Written Answers of 6 July 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teacher Recruitment
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many extra teachers and potential extra teachers have been recruited as a result of his Department's recent advertising campaign; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Nearly 20,000 requests have been received from people seeking information about teaching as a career in response to the first phase of the teacher recruitment advertising campaign. The next step is for those who, as a result of the campaign, have decided upon a career in teaching to approach their local education authority or contact the graduate teacher training registry depending on their qualifications and experience.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many cases are known to his Department arising from their special educational needs, of children of school age suffering from juvenile muscular degeneration; and what educational provisions is made for these children.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information identifying the nature of a child's special educational needs is not collected centrally.

  Infant School Teachers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the median years of service of teachers in infant schools in each year from 1980 until the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Median years of service of full-time qualified teachers in infant and first schools in England 1980–87

  1Years

  1980

  11

  1981

  12

  1982

  13

  1983

  13

  1984

  14

  1985

  13

  1986

  14

  1987

  13

  1 All figures in complete years.

  Source: The Database of Teacher Records.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement concerning the effects of local management of schools upon schools of under 100 pupils in England.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Under local management of schools all primary and secondary schools will be funded according to the resource allocation formula as approved by my right hon. Friend. Although not required to do so, the majority of local education authorities have indicated that they intend, in the longer term, to delegate responsibility for managing budgets to schools with fewer than 100 pupils.

  School Building
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from school governing bodies in north Devon about the level of capital grant for school building.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  None.

HEALTH

  Kidney Disease
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) males and (b) females over the age of 65 years, per million of the population, are accepted for kidney dialysis treatment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  According to information provided by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association, the number of new patients aged 65 years and over, accepted for renal replacement therapy in 1988 was as follows:

  Number

  Per million population

  Males

  265

  75

  Females

  167

  31

  The rate per million population is based on the number of males and females respectively in the relevant age group.

  Hospitals
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of(a) hospital beds, (b) nurses, (c) consultants and (d) all administrative staff in the national health service hospitals in (i) England and (ii) the Basildon and Thurrock health authority or its predecessor for each of the years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985 and the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is shown in the following tables.
  711

  England1

  Year

  Discharges and deaths

  Average daily number of available hospital beds

  Hospital nursing and midwifery staff (WTE)2

  Hospital medical and dental consultants (WTE)3

  Administration and clerical staff (WTE)

  1960

  n/a

  n/a

  4197,900

  510,800

  n/a

  1965

  74,616,700

  7434,800

  4222,400

  510,200

  437,600

  1970

  5,011,700

  423,600

  4252,800

  69,700

  445,300

  1975

  4,975,800

  387,600

  300,400

  11,300

  91,900

  1980

  5,670,000

  356,000

  330,200

  12,600

  105,400

  1985

  6,353,800

  325,500

  352,500

  14,000

  111,000

  1988

  6,586,000

  282,900

  355,600

  15,000

  116,000

  1 All figures are rounded to the nearest hundred (100).

  2 There was a change in nurses working hours in 1980–81 from 40 to 37·5 hours per week. This has not been taken account of in the calculations.

  3 Figures include permanent paid and honorary staff. Prior to 1987 senior hospital-dental officers with allowance were included with consultants.

  4 These are figures for England and Wales. Figures for England are not available prior to 1971.

  5 Figures for 1960 and 1965 are not comparable with later years.

  6 Figures for 1970 are not comparable with other years.

  7 Figures are for 1966.

  n/a not available.

  Basildon and Thurrock DHA1

  Year

  Discharges and deaths2

  Average daily number of available hospital beds2

  Hospital nursing and midwifery staff (WTE)3

  Hospital medical and dental consultants (WTE)4

  Administration and clerical staff (WTE)

  1960

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1966

  14,930

  2,360

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1970

  19,010

  2,430

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1975

  22,920

  1,860

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  29,450

  1,880

  1,820

  n/a

  310

  1985

  33,300

  1,950

  2,140

  n/a

  490

  1988

  33,710

  1,720

  1,970

  n/a

  690

  1 All figures are rounded to the nearest ten (10).

  2 For years 1966 and 1970 the data is for Tilbury and south east Essex and south Ockenden hospital management committees.

  3 There was a change in nurses working hours in 1980–81 from 40 to 37·5 hours per week. This has not been taken account of in the calculations.

  4 Figures not available as consultants' contracts are not directly held by non-teaching district health authorities.

  n/a not available.

  Contraceptive Clinics
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Her Majesty's Government will make more funds available to health authorities for the purposes of providing contraceptive clinic services.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the future, as now, it will be for each health authority to decide on the most appropriate financial arrangements for family planning provision. Under the NHS reforms, district health authorities will be responsible for ensuring that patients have access to a comprehensive range of services and this will include family planning. Guidance issued by the Department on the provision of family planning services was recently reaffirmed in a letter (EL(90)MB115) to regional general managers by the director of operations and planning on the NHS management executive. A copy of the letter is available in the Library.

  Newmarket Hospital
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if funds earmarked in 1988 for the redevelopment of Newmarket hospital are still available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The East Anglian regional health authority is still holding an allocation within its capital programme towards that scheme.

  Drug Prescribing
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times regulation 16 of the Service Committee and Tribunal Regulations has been invoked in respect of(a) excessive prescribing and (b) under-prescribing by each family practitioner committee in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Regulation 16 of the Service Committee and Tribunal Regulations has not been invoked in England in the past five years. Regulation 16 concerns excessive prescribing only and not under-prescribing.

  Private Residential Homes
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to ensure that private nursing homes and residential care homes include medical requisites and all necessary services in their fees.

  Mr. Dorrell
  People in residential care homes retain the right to NHS services as though they were in their own homes. The fees charged need only reflect provision made beyond this. The person responsible for a private nursing home must provide adequate facilities and services for those accommodated and we would expect fees to reflect this. Nursing home patients retain the right to NHS general medical, dental and hospital services.
  713
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether elderly people in private residential care are entitled to receive free national health service prescriptions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  All men aged 65 and all women aged 60 or over are entitled to have NHS prescriptions dispensed free of charge. One of the duties of the person responsible for a residential home is to make adequate arrangements for patients and residents to receive general medical and dental services under part II of the National Health Service Act 1977.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold an inquiry into the level of fees charged by private nursing homes and residential care homes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The level of fees charged in private nursing or residential care homes is a matter between the proprietor and the residents or whoever pays on the residents' behalf and not one in which we see any need to intervene.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of sight tests in the second quarter of 1990, and in previous quarters over the past five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information on sight tests is not available centrally on a quarterly basis. Statistics on the number of sight tests paid for under the general ophthalmic services are currently collected on a six-monthly basis. The following table gives the number of NHS sight tests paid for in England for the five-year period up to and including 31 September 1989—the most recent figure available. Comparable data on private sight tests conducted since April 1989 are not centrally collected.

  Number of sight tests paid for by FPCs England

  Millions

  1984–85

  April-September

  4·793

  October-March

  5·090

  1985–86

  April-September

  5·166

  October-March

  5·080

  1986–87

  April-September

  5·265

  October-March

  5·350

  1987–88

  April-September

  5·581

  October-March

  6·114

  1988–89

  April-September

  5·779

  October-March

  6·714

  1989–90

  April-September

  3·380

  AIDS
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures available for the total number of AIDS cases reported in the United Kingdom.
  714
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At the end of May 1990 the cumulative United Kingdom total of AIDS cases reported was 3,346, of whom 1,845 are known to have died.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many infants died from sudden infant death syndrome in the United Kingdom in 1989–90; what precentage change that is from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is shown in the table. Data relate to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom, since comparable data for Northern Ireland are not available.

  Number of deaths under one year of age with any mention of "sudden infant death syndrome", "cot death" or similar term on the death certificate, Great Britain 1980 and 1989

  1980

  11989

  Percentage change

  1,358

  1,464

  17.8

  1 Provisional.

  Data for 1990 are still being processed.

  Publications
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to make savings by discontinuing the circulation to NHS doctors of (i)Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, (ii) Prescribers Journal, (iii) Health Trends and (iv) the British National Formulary.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 26 June 1990]: There are currently no such plans. All such departmental publications are reviewed from time to time to ensure that their circulation continues to be justified to meet the needs of the target audience.

  Administrative Costs
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the administrative costs as a percentage of total costs for the national health service for each financial year since 1980–81 and the projected figure for 1990–91.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Following is information, covering both hospital and community health services and family practitioner services, derived from annual accounts submitted to the Department for the years 1980–81 to 1988–89 (the latest available).

  We do not collect such information in-year and consequently cannot provide an estimate for 1990–91, but equivalent information for the financial year 1989–90 will be available in the autumn.

  National Health Service (England)—Headquarters Administration (Hospital and Community Health Services [HCHS] and Family Practitioner Services)

  Expenditure

  £000(cash)

  As a proportion of total current expenditure Per cent.

  As a proportion of total expenditure (Current and Capital) Per cent.

  1980–81

  378,311

  4·26

  4·00

  1981–82

  393,377

  3·97

  3·72

  1982–83

  403,292

  3·75

  3·52

  1983–84

  418,429

  3·66

  3·45

  715

  Expenditure

  £000 (cash)

  As a proportion of total current expenditure Per cent.

  As a proportion of total expenditure (Current and Capital) Per cent.

  1984–85

  444,016

  3·63

  3·41

  1985–86

  479,047

  3·71

  3·47

  1986–87

  516,624

  3·72

  3·48

  1987–88

  574,198

  3·76

  3·53

  1988–89

  624,496

  3·66

  3·44

  Sources

  Annual financial accounts of:

  i. regional and district health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals (predecessor authorities for years prior to 1982–83)

  ii. family practitioner committees

  iii. The Dental Estimates Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority.

  Notes to the Table

  1. HCHS covers the total expenditure of the health authorities concerned including hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. Expenditure on headquarters administration includes all current expenditure on the pay and pay related costs of staff of all disciplines (including general managers) employed at headquarters levels and their office costs and overheads. It excludes the cost of clerical and secretarial support staff employed in departments at hospital and unit levels; such costs are regarded as operational.

  £ million

  Region

  Shops

  Offices

  Factories

  Hotels and Boarding Houses

  Mines

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Northern

  -14·86

  -4·66

  -13·40

  -3·35

  -72·44

  -15·89

  1·85

  0·33

  0·39

  0·19

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  -5·90

  -4·40

  -20·05

  -5·64

  85·65

  -20·75

  3·15

  0·93

  9·99

  1·51

  East Midlands

  -1·60

  0·09

  -10·33

  -2·56

  -71·76

  -19·34

  3·17

  0·77

  6·78

  1·44

  East Anglia

  20·33

  6·96

  1·71

  0·56

  -9·23

  -3·68

  2·75

  0·68

  —

  —

  Inner London

  207·22

  40·52

  259·78

  100·00

  4·62

  0·20

  55·42

  7·54

  —

  —

  Outer London

  54·94

  14·06

  -0·17

  2·28

  -36·07

  -11·73

  4·17

  1·21

  —

  —

  Rest of South East

  131·80

  38·99

  91·64

  31·95

  -51·06

  -16·14

  16·78

  3·24

  0·13

  0·06

  South West

  53·81

  15·13

  9·45

  3·58

  -21·07

  -6·90

  6·71

  1·49

  -0·14

  -0·04

  West Midlands

  -27·80

  -7·64

  -19·18

  -5·92

  -144·42

  -32·39

  4·43

  1·15

  3·27

  0·56

  North West

  -39·28

  -9·56

  -48·01

  -11·13

  -150·04

  -32·17

  3·54

  1·17

  0·75

  0·26

  England

  378·22

  89·39

  251·45

  109·78

  -637·13

  -158·79

  101·97

  18·52

  21·16

  4·00

  Note: The totals for England may not sum due to rounding.

  Energy-efficient Buildings
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution will be made by his Department to the International Building Bureau conference on energy-efficient buildings, to be held in London on 21 June.

  Mr. Chope
  I understand that the hon. Member is referring to the luncheon held by the Industrial Building Bureau at the House of Lords on 21 June to mark the launch of its national industrial building audit. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), attended the lunch and spoke on the subject of energy-efficient buildings and related matters.

  Protection of Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those areas of special protection for birds as well as those Ramsar sites and areas with dual designation for the protection of birds.
  716
  3. The table includes the total expenses of the Dental Estimates Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority which are regarded as wholly administrative. Expenditure by other bodies and special health authorities providing central services to the National Health Service (eg the Central Blood Laboratories Authority) and expenditure met centrally by the Department is excluded.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rate Bills
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 19 June,Official Report, columns 477–80, if he will publish the overall estimated increase in rate bills in 1990–91 as against 1989–90 of (a) shops (b) factories, (c) hotels and boarding houses, (d) officies and (e) mines, in total and by economic regions (i) including the effects of transitional relief and (ii) excluding the effects of transitional relief.

  Mr. Chope
  Aggregate changes in rate bills between 1989–90 and 1990–91 for the types of property about which my hon. Friend asks, with and without the transitional arrangements, are given in the table. The figures have been calculated at 1990–91 prices and are based on the rateable values shown in the lists deposited with local authorities on 20 December 1989. The figures take no account of empty property or other reliefs.

  Mr. Trippier
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to special protection areas under the EC birds directive rather than areas of special protection under section 3 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Details of those sites which have been designated as special protection areas and as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention are set out in the table. Those sites with dual designation have been marked with an asterisk. Responsibility for the designation of sites in Scotland rests with the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Sites designated as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention

  Name and county/region

  Bridgwater Bay—Somerset

  Bure Marshes—Norfolk

  Cors Fochno and Dyfi—Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys

  Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere—Norfolk

  Lindisfarne—Northumberland

  Minsmere—Walberswick—Suffolk

  North Norfolk Coast—Norfolk

  Ouse Washes—Cambridgeshire and Norfolk

  Abberton Reservoir—Essex

  717

  Rostherne Mere—Cheshire

  *Chesil Beach and the Fleet—Dorset

  *The Dee Estuary—Merseyside, Cheshire and Clwyd

  *Derwent Ings—North Yorkshire and Humberside

  *Holburn Moss—Northumberland

  Irthinghead Mires—Cumbria and Northumberland

  *The Swale—Kent

  *Alt Estuary—Merseyside

  *Leighton Moss—Lancashire

  *Martin Mere—Lancashire

  *Rockliffe Marshes (Part of Upper Solway Flats and Marshes)—Cumbria

  *Chichester and Langstone Harbours—Hampshire/West Sussex

  *Upper Severn Estuary—Gloucestershire

  *The Wash—Lincolnshire/Norfolk

  *Pagham Harbour—West Sussex

  Moor House—Cumbria

  Orfordness-Havergate—Suffolk

  Ribble Estuary—Lancashire

  Skomer—Dyfed

  *The Swale—Kent

  *Chesil Beach and The Fleet—Dorset

  Chew Valley Lake—Avon

  Coquet Island—Northumberland

  *The Dee Estuary—Merseyside, Cheshire and Clwyd

  *Derwent Ings—North Yorkshire

  Farne Islands—Northumberland

  *Holborn Moss—Northumberland

  *Alt Estuary—Merseyside

  *Leighton Moss—Lancashire

  *Martin Mere—Lancashire

  Grassholm—Dyfed

  *Rockliffe Marshes (Part Upper Solway Flats and Marshes)—Cumbria

  Chichester and Langstone Harbours—Hampshire/West Sussex

  *Upper Severn Estuary—Gloucestershire

  *The Wash—Lincolnshire/Norfolk

  *Pagham Harbour—West Sussex

  *North Norfolk Coast—Norfolk

  Water Quality
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to forbid the payment of dividends to the shareholders in water companies until all European Community directives on water quality are met.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the cassette and transcript of the Radio 4 analysis programme on the greenhouse effect and global warming broadcast on 28 June.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State took part in this programme, the contents of which have been noted.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his departmental library a transcript of the interview given by the Minister for the Environment and Countryside, the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier), to the BBC radio "Today" programme on 30 June, on the London amendment conference of the Montreal protocol.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A copy is already in my Department's library.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report commissioned by his Department jointly from the centre for configurational studies at the Open university and the earth resource research centre on the potential role of town and country planning in reducing carbon dioxide.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A draft report commissioned from the Open university was received by my Department in March this year.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure research contracts placed by his Department contain a stipulation the contractors institute a policy of chlorofluorocarbons recovery from equipment using chlorofluorocarbons, in research carried out for his Department.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is Government policy to encourage all users of equipment using CFCs to institute a policy of CFC recovery and to reduce dependence on such equipment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the essential medical uses of chlorofluorocarbons that will be exempted from phasing out by 2000 or 2005 in the United Kingdom, following the recent amendment to the 1987 Montreal protocol.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are no essential medical uses of chlorofluorocarbons exempted from the 2000 phase-out under the recently revised Montreal protocol.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist for the recovery of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration and refrigeration units used by his Department and research laboratories sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My Department does not have to dispose of a significant amount of refrigeration equipment. We have, however, identified facilities which provide for the safe disposal of such items and the recycling of any CFC gases.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the United Kingdom decided not to sign the proposals sponsored by Finland at the amendment conference on the Montreal protocol in London in June to bring forward the date for the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbon use to 1997.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside was asked to sign the proposal. However, we are firmly committed to the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons, with exemption for essential medical uses, by 1997. We will be pressing the European Commission to bring forward proposals to this end.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following the agreement made at the recent London amendment conference of the Montreal protocol on the protection of the ozone layer, he has any
  719
  plans to make arrangements with (a) foreign embassies and consulates and (b) United States military forces based in the United Kingdom for the safe recovery of all chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration and air conditioning in their premises.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Foreign embassies and consulates are responsible for their own maintenance and facilities in the United Kingdom. Maintenance of United States military installations is managed on their behalf by PSA and appropriate procedures are already used in handling and disposal of equipment containing chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the agreement made by Her Majesty's Government for the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons use by 2000 applies to(a) Her Majesty's Crown Territories of Hong Kong, (b) the Falkland Islands, (c) Gibraltar and (d) the Channel Islands.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Her Majesty's Government's ratification of the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, and the recently agreed adjustments, apply to Hong Kong, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Jersey. Arrangements are in hand to apply them to Guernsey.

  Competitive Tendering
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in relation to the enforcement of the competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has today issued directions under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 requiring both East Lindsey district council and Knowsley metropolitan borough council to expose refuse collection work to competitive tendering again by July 1991. He has taken this action because he is not satisfied with the responses which these authorities made to the notices issued under section 13 of the Act.

  The notices issued to both authorities set out his belief that they had acted contrary to the requirement of section 7(7) of the Act, which is that, in awarding a contract, they must not
  "act in a manner having the effect or intended or likely to have the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition",
  in that they had assigned refuse collection work to their own direct service organisations when they had received a lower-priced bid from a private contractor.

  North Sea Conference
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the guidance note on implementation of the declaration of the third North sea conference in the Hague on 2 to 8 March.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Kingdom has taken an early lead in setting out the details of the measures it will be taking to implement the agreements reached at the Hague North sea conference in March. I am publishing the implementation note today. This gives guidance on the ministerial declaration of the Hague conference and lists the targets and timetables we have set for the action necessary to implement these commitments. It demonstrates our determination to protect the marine 720
  environment, both in the North sea and all the seas and coastal waters surrounding the United Kingdom. Copies of the note will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Right to Buy, Norwich
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures showing the proportion of occasions on which Norwich city council's housing committee has quoted prices to tenants seeking the right to buy above the figure estimated by its own estates surveyor.

  Mr. Chope
  A landlord is required to state its opinion of the value of a property to be sold under the right to buy on the assumptions specified in section 127 of the Housing Act 1985. This opinion, and the basis on which it is formed, are the responsibility of the landlord, and the Department does not collect information of the kind requested. A tenant who disagrees with the landlord's opinion has the right to an independent determination of value by the district valuer. Twenty-two such determinations were made on the application of tenants of Norwich city council in the three months ending 30 June, the value determined being lower than the council's opinion in all 22 cases by an average of £2,966 or 6.32 per cent.

  Nuclear Waste (Reprocessing)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what arrangements are in hand for the return to West Germany of waste arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Wachersdorf;

  (2) if he will give details of the nuclear waste reprocessing contract between Sellafield and the Federal Republic of West Germany in respect of the Wachersdorf plant; and what discussions he has had with the German Government on safety standards at Sellafield.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand from British Nuclear Fuels plc that the new reprocessing contracts with the Federal German electricity utilities will bring in some £750 million of business to the company. These contracts are for reprocessing spent fuel, not nuclear waste.

  In line with all BNFL's overseas reprocessing contracts signed since 1976, these contracts contain options for the return of wastes arising. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that wastes should be returned.

  Exchange of information agreements exist between the nuclear regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany. Nuclear safety standards in the Federal Republic are in line with those in the United Kingdom.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Blind People
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has as to the numbers of blind people who neither pay tax nor benefit from social security payments.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Finsbury Park Local Office
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the real level of expenditure on social fund loans and grants in 1988–89 and 1989–90 relative to expenditure on single payments in 1987–88 in Finsbury Park Department of Social Security office, taking into account the repayment of loans by claimants to the Department of Social Security.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the comparative expenditure for the Finsbury Park Department of Social Security office as reckoned by the gross domestic product deflator.

  Expenditure (in £000s)

  1987–88 Single Payments

  769

  1988–89 Social Fund

  Gross

  474

  Net

  375

  1989–90 Social Fund

  Gross

  624

  Net

  389

  Social Fund
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make it his practice in future to seek parliamentary approval of any general directions issued by him to social fund officers.

  Mr. Scott
  No. It was clearly Parliament's intention, recognised in a recent case before the Court of Appeal, that the social fund would operate in accordance with the directions of the Secretary of State, which would not be subject to parliamentary approval.

  Disability
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the adequacy of social security provision for people with severe disabilities needing full-time care.

  Mr. Scott
  On 10 January we laid before Parliament "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" which details our major proposals arising from our review of the balance and structure of social security benefits for disabled people and their carers. The existing benefit 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. From October 1990 a carer's premium, initially at a rate of £10 a week, will be introduced into income support and housing benefit for those receiving invalid care allowance. We estimate that this will help 30,000 carers.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the total number of single payments made in 1986–87 and 1987–88 broken down into pensioners, couples with children, lone parents, sick and disabled people and others.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The information requested is available only for the 12 months
  722
  prior to each annual statistical inquiry. As marital status applies to all client groups, the data are split into two separate tables.

  Number of single payments (thousands)

  February 1986

  May 1987

  Group

  Pensioners

  410

  933

  Sick and disabled

  175

  257

  Others

  2,498

  2,115

  Total

  3,083

  3,305

  Marital status

  Lone parent

  1,038

  960

  Couples with dependants

  876

  693

  Others

  1,169

  1,652

  Total

  3,083

  3,305

  Source: Annual statistical inquiry

  Notes: Columns may not sum due to rounding.

  The figures include payments made to cases during the 12 months prior to the inquiry, but exclude those cases which received a payment during the year but were not in receipt of benefit at the date of the inquiry; there is therefore an undercount of the total payments made.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the proportion of pensioners, couples with children, lone parents, sick and disabled people and others on income support who received single payments in 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The information requested is available only for the 12 months prior to each annual statistical inquiry. As marital status applies to all client groups, the data are split into two separate tables.

  Proportion of single payments by client group and marital status

  Group

  February 1986

  May 1987

  Pensioners

  0.14

  0.31

  Sick and Disabled

  0.24

  0.30

  Others

  0.30

  0.29

  All cases

  0.24

  0.30

  Marital status

  Lone parent

  0.44

  0.52

  Couples with dependants

  0.59

  0.47

  Others

  0.16

  0.24

  All cases

  0.24

  0.30

  Source: Annual statistical inquiry.

  Note:

  The figures include payments to cases during the 12 months prior to the inquiry, but exclude those cases which received a payment during the year but were not in receipt of benefit at the date of the inquiry; there is therefore an undercount of the total payments made.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing expenditure on the single payments scheme in each year between 1980–1981 and 1987–1988 in both current prices and 1990–91 prices.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The information requested is given in the table.
  723

  National expenditure on single payments

  £ million

  Current prices

  1990–91 prices

  1980–81

  48·403

  87·302

  1981–82

  57·295

  94·123

  1982–83

  98·074

  150·265

  1983–84

  166·136

  243·197

  1984–85

  240·663

  335·621

  1985–86

  334·409

  442·633

  1986–87

  329·945

  422·376

  1987–88

  213·084

  258·898

  Source: Statistical record of actual single payment decisions made.

WALES

  Protection of Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those areas of special protection for birds as well as those Ramsar sites and areas with dual designation for the protection of birds.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The designation of special protection areas and Ramsar sites is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, although Welsh sites are designated in consultation with me. I therefore refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside today.

  Radioactive Caesium
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county, and by year for the last five years, the number of reported cases of radioactive caesium in people.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, last month the Welsh Office published a report of a study of radioactivity in over 150 volunteers in north, south and mid-Wales.

  The study showed that there were no significant differences between the body burdens of radiocaesium of the volunteers from the different parts of Wales, and that if the body burdens continue to decline at the current rate, levels in the Welsh population will on average reach pre-Chernobyl levels some time this year. A copy of the report "Whole Body Monitoring Research Project" is in the Library.

  Welsh subjects are also participating in a national survey of radiocaesium levels in people, sponsored by the Department of the Environment.

  Nurseries and Playgroups
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the numbers of(a) children, (b) qualified staff and (c) full-time equivalent qualified staff in registered (i) pre-school nurseries and (ii) playgroups for each academic year from 1970–71 to 1988–89 in (1) Wales as a whole and (2) each county of Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The number of staff in registered pre-school nurseries and playgroups is not held centrally. The available information on the numbers of places for children in registered pre-school nurseries and registered playgroups is shown in the following table. Data before 1975 are not readily available.
  724

  Number of places at 31 March Clwyd

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  168

  2,887

  1976

  198

  2,953

  1977

  140

  3,225

  1978

  154

  3,806

  1979

  178

  3,317

  1980

  178

  3,802

  1981

  190

  3,834

  1982

  203

  3,957

  1983

  218

  3,726

  1984

  218

  3,815

  1985

  292

  3,815

  1986

  289

  3,792

  1987

  340

  4,358

  1988

  382

  4,573

  1989

  645

  4,341

  Dyfed

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  51

  1,787

  1976

  11

  2,048

  1977

  16

  2,062

  1978

  —

  2,089

  1979

  —

  2,206

  1980

  —

  2,443

  1981

  —

  2,527

  1982

  —

  2,597

  1983

  —

  2,626

  1984

  —

  2,663

  1985

  —

  2,645

  1986

  —

  2,644

  1987

  —

  2,736

  1988

  —

  3,378

  1989

  56

  3,226

  Gwent

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  63

  1,829

  1976

  68

  1,859

  1977

  68

  2,171

  1978

  68

  2,174

  1979

  68

  2,137

  1980

  68

  2,277

  1981

  7

  2,064

  1982

  —

  2,245

  1983

  —

  2,144

  1984

  —

  2,203

  1985

  —

  2,323

  1986

  —

  2,403

  1987

  —

  2,580

  1988

  —

  2,677

  1989

  —

  2,803

  Gwynedd

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  —

  1,761

  1976

  —

  1,818

  1977

  —

  1,907

  1978

  —

  1,998

  1979

  —

  2,122

  1980

  —

  2,418

  1981

  40

  2,181

  1982

  60

  2,470

  1983

  60

  2,531

  1984

  60

  2,553

  1985

  66

  2,767

  1986

  77

  2,804

  1987

  89

  2,817

  725

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1988

  67

  2,523

  1989

  189

  3,219

  Mid Glamorgan

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  444

  1,789

  1976

  207

  1,854

  1977

  127

  2,240

  1978

  101

  2,419

  1979

  127

  2,416

  1980

  127

  2,163

  1981

  127

  2,174

  1982

  127

  2,534

  1983

  145

  2,685

  1984

  260

  2,448

  1985

  157

  2,686

  1986

  136

  2,801

  1987

  210

  2,747

  1988

  184

  2,873

  1989

  117

  3,064

  Powys

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  10

  653

  1976

  10

  707

  1977

  10

  581

  1978

  10

  831

  1979

  10

  914

  1980

  10

  1,067

  1981

  10

  1,086

  1982

  —

  1,112

  1983

  —

  1,325

  1984

  —

  1,305

  1985

  —

  1,294

  1986

  30

  1,328

  1987

  50

  1,357

  1988

  76

  1,300

  1989

  81

  1,363

  South Glamorgan

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  377

  2,578

  1976

  402

  2,917

  1977

  534

  2,931

  1978

  460

  3,109

  1979

  478

  2,768

  1980

  424

  2,695

  1981

  357

  2,918

  1982

  338

  2,775

  1983

  310

  2,806

  1984

  357

  2,806

  1985

  377

  2,943

  1986

  416

  2,849

  1987

  438

  3,074

  1988

  498

  3,409

  1989

  548

  3,727

  West Glamorgan

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  70

  1,099

  1976

  40

  1,085

  1977

  40

  1,173

  1978

  40

  835

  1979

  40

  849

  1980

  10

  888

  1981

  15

  727

  726

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1982

  15

  849

  1983

  101

  890

  1984

  111

  928

  1985

  121

  933

  1986

  101

  1,062

  1987

  106

  932

  1988

  106

  1,020

  1989

  276

  1,002

  Wales

  Year

  Pre-school nurseries

  Playgroups

  1975

  1,183

  14,383

  1976

  936

  15,241

  1977

  935

  16,290

  1978

  833

  17,261

  1979

  901

  16,729

  1980

  817

  17,753

  1981

  746

  17,511

  1982

  743

  18,539

  1983

  834

  18,733

  1984

  1,006

  18,721

  1985

  1,013

  19,406

  1986

  1,049

  19,683

  1987

  1,233

  20,601

  1988

  1,313

  21,753

  1989

  1,912

  22,745

  NHS and Community Care Act
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy that information circulated to people in Wales regarding the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act should include information and advice on problems that may arise in the course of its implementation.

  Mr. Grist
  The booklet that we propose to distribute to all households in Wales will, of course, contain accurate information and advice. It will not address hypothetical problems arising from the implementation of the Act. Following the initial adjustment to the new arrangements nurseries we have every reason to believe that the advantages stemming from the reforms will be recognised and welcomed widely.

  Drug Prescribing
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times regulation 16 of the Service Committee and Tribunal Regulations has been invoked in respect of(a) excessive prescribing and (b) under-prescribing by each family practitioner committee in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Grist
  Regulation 16 has been invoked once during the last five years in respect of a case of excessive prescribing in the West Glamorgan FPC area.

  General Medical Practices, West Glamorgan
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the reasons for the delay in financial allocation for service development of general medical practices in West Glamorgan.

  Mr. Grist
  Final cash allocations cannot be made until an analysis has been completed for information supplied
  727
  by all family practitioner committees in Wales. This information could not be provided until several weeks after the end of the financial year 1989–90. I hope to announce these allocations within a few weeks.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many infants died from sudden infant death syndrome in Wales in 1989; what was the comparable figure in the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Available data on deaths of babies under a year old, resident in Wales, caused by sudden infant death syndrome (ICD code 798.0) for the years 1986–1989 are given in the following table.

  The introduction in 1986, in England and Wales, of a separate certificate for neonatal deaths—in the period 28 days after birth—means that it is not appropriate to assign a single underlying cause to such deaths. Consequently, for all infant deaths—in the first year after birth—only a count of the certificates where the syndrome is mentioned can be made, whether the syndrome was the underlying cause of death or not.

  Deaths in infants in Wales

  (a) in Postneonatal period1 due to ICD 798.0

  (b) with 1 year of birth where ICD 798.0 mentioned on death certificate2

  1989

  63

  66

  1988

  68

  78

  1987

  88

  96

  1986

  66

  72

  Source: OPCS.

  1 Post neonatal period as from 28 days but within 1 year of birth.

  2 Includes deaths listed in column (a).

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to combat sudden infant death syndrome in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The Government announced a major new initiative to reduce infant mortality, including sudden infant deaths, in their response to the Social Services Select Committee report on perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality which was published in July 1989 (Cmnd 741). The review of research relating to sudden infant death syndrome commissioned as part of this initiative will be of benefit to Wales. Also, in line with the initiative's goal to increase capacity to undertake expert post mortem examination of infants who die, action has been put in hand to secure, by central funding, the appointment of a full-time consultant paediatric pathologist at the University hospital of Wales. Pending that appointment, part-time consultant sessions are being funded centrally.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the effects of local management of schools upon schools of fewer than 100 pupils in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my reply of 15 June 1990, column 369.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average budget for schools in Wales of(a) fewer than 100 pupils, (b) between 101 and 200 pupils and (c) over 201 pupils; what were the comparable figures in real terms in (i) 1975, (ii) 1980 and (iii) 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not available.

  Polychlorinated Biphenyls (River Usk)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made to deal with contamination of the River Usk by polychlorinated biphenyls carried in vessels in the river.

  Mr. Grist
  We are not aware of any such incidents. However, were such an event to occur it would be a matter for the National Rivers Authority, the local authority and if it were within a port, the harbour authority.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was allocated in the 1989–90 financial year by his Department (1) specifically to support the implementation of the all-Wales strategy on mental illness and (2) for other work in connection with mental illnesss(a) to each local authority in Wales, (b) to voluntary organisations in each local authority area and (c) to voluntary organisations in Wales as a whole.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 26 June 1990]: No funding was allocated by the Department in 1989–90 under the mental illness strategy; 1990–91 is the first year of central Government funding under the strategy.

  The following allocations were made by the Department to local authorities in 1989–90 under the urban programme for projects concerned primarily with mental illness:

  £

  Dyfed

  14,092

  Gwent

  29,852

  Newport

  1,097

  Cynon Valley

  14,910

  Merthyr Tydfil

  11,797

  Ogwr

  22,189

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,623

  West Glamorgan

  31,346

  With the exception of the allocation made to West Glamorgan, all this funding was provided for voluntary sector schemes.

  In addition, Wales MIND received a grant of £57,166 under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.

  The Department also made available earmarked funds totalling £1,072,547 to district health authorities which use them to make payments to local authorities and voluntary organisations under the powers in section 28A of the National Health Service Act 1977.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  World Student Games
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to cast a commemorative coin to help fund the world student games in Sheffield.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to cast a commemorative coin to help fund the world student games in Sheffield.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are no plans to issue a commemorative coin to mark the world student games.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reviews he is carrying out into the likely effects of linking motor vehicle excise duty to engine capacity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  We have no plans at present to link vehicle excise duty to engine capacity.

  VAT
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of tax forgone due to the zero rating of value added tax on(a) food, (b) children's clothing, (c) new housing and (d) books and newspapers.

  Mr. Ryder
  The extra revenue yield, in a full year, from applying the standard rate of VAT to the items listed is estimated approximately at:

  £ million

  a. Food

  5,100

  b. Children's clothing

  600

  c. New Housing

  1,600

  d. Books and newspapers

  700

  Total

  8,000

  Such estimates depend, among other things, on the reaction of consumers to increased prices and so are subject to a considerable margin of error.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to harmonise the arrangements for payment of value added tax on duty-free fuel by British fishing vessels to bring them into line with existing arrangements for Belgian, Dutch and French fishing.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 2 July 1990]: The Government are aware of the difficulties for British fishing vessels and other maritime interests, caused by the European Court of Justice's ruling on some of the United Kingdom's VAT zero rates. They are considering whether and how any changes to the present arrangements should be made.

  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the likely increase in the retail prices index if value added tax at standard rate was applied to(a) food, (b) children's clothing, (c) new housing and (d) books and newspapers.

  Mr. Ryder
  Following is the information:
  730

  Percentage increase in the Retail Prices Index Per cent.

  a. Food

  2.0

  b· Children's clothing

  0·2

  c· New housing

  1n·a·

  d· Books and newspapers

  0·2

  1 The effects on the RPI of applying VAT to new housing cannot be quantified precisely. The immediate impact would be very small. Over many years however it would become significant.

  Beaulieu Group
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to his reply of 20 March,Official Report, column 525, on the directors of the Beaulieu group of companies charged with cheating the public Revenue and offences under section 39(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1983 heard before the Harrogate justices, he will make a further statement on the progress of the case.

  Mr. Ryder
  Jan De Clerck, Dominiek De Clerck, Luc De Clerck and Francis De Clerck are next due to appear upon a remand before the Harrogate justices on 16 August 1990.

  The prosecution will seek to pursue committal proceedings on a date to be fixed by the court following representations by the parties at the remand hearing.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the number of people more than one month and up to six months in arrears on their mortgage repayments.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 27 June at column 216.

  Natural Beauty Products, Bridgend
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the hon. Member for Bridgend with a full note of the meeting on 1 February between Customs and Excise and Natural Beauty Products Ltd., Bridgend, including the timing and source of, and participants in, all phone calls made and received during that meeting.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 29 June 1990]: I refer the hon. Member to the letter that my right hon. and noble Friend the Paymaster General sent to him on 6 July, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  German State Lottery
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the last date on which lottery tickets from the West German state lottery organisations were seized by Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: I understand from Customs and Excise that the latest date on which it seized lottery material from the Suddeutsche Klassenlotterien is 2 July 1990 and the latest date on which it seized material from the Nordwestdeutsche Klassenlotterien is 18 May 1990.
  731
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards seizures of West German state lottery tickets, in the light of the legal proceedings initiated by a West German lottery ticket salesman; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: Policy remains that the import prohibition on lottery material should be enforced. Pending the outcome of any legal proceedings taken to challenge the validity of its action, Customs will continue to seize offending material which comes to its notice.

EMPLOYMENT

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to reduce levels of exposure to radiation at nuclear plants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The current dose limits are set out in schedule 1 to the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 (IRR 85). The regulations comply with an EC directive (80/836 Euratom, as amended by 84/467) which in turn reflects advice from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The ICRP is now reviewing its advice. The Health and Safety Commission's working group on ionising radiations will consider the revised ICRP recommendations, when finalised, and make any necessary proposals for further action.

  Proposals for interim action pending the receipt of the revised ICRP recommendations were set out in an HSC consultative document earlier this year. The response is being considered with a view to issuing an additional part to the existing approved code of practice to IRR 85.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were registered with industrial tribunals in the United Kingdom and in the calendar year 1989 under section 1 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 where the applicant claimed that their employer had not provided a written statement of terms and conditions of employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Action for Jobs
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what expenditure was incurred on the action for jobs campaign in 1988–89 in addition to printed material, television advertising, press advertising, radio advertising and outdoor advertising.

  Mr. Eggar
  Expenditure of £10,000 on exhibition materials and £5,000 on research was incurred on the action for jobs campaign in 1988–99, in addition to expenditure on printed material, television advertising, press advertising, radio advertising and outdoor advertising.

SCOTLAND

  Cleanliness
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will release additional funding to enable local authorities to upgrade standards of cleanliness in public places.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The matter of any cost implications that may arise for local authorities in upgrading standards of cleanliness in public places and other provisions contained in the Environmental Protection Bill has been raised in the round of discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on local government finance in 1991–92. They will be taken into account in establishing the level of aggregate external finance for that year.

  Public Toilets
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation compelling Scottish local authorities to upgrade standards of hygiene in public toilets; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Islands and district councils have discretionary powers under section 26 of the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982 to provide, equip and maintain fixed or moveable public conveniences in such places as appear to them to be suitable.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to introduce legislation on standards of hygiene in such places.

  Sexual Offences
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many gay and/or bisexual men in Scotland were convicted of importuning in public places, contrary to section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 does not extend to Scotland. It is not possible to separately identify broadly similar offences within the Scottish Home and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many men in Scotland were convicted of the offences of procuring or attempting to procure the commission of acts of buggery and gross indecency in each of the years 1980 to 1989, inclusive.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not separately identifiable within the Scottish Home and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences.

  Roads
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has on the proportion of A702 traffic that will be diverted to the M74-M8 within Fastlink.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following our consultations on the routes south of Edinburgh study,
  733
  management consultants have been appointed to assess the viability of the Fastlink as a privately financed project. Clearly the new road would attract traffic from the A702. It is for potential promoters of the scheme to quantify the volume of traffic which might be diverted to the route, but it could be in excess of one third of the flow on the rural section of the road north of Biggar.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to enforce restrictions on heavy vehicles using the A702 and A701 routes after the M74-M8 Fastlink is completed.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Subject to the satisfactory conclusion of discussions with Strathclyde, Borders and Lothian regional councils, it is proposed that the A702 would be de-trunked on completion of an M74-M8 Fastlink. The A701 is not a trunk road. It would therefore be for the regional councils as local roads authorities to consider whether any access restrictions were desirable.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans his Department has to reconsider dualling the Al to Dunbar.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have announced a package of improvement schemes for the Al which is likely to require the provision of nearly £50 million. We propose to dual the Al from Bankton to Haddington, and in the longer term to Dunbar, and it is intended to formulate an appropriate package of further measures to improve the level of service over the remaining length. Dual carriageways are considered for roads expected to carry between 11,000 and 46,000 vehicles per day, and dualling on the A1 is being provided at the threshold level. Although dualling of the whole route is not ruled out in the very long term, current average daily traffic levels on the rural sections through Borders region are only about 5,000 vehicles per day.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has on the cost of dualling the A6091 between the A68 and the A7.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The A6091 is not a trunk road, and is the responsibility of Borders regional council as local roads authority.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to visit the Borders region to discuss the Government's current road plans for the future development of the A7 south of Hawick with the local roads authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: I received an invitation from Roxburgh district council to attend a meeting to discuss the Government's plans for improving road access to the Borders. I propose to visit Borders regional council, as the authority responsible for trunk roads. I also propose to visit Roxburgh district council, on housing matters in the course of which I shall listen to its representations. Neither the date nor format of the meetings has yet been arranged.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to review the levels of remuneration for health board chairmen.
  734
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend accepts that the remuneration of health board chairmen should be revised to reflect the additional workload which chairmen are experiencing in preparing for implementation of NHS reforms and in recognition of the new responsibilities which they will take on when the new health boards are established in 1991. He has therefore decided on the following levels of remuneration for chairmen with effect from 1 April 1990:

  Health board

  Remuneration £ per annum

  Greater Glasgow

  22,730

  Lothian

  20,490

  Grampian; Tayside

  18,250

  Lanarkshire; Argyll and Clyde

  16,005

  Ayr and Arran; Fife; Forth Valley; Highland

  13,415

  Borders; Dumfries and Galloway

  10,810

  Orkney; Shetland; Western Isles

  6,510

  In addition, my right hon. and learned Friend has decided that remuneration should be introduced for non-executive members of the new health boards. This will apply from 1 April 1991 and the levels will be £5,000 per annum for mainland health boards and £2,000 per annum for island health boards.

  Illiteracy
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children have left school in each of the past five years unable to read or write in each education authority area.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: This information is not available.

  New Towns
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the chairmen of the new town development corporations.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to meet the chairmen of the new town development corporations. I shall be meeting them on Friday 6 July.

  Primary Schools, Glasgow
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current teacher to pupil ratio in Glasgow primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: The pupil:teacher ratio in primary schools in the Glasgow division of Strathclyde in 1989–90 was 19.4:1, compared with 20.9:1 in 1988–89. This information may be found in SED statistical bulletin No. 9/B1/1990, a copy of which is in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Dental Health
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the average cost per estimate for completed dental treatment for patients under 16 years in Northern Ireland.
  735
  Mr. Needham
  At present the average cost per course of dental treatment for children under 16 years is £25·78.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statistical information is available on child dental health under 18 years in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  A survey of the dental health of children aged five, eight, 12 and 15 years was carried out in 1989. Preliminary results show that on average caries levels in these age groups have fallen by some 38 per cent. since 1983.

  Extradition
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received any indications from the Government of the Republic of Eire about removal of articles 2 and 3 of their 1937 constitution or appropriate amendment of the Extradition Act 1965 in order to deal with terrorists more effectively.

  Mr. Cope
  The situation in relation to our arrangements for dealing with fugitive offenders is currently being reviewed by British and Irish officials, as agreed between the respective Ministers on 19 April. I would prefer not to comment on the details of the review.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims there have been for community care grants in each DHSS office in Londonderry city, Limavady, Coleraine and Magherafelt during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many in each office were(a) granted, (b) refused and (c) how many of the applicants refused were advised on the refusal form to (i) apply for a budgeting loan, (ii) were offered a budgeting loan and (iii) how many offered a loan sought and received such a loan, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 July 1990]: Information about the number of community care grants processed each month, the number awarded and the amount paid by each social security office is available in the Library. The number of refusals can be derived from these figures.

  Applicants who are refused community care grants do not need to apply for budgeting loans as social fund officers automatically consider the possibility of a loan in all such cases. No information is available about the number of loans subsequently offered or made to people whose applications for grants have been turned down.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of prisoners on custodial remand for (i) scheduled and (ii) non-scheduled offences were(a) given a non-custodial sentence, (b) given a custodial sentence and (c) found not guilty or not proceeded against in 1989.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 July 1990]: The information requested is as follows:
  736

  Per cent.

  1989

  (i) Scheduled

  (ii) Non-scheduled

  (a) Non-custodial

  14·3

  17·5

  (b) Custodial

  75·4

  72·2

  (c) not guilty etc·

  10·3

  10·3

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners were remanded in custody prior to trial for(a) scheduled and (b) non-scheduled offences in 1989.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 July 1990]: In 1989, 928 individuals were remanded in custody for scheduled offences and 697 individuals were remanded in custody for non-scheduled offences.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks on RUC personnel took place in 1989, showing whether the attack was on (i) a foot patrol and (ii) a mobile patrol, the total attacked while on duty each month together with details of the type of attack, namely(a) physical assault, (b) stone throwing, (c) petrol bomb, (d) explosion or (e) shooting and the number of persons made amenable.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 July 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, in 1989 there were over 500 incidents in which the police were attacked either on duty or at home. Of these, 67 incidents involved the use of firearms and 83 the use of explosives.

TRANSPORT

  Roads
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on road schemes, not including maintenance, since 1960; and whether he will express this in terms of the current value of the pound.

  Mr. Atkins
  Total capital expenditure by central Government on national roads in the United Kingdorn 1960–61 to 1989–90 amounts to about £15 billion, or £35 billion when expressed in 1989–90 prices. These figures should be treated as approximations, since there have been definitional changes.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on the number of(a) properties and (b) homes that have been demolished as a result of road schemes since 1960;

  (2) what information he has on the acreage of (a) agricultural land and (b) other land taken out of use (i) permanently and (ii) temporarily as a result of road schemes since 1960.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information is not held in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Collision (River Usk)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the cargoes carried on the vessels Marius AS and Belle Roger which were involved in a collision on the River Usk at Newport on 24 April.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The collision on 24 April was between the Greek bulk carrier Morias and the Irish container vessel Bell Ranger.

  The Morias was carrying a cargo of steel products, and the Bell Ranger a cargo of containers. The containers, none of which appears to have been damaged, were loaded with general cargo, except one, which contained drums of chemical waste.

  Air Fares
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met his colleagues in the Council of Ministers for Transport to discuss deregulation of air fares.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I attended a meeting of the EC Transport Council on 18 June 1990. A formal commitment was made to complete a single market in aviation by the end of 1992, and agreement was reached on a second package of EC air transport liberalisation measures for the interim. Regulations on fares, market access and capacity sharing, and on the application of the competition rules to air transport were adopted. The agreement reached will allow airlines greater freedom to exercise their own commercial judgment.

  Railway Investment Criteria
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek an early meeting with his West German counterpart to discuss railway investment criteria.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Concessionary Travel
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities(a) issue free bus passes, (b) issue some form of assisted bus passes and (c) do not provide free or assisted travel for their pensioners.

  Mr. Freeman
  According to a survey of local authorities done by the Department of Transport in 1986, there were concessionary fares schemes for pensioners in 92 per cent. of districts in England and Wales, some operated by district councils and some by county councils or passenger transport executives. Of the 285 schemes for the elderly, 19 provided for free fares. There were no concessionary fares schemes in 29 districts. In London, a free fare scheme is funded by the boroughs.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to make it mandatory for every local authority to provide a free bus pass to their pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Local authorities always have discretionary powers to provide for reduced fares or free travel for people of state pensionable ago on local public transport services, and we have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Passenger Transport Authorities (Funding)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has made for monitoring and acting upon the effects of the change in funding of passenger transport authorities in those areas affected by(a) poll tax capping and (b) loss of safety net grant in 1991–92.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: The passenger transport authorities discuss transport and financing issues with my Department on an on-going basis. Spending priorities within the level of community charge caps are a matter for the local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on proposals for amending the use of weighted ward densities in the allocation of funding for public transport authorities in the coming financial years.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: Representations made by the local authority associations will be considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who will make his proposals known in the autumn.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Trials
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the director of the Serious Fraud Office to discuss the conduct of serious fraud trials.

  The Attorney-General
  I last met the Director of the Serious Fraud Office for this purpose on 3 June 1990.

  Wreck Commissioners
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what steps were taken to avoid any possible conflict of interests when assessors were appointed to sit on the Wreck Commissioners inquiry into the loss of the MV Derbyshire;

  (2) what criteria govern the appointment of members of Lloyd's Register to sit on a Wreck Commissioners inquiry when the ship under scrutiny had been granted a certificate by Lloyd's Register.

  The Attorney-General
  Those under consideration for appointment as assessors are asked to confirm that they have no connection with any known parties to the formal investigation which might give rise to a conflict of interest.

  Any assessor for a formal investigation, including members of Lloyd's Register, must fulfil the criteria set out in the schedule to the Merchant Shipping (Formal Investigations) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985/No. 1001), and any other appropriate criteria relating to special skills or knowledge which the Lord Chancellor might set having regard to the nature of the casualty which is to be the subject of that inquiry.

PRIME MINISTER

  Gifts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what guidelines exist in respect of the receipt, recording and disposal or otherwise of gifts received by Ministers acting in their official capacity.

  The Prime Minister
  It is a well-established rule that no Minister should accept gifts, hospitality or services from anyone which would, or might appear to, place him or her under an obligation. The recording and, where appropriate, disposal of gifts received is a matter for Departments.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) where the synthetic sapphire presented to her in her official capacity by the British Scientific and Technical Trust is held;

  (2) if she will make it her policy to refuse any gift offered to her in her official capacity which contains (a) ivory, (b) fur, (c) tropical hardwoods or (d) chlorofluorocarbons;

  (3) what gift she presented to President de Klerk on the occasion of his recent visit to the United Kingdom;

  (4) what gift she presented to President Gorbachev on the occasion of her recent visit to the USSR in June;

  (5) what gift she presented to President Bush on the occasion of her visit to the United States of America in November 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not my normal practice to provide information of this kind concerning gifts given or received.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the level of resources and funding for the Northern Ireland 1991 census will be on the same basis as for the census in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Calcutt Inquiry
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she expects to revise any more of her previous parliamentary answers in the light of the findings of the Calcutt inquiry into the handling of papers relating to Mr. Colin Wallace; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Calcutt's inquiry into the handling of Mr. Colin Wallace's disciplinary case is still in progress.

  A copy of the conclusions of the Ministry of Defence's internal inquiry into the handling of documents relating to Mr. Wallace's case has been placed in the Library of the House. Nothing in these conclusions makes it necessary to revise my previous parliamentary answers.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what mechanisms exist for revaluation within the exchange rate mechanism; how often they have been used; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to section 3.2 of the resolution of the European Council of 5740
  December 1978 on the establishment of the European monetary system (EMS) and related matters, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Since the inception of the EMS on 13 March 1979, there have been 12 realignments of currencies in the exchange rate mechanism.

  New Taxes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to introduce no new taxes before the next general election.

  The Prime Minister
  We have no plans to introduce any new taxes. Since 1979, we have abolished five major taxes, and the 1990 Finance Bill contains provisions for the abolition of two more.

  NATO Meeting, London
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals she proposes to put to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Heads of Government meeting on 5–6 July in London.

  The Prime Minister
  The NATO summit, which ends today, has been an important opportunity to chart the future course of the alliance at a time of momentous change in Europe. We need to preserve a sure defence and adapt NATO to the new circumstances. A copy of the declaration to be issued by the summit will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is available.

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister in relation to the science base of the United Kingdom, what proposals have recently been discussed with the chairman of the trustees of the natural history museum.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: The Lord President indicated on my behalf, in response to the hon. Member's question of 26 June, that the chairman of the museum is in discussion with the Government's chief scientific adviser and the Office of Arts and Libraries about the museum's position in relation to the United Kingdom science base.

  As the Minister for the Arts said in the Adjournment debate of 20 June, he will be holding further discussions with the chairman of the trustees and the museum's director on this and related issues.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  South Africa
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the policy of Her Majesty's Government on sanctions in relation to South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We receive numerous representations on all aspects of our policy towards South Africa.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to observe paragraph 5 of Security Council resolution 649.
  741
  Mr. Maude
  We continue to support United Nations efforts to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus dispute, in line with Security Council resolution 649. We maintain continuous diplomatic contact with all parties to this end.

  Morocco
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the official visit of the Prince of Morocco to Britain.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Prince Sidi Mohammed paid a highly successful first official visit to Britain from 18 to 22 June as a guest of Government. He met His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, had dinner with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, met other Ministers, visited Parliament and the City of London and had the opportunity to see some modern technology projects.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has raised the issue of violation of human rights with the Moroccan Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Moroccan Government are aware of our concern about human rights abuses wherever they occur.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department is intending to do to influence the Moroccan Government to renew a direct dialogue with the Polisario.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This is a matter for the parties involved. We continue to believe that the good offices of the UN Secretary-General and the chairman of the Organisation of African Unity offer the best prospects for an early and equitable solution. The latest developments at the UN are encouraging.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by his Department to assist Perez de Cuellar in his efforts to implement the last general assembly resolution regarding the organisation of a fair and genuine democratic referendum for the self-determination of the Saharawi people without any military or administrative constraints.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There have been welcome developments since the last UN general assembly resolution. The Secretary-General is expected soon to make detailed proposals for the establishment of a UN mission for the referendum in the western Sahara (MINURSO). Together with the other members of the Security Council we support these efforts and stand ready to consider requests for assistance.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his response to the recent elections in Bulgaria.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The vote was generally free and fair, although there was a certain amount of intimidation and 742
  violence during the campaign. Both observers and Bulgaria's own electoral commission have cast doubts on some individual results. We shall now need to assess the policies and practices of the new Government and hope that their commitment to reform will be shown to be real.

  Guyana
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Guyana concerning the freedom of the forthcoming elections.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development reminded President Hoyte of the importance which the Government attach to the principle of free and fair elections when they met him in October and December 1989.

  I also emphasised the need for elections to be free and fair when the Foreign Minister of Guyana called on me on 21 May 1990.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd),Official Report, 21 June, column 685, he will list in the Official Report the states parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, the non-governmental organisations and members of the public to whom he makes reference as having made communication on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference and the general nature of the communications.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Only at disproportionate cost could the non-governmental organisations and members of the public who have communicated on the subject of the NPT be listed. The communications received have been concerned with Government policy towards, and the fulfilment of obligations arising from, the NPT.

  The following are states parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty:

  United Kingdom

  United States of America

  Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

  Afghanistan

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Australia

  Austria

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  Belgium

  Belize

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  Brunei Darussalam

  Bulgaria

  Burkina Faso

  Burundi

  Cambodia

  Cameroon

  Canada

  Cape verde

  Central African Republic

  Chad

  743

  Colombia

  Congo

  Costa Rica

  Cote D'Ivoire

  Cyprus

  Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

  Denmark

  Dominica

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Equatorial Guinea

  Ethiopia

  Fiji

  Finland

  Gabon

  Gambia

  German Democratic Republic

  Germany, Federal Republic

  Ghana

  Greece

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guinea Bissau

  Haiti

  Holy See

  Honduras

  Hungary

  Iceland

  Indonesia

  Iran

  Iraq

  Republic of Ireland

  Italy

  Jamaica Japan

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Kiribati

  Korea, Republic of

  Kuwait

  Lao People's Democratic Republic

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

  Liechtenstein

  Luxembourg

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Maldives

  Mali

  Malta

  Mauritius

  Mexico

  Mongolia

  Morocco

  Nauru

  Nepal

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Nicaragua

  Nigeria

  Norway

  Panama

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Philippines

  Poland

  Portugal

  Qatar

  Romania

  Rwanda

  St. Lucia

  St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  San Marino

  744

  Sao Tome and Principe

  Saudi Arabia

  Senegal

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  Spain

  Sri Lanka

  Sudan

  Suriname

  Swaziland

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Syrian Arab Republic

  Thailand

  Togo

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Tuvalu

  Uganda

  Uruguay

  Venezuela

  Vietnam

  Western Samoa

  Yemen, Republic of

  Yugoslavia

  Zaire

  Notes:

  1. Taiwan (not recognised as a State by Her Majesty's Government) signed the Treaty in Washington on 1 July 1968 and deposited an Instrument of Ratification in Washington on 27 January 1970.

  2. North Korea (not recognised as a State by Her Majesty's Government) acceded to the Treaty on 12 December 1985 in Moscow.

  GATT
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for developing countries of the United States, European Community, Japanese and Nordic proposals for the current Uruguay round of GATT to include liberalisation of the services sector.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  With services accounting for a growing proportion of world trade, the proposals being considered in the GATT Uruguay round for a multilateral agreement on trade in services, stand to benefit all participants, developed and developing countries alike. The United Kingdom and its European Community partners are working for an agreement with the widest possible participation, and which achieves the greatest liberalisation. It is recognised that the commitments expected of developing countries will need to take account of development of their service sectors, and this is reflected in the draft agreement recently tabled by the EC.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sexual Offences
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many gay and/or bisexual men in England and Wales were convicted of importuning in public places, contrary to section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956;
  745
  (2) in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many men were convicted for the offences of gross indecency and indecency between males in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until the autumn.

  Males convicted of specified sexual offences 1980 to 1988 England and Wales

  Offence

  Soliciting or importuning by a man (Section 32 of Sexual Offences Act 1956)

  Indecency between males

  1980

  1,184

  1,603

  1981

  878

  1,420

  1982

  783

  1,145

  1983

  719

  1,232

  1984

  399

  821

  1985

  452

  730

  1986

  452

  714

  1987

  500

  951

  1988

  545

  1,333

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in England and Wales were convicted of the offences of procuring or attempting to procure the commission of acts of buggery and gross indecency in each of the years 1980 to 1989, inclusive.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until the autumn.

  Male defendants convicted of procuration of males 1980 to 1988 England and Wales

  Procuration of males

  1980

  143

  1981

  121

  1982

  140

  1983

  125

  1984

  194

  1985

  350

  1986

  193

  1987

  246

  1988

  332

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance his Department issues to police forces on what constitutes an immoral purpose for the purposes of prosecution for importuning in a public place for immoral purposes;

  (2) what guidance his Department issues to police forces as to those acts which might be construed as representing gross indecency.

  Mr. John Patten
  None. The law has been interpreted by the courts. If necessary the police can turn to the Crown prosecution service for advice.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to police forces on criteria to be employed when deciding between prosecution for the offences of indecency between men and gross indecency; and what is his Department's definition of indecency between males as used in its sexual offences statistics.
  746
  Mr. John Patten
  None. Charges brought under section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 are for acts of gross indecency between men. There is no lesser offence of indecency as opposed to gross indecency.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the steps which Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1979 to promote crime prevention.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Government's strong belief in the potential for the whole community to contribute to crime prevention is reflected in the range of measures we have taken which include the following:(i) Publication in 1984 and in 1990 of circulars to local authorities and a variety of relevant agencies, recommending the development of locally based crime prevention schemes through partnership between local authority departments, the police and commercial and voluntary interests.
  (ii) A series of national publicity campaigns using TV and press advertising. The most recent, which is not yet complete, features the latest edition of the handbook of crime prevention advice entitled "Practical Ways to Crack Crime". Over 3 million copies of this handbook have been distributed.
  (iii) The establishment of Crime Concern, an independent body (funded initially by the Home Office) which seeks to encourage and facilitate local crime prevention activity, and to draw the business sector into crime prevention.
  (iv) The safer cities programme. Projects have been set up in 16 inner-city areas with the objectives of reducing crime, lessening the fear of crime and creating conditions in which economic enterprise and community life can flourish.
  (v) The establishment of the standing conference on crime prevention, giving the opportunity for a wide range of groups and agencies to discuss ideas on crime prevention.
  (vi) Enhancement of the training offered to the police service by the Home Office crime prevention centre, including specialist areas such as architectural liaison and designing out crime.
  (vii) A seminar in 1986, chaired by the Prime Minister, brought together representatives from the private sector, the unions, the police and central and local government to discuss action on crime prevention. This event led to the setting up of the ministerial group on crime prevention, through which Ministers from 13 Government Departments coordinate an interdepartmental approach to crime prevention.

  Immigration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Trinidad and Tobago, (b) Guyana, (c) Barbados and (d) Jamaica have (i) been admitted and (ii) been refused admittance and removed during each of the first five months of the current year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is given in the following table:
  747

  Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica admitted to, and refused leave to enter and removed from, the United Kingdom

  1990 January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Total admitted1

  1,200

  700

  1,400

  1,400

  1,400

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  11

  11

  10

  9

  11

  Guyana

  Total admitted1

  300

  300

  400

  500

  400

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  6

  3

  6

  3

  4

  Barbados

  Total admitted1

  500

  300

  400

  700

  700

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  2

  1

  3

  3

  4

  Jamaica

  Total admitted1

  1,600

  2,000

  1,900

  2,100

  2,400

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  50

  52

  58

  42

  48

  1 Provisional figures.

  Birmingham Prison
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a month-by-month breakdown of the number of attempted suicides by inmates in Birmingham prison during the first six months of 1990.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of inmates who were recorded as having attempted suicide at Birmingham prison in each of the first six months of 1990 is as follows:

  Number

  January

  1

  February

  1

  March

  2

  April

  2

  May

  9

  June

  4

  Total

  19

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are still remanded in custody awaiting trial 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.

  Students (Deportation)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's current policy and practice on enforcing deportation decisions against students who have been found to be working in breach of their conditions of entry; what definition is used of student; and whether he will list the colleges which he would not recognise as providing courses of study for overseas students acceptable under the immigration rules.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Any overseas student who wishes to work during his free time or vacations may do so by obtaining the requisite permission from the Department of Employment. Each case in which a student is found working without such permission is considered on its 748
  individual merits: as required by the immigration rules, the case for deportation is considered in the light of all known relevant factors. For this purpose a student is a person who at the time meets the requirements of the immigration rules for the grant of leave to enter or remain as a student. The Immigration and Nationality Department keeps records of information which has come to light about individual colleges. In dealing with individual applications from students, account is taken of any material which is available to the Department about the circumstances of, and courses offered by, the colleges concerned. Caseworkers are made aware of what information is available by means of internal notices which are part of staff instructions and are not published.

  Criminal Records Office
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to(a) receive the original notes and (b) identify the authors of criminal records office file no. 10368/74.

  Mr. John Patten
  These are among the matters which are being considered by the Devon and Cornwall constabulary, whose report my right hon. and learned Friend will consider very carefully in due course.

  Football Licensing Authority
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to meet representatives from the Football League to discuss the work of the Football Licensing Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans at present. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has had such a meeting and has recently written to the chief executive of the Football League on this subject.

  Firearms
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to meet the chairman of the firearms consultative committee to discuss firearms certification procedures.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to meet the chairman of the firearms
  749
  consultative committee. It is for the committee to keep under review the working of the administration of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988 and to make to my right hon. and learned Friend such recommendations as the committee may from time to time think necessary for the improvement of that working.

  Bombing Cases
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has discussed the Guildford and Woolwich or the Maguire cases with(a) the Lord Chief Justice or (b) the Master of the Rolls.

  Mr. John Patten
  No.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the nine Surrey police officers who were in Birmingham at the time of the pub bombings have been identified.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions from the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 30 October 1989 at columns 39–40. It is not known whether any Surrey officers were in Birmingham at the time of the pub bombings, although I understand that a team of nine Surrey officers was in the west midlands area at the time. This is among the matters relating to the case of the Birmingham pub bombings which are currently under investigation by the Devon and Cornwall constabulary on behalf of the chief constable of the West Midlands police.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the new inquiry undertaken by the Devon and Cornwall police into the Birmingham Six to be completed.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not possible at this stage to say when the Devon and Cornwall constabulary will be able to report on the results of its inquiries, but I know that the police are fully aware of the need to complete those inquiries as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.

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

  Mr. Mellor
  Such a meeting would serve no strong purpose. Our policy is clear and well known to the hon.

  Establishment

  Number of transfer requests

  Numbers transferred1

  Earliest outstanding request

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Holloway

  24

  45

  12

  42

  13

  11

  13 July 1987

  Pentonville

  47

  40

  10

  25

  15

  6

  16 February 1987

  Wormwood Scrubs

  62

  77

  16

  47

  49

  9

  24 April 1987

  Brixton

  58

  103

  37

  80

  35

  10

  4 September 1987

  Feltham

  13

  70

  18

  16

  17

  11

  29 September 1988

  Wandsworth

  52

  91

  25

  57

  27

  5

  1 April 1987

  Latchmere House

  10

  12

  9

  8

  2

  3

  10 May 1988

  1 Includes officers requesting transfer during previous years.

  750
  Member. The licence fee is not a proper instrument of social policy, and we have no plans to change the present concessionary arrangements. Giving free licences to all pensioners would cost £435 million a year, and would necessitate increasing the cost of the licence to everyone else to well over £100.

  Missing Persons Register
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to establish a national computerised missing persons register; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to establish a national computerised missing persons register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have been considering the establishment of such a register for some time now. We have been examining two possible options and are now seeking the views of the Association of Chief Police Officers before reaching a conclusion as to the better method.

  Criminal Damage
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost of vandalism or criminal damage in England in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is not available.

  Prison Officers, London
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for each of the London prisons the number of applications for transfer from officers at those prisons to other prisons in England and Wales for each of the last three years; and what is the number of applications that have been granted;

  (2) if he will list the present number of transfer applications that have been submitted by officers serving at each of the London prisons for transfers to another prison in England and Wales; and what is the longest period of time such an application has been waiting for a decision to be made.

  Mr. Mellor
  The available information is given in the following table.
  751
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to help prison officers transferred from other establishments into London prisons with accommodation.

  Mr. Mellor
  Prison officers who are transferred to London prisons on permanent compulsory transfer terms are entitled to reimbursement of the expenses incurred in moving home. They are eligible to receive, for example, travel and subsistence allowances, removal expenses, estate agents' and solicitors' fees, a transfer grant or a miscellaneous expenses grant and in certain circumstances the interest charges on bridging loans.

  Establishment

  11984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  21990

  Acklington

  5

  18

  21

  8

  16

  18

  16

  Albany

  36

  86

  —

  11

  1

  16

  —

  Aldington

  1

  1

  3

  1

  4

  9

  6

  Ashford

  1

  12

  —

  6

  1

  29

  —

  Ashwell

  3

  1

  9

  6

  25

  23

  1

  Askham Grange

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  8

  3

  Aylesbury

  2

  2

  13

  9

  12

  17

  9

  Bedford

  13

  17

  12

  11

  12

  5

  8

  Birmingham

  10

  27

  —

  28

  66

  56

  30

  Blantyre House

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Blundeston

  14

  26

  17

  14

  16

  23

  8

  Bristol

  7

  10

  —

  13

  30

  59

  12

  Brixton

  46

  111

  118

  199

  205

  251

  122

  Brockhill

  6

  5

  8

  1

  14

  9

  13

  Buckley Hall

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  —

  Bullwood Hall

  3

  1

  5

  1

  14

  7

  14

  Camp Hill

  6

  5

  17

  3

  8

  13

  13

  Campsfield House

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  Canterbury

  4

  13

  1

  5

  8

  1

  2

  Cardiff

  6

  5

  17

  15

  31

  15

  4

  Castington

  1

  1

  7

  2

  5

  4

  2

  Channings Wood

  16

  8

  17

  12

  18

  11

  5

  Chelmsford

  32

  16

  24

  18

  34

  52

  19

  Coldingley

  6

  6

  3

  5

  7

  9

  1

  Cookham Wood

  —

  1

  11

  14

  —

  5

  —

  Dartmoor

  2

  10

  11

  18

  25

  17

  10

  Deerbolt

  1

  3

  3

  1

  1

  6

  5

  Dorchester

  5

  3

  6

  1

  5

  2

  1

  Dover

  5

  24

  19

  16

  16

  9

  7

  Downview

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  3

  Drake Hall

  —

  8

  3

  11

  2

  9

  1

  Durham

  7

  13

  39

  31

  19

  26

  4

  East Sutton Park

  —

  4

  1

  7

  10

  7

  2

  Eastwood Park

  —

  1

  2

  3

  2

  Erlestoke

  —

  3

  1

  3

  14

  5

  1

  Everthorpe

  1

  3

  1

  2

  2

  7

  2

  Exeter

  1

  6

  14

  15

  11

  13

  1

  Featherstone

  3

  43

  25

  10

  10

  24

  6

  Feltham

  9

  33

  21

  23

  59

  107

  83

  Ford

  8

  17

  40

  37

  59

  64

  19

  Frankland

  4

  13

  7

  12

  35

  29

  4

  Full Sutton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  18

  15

  1

  Garth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19

  13

  Gartree

  9

  58

  12

  8

  12

  22

  10

  Glen Parva

  2

  5

  12

  13

  15

  21

  8

  Gloucester

  —

  1

  —

  1

  3

  5

  1

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  18

  5

  36

  19

  14

  22

  3

  Guy Marsh

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  4

  Haslar

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hatfield

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  2

  —

  Haverigg

  15

  42

  45

  50

  34

  30

  10

  Hewell Grange

  2

  1

  —

  5

  8

  3

  1

  Highpoint

  14

  5

  34

  10

  21

  31

  22

  Hindley

  7

  8

  3

  5

  8

  10

  8

  Hollesley Bay

  2

  13

  —

  —

  41

  37

  8

  Holloway

  16

  21

  22

  37

  40

  53

  15

  Hull

  11

  8

  7

  4

  7

  27

  5

  Huntercombe/Finnamore Wood

  13

  19

  5

  2

  5

  31

  6

  Drugs
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug finds there have been in each British prison establishment in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Waddington
  The following relates to England and Wales. Responsibility for prison establishments in Scotland rests with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. New instructions for the reporting by prison establishments of finds of illicit drugs and related implements took effect on 1 July 1984. Available information about numbers of finds reported since that time is shown in the table. The information for 1984 and 1985 relates to both substances and implements. The figures for subsequent years relate to substances only.
  753

  Establishment

  11984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  21990

  Kingston

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  Kirkham

  —

  6

  13

  13

  56

  69

  —

  Kirklevington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lancaster

  4

  8

  4

  3

  20

  15

  1

  Latchmere House

  7

  33

  10

  4

  3

  6

  —

  Leeds

  19

  12

  15

  27

  23

  25

  1

  Leicester

  5

  6

  13

  10

  4

  18

  —

  Lewes

  51

  18

  —

  1

  9

  13

  —

  Leyhill

  2

  1

  —

  2

  16

  3

  4

  Lincoln

  3

  25

  9

  8

  15

  32

  8

  Lindholme

  —

  —

  —

  —

  47

  39

  12

  Littlehey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21

  23

  13

  Liverpool

  43

  121

  170

  110

  96

  82

  29

  Long Lartin

  28

  54

  32

  29

  35

  27

  13

  Lowdham Grange

  5

  7

  7

  4

  14

  15

  —

  Low Newton

  —

  7

  7

  6

  11

  9

  1

  Maidstone

  15

  18

  21

  37

  10

  13

  2

  Manchester

  43

  87

  48

  20

  42

  88

  10

  Morton Hall

  —

  —

  2

  4

  5

  7

  7

  The Mount

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  31

  15

  New Hall

  3

  —

  —

  —

  4

  5

  —

  Northallerton

  2

  1

  3

  3

  3

  6

  —

  Northeye

  19

  26

  —

  4

  27

  17

  20

  North Sea Camp

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  6

  2

  Norwich

  23

  5

  18

  24

  40

  53

  24

  Nottingham

  —

  6

  4

  3

  4

  5

  1

  Onley

  2

  11

  7

  9

  9

  26

  2

  Oxford

  4

  —

  6

  3

  5

  1

  —

  Parkhurst

  16

  43

  39

  38

  29

  80

  7

  Pentonville

  15

  30

  32

  33

  50

  63

  49

  Portland

  —

  3

  —

  2

  22

  24

  2

  Preston

  7

  6

  13

  22

  12

  10

  —

  Pucklechurch

  —

  4

  1

  7

  3

  22

  8

  Ranby

  4

  5

  6

  8

  14

  16

  5

  Reading

  2

  9

  6

  11

  26

  14

  14

  Risley

  12

  23

  17

  19

  19

  14

  1

  Rochester

  14

  10

  31

  16

  57

  27

  14

  Rudgate

  1

  3

  13

  10

  11

  17

  8

  Send

  —

  —

  1

  2

  15

  16

  5

  Shepton Mallet

  10

  2

  10

  20

  15

  13

  11

  Shrewsbury

  1

  4

  2

  4

  9

  10

  1

  Stafford

  26

  35

  21

  33

  35

  42

  8

  Standford Hill

  29

  18

  —

  16

  36

  26

  11

  Stocken

  —

  5

  2

  5

  16

  11

  5

  Stoke Heath

  6

  5

  13

  5

  12

  19

  —

  Styal

  4

  2

  1

  1

  1

  8

  1

  Sudbury/Foston Hall

  4

  17

  7

  6

  15

  9

  3

  Swaleside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  11

  19

  Swansea

  —

  4

  23

  3

  8

  2

  —

  Swinfen Hall

  —

  —

  3

  2

  6

  8

  3

  Thorn Cross

  —

  —

  15

  21

  16

  24

  1

  Thorp Arch

  —

  —

  5

  11

  10

  12

  4

  Usk-Prescoed

  —

  —

  2

  3

  4

  7

  4

  The Verne

  1

  15

  2

  9

  11

  10

  16

  Wakefield

  5

  15

  5

  12

  11

  5

  1

  Wandsworth

  108

  359

  237

  147

  267

  217

  129

  Wayland

  —

  7

  31

  26

  45

  28

  16

  Wellingborough

  1

  1

  5

  6

  4

  7

  —

  Werrington

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  —

  Wetherby

  3

  2

  —

  5

  —

  8

  6

  Whatton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  7

  —

  Winchester

  9

  5

  3

  5

  33

  45

  2

  Wormwood Scrubs

  120

  20

  195

  174

  206

  238

  105

  Wymott

  10

  19

  11

  41

  16

  20

  16

  1 From 1 July.

  2 To 31 May.

  New Prison Fazakerley
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will defer any steps towards building a new prison at Fazakerley near Liverpool until the results of a public inquiry are known;

  (2) what plans he has to hold a public inquiry into the proposed new prison at Fazakerley, near Liverpool.
  754
  Mr. Mellor
  The construction of a new prison at Fazakerley will not proceed until the objections raised by Liverpool city council have been dealt with. Assuming that it is not possible to resolve the differences between the Home Office and the city council, the matter will be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who will decide whether it is desirable to hold a non-statutory public local inquiry.

  Prison Staff
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whow many assaults on prison officers occurred in each prison establishment in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The readily available information for 1988 is given in the table "Charges of assault on which prisoners were found guilty on adjudication in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales in 1988: by establishment and type of assault", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For these years published annual statistics of offences punished at each establishment give the information on gross personal violence to an officer but that on assaults does not distinguish between assaults on officers and assaults on others (table 9.9 to 9.12 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1987" (Cm. 547), copies of which are in the Library). However, the information requested is summarised by type of establishment (tables 9.13 to 9.15 of the 1987 volume).

  Ticket Touts
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy to seek to make the touting of tickets illegal.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans to make ticket touting generally illegal. The activities of ticket touts are regarded by most of us as offensive and disreputable, but they are not of such a nature as would justify legal prohibition. The tout will have paid the standard price for his tickets, so the promoter will not have lost, and his customers will generally be aware that they are paying above the ticket's face value and are willing to do so to watch the event in question. Most of the more objectionable aspects of ticket touting are already covered by the criminal law and promoters of events can take their own steps to deter touting; for example the organisers of the Ryder cup, by attaching conditions to tickets were able to use the force of the criminal and civil law to make ticket touting very difficult.

  We are considering separately Lord Justice Taylor's recommendations to meet the specific problem of ticket touting at football matches.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  COCOM
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the changes in export trade opportunities arising from the agreement at the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) meeting in Paris on 6 and 7 June.

  Mr. Redwood
  An outline of the changes agreed is given in a press briefing paper, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The most significant export trade opportunities for industry are likely to arise from changes in the three priority sectors of computers, telecommunications and machine tools, although further opportunities are presented in other areas.
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  The changes to the controls on computer equipment will be reflected in relaxations on many other types of computer-controlled equipment. It should be noted that some of the relaxations on telecommunications equipment apply only to Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, plus the German Democratic Republic which benefits from a special new licensing regime.

  The 30 whole-item deletions and reduced levels of control in about 25 more items, will provide further opportunities across a wide range of goods and technologies. Details on many of these are currently being worked out by COCOM.

  There will be an open general export licence for 28 of the 30 deleted items which came into effect on 1 July. The other changes will be brought into effect by means of further amendments to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989.

  Further publicity will be given to these changes when amendments to the order are issued. The Department's "Security Export Control" guidance booklet will also be reissued as soon as possible and will reflect the deletions of or changes to some 70 items, out of 126, including others currently subject to COCOM's regular review process.

  My technical staff in the Export Control Organisation are available to answer questions from industry about these changes.

  Import Restrictions
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 11 May, how many complaints were made to the Commission(a) by and (b) against the United Kingdom Government during 1989 alleging illegal or unjustified restriction of imports; and if he will indicate the percentage of complaints upheld in each case.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 16 May 1990]: The Government made 11 complaints against practices in other member states in 1989. The Commission is either still considering those complaints or is pursuing them with the member states concerned.

  My Department does not hold information on complaints made to the Commission against the Government; such complaints come to our notice only if and when the Commission decides to pursue them formally. The Commission records annually in its report to the European Parliament on the control of the application of Community law, figures for infringement proceedings against member states. I understand that the figures for 1989 are not yet available but will appear shortly in the Commission's seventh report. This will be published in the Official Journal, copies of which are available in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Foodstuffs (Chemical Residues)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy as regards the control of pesticide residues in foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government operate a rigorous statutory registration procedure, backed up by continuous monitoring to ensure that any pesticide residues in foodstuffs are at entirely safe levels.
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  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken by his Department to reduce the amount of(a) organophosphates, (b) methyl bromide and (c) ethylene bisdithiocarbamate present in foodstuffs (i) domestically produced and (ii) imported into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Maximum residue limits have been set for all these substances under the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Food) Regulations 1988, which apply equally to imported and to home-grown produce.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy in respect of the incidence of the fungicides dithane, manzate, mancozeb and dinoseb in foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Dithane and manzate contain ingredients such as mancozeb which belong to the group of fungicides known as ethylene bisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs) which are under review by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The committee published an interim report in January; it concluded that intakes of EBDC and their breakdown products were at safe levels for all age groups and extreme consumers.

  Dinoseb was reviewed by the committee in 1987, as a result of which all approvals for its marketing and use have been revoked.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy in respect of the safety in foodstuffs of the fungicides captan, benomyl and chlorothalonil; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  All these substances are currently under review by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on achieving common European residue levels for chemical residues in foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The European Community has partially harmonised standards for maximum pesticide residue levels and for contaminants which may arise from materials and articles in contact with food, and is considering further harmonisation in these areas.

  The Community will be setting maximum limits for veterinary medicines in foodstuffs of animal origin following the adoption of a framework directive by the Agricultural Council in June.

  The European Commission has announced its intention of bringing forward proposals for legislation to establish Community rules on chemical contaminants in food not already covered by other Community legislation.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to reduce the levels of chemical residues in foodstuffs entering the United Kingdom from(a) European Community countries and (b) third-world countries.

  Mr. Maclean
  Chemical residues in foodstuffs, both imported and home grown, are continuously monitored to ensure high standards of safety for consumers.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the proportion of foods which contain mechanically recovered meat being labelled as such.

  Mr. Maclean
  I do not keep the information that my hon. Friend requests.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to implement the European Community directive on nutrition labelling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  This directive received its second reading in the European Parliament on 12 June and following consideration of the Parliament's amendments by the European Commission should shortly be presented to the Council of Ministers for adoption. Full implementation will not take place until three years after notification of the directive to member states and regulations will be introduced to that effect. I am however encouraging manufacturers and retailers to adopt the main provision of the directive.

  Aflatoxin
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in adopting an EC policy of aflatoxin limits in crops; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no proposals for Community limits on aflatoxins in crops; there are however limits which already apply in the case of feedingstuffs under Council directive 74/63/EEC controlling undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition. In addition, the Commission has announced its intention to bring forward proposals shortly for framework legislation on contaminants in foodstuffs which would enable limits to be set for aflatoxins in food for human consumption in due course. We shall expect the public health aspects of any proposals in this area to be based on consultation of the EC's scientific committee for food.

ENERGY

  Oil Rigs
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for all safety officers working offshore on oil rigs to be given suitable training in offshore safety methods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Existing statutory requirements under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 place duties on employers and owners of offshore installations to provide such training as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of their employees, and to ensure that only competent persons are made responsible for the control and safety of operations.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the proportion of the cost of a unit of electricity which is accounted for by the cost of the fuel used in generation.
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  Mr. Baldry
  The Electricity Council's annual report and accounts for 1988–89 showed that fuel costs represented about 41 per cent. of the average unit price of electricity.

  Environmental Damage
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has in regard to the proposals put to the European Parliament by Mr. Enrico Ferri for European legislation to require energy industries to take out full insurance against damage caused to the environment by their operations.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department has received no information about Mr. Enrico Ferri's proposals.

  European Energy Year
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's policy on the proposal put forward by the European Community Energy Commissioners to declare 1992 European energy year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Only the European Commission has the right to initiate formal proposals to the Council. We are unaware of any such formal proposal in relation to a declaration for 1992.

DEFENCE

  Hawk Trainer Aircraft
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet replied to the letters dated 16 June 1989 and 8 August 1989 from J. B. Moffatt, assistant secretary of the Celtic League, concerning Royal Air Force Hawk trainer aircraft operating over Wales and the Isle of Man.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Copies of both letters have now been traced and will be answered as soon as possible.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the Hawk trainer aircraft currently based in Wales have been subjected to the turbine fan modification ordered some years ago.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There are no problems outstanding on the Hawk engine.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the Hawk trainer aircraft currently based in Wales have now been re-sparred.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There is no programme to re-spar the Hawk trainer. Under the programme to re-wing the Hawk, new wings will be fitted as the existing wings reach the end of their fatigue life. Nine of the 85 aircraft based in Wales have been so modified.

  St. David's Airfield, Pembrokeshire
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations have been received by his Department on the proposed over-the-horizon radar station near St. David's.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In addition to questions tabled in this House and in another place. I have received representations from many right hon. and hon. Members and from members of the public.
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  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all those companies which were invited to tender for the contract to carry out any environmental impact assessment of his Department's proposals to install an over-the-horizon radar system at St. David's and Cricklade.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In view of the particular circumstances of our proposal to install an over-the-horizon radar transmitter at St. David's airfield and the need to complete the environmental impact assessment by late summer, only one company—W. S. Atkins of Epsom Surrey—was invited to tender for the contract to carry out the environmental impact assessment. At Blakehill, the proposed over-the-horizon radar receiver site, we are not yet in a position to proceed with the environmental impact assessment. This will, however, be by competitive tender.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the effect of the proposed over-the-horizon radar on birds and animal life in the St. David's area of Pembrokeshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have received no representations concerning the effect of the proposed over-the-horizon radar on birds and animal life in the St. David's area of Pembrokeshire. But my Department has had initial discussions with the Pembrokeshire Coast national park authority about this and the matter will be fully addressed in the environmental impact assessment.

  Excalibur Exercises
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to hold exercises in the Excalibur series in the United Kingdom in the current year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Exercise Excalibur VII is planned to take place in the United Kingdom on 20 July 1990.

  Belize
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on how many incursions by(a) Guatemalan military personnel and (b) other Guatemalans into Belize there have been this year; and what was the response in each case.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are not aware of any incursions by Guatemalan military personnel. A group of Guatemalan civilians established an illegal settlement in March in Belizean territory at Santiago Jalacte close to the border with Guatemala.

  The Belize authorities gave the Guatemalans three months' notice to leave so that they could harvest their crops before departure. But we understand that the settlement was abandoned in May following incidents involving local Belizeans.

  NATO Meeting, London
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he intends to introduce to the NATO meeting in London on 5 and 6 July.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has discussed a wide range of issues concerning European security with colleagues at the NATO summit meeting.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which states currently possess a nuclear weapon capability that could pose a threat to the United Kingdom; which states currently possess a nuclear weapon capability that could not pose a threat to the United Kingdom; and which states are currently seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon capability that could pose a threat to the United Kingdom;

  (2) under what circumstances it is judged that the possession of nuclear weapons by another state poses a threat to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The possession of nuclear weapons combined with effective means of delivery by any state poses a potential threat to the United Kingdom, but of course account has to be taken of intention as well as capability. The assessment the hon. Member requests of particular nuclear capabilities is classified. In general terms 762
  the United Kingdom attaches great importance to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty as a means of preventing nuclear proliferation.

  Defence Industry
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Clackmannan of 2 July, on what criteria he decides whether the timing of discussions with the defence industry is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The commercial-in-confidence caveat is applied to any information relating to a commercial undertaking's, processes or affairs which may be of commercial value to its competitors or to speculators. Disclosure of such information would damage the relationship of trust that must exist between commercial undertakings and the Government.