated in the Cabinet Office, which complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspection officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by the Duchy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Each outgoing document from my private office is recorded in a document register. Each document is given a unique number and various details are recorded such as the date of the letter, security classification, subject, to whom the document was referred to and its file number.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passsed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained in full, (d) retained in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.
  411
  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  No Privy Council Office document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with the duties under the Act, my Department ensures all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Privy Council Office complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Privy Council Office registry operates a numerical cataloguing system to classify and record documents by subject matter, for example, the relevant Act of Parliament in the case of papers relating to the discharge of statutory function, or the name of the relevant organisation in the case of charter matters. My office and that of the Lord Privy Seal have separate sub-systems for registering papers, also by subject.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Fees Office
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the equipment and staffing numbers available to the Fees Office.

  Mr. Beith
  The number and grades of staff in the Fees Office, as in other offices and Departments of the House, are periodically reviewed by the Staff Inspector; and his recommendations, and those of the Board of Management, are submitted for consideration by the Commission. The Staff Inspector has recently completed a review of the staffing complement of the Fees Office at the grade of higher executive officer and below. His report will be considered by the Commission in due course, after appropriate consultation with the relevant trade unions and management. Computers and similar equipment are supplied to the Fees Office on the basis of the needs identified by the Accountant and the Head of the Administration Department and on the advice of the Computer Officer. I am not aware of any inadequacies in the staffing and equipment of the Fees Office that are not currently being addressed through these well-established procedures.

PRIME MINISTER

  NATO Meeting
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister what was discussed during her visit on 7 June to the NATO Ministers meeting.

  The Prime Minister
  I held a short meeting with the United States Secretary of State, during which he briefed me on the United States-Soviet meeting in Washington. I then made a speech over lunch with NATO Foreign Ministers, before leaving for the Soviet Union. A copy of my speech has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister which non-civil-service special advisers accompanied her on official visits abroad on each of the last 11 years; and what was their cost to public funds, in real terms.

  The Prime Minister
  For years before 1987–88 the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Since 1 April 1987, no special adviser who is not a career civil servant has accompanied me on an official visit abroad.

  European Council, Dublin
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to paragraph 2 of annex 1 of the communique of the Dublin European Council she will place in the Library the suggestions and written contributions submitted by member states, together with the analysis of the issues made by the Foreign Ministers of the member states.

  The Prime Minister
  The examination and analysis carried out by the Foreign Ministers, as requested by the 28 April meeting of the European Council in Dublin, is contained in annex I of the Presidency conclusions. No other document was prepared. It is for the governments concerned to decide whether they wish to make public their written contributions to that examination.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with President Gorbachev in Moscow, she discussed the forthcoming fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Prime Minister what systems she employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by her office; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Documents to and from my office are dealt with in accordance with established registry practices.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Prime Minister what criteria she uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  The Prime Minister
  The guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation.
  413
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 she estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Records Office in censored form, (c) retained in full, (d) retained in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  The Prime Minister
  No document falls for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  European Council, Dublin
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she supported the re-appointment of Mr. Jacques Delors as president of the European Commission at the meeting of the European Council in Dublin; what alternative candidates were considered; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I seconded the presidency's proposal to re-appoint Mr. Jacques Delors as President of the European Commission for a further two years, which was carried by acclaim.

  Gifts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all gifts received in her official capacity from(a) domestic and (b) overseas sources within the last 12 months; what procedure exists for receiving and documenting such gifts; and what becomes of them.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she has taken to investigate the document, sent to her by Colin Wallace on 10 June alleging links between Charles Haughey and the IRA.

  The Prime Minister
  A reply will be sent on my behalf to Mr. Wallace's letter of 10 June.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Civil Servants (Workplaces)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessments under Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations have been undertaken at all workplaces used by civil servants in his Department.

  Mr. Curry
  The responsibility for complying with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 414
  (COSHH) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been delegated to line managers who are familiar with local working arrangements and potential hazards. Technical assistance is available both from safety officers on their staff and from the departmental health and safety unit.

  COSHH assessments of work activities which are liable to expose Ministry employees to substances hazardous to health have been undertaken both in respect of premises which are occupied by the Ministry and in respect of premises which are occupied by third parties but where Ministry employees use or may be exposed to such substances.

  Detailed records are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  The COSHH regulations impose a commitment to review assessments and this is a process which continues within the Ministry.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions had been taken by his Department since the publication of the seventh report of the Royal Commission on environmental protection in response to its recommendations in respect of(a) independent assessments of the performance of waste treatment plant, (b) the resources needed by the farm waste unit and (c) the need for a review of the advisory material on waste management.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department provides a service to manufacturers for the independent assessment of the performance of waste treatment equipment and storage facilities. In 1987, the farm and countryside service was established within ADAS and the farm waste unit was incorporated within the mechanisation discipline of that service. This has strengthened the Ministry's ability to provide advice on environmental issues including farm waste disposal. The Department published, in 1985, the code of good agricultural practice which provides guidance to farmers on ways to reduce the risk of farm pollution of water courses.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid to farmers under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme in each of the designated areas; what is his estimate of the total savings in common agricultural policy expenditure arising from the scheme in each area; and what was the total amount received from the EEC to offset the payments made.

  Mr. Curry
  The costs of the annual payments made to farmers who signed ESA agreements up to 31 March 1990 are shown for the 10 English ESAs in the table. The EC reimbursed £0·762 million towards ESA payments made during the calendar year ending 31 December 1989. The economic studies which will throw light on any savings made under the CAP are not yet complete.

  Annual cost of ESA agreements signed up to 31 March 1990

  ESA

  £ million

  Broads

  1·784

  Pennine Dales

  0·957

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  0·826

  415

  ESA

  £ million

  South Downs

  0·580

  West Penwith

  0·351

  Breckland

  0·454

  North Peak

  0·729

  Shropshire Borders

  0·585

  Suffolk River Valleys

  0·902

  Test Valley

  0·026

  Scrapie
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has investigated the possibility that the scrapie agent could be transmitted to cattle through contact with the scrapie-infected placenta of ewes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no evidence that such transmission occurs. If it does, it is apparently of no consequence since sheep and cattle have been in close contact for many years without a scrapie-like disease becoming established in cattle in the past. Epidemiological studies have show that BSE was most probably caused by feeding cattle with compound feedstuffs containing protein derived from scrapie-infected sheep.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names of the members, and the organisations they represent, of the joint consultative committee of the Potato Marketing Board.

  Mr. Curry
  Membership of the committee is as follows:

  Sir Michael Franklin KCB, CMG

  Independent Chairman

  Mrs. M. Barnett

  PMB Consumers Liaison Committee

  Mrs. H. Millar

  National Consumer Council

  Mr. L. G. Price

  Retail Fruit Trade Federation

  Mr. R. Murdy

  British Retailers Association

  Mr. R. Newborough

  Produce Packaging and Marketing Association

  Mr. J. McArthur

  Scottish Potato Trades Association

  Mr. K. G. Axworthy

  National Federation of Fish Friers

  Mr. T. Charlesworth

  Potato processors Association

  Mr. C. M. A. McCarthy

  Mr. C. W. Login

  National Joint Council of British Potato and Vegetable Merchants Association

  Mr. R. Pooley

  Federation of Agriculture Co-operatives UK

  Mr. J. Arbuckle

  National Farmers Union of Scotland

  Mr. D. J. T. Piccaver

  National Farmers Union of England and Wales

  Mr. J. H. Gittins

  Mr. D. B. Sinclair

  Potato Marketing Board

  Mr. F. C. Newbold

  Mr. C. A. Strawson

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer back to the Potato Marketing Board the proposed amendments to the existing potato marketing scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  No. The board's proposals were duly submitted to me after full consultation with the industry, and will be implemented soon.

  Animal Classification
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to persuade his EC counterparts to change the classification of animals from agricultural products to sentient beings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I fully accept that animals need proper care and must not be treated in the same way as inanimate goods. Rather than press for a new classification, however, the Government prefer to concentrate on negotiating tangible and enforceable welfare safeguards in the Community on protection of animals on farms, during transport and at the place of slaughter.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department follows a comprehensive procedure for the documents it generates both to meet the requirements of the Public Records Acts and to ensure uniformity of treatment throughout. Documents are allocated to files which are identified by a subject code and number. Within files each document is individually numbered. The movement of all files is recorded.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Curry
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on the the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Stubble Burning
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the criteria for temporary exemptions from the proposed ban under the Environmental Protection Bill's provisions on stubble burning.

  Mr. Curry
  Decisions on the need for an extent of any temporary exemptions can only be taken once the ban is in place and in the light of circumstances affecting particular crops in particular areas and particular weather conditions. I expect such exemptions to be strictly limited to exceptional circumstances.

  EC Extensification Scheme
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for implementing the European Community extensification scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friends and I have decided to introduce pilot extensification schemes for beef and sheep under the Community rules. Cash incentives will be made available to about 100 participating producers in selected livestock areas who are prepared to reduce their production by at least 20 per cent. over a period of five years. Apart from reducing livestock production on these farms, the schemes should bring environmental benefits through the less-intensive use of land and a reduced requirement for fertilisers and pesticides. I shall place in the Library information on the rules of the scheme.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Fund
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways were small companies being encouraged to be involved in the range of activities under the know-how fund for Poland and Hungary; what procedures a small company needs to go through to be involved in this project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have already had a large number of applications from small firms inquiring about opportunities under the know-how fund. Many of the applications are in the field of management training and we will soon be evaluating these proposals in the light of various managment sector missions that we have sent to eastern Europe.

  There are also opportunities for small and medium firms to benefit from two recently inaugurated schemes, one for assistance with pre-feasibility investment schemes, the other for assistance with joint venture training.

  Companies should apply to the joint assessment unit in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office if their interest lies in any of these areas.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on activities to date of the know-how fund.

  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many separate projects have been identified under the know-how fund for eastern Europe.
  418
  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 14 March at column 236, and to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Dr. Woodcock) on 13 June at column 213· Seventy-nine projects were listed in those two replies. Since then we have agreed the following projects:

  Czechoslovakia

  A conference on privatisation to be held in Prague in September—26,000·

  Contribution to the United Kingdom transport costs of Czechoslovak agricultural students undertaking practical attachments with British farmers—£1,000·

  Symposium on the construction sector to be held in Prague in July—£5,000·

  Hungary

  Co-operation between the Open University and the Hungarian Open Business School—£56,000·

  Visit of both Hungarian State Insurance Supervisors to the United Kingdom—£4,000·

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether aid for developing countries to adopt chlorofluorocarbons substitutes will be additional to the current aid budget; and if he has anything to add to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 343, concerning the amount of aid to be given for this purpose over the next three years.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Britain's contribution of up to $15 million to the funding mechanism to help developing countries meet their obligations under the strengthened Montreal protocol will be separate from the aid budget to developing countries. It will form part of a new and separate item in the ODA's expenditure plans.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on which councils in Wales are requiring payment of the poll tax in(a) 12 instalments and (b) 10 instalments.

  Mr. Grist
  Under the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989, charging authorities are permitted to enter into agreements with chargepayers for payment of community charges other than in accordance with the instalments scheme prescribed in those regulations. Information about the use made of these powers is not held centrally.

  Tourism
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales representations he has received concerning the development of gites type tourist facilities in rural Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. The Wales tourist board's "Hafod" promotion of high-quality self-catering accommodation in rural areas forms part of the board's overall rural marketing strategy, but cannot be directly compared to gites type accommodation, which is of more variable quality.
  419
  The Wales tourist board examined the possibility of creating a gites type system for Wales in 1982, but concluded that the general standards of accommodation would be unlikely to reach an acceptable level.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out in full the terms of reference for the recent study undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Office by the University of Manchester in relation to the development of the all-Wales strategy for mental health.

  Mr. Grist
  The study has been commissioned to show, with particular reference to the work of social services departments, the extent to which current services conform to the objectives of the all-Wales mental illness strategy and to indentify factors which either promote or inhibit its fulfilment.

  Health Organisations
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list any new bodies, joint committees or co-ordinating organisations which he intends shall be established in Wales, or have already been established, whether on an all-Wales basis or on a regional or local basis, in respect of the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill, "Working for Patients", "Caring for People" and associated Government initiatives.

  Mr. Grist
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with the details he has sought on the organisational framework for implementing the White Paper proposals and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Health Authorities (Finance)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the district health authorities in Wales which have completed their register of capital assets; and if he will give the number of entries made on each register.

  Mr. Grist
  All health authorities with the exception of Clwyd and Gwynedd have completed their capital asset registers. Clwyd health authority has listed all its assets, but some 20 per cent. of its non-property assets have yet to be valued. Gwynedd has listed 95 per cent. of its assets and valued 90 per cent. Details of the numbers of entries included in each register are not held centrally.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales under what circumstances he would allow a higher than normal proportion of any capital receipts accruing to any district health authority in Wales to be used in respect of revenue expenditure; and what process would have to be followed on seeking such approval.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 29 June 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the gross revenue expenditure of each district health authority in 1982–83 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Grist
  Accounts information for 1989–90 is not yet available. The gross revenue expenditure of each district health authority in 1982–83 was as follows:
  420

  £000

  Clwyd

  64,286

  East Dyfed

  39,797

  Gwent

  79,892

  Gwynedd

  37,233

  Mid Glamorgan

  91,103

  Pembrokeshire

  13,002

  Powys

  18,537

  South Glamorgan

  107,851

  West Glamorgan

  61,807

  Wales

  513,508

  Source: Health authorities annual accounts.

  Nurses
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many grading appeals in respect of nursing staff have been successful in(a) Wales and (b) the East Dyfed health authority.

  Mr. Grist
  Latest information on the number of successful grading appeals made at local level to employing authorities is as follows:

  Number

  Wales

  482

  East Dyfed

  58

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many grading appeals in respect of nursing staff in(a) Wales and (b) the East Dyfed health authority are outstanding.

  Mr. Grist
  Latest information on the number of outstanding regrading appeals made at local level to employing authorities is as follows:

  Number

  Wales

  3,088

  East Dyfed

  177

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average time a patient awaited treatment in each Welsh district health authority in March 1982 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Grist
  Median waiting times are usually calculated on a calendar year basis. The figures given in the table relate to in-patients and day cases admitted as waiting list cases and discharged during 1982 and 1989.

  Median waiting times (days)

  District health authourity

  1982

  1989

  Clwyd

  44

  51

  East Dyfed

  36

  42

  Gwent

  57

  54

  Gwynedd

  34

  35

  Mid Glamorgan

  47

  35

  Pembrokeshire

  56

  44

  Powys

  41

  29

  South Glamorgan

  36

  32

  West Glamorgan

  56

  58

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of people on the waiting list for each district health authority in March 1982 and at the latest available date.
  421
  Mr. Grist
  The information is shown in the tables:

  Waiting lists 1982 and 1989 Number of patients on district health authority waiting lists Table 1: On 31 March 1982

  Out-patients

  In-patients

  Day cases

  Pembrokeshire

  1,799

  1,914

  385

  Clwyd

  4,616

  4,100

  599

  East Dyfed

  3,518

  1,584

  196

  Gwent

  8,453

  6,660

  963

  Gwynedd

  3,157

  1,632

  388

  Mid Glamorgan

  14,110

  7,642

  29

  Powys

  282

  61

  0

  South Glamorgan

  12,979

  4,972

  678

  West Glamorgan

  14,136

  4,063

  101

  Waiting lists 1982 and 1989 Number of patients on district health authority waiting lists Table 2: On 30 September 1989

  Out-patients

  In-patients

  Day cases

  Pembrokeshire

  3,373

  2,618

  1,053

  Clwyd

  10,177

  5,389

  844

  East Dyfed

  6,328

  3,443

  369

  Gwent

  13,190

  9,504

  1,672

  Gwynedd

  5,265

  3,476

  589

  Mid Glamorgan

  17,171

  6,930

  514

  Powys

  1,096

  61

  1

  South Glamorgan

  16,087

  6,582

  1,564

  West Glamorgan

  14,820

  6,328

  405

  Corlan Housing Association
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the cost to public funds of the proposed takeover of the Corlan housing association and associated companies by Wales and West housing association.

  Mr. Grist
  The long-term cost to public funds is expected to be nil. However certain moneys owed to Housing for Wales by the Corlan housing association are not expected to be repaid in the current financial year and are being rescheduled as a short term interest bearing loan.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received relating to the finances of the Corlan housing association and its proposed takeover by Wales and West housing association.

  Mr. Grist
  In all, 20 letters and five petitions have been received. My right hon. Friend has met with a deputation representing the staff and tenants of the association.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether information arising from the HACAS inquiry into the financial crisis at the Corlan housing association has been supplied to(a) the South Wales constabulary, (b) the Director of Public Prosecutions and (c) the Serious Fraud Office.

  Mr. Grist
  The inquiry instituted by Housing for Wales into the affairs of the Corlan housing association is continuing.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the impact on the number of new houses and flats to be constructed in the social housing category in Wales in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, of the finances of the Corlan housing association and its proposed takeover by Wales and West housing association.
  422
  Mr. Grist
  Housing for Wales has made alternative arrangements for the completion of grant aided schemes under construction by the Corlan housing association. The social housing programme is not expected to be significantly affected; the completion of some schemes will be delayed by a few weeks beyond the date originally anticipated.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to place a copy of the HACAS report into the financing at Corlan housing association in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Grist
  Housing for Wales is responsible for the inquiry into the affairs of the Corlan housing association. It is not customary to publish reports of inquiries carried out under section 28 of the Housing Associations Act 1985.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Copies of documents created by my Department are as a general rule placed on numbered registered files which are indexed by subject.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanant preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with Public Record Office inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Health Authority Staff
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what what the number of(a) nurses and midwives, (b) doctors and dentists and (c) all direct care staff,

  423
  including (a) and (b) for each district health authority in: (a) 1982 and (b) 1990, expressed as whole-time equivalents.

  Staff in post as at 30 September (whole-time equivalents)

  Nurses and midwives

  Doctors and dentists1

  Direct care staff2

  1982

  1989

  1982

  1988

  1982

  19893

  Clwyd

  3,503

  3,635

  273

  283

  4,215

  4,524

  East Dyfed

  1,966

  2,151

  173

  201

  2,404

  2,719

  Gwent

  4,141

  4,412

  338

  365

  5,050

  5,537

  Gwynedd

  1,890

  2,113

  152

  161

  2,312

  2,655

  Mid Glamorgan

  4,918

  5,392

  379

  420

  5,874

  6,570

  Pembrokeshire

  631

  743

  60

  75

  782

  965

  Powys

  1,092

  1,144

  33

  37

  1,221

  1,313

  South Glamorgan

  4,607

  4,946

  644

  682

  6,371

  7,106

  West Glamorgan

  3,161

  3,495

  301

  321

  3,961

  4,497

  1 Excluding hospital practitioners, clinical assistants and locums·

  2 Nurses and midwives, medical and dental, professional and technical staff·

  3 Using 1988 figures for medical and dental staff as 1989 figures are not yet available·

  Hospital Patients
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of(a) in-patients treated, (b) out-patients treated and (c) day cases for each district health authority in (i) 1982 and (ii) 1989.

  Mr. Grist
  Details of in-patients, out-patients and day cases treated in each district health authority in Wales in 1982 and 1988–89 are published in the relevant issues of "Hospital Bed Use Statistics" copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Quarrying
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policy towards the extension of existing quarries in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Advice on planning applications for mineral extraction is given in the series of minerals planning guidance notes—MPGs—issued jointly by the Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment. MPG1—"General considerations and the Development Plan System"—reasserts the Government's policy that all minerals applications in areas of outstanding natural beauty"should be subject to the most rigorous examination"·

  Health Service Capital Schemes
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the major capital schemes costing over £1 million which have been completed since 1982, are in process of construction or which are planned for each district health authority.

  Mr. Ian Grist
  The information is given in the table. Schemes planned comprise those for which approval in principle has been given.

  Major health building schemes costing over £1 million Health district and scheme

  1. Completed since 1982

  Clwyd

  Ysbyty Maelor Wrexham, Scheme 1

  Mold Community Hospital

  Chirk Community Hospital

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd—

  Scanner Suite and Equipment

  424
  Mr. Grist
  The available information is given in the table.

  Multi Disciplinary Training Unit

  East Dyfed

  Prince Philip Hospital

  St. David's Hospital Carmarthen—

  New Ward Block

  Bryntirion Hospital development

  Gwent

  Royal Gwent Hospital, Scheme 6

  Nevill Hall Hospital, Outpatients Department

  Tredegar General Hospital Upgrading

  Gwynedd

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  Llandudno Hospital Development

  Mid Glamorgan

  Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend

  St. Tydfils Hospital Development

  Powys

  Ystrandgynlais Community Hospital

  South Glamorgan

  University Hospital of Wales (UHW)—

  Medical Genetics Centre

  Remedial Works

  Llandough Hospital Obstetric Unit

  Rookwood Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre

  West Glamorgan

  Morriston Hospital Development, Schemes 1, 2 and 3

  Singleton Hospital

  Pathology Department

  Physical Medicine Department

  Main Kitchen

  Boiler House

  Infrastructure Works

  Sterile Products Unit

  Gorseinon Hospital Upgrading

  Neath Hospital Outpatients Department

  2. Under Construction

  Clwyd

  Deeside Community Hospital

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Phase 2

  East Dyfed

  Amman Valley Hospital development

  Gwent

  Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital—Central Laundry

  Blackwood Acute Mental Illness Unit

  Mid Glamorgan

  425

  Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr, Phase 2

  Ysbyty George Thomas

  Aberdare General Hospital Geriatric Unit

  East Glamorgan General Hospital Geriatric Unit

  Pembrokeshire

  Withybush Hospital Re-roofing

  Powys

  Machynlleth Hospital Development

  South Glamorgan

  University Hospital of Wales (UHW)—

  Paediatric Cardiac Unit

  Cardiac Catheter Laboratories

  New Telephone Switchboard

  Replacement Energy Sources

  Upgrading of Intensive Care and Coronary Care Unit

  Velindre Hospital, Linear Accelerator Suite

  West Glamorgan

  Singleton Hospital West Ward Block

  Tonna Hospital Redevelopment

  Morriston Hospital School of Nursing

  3. Planned

  Clwyd

  Ysbyty Maelor Wrexham, Phase 2

  Hollywell Community Hospital

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Mental Illness Unit

  East Dyfed

  West Wales General Hospital Upgrading

  Gwent

  Torfaen Acute Mental Illness Unit

  Abergavenny Acute Mental Illness Unit

  Ebbw Vale Community Hospital

  Gwynedd

  Cefni Hospital New Ward Unit and Rehabilitation Facilities

  South Glamorgan

  University Hospital of Wales (UHW)—

  MRI Scanner

  New Kitchen

  West Glamorgan

  Morriston Hospital—

  Scheme 4

  Pathology Department

  Singleton Hospital—

  Linear Accelerators

  Staff Residences

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manhole Covers
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to restrict the import of manhole covers from India.

  Mr. Redwood
  My officials are currently considering with the industry whether there is evidence of serious injury to domestic producers arising directly from the import of manhole covers from India which might justify a call for safeguard restrictions. Any decision to impose restrictions would ultimately be a matter for the European Community.

  Engineering Council
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received a copy of the Engineering Council report published on 29 May concerning the Government's assistance to manufacturing industry to encourage innovation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Engineering Council published a press release on 29 May on its written evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology which is looking at "Innovation in Manufacturing Industry". My Department has given both oral and written evidence to this inquiry. The Government will respond in the normal manner to the Select Committee's findings once its report has been published.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the publication, in draft form, of the European Community Green Paper on postal services.

  Mr. Forth
  The European Commission expects to publish the Green Paper on postal services towards the end of the year.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate changes in share ownership of TVS Entertainment Ltd. and other companies holding ITV franchises.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 June, at column 25. The provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1981 operate without prejudice to the Fair Trading Act 1973. Under the latter, the Director General of Fair Trading has a duty to keep himself informed of mergers and proposed mergers. If changes in the share ownership of a company holding an ITV franchise gave rise to a merger situation qualifying under the Fair Trading Act for reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission he would advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on whether it should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Forth
  Department of Trade and Industry estimates relate to files reviewed and are for(a) 4·3 per

  427
  cent·–4,463, (b) nil, (c) 7·3 per cent. –7,540 retained for second review, (d) nil, (e) 88·4 per cent. –91,339, (f) nil, (g) nil.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what system he employes to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department of Trade and Industry raises and registers files by number and title, incorporating relevant documents, using widely accepted filing conventions for paper records.

  Girobank
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the sale of Girobank to be completed.

  Mr. Forth
  I am pleased to announce that the sale of Girobank by the Post Office to the Alliance and Leicester Building Society was completed today. When the sale of Girobank was announced in June 1988, we set out a number of factors which we and the Post Office agreed would be important in evaluating bids. I am fully satisfied that the sale to Alliance and Leicester meets these points. Alliance and Leicester is clearly well placed to develop and expand Girobank's business, a major objective of the sale. It will contribute to greater choice in banking services, while preserving the close links between Girobank and Post Office Counters. I am confident that both Girobank's staff and its customers will benefit from its new position in the private sector and I wish Girobank's management and staff well in this new and challenging stage of the bank's development.

  My right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced in April 1989 that, following a competitive bid process, the Post Office had agreed to sell Girobank to the Alliance and Leicester Building Society for £130 million, subject to later adjustments to the sale price principally in respect of the difference between the book and market values of Girobank's gilts portfolio. Following these adjustments, the proceeds received by the Post Office will amount to £111·9 million, comprising the repayment of Girobank's subordinated debt issued to it by the Post Office of £39 million, and payment by Alliance and Leicester of £72·9 million for the equity.

  Euroenviron Initiative
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department has given to companies under the Euroenviron initiative; and to what use the measures were put.

  Mr. Forth
  Since the launch of Eureka Euroeviron in the United Kingdom on 23 January 1990, three research proposals involving United Kingdom companies have been approved for which the total DTI grant amounts of £1·2 million over three years. The projects will investigate a new technique for incinerating plastic shredder residues from car breaking with heat recovery and no emission of toxic fumes; the development of an ultra-low emission dry cleaning machine, and research into the recovery, and re-use for high quality goods, of plastic materials derived from automobile production and disposal.
  428
  The DTI has supported four successful regional seminars on Euroenviron since the London launch; a further nine are planned. These are maintaining the momentum developed by the initiative.

  Brewing Industry
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Small Independent Brewers Association regarding the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received no representations from the Small Independent Brewers' Association since 1 May 1990, when the measures to ensure that tenants of the major brewers were free to take a guest beer came into effect. Specific complaints should be put to the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring he is undertaking of the practical effects of the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on brewing.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Director General of Fair Trading is monitoring compliance with the measures and has taken steps to keep their effects under review.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet a delegation of the Small Independent Brewers Association to discuss the tactics of the big five breweries against Small Independent Breweries Association products since the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report.

  Mr. Redwood
  I should be happy to consider any request for a meeting. However the Director General of Fair Trading is monitoring compliance with the measures we have introduced, and it is important that any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour is passed to his office.

  Scottish Consumer Council
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants he has made to the Scottish Consumer Council in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: The grant in aid paid by my Department to the Scottish Consumer Council, through the National Consumer Council, in each of the last five years with an estimate for the current year is as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  203,100

  1986–87

  215,796

  1987–88

  218,534

  1988–89

  238,076

  1989–90

  243,113

  11990–91

  271,000

  1 Estimate·

  Air Fares
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the reduction of air fares within the European Economic Community; and if he is able to provide some examples of specific reductions.
  429
  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Community Council of Transport Ministers meeting on 18 June agreed on a second stage of air transport liberalisation measures and committed themselves to complete a single market in aviation by the end of 1992. The agreement reached will give airlines greater freedom to set innovative fares and take advantage of more open access to the market. The setting of fare levels is a matter for airlines' commercial judgment. However, where the United Kingdom has already concluded liberal bilateral agreements with other countries, fares have come down.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the contract was signed for the appointment of Imagination to be the co-ordinator of the share offer presentations for the forthcoming offers for sale of the successor companies to the area electricity boards in England and Wales.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I announced the joint appointment, with the 12 regional electricity companies, of Imagination as co-ordinators of the share offer presentations for the forthcoming offers for the sale of the 12 RECs on 4 May 1990, after terms and conditions had been agreed. A formal contract incorporating these terms and conditions is being prepared.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 16 February,Official Report, column 468, whether any of the estate agents advising on electricity privatisation have consulted him regarding any potential conflict of interest.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Before they were appointed all the property advisers assured my Department that they had no conflict of interest with their appointment. As I said in my reply of 16 February to the hon. Member, the contracts with these firms require them to consult me regarding potential conflict of interest. I am satisfied that these arrangements have enabled my Department to ensure that any such potential conflicts are avoided.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, columns 454–58, if he will list any changes in the companies retained by him to advise on electricity privatisation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Since I last replied the following changes have taken place in the Department's contracts with advisers.

  The following contracts have come to an end:

  Adviser and Area

  Lloyds Bank—Receiving Bank and Registrar

  Lamb and Edge—Property Valuers

  Grimley J. R. Eve—Property Valuers

  Gerald Eve—Property Valuers

  Knight Frank Rutley—Property Valuers

  Weatherall Green and Smith—Property Valuers

  Debenham Tewson and Cheshire—Property Valuers

  Hartnell Taylor and Cook—Property Valuers

  Connell Hallum and Brackett—Property Valuers

  Matthews and Goodman—Property Valuers

  Cook and Arkwright—Property Valuers

  Bernard Thorpe—Property Valuers

  Henry Butcher—Property Valuers

  430

  Lloyd Northover—Design Consultants

  New contracts have been concluded with:

  Adviser and Area

  Price Waterhouse—Reporting accountants

  Russell Reynolds—Recruitment consultants for Chairmanship, National Power

  R. L. Associates—Setting X for Area Boards

  Lincoln Hannah—Press cutting service

  Imagination—Roadshow organisers

  WCRS—Flotation advertising

  Debenhams Tewson and Chinnocks—Property Valuers

  Edward Erdman—Property Valuers

  Rowe and Pitman—Brokers (in the process of being formally appointed)

  In addition, a number of operational contractors have been or are in the process of being employed to provide the major flotation operations:

  (i) the Share Information Office;

  (ii) printing; and,

  (iii) share application processing·

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to publish the valuations of the assets of the electricity supply industry which have been carried out by the firms of estate agents that are advising him.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The reports of the surveyors are commercially confidential documents.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the firms of estate agents for the 12 electricity distribution companies, the National Grid Company, PowerGen and National Power appointed jointly with his Department were chosen by competitive tender.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government's central adviser. Jones Lang Wootton, was appointed by a competitive process. The valuers for the 12 regional electricity companies, the National Grid Company, PowerGen and National Power were joint appointments with the industry. These were either chosen by a competitive process or on the basis of existing arrangements with the individual companies concerned. For example, valuers who had recently advised a company were often picked in the interest of obtaining their accumulated knowledge and expertise with the related downward pressure on fees. This is an established practice in privatisation exercises. In all such cases the fees chargeable were renegotiated as if their selection had been on the basis of a competitive process. The Department drove a hard bargain in these cases and succeeded in obtaining charge rates which were well below the companies' normal commercial rates.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether annex B to the Cabinet Office guidelines on Government publicity applies to his specialist PR and marketing adviser and the PR and marketing adviser to his Department and the electricity supply industry;

  (2) whether page 10 of the document entitled "The Government Information Officer" applies to his special PR and marketing adviser and the PR and marketing adviser to his Department and the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have nothing to add to the letter I wrote to the hon. Member on 11 April 1990 on these matters.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has anything to add to his answer of 9 May,Official Report, column 167, about James Capel's advice to journalists.
  431
  Mr. Wakeham
  James Capel has not advised journalists of the value at which the electricity supply industry will be sold. It is in any case much too early to produce a meaningful estimate of the likely proceeds of the sale. Exactly how James Capel respond to speculation or questions about the likely proceeds which appear in the press is a matter for it.

  Hinkley Point C
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the report of the Hinkley Point C inquiry before he announces his decision and before the House rises for the summer adjournment.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I set out how I intend to handle the report of the Hinkley Point C public inquiry in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Woodford and Wanstead (Mr. Arbuthnot) on 14 June, at column 287·

  The report is long and detailed, and I am considering it carefully. I am not yet able to say whether I shall have reached a conclusion before the House rises.

  Cullen Inquiry
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the report of the Cullen inquiry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The timing of the report is a matter for Lord Cullen. I look forward to receiving it when it is available.

  National Power
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what firms of recruitment consultants have been employed to assist him in appointing a new chairman of National Power; and what is the cost to public funds.

  Mr. Baldry
  Russell Reynolds Associates has been appointed to assist my Department in finding a chairman of National Power. The fees being paid are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the selection of the new chairman of National Power.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on 14 May,Official Report, column 317·

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  to ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on the the Public Record Office in
  432
  censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  All documents raised in the Department are held on registered files.

  Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (M. Kirkwood), 25 June,Official Report, column 115, what contingency plans his Department has to facilitate or undertake third-stage decommissioning in the event of the operators of nuclear power stations having inadequate resources to do so; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) of 6 March 1990 at column 556·

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will place a report on the breakdown of the £990 million avoidable costs that would be saved by cancellation of the Sizewell B nuclear power station in the Library.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is a matter for Nuclear Electric plc. The precise breakdown of the avoidable cost is commercially confidential. I have already indicated that the breakdown can be made available on this basis by the company to the Energy Select Committee if the Committee wishes.

  Nuclear Electric
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive Nuclear Electric's review of its financial position.

  Mr. Wakeham
  We continue to review Nuclear Electric's financial position with the company's management and auditors. This work is nearing completion. The company's opening report and accounts will be published during the summer.

THE ARTS

  Museums and Galleries (Maintenance)
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what further donations have been received from the private sector for the maintenance of museums and galleries since he last reported to the House.

  Mr. Luce
  The national museums and galleries which I sponsor receive continual support from the private and commercial sector for the maintenance and enhancement of their buildings.

  Recent notable successes include the new Japanese galleries at the British museum, made possible by a £5 million public appeal in this country and Japan.

  Repertory Theatres
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the financial position of the repertory theatres in London and the regions.

  Mr. Luce
  At the end of March, cumulative deficits for building-based drama companies funded directly by the Arts Council represented about 6 per cent. of their total turnover. This figure conceals a wide variation in the performance of individual companies and takes no account of this year's substantial increase in Arts Council grants.

  Opera
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last officially visited the opera; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I attended a performance of Mozart's "La Clemenza Di Tito" at the Guildhall school of music and drama on 18 June.

  Regional Film Theatres
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he intends to meet the British Film Institute to discuss the development of regional film theatres.

  Mr. Luce
  I regularly meet the chairman of the British Film Institute to discuss current issues.

  National Gallery
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the trustees of the national gallery to discuss their buildings and exhibits.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet frequently the trustees and directors of all the national museums and galleries which I sponsor to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Community Theatre
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what financial support was provided in 1989 by(a) the Arts Council and (b) regional arts associations for community theatre productions.

  Mr. Luce
  Both the Arts Council and the regional arts associations fund a large number of companies which give performances in small-scale local venues.

  Museums and Galleries (Charges)
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Minister for the Arts in light of the recent decision by the House of Lords in the case of James v· Eastleigh Borough Council, what advice he is now offering to museums and galleries in respect of concessionary admission charges for elderly people.

  Mr. Luce
  I shall ensure that the national museums and galleries which I sponsor are aware of this recent decision by the House of Lords.

  British Film Institute
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the British Film Institute to discuss its future plans for film production.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman and director of the British Film Institute from time to time. A wide variety of matters is discussed.

  Wilding Report
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received following his statement on the Wilding report.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received representations from a wide range of interested organisations and individuals.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing the Wilding report reforms.

  Mr. Luce
  Since I announced on 13 March my proposals for a new structure of arts funding, good progress has been made by Mr. Mason, the manager of the reforms. The steering group I established has met regularly, and in addition, working groups of the interested parties are looking at detailed issues. As a result I hope to announce further decisions in the near future.

  Theatre Royal, Bristol
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to visit the Theatre Royal, Bristol.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he intends to change the regulations for Government support for business sponsorship; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I recently announced a number of changes to the rules of my business sponsorship incentive scheme when it resumed in April of this year. The changes enable the scheme to focus on first-time sponsors and I am delighted that it is proving more effective than ever in bringing new money to the arts.

  Liverpool Theatres
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will vist the Playhouse and Everyman threatres, Liverpool.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no plans to visit either of the two theatres at present.

  West Yorkshire Playhouse
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he intends next to vist the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.

  Mr. Luce
  I shall be visiting the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 24 July.

  Courtauld Gallery
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he intends to vist the new Courtauld gallery.

  Mr. Luce
  I visited Somerset house for a preview of the new Courtauld galleries in May and was delighted to attend the reception to celebrate the opening of the galleries, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, on 12 June.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet Mr. Palumbo regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what proportion of museums and galleries are located outside south-east England.

  Mr. Luce
  According to the museums data base project, published in 1987, 67·5 per cent. of museums and galleries in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are located outside south-east England.

  Haymarket Theatre, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will visit the Haymarket theatre, Leicester.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no plans to do so at present.

  Natural History Museum
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from civil service trades unions on the effects of the level of funding for the natural history museum.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received no formal representations from civil service trade unions about the level of funding at the natural history museum.

  However, I understand that at a recent meeting between the Office of Arts and Libraries and Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists (IPMS) representatives, the IPMS outlined its concerns about the museum's proposals, including the level of funding. My officials have subsequently briefed me on the outcome of the meeting.

  Future funding for the natural history museum will be considered in conjunction with funding bids received from other national museums and galleries.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from academics about the effects of the level of funding for the natural history museum.
  436
  Mr. Luce
  I have received many representations from members of the academic community about the level of funding for the natural history museum.

  I will be considering future funding for the natural history museum in conjunction with funding bids received from other national museums and galleries.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from the institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists about the effects of the level of funding for the natural history museum.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received no formal representations from trade unions about the level of funding at the natural history museum.

  However, I understand that at a recent meeting between the Office of Arts and Libraries and Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists (IPMS) representatives, the IPMS outlined its concerns about the museum's proposals, including the level of funding. My officials have subsequently briefed me on the discussion. I shall be meeting the chairman and director of the museum to discuss their plans in the near future.

  Future funding for the natural history museum will be considered in conjunction with funding bids received from other national museums and galleries.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on his actions following the Adjournment debate on Wednesday 20 June to help funding problems at the natural history museum.

  Mr. Luce
  The natural history museum has submitted to me its corporate plan for the years 1990 to 1995. My officials will discuss the plan with the museum next month in the context of the corporate plan discussions held with all the national museums and galleries I sponsor. I will consider fully the points raised in the Adjournment debate on Wednesday 20 June before making the financial allocations to the national museums and galleries to be announced this autumn. I shall be meeting the chairman and director of the natural history museum to discuss their strategy and the wider issues.

ENVIRONMENT

  Disabled People (Access to Sporting Events)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding access to sporting events for people with disabilities, following publication of the Taylor report.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have received no such representations. Better access for disabled people to sporting events was recommended in my review report "Building on Ability" published in August 1989. I believe that improvements to football grounds as recommended in Lord Justice Taylor's report provide the opportunity to improve access for disabled people to this type of sports facility.

  Blue Plaques
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are to be made to sponsor and regulate the commemorative blue plaques in London of eminent literary and artistic persons.
  437
  Mr. Trippier
  The present arrangements are set out in paragraph 4 of schedule 2 to the Local Government Act 1985. This provides that"The [Historic Buildings and Monuments] Commission may in Greater London, and a London borough council may in its borough—

  (a) provide; and

  (b) on any conspicuous part of a house, building or place, with the consent of its owner, erect,

  a commemorative plaque, tablet or sign indicating an event or matter of public interest in connection with the house, building or place or its site, and may in that area, with the like consent, maintain any such plaque, tablet or sign erected by it or by any other person or body, whether before or after the passing of this Act·"

  There are no plans to change this provision.

  The commission has been operating a commemorative plaques scheme since April 1986 and has erected 35 plaques on London buildings. The commission also maintains a variety of commemorative plaques erected during the last hundred years by the Royal Society of Arts, London county council and the Greater London council. Information is not available on schemes operated by London boroughs.

  The commission is always prepared to consider fresh suggestions for commemorative plaques.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public sector and private sector properties are currently estimated to be standing empty in England and Wales.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 27 February 1990 to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) at columns 180–81·

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

  Census Statistics
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he took to determine that the use of the statistics available from the 1981 census in order to determine the distribution of central support for local authority expenditures provides a sufficient and reliable means of recognising the particular needs and conditions of those local authorities which have experienced change since that study.

  Mr. Chope
  We use the latest information available on a consistent basis for all local authorities in calculating entitlements to revenue support grant. For a number of social characteristics of local authorities the information from the 1981 census of population is the latest available on this basis.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of, and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 438
  30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. But in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My Department operates in accordance with procedures agreed with the Public Record Office, which are designed to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Public Records Act 1958.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether either his Department or the Nature Conservancy Council will be represented on the United Kingdom delegation to the special consultative meeting of Antarctic treaty parties to discuss comprehensive measures for the protection of the Antarctic environment to be held in Santiago, Chile in November.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: The composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the meeting in Santiago has not yet been decided. I will consider the matter in due course with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who has overall responsibility for the Government's policy on the Antarctic.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he or his Department have had with conservation experts in Australia with regard to the Australian Government's refusal to sign the convention for the regulation of Antarctic minerals resources and proposals to declare Antarctica a wilderness reserve.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: Norte.

  Planning Legislation
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to planning legislation in England and Wales; and whether he has any plans to abolish county structure plans.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: The White Paper "The Future of Development Plans" (Cm

  439
  569), published in January 1989, set out the Government's proposals for the reform of the development plan system. Other legislative proposals have been the subject of recent consultation papers. Further announcements will be made in due course about the timing and content of any legislation.

  Charitable Housing Associations
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in devising a new system of portable discounts to enable tenants of charitable housing associations to purchase their own homes; and when he expects this to be in operation.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: The Housing Corporation has now introduced a new scheme, known as the tenants' incentive scheme, under which registered housing associations, whether or not charitable, may give grants to assist their tenants to move out and buy homes of their own.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make an order under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 confirming the charge caps on those local authorities which neither accepted the caps he proposed nor put forward alternative amounts within the statutory period of 28 days of their being designated for capping.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1990, c. 477–78]: I have today laid before the House a draft order, under section 104 of the 1988 Act, setting out my decisions on the final caps of 16 authorities which did not accept the caps which I proposed for them and put forward alternative amounts within the 28-day period. I have carefully considered the cases which the authorities made in support of the figures which they suggested. In the case of Brent, Southwark and Wigan I have decided to increase the caps which I proposed for them by £2·5 million, £2·5 million and £2 million respectively. In the case of the other 13 authorities I have decided to confirm their caps at the level I originally proposed.

  The 16 authorities and their caps included in the draft order are as follows:

  Implied reduction in budget

  £

  £ million

  £ per adult

  Avon

  507,100,000

  26·6

  37

  Barnsley

  132,000,000

  10·0

  59

  Brent

  244,200,000

  5·1

  26

  Calderdale

  125,400,000

  7·5

  52

  Derbyshire

  520,600,000

  40·0

  56

  Greenwich

  203,000,000

  10·0

  65

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  155,800,000

  11·7

  99

  Haringey

  206,500,000

  10·0

  71

  Islington

  185,800,000

  3·7

  30

  Lambeth

  285,100,000

  8·8

  51

  North Tyneside

  122,900,000

  6·8

  45

  Rochdale

  144,000,000

  8·0

  51

  Rotherham

  157,500,000

  7·9

  39

  St. Helens

  122,800,000

  3·9

  29

  Southwark

  229,400,000

  11·6

  71

  Wigan

  192,600,000

  8·0

  34

  440
  As I said on 6 June in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton), I laid before the House that day a draft section 104 order confirming Hillingdon's cap.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many people have refused to pay the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 June 1990 c. 261]: This information is not available centrally but reports indicate that in many authorities over 80 per cent. of charge payers have begun to make payments and there are very few cases of wilful refusal to pay.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will direct Scottish Homes to turn over to the relevant district councils the property maintained by them on behalf of their tenants and recent owner-occupiers of Scottish Homes; and if he will make the finance available to the district council for this adoption to take place.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is for Scottish Homes, in discussion with individual district councils to decide whether it is appropriate to make alternative arrangements for future maintenance of common amenities. Responsibility for bearing a proportionate share of the burden of common charges is clearly set out in the sales agreement under which former tenants of Scottish Homes have purchased their houses.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of the poll tax transitional allowances scheme in Scotland in 1989–90 if the calculation of benefit had been based on the actual poll tax paid by each applicant in that year rather than the notional figure used in the present scheme.

  Mr. Rifkind
  It was never the intenion to base the scheme on charges higher than those considered necessary by the Government to maintain local authority services in the transition from domestic rates to the community charge. A range of projections was made when the scheme was under consideration which included the use of actual rather than assumed charges.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what he estimates will be the total cost for the transitional allowance for the poll tax for the financial year 1990–91; how many people he expects will benefit from transitional allowances in that year; and what the average payment per head will be;

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the total cost of the transitional allowance for the poll tax in Scotland in the financial year 1989–90; how many poll tax payers will benefit; and what the average payment per head will be.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Formal returns have not yet been made to the Scottish Office by local authorities of the numbers of people entitled to relief and the amount of relief awarded either individually or in total. Figures so far received by
  441
  my Department of the numbers entitled to relief and of the cost are both informal and incomplete and do not provide an adequate basis for making a reliable estimate of the kind sought by the hon. Member.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Forestry Commission will be withholding grants from Economic Forestry Group plc in relation to its applications for woodland grant in view of the damage to sites of archaeological importance at Tarland and Ashkirktown; whether it intends to initiate prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The damage done to these archaeological sites was in clear breach of the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme approvals which required that they should be protected. The commission will therefore be witholding grants on both applications. The Tarland site was not scheduled; a decision has still to be taken on the question of a prosecution in respect of the damage done to the scheduled Ashkirktown site.

  Kidney Disease
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of renal units; and how many persons are receiving kidney dialysis treatment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are 12 units in Scotland providing treatment for around 900 patients per annum.

  Benefit (Young People)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has made to the statement of the president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents of 18 May on the effects of changes in the payments system on young people no longer able to qualify for benefit.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am placing in the Library the official unrevised copy of the speech which I made at the annual meeting of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents on 18 May in response to the remarks of the president of the association. I may have added some impromptu remarks.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of, and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The records of the Scottish Office are specifically exempted from the Public Records Act 1958, but broadly similar procedures are followed with a view to transferring records to the Scottish Record Office. No document falls due for such selection and transfer until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation will he reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur 442
  disproportionate cost. There is an obligation under the Act to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which a Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Scottish Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with the SRO inspecting officer.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Because of the large number involved no attempt is made to classify, log and record each document, although a standard registry system is in operation which provides for the opening, titling, indexing and maintenance of official files.

  Agency Nurses
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many agency-based nurses are employed on a casual labour basis in(a) Scottish and (b) Glasgow hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information about agency nurses is collected twice yearly and the average whole-time equivalents for the quarter ending 31 March 1990 for Scotland and Glasgow hospitals are 215 and 127 respectively.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to reduce the number of trained, experienced nurses who rely for employment on agency-based casual labour; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government do not have a policy of direction of labour and nurses are free to seek employment in the public, private or voluntary sectors.

  Halons
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that every precaution is taken in Scottish hospitals to prevent release of halons in the atmosphere; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The use of halogens in Scottish hospitals is not widespread and is mainly confined to fire extinguishers used to combat small and incipient fires in specialised areas such as computer or electrical installations, where a suitable alternative is not available and where the overall safety of patients and staff is paramount.

  School Assemblies
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to education authorities concerning religious observance at school assemblies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: A draft circular on religious education and religious observance was issued for consultation on 29 March 1990. Reponses are currently being studied.

  School Buses
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to education authorities concerning child safety on school buses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: The safety of pupils using transport made available by education authorities is the responsibility of the authority concerned. Authorities have a duty of care arising from the common law, and also specifically from the provisions in the Schools (Safety and Supervision of Pupils) (Scotland) 1990 Regulations.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to how many children travel to school each day by school bus in each education authority area.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: The information requested, taken from a survey undertaken in October 1989 and assembled by education authority area, is as follows:

  Region

  Children receiving free transport by bus

  Borders

  3,243

  Central

  7,532

  Dumfries and Galloway

  9,205

  Fife

  14,495

  Grampian

  16,249

  Highland

  9,478

  Lothian

  10,037

  Strathclyde

  52,126

  Tayside

  6,790

  Orkney

  1,322

  Shetland

  1,810

  Western Isles

  2,048

  TOTAL

  134,335

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to education authorities concerning the criteria to be applied in determining whether a child qualifies to travel to and from school by school bus.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: Education authorities are required by the terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to make free travel arrangements for pupils who live outwith the statutory walking distance from school. The Act defines the statutory walking distance as being two miles for pupils under the age of eight years and three miles for any other pupils. Authorities have discretion to provide free travel arrangements in other circumstances.

  Community Care
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make available to local authorities sufficient funding to allow them to provide domiciliary night care facilities as an integral part of their community care programmes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make available to Strathclyde regional council the extra funding needed to allow the council to provide community care facilities for the handicapped.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 June 1990]: It is for local authorities to decide on the allocation of funds to particular services for which they may be responsible. I am aware that Strathclyde regional council already provides an extensive range of services for handicapped people and other persons requiring care in the community and that these include domiciliary services extending to some provision for night care.

  Water Supply (Aluminium Levels)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the supply zones for which applications have been made for authorisation to relax the standard for aluminium set in the water regulations; and whether in each case he proposes to give consent.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: Relaxation of the standard has been requested and authorised in respect of naturally-occurring aluminium in the following supply zones:

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Black Esk

  Penwhirn

  Carsphairn

  New Abbey

  Wanlockhead

  Palnure

  Grampian

  Inverurie—Newbigging (until 1995)

  Strathdon

  Highland

  Ardvasar/Dariach

  Balmacara

  Beauly Firth

  Carbost

  Dornie

  Drumbeg

  Durness

  Glendale

  Kentallen

  Kilchoan

  Kilmaluag

  Kilmuir

  Kinlochbervie

  Laid

  Mellon Udrigle

  Melness

  Nedd

  Onich

  Penifiler

  Poolewe

  Portree

  Raasay

  Scourie

  Shieldaig

  Spean Bridge

  Spey Valley—Blackpark

  Strontian

  Uig/Idrigill

  Strathclyde

  Brodick (until 2000)

  Catacol (until 1997)

  445

  Kilmory/Sliddery (until 1998)

  Lochranza (until 2000)

  Pirnmill (until 1997)

  Loch Gair (until 1996)

  Portnahaven (until 1991)

  Nerebolls (until 1991)

  Craighouse (until 1999)

  Ross of Mull (until 1994)

  Kilberry (until 1999)

  Arinagour (until 1997)

  Iona (until 1995)

  Mulindry (until 1994)

  New Abbey Water Supply
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the New Abbey water supply in Dumfries and Galloway will meet the European Community drinking water standard for aluminium at the end of 1990 when the article 20 delay expires.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: Because of naturally-occurring aluminium in the source water, the supply concerned will not always meet the standard. A relaxation of the standard has been authorised to cover this for the time being, but the water authority intends to develop schemes to remove the need for such relaxation.

  Water Supply
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the supply zones which are the subject of the new article 9 designations which he referred to in his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 727·

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: The additional derogations for naturally occurring aluminium referred to in my answer of 20 February relate to the following supply zones:

  Dumfries and Galloway—Black Esk and Lochinvar·

  Highland—Beauly Firth and Spey Valley·

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 727, what target dates have been agreed for compliance with the standards for aluminium, nitrate and bacteria listed in the water regulations for each of the individual water supply zones.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: Water authorities have given undertakings to carry out improvement programmes in which the target dates fro compliance with the aluminium standard are as follows:

  Date

  Borders

  Galashiels

  1992

  Ale

  1996

  Earnscleuch

  1994

  Central

  Alloa

  1990

  Falkirk (part)

  1990

  Cowie, Plean

  1992

  Kirkintilloch

  1994

  Falkirk, Larbert

  1990

  Bridge of Allan

  1995

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Lochfoot (mainly industrial supply)

  1999

  446

  Date

  Killylour

  1992

  Euchan

  1995

  Auchneel (phase 1)

  1992

  Auchneel (new works)

  1997

  Winterhope

  1996

  Grampian

  Fraserburgh

  1993

  Glendye

  1996

  Buckie

  1995

  Glenlatterach

  1994

  Keith

  1994

  Lossiemouth (High Level)

  1994

  Highland

  Achiltibuie

  1997

  Bonar Bridge

  1996

  Caithness (except Wick)

  1996

  Carrbridge

  1997

  Corpach, Caol

  1998

  Culrain

  1997

  Dornoch

  1996

  Dounreay

  1991

  East Ross/Black Isle

  1994

  Garve

  1995

  Golspie/Brora

  1996

  Nairn

  1995

  Roskhill/Dunvegan

  1992

  Strathnairn

  1994

  Wick

  1996

  Lothian

  Edinburgh Fairmilehead (8 zones)

  1997

  Rosebery (5 zones)

  1990

  Hopes (4 zones)

  1995

  Stobshiel (2 zones)

  1994

  Whittinghame (6 zones)

  1994

  Pateshill (8 Zones)

  1992

  Strathclyde

  Afton Supply

  1991

  Kilmaurs

  1993

  Auchenlongford

  1991

  Kilmarnock (N)

  1993

  Kilmarnock (S)

  1993

  Darvel Valley

  1993

  Stewarton

  1993

  Saltcoats/Stevenston

  1993

  Irvine

  1993

  Prestwick

  1993

  Troon

  1993

  Ardeer

  1993

  Ayr

  1993

  Girvan (N)

  1993

  Girvan (S)

  1994

  Skelmorlie

  1995

  Kilbirnie

  1992

  Dumbarton Town

  1996

  Bearsden, Clydebank

  1996

  Howwood, Johnstone

  1991

  Greenock

  1996

  Renfrewshire East

  1995

  Renfrewshire South

  1994

  Inverclyde West

  1996

  Crookfur, Newton Mearns

  1995

  Paisley Town

  1994

  Neilston, Uplawmoor

  1996

  Ardrishaig

  1995

  Campbeltown

  1994

  Carradale

  1992

  Clachan

  1994

  Rothesay

  1994

  Furnace, Minard

  1994

  Inveraray

  1994

  Dunoon, Kilmun etc

  1993

  Muasdale

  1992

  Strachur

  1995

  447

  Date

  Tarbert

  1995

  Tighnabruaich

  1991

  Tobermory

  1993

  Bowmore, Port Ellen

  1993

  Orkney

  Mainland (S and E)

  1994

  Kirkwall

  1996

  Mainland (N and W)

  1997

  Westray

  1994

  Sanday

  1995

  Shetland

  Aith

  1994–95

  Bressay

  1990–91

  Burra Isle

  1992–93

  Cullivoe

  1990–91

  Cunningsburgh

  1991–92

  Gulberwick/Quarff

  1994–95

  Lerwick

  1990–91

  Mid Yell

  1990–91

  Reawick/Skeld

  1996–97

  Sandness

  1995–96

  South Yell

  1990–91

  Sullom Voe

  1990–91

  Walls

  1995–96

  Whalsay

  1995–96

  The nitrate standard is exceeded only occasionally in nine small sources in Grampian region. By 1991, the standard will be met by blending and the sources will be replaced by the following dates:—

  Date

  Grampian

  Auchengoul

  1991

  Auchedly

  1990

  Belhelvie

  1990

  Berefold

  1994

  Easterton

  1995

  Kennethmont

  2000

  Pitcaple

  1991

  Tarves

  1995

  Insch, Largie

  1995

  Improvements to deal with occasional non-compliance with bacteriological standards are scheduled to be made as follows:

  Date

  Borders

  Tweedsmuir

  1994

  Bowland

  1990

  Dumfries and Galloway

  All zones by except

  1990

  Lochfoot

  1991

  Glengap

  1991

  Winterhope

  1991

  Highland

  Achiltibuie

  1997

  Ballachulish

  1992

  Bonar Bridge

  1996

  Bracadale

  1995

  Carrbridge

  1992

  Culrain

  1997

  Durness

  1995

  East Ross/Black Isle

  1992

  Fassfearn

  1997

  Gairloch

  1992

  Garve

  1995

  Harrapool

  1994

  448

  Date

  Helmsdale

  1992

  Inverness Balmore

  1991

  Kinlochbervie

  1991

  Kinlochleven

  1992

  Kyleakin

  1995

  Kyle of Lochalsh

  1992

  Lairg

  1992

  Lochcarron

  1991

  Lochinver

  1992

  Onich

  1992

  Rosehall

  1997

  Roskhill/Dunvegan

  1992

  Ullapool

  1992

  A further 108 small—100 to 1,000 cu m per day—or very small—less than 50 cu m per day—supplies will have improved disinfection installed between 1992 and 1997.

  Date

  Lothian

  Edinburgh, Alnwickhill

  1992

  Edinburgh, Fairmilehead

  1993

  Torduff

  1993

  Castle Moffat

  1993

  Whittinghame

  1994

  North Pentlands

  1993

  Pateshill

  1994

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disabled People (Benefits)
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement as to how many people will benefit from the review of benefits for disabled people set out in "The Way Ahead".

  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people will benefit from the review of benefits for disabled people set out in "The Way Ahead".

  Mr. Scott
  We estimate that some 850,000 people will benefit from the proposals set out in "The Way Ahead" (Cm. 917) and the interim measures we announced in October 1989.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to improve the structure of benefits for disabled people and their carers.

  Mr. Scott
  Our proposals to improve the balance and structure of social security benefits for disabled people and their carers are set out in "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" (Cm. 917) which we put before the House on 10 January. In 1993–94 the changes will add some £300 million to the £8·3 billion we are already spending on benefits for long-term sick and disabled people and their carers.

  Maintenance
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress of his proposals to oblige fathers to provide financial support for their children born out of marriage with whom they no longer reside.

  Mr. Newton
  Social security law has always placed an obligation on parents to maintain their children, and this
  449
  applies just as much to an unmarried father as to any other parent. We are continuing to look at ways of ensuring that parents do as much as possible to meet this obligation.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce proposals resulting from his review of the maintenance system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Action is already being taken to improve the existing arrangements: for example, by various measures included in the current Social Security Bill, by the proposals recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office to make court orders more effective, and by giving greater emphasis to work in DSS offices on recovering maintenance. A wide-ranging review is in progress, with the aim of making proposals for reform later this year.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress he has made towards securing greater recovery of the costs of child support from divorced and separated fathers.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The amount of maintenance recovered from absent parents in respect of their children for whom income support is claimed was £155 million in 1988–89. We have met our target of £180 million for 1989–90, and we expect the sum collected to increase further to £260 million in 1990–91.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to improve the collection of maintenance for lone parents.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government are concerned that so few lone parents receive maintenance. We are taking action to improve the effectiveness of the present system. There are measures in the Social Security Bill and the Home Office have announced proposals on payment arrangements. Our far-reaching review of maintenance is moving forward with all urgency, examining where changes need to be made in the current system in the longer term.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce proposals resulting from his review of the maintenance system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce proposals resulting from his review of the maintenance system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell).

  Benefit Increases
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension, and the cost of an increase in child benefit to £8·60 a week.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase 450
  in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension, a nd the cost of an increase in child benefit to £8·60 a week.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension; and the cost of an increase in child benefit to £8·60 a week.

  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple, if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension; and the cost of an increase in child benefits to £8·60 a week.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am sure that my hon. Friends, and indeed all hon. Members, will be interested to know that to increase state pensions and related pensions in the way described would cost in the order of £3 billion, and to increase child benefit would have a net cost of £635 million.

  Disabled People (Discrimination)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next intends to meet representatives of disabled persons' organisations to discuss the problem of discrimination against disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  I regularly meet the disability organisations to discuss a wide range of issues. I met the Disability Benefits Consortium—an umbrella group representing over 250 disability organisations—on 5 April in the second of a series of meetings to discuss their views on "The Way Ahead".

  Blind People (Disability Allowance)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make the new disability allowance available to blind people to cover the full range of costs incurred by their disability.

  Mr. Scott
  The new disability allowance, which will extend help to less severely disabled people of working age and below, will benefit people with seeing disabilities who have mobility or care needs. The surveys of disability carried out by the OPCS found that attendance allowance and mobility allowance are well directed towards disabilities causing the heaviest expenditure. These benefits also provide help to people with other disabilities, such as blindness, which are frequently combined with locomotion or self-care disabilities. The new disability allowance will build on that relatively simple framework.

  Computerisation
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he anticipates his Department's computerisation programme will benefit social security claimants.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Computerisation has improved the speed and accuracy with which benefit claims are
  451
  handled. It provides a better service to the public on inquiries. It has enabled us to move benefit processing work out of London to areas where it is easier to recruit and retain good staff—and so provide a better service to our London customers.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many standard rate tax payers would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit from national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many standard rate tax payers would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many standard rate taxpayers would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce).

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received regarding the level of national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Scott
  Representatives of the business community have recently urged us to retain the upper earnings limit for employees' national insurance contributions and to keep employers' national insurance contributions as low as possible.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many standard rate taxpayers would be affected by the removal of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  If the upper earnings limit for employees' National Insurance contributions were removed it is currently estimated that about 3·3 million people would pay more contributions, of whom about 2·1 million people would be standard rate tax payers. If the corresponding upper profits limit for self-employed people were also removed it is estimated that about another 500,000 people would pay more contributions, of whom about 200,000 would be standard rate tax payers.

  War Widows (Pensions)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to review the current guidelines governing payment of war widows' pensions.
  452
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no plans to change the existing provisions for war widows pensions.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further measures the Government are planning to introduce to help those disabled people whose care and mobility needs are less severe.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 5 March at columns 525–26·

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the measures introduced in April to assist sick and disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Improvements made to social security benefits for long-term sick and disabled people in April were as follows:

  (i) an increase in the income support and housing benefit disability premium of £1 for single people and £1·60 for couples above the normal uprating;

  (ii) an increase in the income support and housing benefit disabled child's premium of £8·55 above the normal uprating to bring it into line with the adult disability premium;

  (iii) an increase in the earnings limit for invalid care allowance from £12 to £20;

  (iv) an increase of £6·50 in the therapeutic earnings limit for invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance·

  (v) the extension of attendance allowance to disabled babies under two. Carers of disabled babies will automatically be eligible to claim invalid care allowance·

  (vi) the extension of mobility allowance to people who are deaf and blind

  These measures form the first stage of our plan to provide a better balanced structure of benefits for disabled people as set out in "The Way Ahead" (Cm. 917). Taken together these proposals will provide extra help for some 850,000 people.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to improve the structure of benefits for the most severely disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  The existing benefits structure already recognises that disabled people have extra needs. The OPCS survey findings showed that attendance allowance and mobility allowance are well targeted on the most common of the more costly disabilities. The new disability allowance will build on that framework by offering a relatively simple and readily understood benefit to both severely and moderately disabled people. The closer alignment of invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance with the proposed age-related addition will substantially increase the benefit income of large numbers of very severely disabled people by up to £10 a week at current rates.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the reduction in public expenditure, if child benefit were paid only to households with a gross income of £13,000 per annum or less and for the first two children only.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  About £3·1 billion after allowing for associated extra expenditure of around £185 million on income-related benefits.
  453
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about single parent child benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  One-parent benefit is paid in addition to child benefit to a person responsible for bringing up children on his or her own. One-parent benefit provides a worthwhile addition to the income of a lone parent who is working and not dependant on income support. It is now 12 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1979.

  Water Filters
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision he makes for benefit recipients whose health requires the use of water filters to claim reimbursement for the installation costs of such filters.

  Mr. Scott
  Help with these costs may be available from the social fund. An income support recipient can apply for a community care grant or budgeting loan. Anyone, whether in receipt of income support or not, can apply for a crisis loan if there is serious risk to their health or safety.

  Income-related Benefits
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much spending on income-related benefits for families with children has increased since April 1988.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Estimated expenditure on income-related benefits for families with children increased by some £280 million in cash terms between 1988–89 and 1989–90. This figure represents the latest available cash estimate based on the annual statistical inquiry and the public expenditure White Paper 1990. It excludes housing benefit paid to unemployed families with children, as this figure cannot be separately identified. It also excludes forecast expenditure for the current financial year.

  Taking into account the additional annual expenditure on family credit compared with family income supplement, the real increases in children's rates in the income-related benefits in April 1989 and the real increases in the income support family premium and adult credit in family credit in the current financial year, the provision—including forecast spending for families with children —now amounts to over £350 million a year extra in real terms compared with the position before the reforms were introduced in April 1988.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the 1985 to 1987 figures on households below average income.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Following the recent report by the Social Services Committee, we have asked DSS statisticians to carry out some additional work on the composition and characteristics of the lowest income group, as the Committee suggested. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the hon. Member last month explaining that, while this additional work meant that publication would not be possible on the timescale originally envisaged, we had suggested that the statisticians should aim to complete their work within about four to five weeks. This work has not yet been completed.

  Income Support
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what improvements have occurred recently in the quality of service to claimants of income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Since the Government reforms were introduced in 1988, the social security system has become simpler for claimants to understand and easier for staff to operate. There have been very real all-round improvements in the standards of service to the public. For example, in 1989–90 the average time taken to clear income support claims improved by 25 per cent. to 4·7 days compared with 1987–88, the last year before the reforms, and error rates fell by 31 per cent. to 7·9 per cent.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the level of income support will be for youth training participants in this financial year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Participants in youth training do not normally receive income support. Instead they receive a training allowance which exceeds the income support rates of personal allowance. The minimum value of the lower and higher levels of the youth training allowance are £29·50 for trainees aged 16 and £35 for trainees aged 17.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest figure he has for the number of lone parent families in receipt of income support; and how many such families were receiving supplementary benefit five years ago.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest published figures are those quoted in my reply to my hon. Friend on 2 April at column 487·

  Deaf People
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the implications of the recent report "The Way Ahead" for deaf people.

  Mr. Scott
  A number of proposals set out in "The Way Ahead: benefits for disabled people" will benefit people who are deaf. The new disability allowance, which will extend help to less severely disabled people of working age or below, will benefit people who have mobility or care needs. People disabled early in life who have not been able to build up a national insurance contributions record will gain from the introduction of an age related addition in severe disablement allowance; and those who are partially capable of work will be helped by the new disability employment credit, which will make it easier for disabled people to take up or remain in work. Some deaf people win have already benefited from the extension of mobility allowance to people who are both deaf and blind, introduced in April 1990 as part of "The Way Ahead" proposals.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next expects to review the criteria for payment of invalid care allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The earnings limit for people receiving invalid care allowance was increased, in April, from £12 to
  455
  £20 per week. The extension of attendance allowance for children under age two from April, and for terminally ill people without the normal six-month waiting period, proposed for October 1990, will enable more carers to qualify for invalid care allowance. We also propose to introduce, from October, a £10 carers premium into income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit for those receiving invalid care allowance.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend housing benefit to include water rates.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No. Housing benefit is intended to meet reasonable accommodation costs. Help towards water charges forms an integral part of overall income support levels.

  Carers' Premium
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he expects will benefit from the introduction of the new carers' premium.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We expect the new £10 premium to be introduced in October, to help 30,000 carers through income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit.

  Invalidity Pension
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the real increase in value of the invalidity pension since 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is as follows:

  £

  Per cent·

  November 1979 rates in cash

  23·30

  —

  April 1990 rate in cash

  46·90

  —

  Per cent. change in real terms

  —

  -3·1

  Per cent. change between uprating periods November 1978–79 to April 1989–90

  —

  5·4

  456
  Notes:

  (i) The figures relate to basic invalidity pension. In addition a claimant may be entitled to Invalidity Allowance and/or Additional Pension.

  (ii) The percentage change between uprating periods is calculated as the percentage change in the average real value of benefits during the uprating periods April 1989 to April 1990, as compared to the period November 1978 to November 1979.

  Departmental Service
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how his Department is planning to improve its service to the public.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Since the Government reforms were introduced in 1988, the social security system has become simpler for claimants to understand and easier for staff to operate. There have been very real all-round improvements in the standards of service to the public. Nevertheless, there is still room for further improvement, particularly in inner London. This is being tackled by relocating work which requires no face-to-face contact away from 21 London offices to areas where recruitment and retention of staff is easier. There is already substantial evidence that significant improvements in accuracy, clearance times and quality of service are being made.

  By 1991 the major programme underway to computerise social security operations will bring major improvements in service standards to all local offices. It produces faster and more accurate payments and decisions, and provides fast access to information needed to deal with queries.

  In 1991, the new agency to administer the benefit systems will be established, having as one of its principal aims a high quality service for customers.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether any information has been supplied by Lambeth council to his Department about claims for community charge benefit in that borough.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Community charge benefit caseload data have yet to be supplied by Lambeth council.

  Attendance and Mobility Allowances
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants were examined by doctors acting on behalf of his Department for the purpose of assessing attendance allowance and mobility allowance claims over the last 12 months; and what was the average fee paid to doctors for such examinations.

  Mr. Scott
  Approximately 700,000 claimants were examined in connection with claims to attendance and mobility allowances in the last 12 months. An average fee figure is not available. The fee per case in the financial year 1989–90 varied between £25·90 and £69·80 depending on the location and the duration of the examination. The great majority of these would be at or near the lower end of that range.

  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints his Department has received about doctors arising from examinations for mobility allowance and attendance allowance; and how such complaints are dealt with.

  Mr. Scott
  No central record is kept of the number of complaints against examining medical practitioners—EMPs. In fact, many apparent complaints are appeals against the decision made. The number of complaints against the doctors' conduct, manner or behaviour is very small in relation to the 700,000 examinations carried out annually.

  Each of these complaints is investigated by the Department's regional office senior medical officer. The doctor is sent a copy of the report of the examination complained about and of the claimant's complaint and asked for his or her comments. Subsequent action depends on the individual complaint and the past record of the EMP. In extreme cases the doctor's employment on this work may be terminated forthwith and an explanation of the reason sent to him or her.

  If it appears that the doctor requires guidance on the attitude required to be shown to claimants in order to prevent further complaints this is done. If it becomes clear that despite such guidance the doctor is unsuited to the work, for one reason or another, further work is not made available and an explanation is sent to the doctor.

  In all cases a detailed reply is sent to the complainant including, where appropriate, an indication of action which has been taken as a result of the complaint.

  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many medical centres his Department operates for the purpose of medical examinations for people who claim mobility allowance; and how many medical centres there are in each region.

  Mr. Scott
  Examinations in connection with initial and renewal claims to mobility allowance are normally carried 458
  out in the examining doctor's own surgery premises. Appeals and references to a medical board are dealt with in the Department's medical adjudication centres which also deal with industrial injuries, war pensions and severe disablement allowance examinations.

  The number of these centres is 94, divided among the regions as follows:

  Numbers

  North-East

  13

  London North

  14

  London South

  11

  Wales/South-West

  17

  Midlands

  14

  North-West

  12

  Scotland

  13

  Earnings Allowance
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claims for reduced earnings allowance were made in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information is not available because details of claims for industrial injuries benefit do not distinguish between claims for disablement benefit and reduced earnings allowance. However, a special count undertaken last year suggests that about 23,000 claims for reduced earnings allowance were made in 1989.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to commission the study into the costs of residential care and nursing homes outlined in the Government's response to the second report of the House of Commons Social Services Committee of Session 1989–90 (HC 257) on "Community Care: The Future Funding of Private and Voluntary Residential Care".

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have commissioned the management consultants Price Waterhouse to undertake a rapid investigation into the costs of running residential care and nursing homes across the country.

  Industrial Deafness
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by category, those statistics his Department maintains or has access to with regard to claims for pensions for industrially-induced deafness.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is maintained on the numbers of successful claims for occupational deafness and those disallowed either on the occupational criteria or on hearing losses below the prescribed standard.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people dropped out of making claims for pensions for noise-induced industrial deafness at the stage where the five-year rule came into effect in(a) St. Helens and (b) the United Kingdom in the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is as follows. In Great Britain during the five-year period April 1985 to March 1990 a total of 11,742 claimants were disallowed because they had not made a claim within five years of
  459
  leaving the relevant occupation—the provision intended by regulation 25 of the Industrial Injuries (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1985. They were not, therefore, referred for audiometric testing to establish whether they satisfied the necessary level of hearing loss. For St. Helens the relevant figure for the four-year period to March 1990 is 107 claimants. Individual figures for St. Helens are no longer available for periods before April 1986.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what systems he employs to classify log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department receives and generates many millions of documents in the course of its business, and it would be impracticable, and disproportionately costly, to record these individually. However, the vast majority are placed with related documents, on registered files in accordance with well-established registry practices.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No document falls for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Record Act will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reported payments were actually made under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act, for the past five years up until the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The figures are in the table.
  460

  Year

  Payments

  1985

  26

  1986

  25

  1987

  9

  1988

  4

  1989

  4

  Note:

  Payment is often made in a different year to that in which the award decision is made because of the need to set up a trust fund.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost of running the vaccine damage payment scheme for the last three years up until the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  £

  1987

  1310,000

  1988

  1155,000

  1989

  1105,000

  1 Figures contain both administrative costs and payments made under the Act·

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications his Department received last year for payments under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act; and what were the figures for each year from 1985.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Number of applications

  1985

  79

  1986

  79

  1987

  65

  1988

  39

  1989

  53

  Income Support
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher),Official Report, 21 June, column 707, if he will give, for the latest date available, a list of the offices with the number of cases with a poll tax deduction in place.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest count, completed in May 1990, showed that 22 offices in Scotland had income support cases with a deduction to clear community charge arrears. Up to this date no deductions had been taken in England and Wales. The table records the offices and the number of such deductions in each office.

  Local Office

  Number of cases

  Airdrie

  1

  Ayr

  145

  Bathgate

  19

  Bellshill

  28

  Clydebank

  7

  Cumbernauld

  1

  Dumbarton

  37

  East Kilbride

  49

  Falkirk

  746

  Galashiels

  264

  Glasgow (Anniesland)

  20

  Glasgow (Bridgetown)

  36

  461

  Local Office

  Number of cases

  Glasgow (Maryhill)

  20

  Glasgow (Parkhead)

  17

  Glasgow (Partick)

  123

  Glasgow (Provan)

  154

  Glasgow (Springburn)

  73

  Hamilton

  2

  Johnstone

  16

  Motherwell

  3

  Stirling

  672

  Stranraer

  1

DEFENCE

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the recent survey in which military and civilian air traffic controllers were required to report all infringements of rule 21 and rule 36 airspace.

  Mr. Neubert
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. I understand, however, that the results of this survey, which was completed on 30 June, have not yet been analysed.

  HMS Centurion
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the new security blockhouse/gatehouse at HMS Centurion cannot be used.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The installation will not be in use until ancillary works and some external roadworks have been completed.

  Regency Net and Cemetery Net Systems
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) at which Royal Air Force, Royal Air Force/United States Air Force and United States Air Force bases in the United Kingdom there are facilities of the regency net and cemetery net systems;

  (2) what is the purpose of the regency net antenna being erected at RAF St. Mawgan.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Cemetery net is a command and control system for United States Commander in Chief Europe. There are cemetery net facilities currently located at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Greenham Common. Regency net is intended as a successor to cemetery net. Details of the regency net configuration are classified, although I can confirm that a facility is currently being planned for RAF St. Mawgan.

  Regiments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his reply of 14 June,Official Report, columns 326–27 concerning regiments, if he will give the total annual cost of each regiment listed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for what plans he has to produce a new edition of his Department's booklet entitled "Defence and the Environment"; and if he will include information on low-flying training, and the measures taken to reduce its environmental impact.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are no plans at present to produce a new edition of this booklet. However, the actions taken by the Department to protect the environment, and to minimise the adverse effects of its essential activities, were recently summarised on pages 51–52 of the 1990 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" (Cm. 1022-I). This included information on measures taken to reduce the environmental impact of low-flying training.

  Atlantis
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is participating in the United States space shuttle Atlantis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence has no plans to participate in the United States space shuttle Atlantis.

  Training and Consultancy Services
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department and the armed forces have taken to contract out training and consultancy services to small companies; what contracts on what subjects have been let in the last two years; what value these contracts were for; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  We continue to review and market test support activities including training and consultancy services and to award contracts where it is demonstrated that they will provide the best value for money. The choice of contractor will depend entirely upon the proposals received following normal competitive tender action. Small firms are encouraged to participate in this process whenever possible through the Ministry of Defence's successful small firms initiative, and by the new suppliers service of MOD.

  Complete figures on training and consultancy services are not held centrally but it has been possible to identify a number of contracts let over the past two years in the following areas:

  Year

  Number of contracts

  Total value (£)

  Driver training

  1988–89

  16

  305,680

  1989–90

  19

  168,000

  Technical support services

  1988–89

  2

  593,486

  1989–90

  6

  524,020

  Academic services

  1988–89

  Nil

  Nil

  1989–90

  2

  2,048,870

  In addition, details of management and computer consultancy contracts for the last two years were given to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) by my hon. Friends the Minister of State and the then

  463
  Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement on 28 March 1990 at column 236 and 4 April 1989 at column 130·

  Stornoway Airport
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the prohibition of practice approaches by military aircraft at Stornoway airport took effect.

  Mr. Neubert
  The prohibition of non-essential overshoots by Tornado F3 aircraft based at RAF Stornoway when it is active came into effect for the latest activation, from 25 to 29 June. The prohibition will be extended to visiting aircraft in time for the next activation in September.

  RAF Shackleton Crash
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the investigation into the RAF Shackleton crash on Harris on 30 April.

  Mr. Neubert
  A military aircraft accident summary will be published once the report of the board of inquiry has been completed.

  St. David's Airfield, Pembrokeshire
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) navigational lights and (b) security lights will be provided on the proposed over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire; and at what height and distance they will be visible.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There are no plans to include navigational lights on the proposed over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire. The whole question of lighting will, however, be fully addressed in the environmental impact assessment.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any non-Ministry of Defence sites were included in the 166 sites examined for the over-the-horizon radar proposed for St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No. All the 166 sites considered for the installation of either the transmitter or the receiver for the proposed trial of the over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom were already in Ministry of Defence use.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the proposed landscaping of the over-the-horizon radar site at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Proposals for landscaping of the over-the-horizon radar site at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, will be addressed in the environmental impact assessment.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in current flight patterns, including take-offs and landings, will be necessary at RAF Brawdy if the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation is constructed on the St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  If the proposed over-the-horizon radar is built at St. David's airfield, minor adjustments in the 464
  radar pattern and westerly departure routes from RAF Brawdy may be necessary. There will be no impact on safety or operations at RAF Brawdy.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alternative arrangements are proposed to provide RAF Brawdy with an emergency landing strip if the present one at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, is used for the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  St. David's airfield is not normally designated as an emergency landing strip for RAF Brawdy. A number of airfields will remain available to aircraft on training flights from RAF Brawdy in an emergency. Which is used would depend on where the training flight took place, and weather conditions.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 19 June,Official Report, column 782, if he will make a statement on other means by which radar cover could be provided similar to that proposed as a result of the installation of over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  At present, radar coverage of the United Kingdom air defence region to the north of the United Kingdom is provided principally by airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft, supplemented by shipborne radars, ground-based microwave radars in the United Kingdom, and allied ground-based systems in Iceland and Norway. Studies have concluded that a northward-looking over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) located in this country could make a particular contribution to the air defence of the United Kingdom by providing wide area coverage of a considerable proportion of the Norwegian sea. This would allow greater flexibility and efficiency in the use of scarce air defence assets that would otherwise have to fulfil this role; it would also allow frequent coverage of areas where the regular use of AEW aircraft would be uneconomic.

  Alternative methods of providing similar coverage to an OTHR, such as space-based radar or additonal AEW aircraft, would cost substantially more.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Department complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with PRO inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public
  465
  Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, Departments are obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Department may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what system he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Documents in the Ministry of Defence are normally placed on departmental files and processed in accordance with departmental instructions and registry practices.

  Dishonesty Offences
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the nature of the offence and (b) the sentence for each of the soldiers currently serving sentences for dishonesty at Colchester military corrective training centre.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

  British Aerospace
  >Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 26 June, on how many occasions in the last six months he has been in communication with British Aerospace regarding the future equipment requirements of the armed forces.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence has regular contacts with British Aerospace on a wide range of procurement issues.

  Service Personnel (Scotland)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are stationed in Scotland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 1 July 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 20,035 service personnel were stationed in Scotland.

  Catering Firms
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information on Army training schedules is normally provided to private catering firms that have won Army contracts.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Catering firms that win Army contracts are given the information necessary to enable the company to provide the required service. Such information is given in the contract document. Contracts with firms providing catering facilities to summer camps have hitherto included the location and dates of the particular event, and the name of the unit attending camp. Instructions have been given that in future the name of the unit should not appear in the contract.

  Tornado
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he discussed with British Aerospace the possibility of not authorising work on the order for the eighth batch of Tornado aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence maintains close and detailed discussions with all its main suppliers; the timing and content of these discussions is commercially confidential between the Ministry of Defence and the suppliers.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 25 June, when he informed British Aerospace of his decision not to authorise work on the order for the eighth batch of Tornado aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The contracting authority for the Tornado is the NATO Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Development and Production Management Agency (NAMMA). It was informed of the decision on 18 June. British Aerospace was advised informally on the same day.

  Deansway Catering
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the security classification of the list given to Deansway Catering detailing training schedules for the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No list was provided to Deansway Catering Company Ltd. detailing training schedules. Information on the contracted tasks was provided in the individual contracts for the specific events. The contract documents bore no security classification.

  Combat Aircraft
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 26 June, about assessed need for combat aircraft, in which sections of the 1989 and 1990 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" the assessed need for combat aircraft is described.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As I pointed out in my reply of 26 June, at column 199, the assessed need for combat aircrft has been reflected in the plans described in successive "Statements on the Defence Estimates". In the case of the 1989 and 1990 statements, I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraphs 329 and 330 and tables 4 and 5 and to paragraphs 315 and 316 and table 5 respectively.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of service personnel in Scotland will receive reimbursement due to high community charges.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Eleven per cent. of those service personnel living in service accommodation, in the current year, will receive refunds of part of their accommodation charges as a result of community charges which exceed the service average by more than £1 per week.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he last met representatives of the civil service trade unions; and what subjects were discussed.
  467
  Mr. Luce
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher).

  Agencies
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what further agencies will be established in the next four months.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has to create further next steps agencies.

  Mr. Luce
  My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor today launched the Land Registry as an executive agency. This takes the total number of established agencies to 32, together employing some 80,000 staff. In addition, I expect the national physical laboratory and national engineering laboratory to be launched as executive agencies soon.

EMPLOYMENT

  Liverpool Skill Centre
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions took place between his Department and METEL prior to the dismissal of the Liverpool skill centre staff including the timing of these discussions.

  Mr. Eggar
  The sale negotiations with Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd—METEL—for the Liverpool skill centre were carried out by the Department's professional advisers, Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte. The negotiations extended over a period of months and were concluded on 14 May.

  As far as staff redundancies were concerned, METEL had made it clear, prior to the sale, to staff, trade unions, and the Department that they would need to restructure the business, and that redundancies were expected. The speed with which the redundancies came, and that they affected all staff, was not signalled in the pre-sale discussions, and was a great disappointment to the Department.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions were made in respect of the numbers of people to be employed at the METEL skill centre in Liverpool after its sale.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 23 June 1990]: The skill centre was sold as a going concern, and no specific provisions were made in respect of the exact number to be employed by METEL after completion of the sale.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the staff working at the Liverpool skill centre were dismissed on 15 May; and if he was informed that the dismissals would take place prior to the sale of the skill centre.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: All the staff working at the Liverpool skill centre on 15 May 1990 were made redundant. The Department was not informed, prior to the sale, that all staff would be dismissed.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the recognised trade unions were consulted about the dismissals on redundancy terms of the staff of the Liverpool skill centre, in line with the Employment Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.
  468
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: On completion of the sale of the Liverpool skill centre, the issues of trade union recognition and consultation on redundancies became matters for the new owners.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of Liverpool skillcentre as a training centre.

  Mr. Eggar
  The sale of the training business at the Liverpool skill centre to Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Limited was negotiated on the basis that it would continue to operate as a training business. Now that the centre is in the private sector, it is for METEL to determine the future of the business. However, I have no reason to believe that METEL will not continue to operate a training business from the centre.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if will he give details of how the severance payments to the staff of the Liverpool skill centre who have been dismissed will be funded.

  Mr. Eggar
  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Limited, which purchased the business of the Liverpool skill centre, made it clear, prior to the sale, to staff, trade unions, and the Department that they would need to restructure the business, and that redundancies were expected. In negotiating the price for the training business, some allowance was made for anticipated redundancies. It will be for METEL to pay the severance payments agreed with staff.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to offer reinstatement into the civil service to the staff of the Liverpool skill centre who have been dismissed.

  Mr. Eggar
  An agreement has been reached with the trade unions concerned for my Department to give preferential consideration to applications for reinstatement from staff employed in the Skills Training Agency—STA—immediately before the sales were concluded, including those at the Liverpool skill centre, if they are made redundant in the private sector within three years of completion of the sales. Within the terms of the agreement everything that can be done to help staff from the Liverpool skill centre will be done.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect on training provision in the Liverpool area of the Liverpool skill centre developments.

  Mr. Eggar
  Now that the Liverpool skill centre is in the private sector it is for the purchaser, Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Limited to determine the future of the business. I have no reason to believe that the sale of the Liverpool skill centre to METEL will adversely affect training provision in the Liverpool area.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses started under the enterprise alowance scheme in each year since 1982; how many businesses folded after the first year; and how many continued operating into the(a) second, (b) third, (c) fourth, (d) fifth, (e) sixth, (f) seventh, (g) eighth and (h) ninth year.
  469
  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers of businesses started under the enterprise allowance scheme are as follows:

  Financial year

  Total number

  February 1982 to July 1983 (pilot in five parts of the country)

  3,331

  August 1983 to March 1984 (national implementation)

  27,629

  1984–85

  46,037

  1985–86

  60,037

  1986–87

  86,751

  1987–88

  106,305

  1988–89

  98,522

  1989–90

  77,886

  April 1990 to May 1990

  12,662

  Information on the number of businesses which folded after the first year, and those which continued operating into further years is not collected from all former scheme participants. However, regular national follow-up surveys are undertaken and the latest show that of businesses completing a full year on the scheme 74 per cent. were still trading six months later, 9 per cent. were in paid employment or other self-employment, and 15 per cent. were unemployed. The remaining 2 per cent. were sick, retired, or provided no answer; and two years later 65 per cent. were still trading.

  Job Clubs
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, how many people(a) have joined job clubs, and (b) have left job clubs, from 1 April 1989 to the latest possible date; and (c) what were their destinations, showing how many entered a job, employment training, or another positive scheme;

  (2) what information he has about the relative value for money of internal job clubs and agency job clubs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment service became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the Employment Service Agency's chief executive, will be replying in writing to the hon. Lady.

  Restart Courses
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether unemployed claimants who have been out of work for over two years and who are quarterly attenders will be required to attend restart courses if they turn down the offer of a place on another scheme from this autumn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Yes. The requirement to attend a restart course will apply to all claimants who have been unemployed for two years or more and who, at subsequent restart interviews, refuse all offers of help made to them.

  Unemployed Claimants
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed claimants in each month since 9 October 1989, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, have been(a) issued with warning letters for not actually seeking work, (b) had their claims referred to an adjudication officer for not actively seeking work, (c) had their claims (i) allowed or (ii) disallowed and (d) have been referred to an adjudication officer for refusing suitable employment; and how many of those in (d) have had their benefit disqualified.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment service became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the Employment Service Agency's chief executive, will be replying in writing to the hon. Lady.

  Hotel and Catering Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the future of hotel and catering training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" set out the Government's view that independent and voluntary arrangements are more likely to be effective than those agreed by statute.

  In November 1989 the Government accepted proposals put forward by the chairman of the hotel and catering training board for new independent training arrangements in the hotel and catering industry. These new arrangements were prepared following full consultation with the main employer associations in the industry.

  TVEI, St. Helens
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on technical and vocational education initiative spending in St. Helens, with special reference to any budgetary changes.

  Mr. Eggar
  The St. Helens TVEI pilot programme, which started in 1986, has a budget of £2 million. A total of £1·3 million has been spent up to 31 March 1990. St. Helens enters the extension phase of TVEI in September 1990. A sum of £238,000 has been offered for the first year of the extension phase.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the number of(a) deaths, (b) major injuries, (c) minor injuries and (d) dangerous occurances in the construction industry for each year from 1974 to 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information for Great Britain is provided in the tables. Data for the latest year commencing 1 April 1989 are not yet available.
  471

  Injuries occurring within the construction industry, as reported to all Health and Safety Commission/Health and Safety Executive enforcing authorities

  Year

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Non-employed

  Fatal

  Major2

  Over three day3

  Fatal

  Major2

  Over three day3

  Fatal

  Major2

  Over three day3

  11974

  166

  6

  34,432

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  11975

  182

  6

  35,397

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  11976

  156

  6

  35,983

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  11977

  130

  6

  32,685

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  11978

  121

  6

  33,679

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  11979

  119

  6

  31,654

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  11980

  128

  6

  29,362

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  1981

  105

  1,690

  44,072

  11

  40

  6

  12

  36

  6

  1982

  100

  1,950

  39,062

  18

  51

  6

  13

  33

  6

  1983

  118

  2,178

  6

  22

  57

  6

  11

  66

  6

  1984

  100

  2,288

  6

  17

  70

  6

  7

  75

  6

  1985

  104

  2,239

  6

  22

  113

  6

  13

  78

  6

  41986–87

  99

  2,736

  16,468

  26

  443

  704

  14

  162

  6

  41987–88

  103

  2,767

  16,622

  40

  561

  763

  15

  153

  6

  4 51988–89

  100

  2,865

  16,240

  36

  755

  975

  14

  130

  6

  1 Injuries reported to Health and Safety Executive's Factory Inspectorate only·

  2 As defined under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 for the years 1981 to 1985 and under the wider definition of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for subsequent years·

  3 Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three days reported directly to enforcing authorities under the Factories Act for the years 1974 to 1980 and under RIDDOR for the years 1986–87 onwards. Data for 1981–82 based on claims notified via the DHSS for industrial injury benefit·

  4 Year commencing 1 April·

  5 Provisional·

  6 Not available·

  Dangerous occurrences occurring within the construction industry as reported to Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates1

  Date

  Number of dangerous occurrences2

  1981

  377

  1982

  378

  1983

  404

  1984

  368

  1985

  408

  1986–87

  637

  1987–88

  636

  31988–89

  739

  1 As defined under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NADOR) for the years 1981–85, and under the wider definition of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) for subsequent years·

  2 Details of accidents occurring in the construction industry reported to other authorities are not readily available·

  3 Provisional·

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many sites have been given preventive workplace inspection by a Health and Safety Executive inspector(a) weekly, (b) monthly and (c) never, as a proportion of the total.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested. Workplaces for which the Health and Safety Executive is the enforcing authority receive preventive inspections at intervals which vary according to risk and need, rather than at any fixed frequency.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stretford, 24 April,Official Report, column 174, about health and safety offences, what criteria are used to decide whether a case is passed to the Crown prosecution service; and which body decides whether to initiate prosecutions for manslaughter.
  472
  Mr. Nicholls
  The nature of the offence is the main criterion used to decide whether a case should be passed to the Crown prosecution service or not. The character of the defendent may also be relevant. The Crown prosecution service decides whether or not a charge of manslaughter is appropriate.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stretford, 15 May,Official Report, column 402, whether the Health and Safety Executive will consider initiating comparative research into accident or incident rates on (a) civil engineering and (b) construction projects within Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no plans to do so at present.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish assessments made by his Department of the additional contribution to be made by employers in 1990–91 towards the cost of youth training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government do not publish yearly forecasts of the additional contributions, both in money and in kind, to be made by employers to new youth training. These contributions are expected to exceed those of previous years, reflecting the growing recognition of employers that it is in their interests to contribute to training and the greater benefits to employers of the new youth training arrangements.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department accepts youth training trainees as unemployed for funding purposes under the European social fund.

  Mr. Eggar
  In accordance with International Labour Organisation recommendations, young people on YT are considered to be part of the work force in employment and
  473
  are therefore not deemed to be unemployed. I have no plans to adopt a different definition for the purpose of the European social fund.

  Trans-national Training
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the policy of West Germany in dealing with trans-national training projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is currently seeking information from European social fund applicants on all likely trans-national training projects, including those linked with West Germany. Once we have replies we will approach the other member states concerned with those projects to establish their policy towards them.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what applications his Department has received from the Trident training initiative for European social fund funding towards the cost of trans-national projects.

  Mr. Eggar
  According to my Department's records, no applications have been received for ESF funding from the Trident training intitiative up to the year ending 1989. The project applications for 1990 have yet to be submitted.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of and how many documents in 1989 he estimates were(a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of and (g) otherwise unaccounted for.

  Mr. Eggar
  No document falls due for selection and transfer to the Public Record Office until it is at least 30 years old. A document's suitability for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period. The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested and to do so would inevitably incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with the Act, the Employment Department group is obliged to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general criteria under which the Employment Department group may retain documents over 30 years old are set out in section 3(4) of the Public Records Act.

  Work-related Further Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the spending on work-related further education in 1990 prices for 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total expenditure on work-related further education by the Employment Department group Training Agency and its predecessors, the Training Commission and the Manpower Services Commission is as follows:
  474

  £ million

  1987–88

  128

  1988–89

  127

  1989–90

  112

  1990–91

  1108

  1 Projected·

  The figures shown are at constant 1989–90 prices and were calculated by use of the GDP deflator index.

  Unemployed People, Salisbury
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, of the 150 people claiming unemployment-related benefits at his Salisbury office, who are registered as not having a permanent or fixed address, how many have had(a) availability and (b) actively seeking work interviews.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment service became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the Employment Service agency's chief executive, will be replying in writing to my hon. Friend.

  Technical and Vocational Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of spending per child on the technical and vocational education initiative extension in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Eggar
  TVEI introduces long-term developments in schools to help prepare young people for the world of work. Spending is not necessarily geared to the number of students. It is therefore not appropriate to calculate unit costs.

  Documents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria he uses when deciding which documents to pass on to the Public Record Office.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Department group complies with the guidelines issued by the Public Record Office on the selection of documents for permanent preservation. Decisions on which documents are transferred to the Public Record Office for this purpose are taken in consultation with Public Record Office inspecting officers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what systems he employs to classify, log and otherwise record each document generated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Department group does not necessarily record each document raised. Instead, all documents are filed using widely accepted filing conventions in accordance with the relevant instructions.

  Skill Centres
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the skill centres which are to be closed as training businesses and sold, giving(a) the valuation of and its assets sold, (b) the number of expressions of interest received and (c) the income likely to be received from successful purchasers.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The centres to be closed by my Department as training businesses are

  475
  Chelmsford, Chesterfield, Northampton, Portsmouth, Reading, Twickenham and Letchworth, excluding the gas safety training business purchased by Mr. J. James, which is due to be relocated.

  With the exception of Chesterfield, where the property will revert to the landlord, the Government's property interests in these centres will shortly be marketed. It would be prejudicial to the sale to give the valuation of the assets or to reveal the number of expressions of interest. The equipment at the closed centres is being sold by auction over the next few weeks and for commercial reasons it is not possible to reveal valuations at this stage.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the new pension arrangements of all civil servants involved in the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency and skill centres are compatible with the civil service pension scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The pension arrangements of the purchasers of the Skills Training Agency were all subject to an independent assessment by the Government Actuary's Department. The assessment concluded that the respective arrangements are broadly comparable to those of the principal civil service pension scheme and hence met the undertaking given by the then Secretary of State when the sale was announced.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if companies or individuals who had unsuccessfully bid for any or all of the skill centres were contacted about the further sale of Lambeth skills centre after 19 February.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: No. The only organisation interested in Lambeth at the final offer stage, other than one bidder interested in a very large network, was The Training Business.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total expenditure involved in the payment to Astra Training Services Ltd. for the acquisition of skill centres and other Skills Training Agency facilities.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The sale of the training businesses at 45 skill centres plus the Skills Training Agency head office, mobile training service, sales teams and colleges to Astra Training Services Limited involved a payment from the Government to Astra of some £10·7 million.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list(a) the skill centres and (b) the type of assets covered by the clawback procedures.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: Clawback will apply to the freehold and long leasehold properties acquired by Astra Training Services Limited. These are skill centre premises at:

  Barking

  Basildon

  Bellshill

  Billingham

  Birmingham

  Bradford

  Bristol

  Cheshire

  Dundee

  Durham

  476

  Enfield Annex

  Gloucester

  Gwent

  Hillington

  Hull

  Irvine

  Manchester

  Medway

  Milton Keynes

  North Staffordshire

  Norwich

  Peterborough

  Plymouth

  Preston

  Redruth

  Rochdale

  Sheffield

  Southampton

  Tyneside

  West Glamorgan

  West Sussex

  Wigan

  Wrexham

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Lakin Consortium put in bids, prior to 19 February, for any skill centres.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: Yes. An indicative bid was received from the consortium headed by Mr. Lakin by the Government's sale advisers and it was placed on a shortlist of potential purchasers in mid-November 1989.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the total income likely to be received on completion of the sale of(a) skill centres as training businesses and (b) skill centres which will be closed and held as land and premises.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The sale of skill centres as training businesses is complete and total income received was £65,000. The Government's remaining property interests are about to be marketed and it would be prejudicial to the sale to give an estimate of proceeds.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if The Training Business Group Ltd. put in a bid, prior to 19 February, for any skill centres.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: Yes. An indicative bid was received from The Training Business by the Government's sale advisers and they were placed on a shortlist of potential purchasers in mid-November 1989.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each of the successful bidders of the 51 skill centres the conditions covering(a) the length of time training must be carried on and (b) the quality of the training.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: In accepting the offers of successful bidders, I satisfied myself that they met the key objectives of the sale that as much as possible of STA's training business was transferred to the private sector, and that the training businesses sold had good prospects of future viability. I did not impose on any bidder specific operating conditions on the length of time training must be carried on, or the quality of training to be provided.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guarantees of employment training
  477
  income have been given to (a) Astra Training Services Ltd·, (b) the Lakin Consortium, (c) The Training Business Group Ltd. and (d) METEL for the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: No guarantees of employment training income have been given to any purchaser of skill centres for the current or any subsequent year.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps were taken to ensure that the bid procedure, involved in the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency was fair and reasonable to all potential purchasers.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: My right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) announced on 13 March 1989 that he intended to sell the Skills Training Agency by private tender. In September 1989 advertisements were placed in the national press inviting potential bidders to contact Deloitte Corporate Finance for a copy of the information memorandum. The memorandum fully described the STA, the scale of its operation, the nature of its business, and the property that it occupied. Those interested could request information packs which give details of the individual skill centres and other units of sale. Further information was made available to shortlisted bidders, who were able to visit STA sites, talk to local managers, and make the inquiries they felt necessary to enable them to judge whether to proceed to make a final offer. All bids were evaluated against the same criteria, taking full account of the objectives for the sale. These objectives were placed in the Vote Office on 13 February 1990—[Official Report, 1 May 1990, column 42)· All evaluations and recommendations on bids were made by professional advisers.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the selection of advisers on the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency was based on competitive tendering.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: Deloitte, Haskins and Sells were appointed on the basis of competitive tender to advise the Secretary of State on the feasibility of transferring the Skills Training Agency into the private sector. Deloittes were then appointed on the basis of a single tender to act as main sale advisers and to undertake some accountancy work.

  The surveyors, King and Co·, and solicitors, Field Fisher Waterhouse, advising on the sale were also appointed on the basis of competitive tenders.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps were taken to ensure that the general principles contained in paragraph 32·1·2 of chapter 32 of Her Majesty's Treasury's manual "Government Accounting on Disposal of Assets were observed in the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The Department took particular care to ensure that appropriate systems of control were instituted over the disposal of assets involved in the privatisation of the STA·
  478
  Staff involved in the sale of assets were not involved in valuations. Valuations of premises assets were made by external specialist advisers, appointed for the purpose. Valuations of equipment assets was subject to indexation using the "Business Monitor".

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the civil servants identified as surplus to requirements in note 11 of the Skills Training Agency accounts 1988–89 had left before 13 February.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The number of staff employed in the Skills Training Agency fell by some 500 between March 1989 and February 1990.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on which assets the clawback procedure for the Skills Training Agency privatisation will apply.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: Clawback has been applied to the freehold and long leasehold properties acquired by Astra Training Services Limited It will be applied as appropriate when the Government's remaining property interests in the STA are sold.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the reasons for the reduction of employers' income to the Skills Training Agency from March 1989 to February 1990.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The employer income received by the Skills Training Agency between April 1989 and March 1990 was £12·4 million compared to £13·8 million in the previous year. The reduction reflected in part the ending of two short-term training schemes, funded by the construction industry training board and the engineering industry training board respectively, which were available in 1988–89 but not in 1989–90; and in part a substantial reduction in the size of the British Coal retraining scheme for redundant employees.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State far Employment if METEL, and The Training Business Group Ltd·, have benefited in any of the contractual agreements covering employment conditions or pension rights following the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The contractual agreements covering employment terms and conditions met the requirements of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. Pension and redundancy terms met requirements set by the Secretary of State. These regulations and requirements applied to all purchasers, including METEL and The Training Business, and were for the benefit of staff transferring to the private sector.

  Lambeth Skill Centre
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if any positive cash amounts were bid for the Lambeth skill centre.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: No, at the final offer stage no positive cash amounts were bid for the Lambeth skill centre.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the regulations with The Training Business Group Ltd·, and the transfer of Lambeth skill centre.
  479
  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The regulations governing the sale of the Lambeth skill centre to The Training Business Group Ltd. were the same as those which applied to all the STA sales. Staff terms and conditions were transferred under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
  480
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions were made in respect of the numbers of people employed at the Lambeth skill centre after its sale.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The skill centre was sold as a going concern, and no specific provisions were made in respect of the number to be employed by The Training Business after completion of the sale.

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