Written Answers of 24 July 1990

DEFENCE

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  To assist in obtaining better value for money through broadening its competitive base, the Ministry of Defence has continued to provide a new suppliers service responsible for encouraging and assisting small firms to compete for defence business. Over the past 12 months the new suppliers service has attended a wide range of seminars and "meet-the-buyer" events and has given advice to about 2,200 companies on how to sell to the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence has also continued to produce a fortnightly contracts bulletin, which includes notice of almost all contracts the Department expects to place valued at more than £500,000. Since 1 January 1990 clothing and textile requirements have been included in the bulletin at a lower threshold of £250,000. The bulletin will shortly include details of sub-contract opportunities, which will be of particular value to small companies. The success of these measures to encourage a widening of our supplier base is in part reflected by our having placed 67 per cent. of headquarters contracts by value by competition or otherwise by reference to market forces in 1989–90. Details of payments made by the Ministry of Defence to small firms in 1989–90 are not yet available.

  In addition, the small firms research initiative aims to encourage small firms to bid for research work. In 1989–90, 36 research contracts were placed with small firms at a total value of £1·3 million.

  Government Contracts (Profit Formula)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the report by the review board on its sixth general review of the profit formula for Government contracts.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The main recommendation in the report is for an increase, based on comparability, in the overall target rate of return on non-competitive contracts.

  After careful consideration I have concluded that we cannot adopt that recommendation and that the current target rate should remain in force. This decision implies no
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  criticism of the review board. It is based on my assessment in present circumstances that the maintenance of the existing target rate for such contracts will ensure adequate industrial resources to meet our current needs.

  The report raises a number of other issues relating to the operation of the profit formula and the pricing of non-competitive contracts. My officials will be pursuing these with representatives of the CBI and with the review board, as appropriate.

  A copy of the review board's report has been placed in the Library.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Interviews (Tape-recording)
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he makes of the effect of tape-recorded interviews of suspects upon the speed of trials, the delays in bringing cases to trial and the number of pleas of guilty being entered.

  The Attorney-General
  The effect of tape-recorded interviews has not been assessed pending the completion of the nationwide introduction of the scheme.

  Armagh Courthouses (Union Flag)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Attorney-General for what reasons the Union flag is no longer flown on the flagpole on top of the courthouses in Armagh city; whether the Union flag being flown on a pole at ground level at the courthouse has been damaged; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The flagpole on top of the courthouse at Armagh is no longer used for safety reasons. This position affords little or no protection when raising or lowering the Union flag and staff were in danger of falling. The new flagpole was fixed to the inward side of the perimeter wall. A flag was damaged on barbed wire at the new location. Two strands of barbed wire have been removed, and a new flag supplied. It has been flown subsequently without difficulty.

  Factortame
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) of 26 June,Official Report, columns 141–42, if he will make a further statement on the juridical implications of Factortame, in the light of the decision of the House of Lords.

  The Attorney-General
  The Factortame case was reinstated in the House of Lords on 2 July and the hearing concluded on 9 July. It has been indicated that the House of Lords has decided in principle to grant interim relief in favour of the applicants to the effect that the Secretary of State for Transport should not withhold registration in respect of any fishing vessel if the owner is an "original applicant" for interim relief who is disentitled to registration under section 14 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 by reason only of a failure to meet the conditions requiring directors and shareholders of owning companies to be resident and domiciled in the United Kingdom. It would be inappropriate to comment further on the House of Lords' decision until it has determined the form of its order and it has given its fully reasoned judgment.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the achievements of the Lord Chancellor's Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors these achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  The Lord Chancellor has implemented a number of policies designed to ensure that all litigants enjoy the greatest possible quality and speed of service from the civil courts. However, as these policies are not specifically targeted on small businesses, no performance indicators are kept in this regard.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department has continued to encourage the use of small businesses as suppliers in line with the Government purchasing initiative. Within the last 12 months guidance issued by the Department of Employment—Central Unit on Purchasing has been circulated to all purchasing and supply staff, and there has

  Item

  To whom allocated

  Conditions—wishes expressed

  Collection of Anglo-Saxon and medieval coins

  Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

  Conditional

  Collection of modern paintings

  Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Cumbria

  Conditional

  "Allée à Chantilly" by Cezanne

  National Gallery

  Wish to go to the National Gallery expressed

  Painting by van der Heyden

  National Gallery

  Conditional

  Woodcut by Edvard Munch

  University of Manchester-Whitworth Art Gallery

  Conditional

  Items awaiting allocation

  Date of acceptance

  "Farm Cart with Horse in Harness" by Constable

  14 February 1990

  Harpsichord

  14 February 1990

  "Richmond près Londres" by Corot

  29 March 1990

  Portrait by Beechey

  20 April 1990

  Painting by Lucas de Heere

  20 April 1990

  Two portraits by Gainsborough, one by Rubens and a landscape by Seghers

  20 April 1990

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tax System (Indexation)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the amount of revenue that would accrue to the Government from fiscal drag if the tax system were simply indexed in the 1991 Budget.

  Mr. Ryder
  Chapter 2 of the 1990–91 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" shows total taxes and national insurance contributions, including the community charge, rising from £206 billion in 1990–91 to £216 billion in 1991–92, on the assumption that the tax system is indexed in the 1991 Budget. This allows for the effects of real fiscal drag, and also for the build-up of effects of the 1990 Budget and earlier Budgets, including independent taxation for husbands and wives.
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  been participation in a "meet the buyer" event. The Department's estimated total expenditure with small firms—fewer than 200 employees—in 1989–90 was £14 million.

THE ARTS

  Works of Art (Disposal)
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will specify the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half year ended 30 June of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historical or artistic interest which have been accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax or capital transfer tax, together with information, where applicable, as to conditions or wishes expressed by testators or executors in the matter of allocation; whether he will list the works of art and museum objects which are still awaiting allocation, with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of inheritance tax or capital transfer tax; and whether a press notice will be issued from his Department covering the information given in his reply.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The information the hon. Gentleman requests is as follows:

  Excise Duties
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect of not indexing excise duties in the 1991 Budget, by product, on(a) inflation and (b) revenues in 1991–92 and a full year.

  Mr. Ryder
  The effects of revalorising excise duties on the revenue yield and the retail prices index in 1991–92 and 1992–93 will be published in the autumn statement. The information requested will not be readily available before then.

  Income Tax
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of income tax the Exchequer would forgo in 1990–91(a) if all income from savings were exempted from the tax and (b) if income tax were chargeable only to higher rate taxpayers on such income.

  Mr. Ryder
  The direct revenue cost of exempting from income tax the investment income received by individual savers, including interest received on bank and building society accounts, national savings and dividends received from companies, is estimated to be about £10·5 billion. If the income from savings of higher rate taxpayers remained chargeable to income tax, at their marginal rate of tax, the cost would be reduced to about £5 billion.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give(a) the gross incomes before tax and (b) the net incomes after tax of each income decile for each year since 1978–79 and also for the top 1 per cent. and the top 5 per cent. of the income distribution, the income level which is the dividing line between the deciles for the top 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. in each case for each year and the average income for each group during each year.

  Mr. Ryder
  The latest available analyses of the distributions of before and after tax incomes relate to the years 1978–79, 1981–82 and 1984–85 and were published in the November 1987 issue of "Economic Trends", No. 409, a copy of which is available in the Library. The additional details and data for other years requested by the hon. Member could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Authority Transactions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an updated version of table 6·7 in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1990–91".

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest outturn figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 are shown in the table. These outturn figures are subject to revision as more information becomes available. It is not the normal practice to publish forecasts other than at Budget time.

  1988–89 outturn £ billion

  1989–90 outturn £ billion

  Receipts

  Domestic rates and community charge

  8·5

  9·5

  Non-domestic rates

  10·4

  11·2

  Current grants from central government

  23·8

  24·7

  Capital grants from central government

  0·8

  2·6

  Other

  5·6

  5·9

  Total receipts

  49·2

  53·9

  Expenditure

  Current expenditure on goods and services

  36·4

  39·1

  Current grants and subsidies

  5·8

  6·3

  Interest

  4·6

  4·8

  Capital expenditure and net lending

  2·6

  4·9

  Total expenditure

  49·5

  55·2

  Taxpayers
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the number of taxpayers divided into basic rate and top rate and by sex.

  Mr. Ryder
  Estimates for 1990–91 are as follows:

  Millions

  Basic rate (but not higher rate)

  Higher rate

  Total

  Males

  15·0

  1·4

  16·4

  Females

  9·5

  0·3

  9·8

  Total

  24·5

  1·7

  26·2

  The estimates are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are provisional.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the expenditure by programme in England to which (a) Scottish block expenditure, and (b) Welsh block expenditure are held to be comparable for the purposes of the territorial allocation formula; and if he will place in the Library a document explaining the implications for the operation of this formula of the introduction of the new planning total.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The annual public expenditure White Paper shows the individual programme elements of both the Scottish block and the Welsh block—table 15·1 of Cm. 1015 and table 16·1 of Cm. 1016: housing and education. It is the corresponding English programmes which are held to be comparable. The introduction of the new planning total affects the programmes within the Scottish and Welsh blocks in the same way as it affects the corresponding English programmes.

  Treasury Model
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effects the Treasury model currently incorporates concerning the impact on the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment of the differences in regional levels of unemployment; and what is the scale of these effects.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In common with other macroeconomic models of the United Kingdom economy, the Treasury model is not disaggregated to a regional level.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the recent report of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Major
  As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 4 July, at column 577, the report examines how the price of holidays might be incorporated into the retail prices index and recommends that the Central Statistical Office should begin to collect relevant data and examine a new methodology which the committee has developed. However, there is no recommendation to include holiday prices in the retail prices index for the moment. I am asking the Central Statistical Office to put in hand the data collection and further work necessary to determine whether it will be possible to overcome the methodological problems associated with incorporating a holiday price index into the retail prices index in due course.

  The report also examines the way financial services are taken into account in the retail prices index. On this it recommends that the annual fees which are being introduced for the holders of certain credit cards should not be covered by the retail prices index, and that any supplements which retailers might charge to customers using credit cards should also be ignored in constructing the index, at least for the present. It is also recommended that charges for personal banking services and transaction charges incurred by households buying and selling investments should be excluded from the index, but that the coverage of insurance should be extended to include personal accident and "protection-only" life insurance. I have decided to accept these recommendations.
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  The full report is being published today as Cm. 1156 and copies are available in the Vote Office.

  Taxes and Benefits
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 699, when he will be able to provide up-to-date figures on the same basis as those provided to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East in his answer of 8 January, Official Report, columns 559–64, revising his figures to include an estimate of the effects of the introduction of the community charge; and what estimate he has made to date of the effect on the tax burden of the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 July 1990]: It will be possible to provide estimates of the effects of the introduction of the community charge on the basis requested when relevant data from the family expenditure survey for 1990, the first year of the charge's operation in England and Wales, are available.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show for each stamp duty office in the United Kingdom the income for stamp duty, the number of transactions, the other functions and the other income, for each of the last three years;

  (2) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show for each stamp duty office in the United Kingdom the sums of stamp duty raised on share transfers in each of the last three years and the number of such transactions in each of those years;

  (3) if he will publish his estimate of the sums saved, in cash and percentage terms, in (a) the sums raised and (b) the number of transactions in each stamp duty office in the United Kingdom when those offices move to a system of paperless transactions in 1992;

  (4) what is the anticipated cost of retraining staff in the Edinburgh stamp duty centre to comply with Northern Ireland stamp duty legislation;

  (5) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the functions common to all stamp duty centres in the United Kingdom and indicate any other functions which are carried out in each of the others which are not common, with particular reference to the Belfast office;

  (6) what is his estimate of the number of staff required to handle Northern Ireland stamp duty centre transactions in (a) 1991, (b) 1992 and (c) 1993;

  (7) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the numbers of staff employed in each of the stamp duty centres in the United Kingdom at present and the total salaries of such staff in the current and past two years;

  (8) which of the functions of the Belfast stamp office he proposes to transfer to Edinburgh;

  (9) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show how the anticipated saving of £160,000 by the transfer of functions of the Belfast stamp office to Edinburgh arises; whether the calculations take account of (a) extra training, (b) increased postage and (c) the cost of increased liaison between the stamp duty office in Edinburgh and Northern Ireland Government Departments; and if he will show the sums estimated for
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  each of the three above headings and for each Northern Ireland Government Department for the three years after his proposed transfer of functions;

  (10) how urgent cases, requiring immediate registration to secure priority under section 4 of the Registration of Deeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, will be dealt with after transfer of the functions of the Northern Ireland stamp duty office in Belfast to Edinburgh;

  (11) what estimate he has made of the increased costs to (a) the legal profession and (b) the general public if the proposed transfer of functions of the Belfast stamp office goes ahead.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 17 July 1990]: More time is needed to collect the necessary information and I shall write to the hon. Member when it is available and place a copy in the Library.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the number of individual shareholders in the United Kingdom and (b) the number who are direct shareholders in privatised companies.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: There are now nearly 11 million individual shareholders in the United Kingdom and over 5 million who are direct shareholders in privatised companies.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of corporation tax received from privatised companies in 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The companies privatised since 1979 paid about £1½ billion in corporation tax in 1989–90.

  South Yorkshire (GDP)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much gross domestic product per capita in south Yorkshire falls below(a) the Community average and (b) the United Kingdom average.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: In 1987, the latest year for which county figures are available, and taking the Economic Community average as 100, the figures are, based on purchasing power parities—

  Average

  Economic Community

  100

  United Kingdom

  107

  South Yorkshire

  87

  Community figures are based on estimates published by the statistical office of the European Communities.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief goes on mortgage tax relief(a) at basic rate and (b) in excess of the basic rate in 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Provisional estimates are given in the table; 1990–91 estimates are based on the assumption that interest rates remain at their current levels.
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  Mortgage Interest Relief

  Year

  Total cost of relief £ million

  Cost of relief at rates in excess of the basic rate of income tax £ million

  1989–90

  6,900

  430

  1990–91

  8,000

  510

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government estimate gross domestic product will be in 1990–91 and 1991–92 both in current and constant prices.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The information requested can be calculated from table 2·1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1990".

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people would pay more tax than they do at the present time if capital gains tax exemption were at the same level as the personal allowance; what is their average pre-tax income and the distribution of income; and what would be the average and distribution of increased capital gains tax payments;

  (2) how many people would pay more tax if capital gains tax exemptions were £3,000; what is their average pre-tax income and the distribution of income; and what would be the average and distribution of increased payments.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: It is tentatively estimated that about 260,000 individuals and trusts would pay more capital gains tax in 1990–91 disposals if the annual exempt amount were reduced from £5,000 to either £3,000 or £3,005—the 1990–91 personal allowance—assuming a proportionate reduction in the annual exempt amount for trusts. About 100,000 of these 260,000 losers are not expected to pay capital gains tax on 1990–91 disposals under current rules. The full-year yield from this change is estimated to be about £70 million, implying an average additional payment of about £275 per loser, but estimates of the distribution of extra payments are not available. The estimates allow for some change in taxpayers' behaviour in response to the reduced annual exempt amount, but do not allow for possible short-term effects. No allowance has been made for any change in the treatment of capital gains of companies which are taxed within corporation tax.

  Estimates of the income distribution of the 260,000 losers are not available. Some information about the taxable income of capital gains taxpayers in 1985–86 is available in table 11·5 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1989".

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Property
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps are taken to make available properties disposed of by his Department to housing associations or local authorities;
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  (2) how many homes have been sold by his Department since the beginning of 1989 and in the last three months; and what criteria are used in deciding to whom the properties will be disposed;

  (3) what policy guidelines exist for his Department in dealing with empty properties.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Department sold 2,575 prison officers' quarters during the 18-month period 1 January 1989 to 30 June 1990, of which 2,415 were sold to officers under the Department's discount sales scheme and 160 were sold as vacant houses on the open market. During the last three months of that period 223 quarters were sold, of which 194 were sold to officers and 29 were sold on the open market.

  Most quarters are sold to officers in occupation under the Department's discount sale scheme. The policy in dealing with vacant quarters is that, unless they are to be retained for essential reallocation, redevelopment or security reasons, they are placed on the open market for sale to the general public at the best price obtainable. No special steps are taken to make such properties available to housing associations or local authorities.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the money realised from any sales of domestic properties by his Department is treated.

  Mr. Waddington
  Receipts from the sale of prison officer's quarters are appropriations-in-aid and, as such, are offset against planned expenditure on the prison service. Any receipts in excess of the anticipated level go to the Consolidated Fund.

  Warning and Monitoring
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what improvements have been made to monitoring posts since the review of warning and monitoring was completed; what the costs of such improvements have been in each of the years 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90; what further improvements are planned or under consideration; and what the costs of any such further improvements are expected to be in each of the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. John Patten
  Since the review of warning and monitoring was completed, a supply of replacement generator sets has been made available to those monitoring posts whose equipment had become unserviceable. The cost was £26,000 in 1989–90. A study has been undertaken into the provision of ventilation systems and field trials are planned to evaluate costs and effectiveness.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what possible replacements for AWDREY and other Royal Observer Corps instrument systems have been identified; and how much such replacement systems are expected to cost.

  Mr. John Patten
  Possible replacement systems for AWDREY and other Royal Observer Corps instrument systems have been identified. The systems are based on seismic, optical and electromagnetic pulse detectors but further development is required before the full costs can be estimated.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what options are being considered for
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  the realignment of United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation sector boundaries; and what estimates have been made of the costs of implementing these options.

  Mr. John Patten
  Several options for revising the group and sector warnings and monitoring boundaries to conform with the home defence regions are under consideration. Work is continuing on estimating their costs.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any progress has been made regarding the setting up of new systems to convey data within the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation.

  Mr. John Patten
  A study is being conducted into the use of an enhanced emergency communications network to convey data within the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation. This study will take account of the scope for introducing new information technology for both administrative purposes and wartime operations.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what options are being considered for the collocation of UKWMO and Royal Observer Corps headquarters; and what estimates have been made of the costs of implementing these options.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Property Services Agency has identified three collocation options for basing the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation and Royal Observer Corps headquarters at Cowley, Oxford. A full feasibility study is to be conducted which will include estimates of the costs of each option.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any conclusions have been reached regarding replacement RADIAC instrumentation for monitoring of nuclear fallout; and what costs have so far been identified.

  Mr. John Patten
  No conclusions have been reached on replacing the RADIAC instrumentation for monitoring fallout. The costs will be identified when the customer requirements have been established.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what options are being considered for the refurbishment and replacement of warning sirens; and what estimates have been made of the costs of implementing these options;

  (2) whether any alternative to the use of sirens for warning of air attack is under consideration.

  Mr. John Patten
  A study of the refurbishment and replacement of sirens has concluded that it would be expensive as a warning option. Further research is therefore being conducted on the cost effectiveness of alternative warning options such as the use of radio and television.

  Irish Prisoners
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners from Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are currently serving a prison sentence in England and Wales.
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  Mr. Waddington
  According to the records held centrally, on 31 March 1990 about 320 sentenced prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales who were citizens of the United Kingdom or whose citizenship was unknown were known to have been born in Northern Ireland.

  The recording of nationality in the records held centrally for citizens of the Republic of Ireland is not completely reliable because it depends upon information provided by the prisoner. On 31 March 1990 about 440 sentenced prisoners in establishments in England and Wales were recorded as citizens of or born in the Republic of Ireland.

  Police Computer
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new police computer, known as PNC2, will be operational; and what its capacity will be.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Present plans are for PNC2 to come into operational service by the end of the year. The system's processors will be capable of handling 62 millions of instructions per second. Its main memory will be capable of storing 192 million bytes of data; it will also have sufficient disk capacity to store 80,000 million bytes of data.

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categories of information are considered admissible for entry on the criminal record system; what restrictions are applied; and what is the purpose of information that is not factual.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information included in the national collection of criminal records is set out in form NIB 74. A copy of the form is available in the Library, as part of the memorandum submitted by the Home Office to the Home Affairs Committee in connection with its recent inquiry into the collection and use of criminal records.

  The national collection of criminal records is maintained by the police to meet its operational needs. All the information contained in it is used primarily for this purpose.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when guidelines will be issued to chief constables to assist them in deciding whether or not to allow access to police records; and whether there are any plans to update Home Office circular No. 45/1986.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Guidance to chief officers of police about disclosure of information from police records is contained in a number of Home Office circulars including HOC 45/1986 which is scheduled for revision next year.

  Caledonian Sector
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when full responsibility for Caledonian sector will be transferred from the Scottish Office to the Home Office; whether this will result in staff redeployment; and what is the expected net cost or gain to be made from this transfer.

  Mr. John Patten
  Full responsibility for Caledonian sector will be transferred when the detailed arrangements
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  have been finalised. The staff affected and the departmental trade union sides have been consulted, although no staff redeployment is likely to be involved. There is no expected net cost or gain from this proposed transfer.

  Prison Governors Association
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the Prison Governors Association dated 15 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  We have no record of a letter of 15 June from the Prison Governors Association although I understand that a copy of the letter sent by the vice-chairman of the association on 4 June about the reorganisation of the prison service was included in the association's bulletin to its members of 15 June. I replied to the letter on 18 June.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to chief constables that the police should use cautions more widely when dealing with mentally disturbed offenders.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A forthcoming circular on provision for mentally disordered offenders will emphasise the need to divert such offenders from the formal criminal justice system wherever possible. Cautioning is included among the recommended methods of diverting mentally disturbed offenders from the criminal justice system, the importance of which is emphasised in the circular.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to facilitate the transfer of mentally ill prisoners from prisons to mental hospitals.

  Mr. Waddington
  The prime consideration is to seek to avoid mentally ill people unnecessarily being sent to prison in the first place. The revised Home Office booklet "The Sentence of the Court" and a circular to be issued soon to the police and probation services as well as the courts have the aim of encouraging the diversion of mentally disordered offenders into the care of the health or social services.

  The recommendations of the working group of Home Office and Department of Health officials on mentally disordered offenders in the prison system, a copy of whose report is in the Library, include measures designed to facilitate transfer to hospital and these have been brought to the attention of prison medical officers. Consolidated guidance on transfer procedures under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 is to be issued soon to the prison medical service in conjunction with a review of the standing order on health care. This guidance emphasises the need for action to be initiated promptly, including arrangements for a consultant to make an assessment visit, when it is thought that a prisoner's transfer to hospital may be warranted.

  The number of mentally disordered prisoners including those who were mentally ill transferred to hospital under section 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 has doubled over the last six years.
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  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there has been an increase or decrease in the number of psychiatric referrals of prison inmates in the last two years.

  Mr. Waddington
  The number of inmates referred to visiting or consultant psychiatrists rose from 12,465 in 1986–87 to 16,937 in 1988–89. That represents an increase of 36 per cent.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of mentally ill people who are in prison.

  Mr. Waddington
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 5 July at columns 639–40.

  Prison Medical Service
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to incorporate the prison medical service within the national health service.

  Mr. Waddington
  There are no plans to do so. The prison medical service already makes exclusive use of national health service in-patient and out-patient facilities, general practitioners and specialists. However, there will be an opportunity to look afresh at the organisation of the prison medical service when we have the findings of the efficiency scrutiny announced on 20 December 1989 at columns 274–75. The scrutiny team's report is expected shortly.

  Prisoners (Suicide)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who committed suicide in the last decade underwent psychiatric treatment or assessment before entering custody.

  Mr. Waddington
  The information is not available. Prison medical officers would normally be aware of any previous psychiatric treatment or assessment only if the inmate chose to disclose the details at interview on reception. The only totally reliable source of information would be any confidential report on an inmate's psychiatric condition prepared by a consultant psychiatrist at the request of the court.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what suicide prevention procedure is recommended for Her Majesty's prisons; what changes in standing orders have been made or are proposed to be made to accommodate this; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  Circular instruction 20/1989, a copy of which is in the Library, describes the range of measures taken by the prison service in England and Wales to try to prevent suicide and self-injury among prisoners. The main elements are systematic screening and assessment; suitable location and supervision; sympathetic and supportive contact with staff and others; reducing the opportunities for suicide by physical prevention measures; and ensuring staff awareness.

  The prison service is constantly looking to improve its suicide prevention strategy. Among present initiatives are:

  135
  a planned trial of the use of closed circuit television; the continuation of the "family ties" programme, including the installation of cardphones in category C establishments, a proposed experiment at Winchester prison in the use of cardphones by remand prisoners and a pilot scheme to reduce routine censorship in category B—non-dispersal—establishments; and encouraging the increasing involvement of the Samaritans.

  In addition, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has been asked to review the effectiveness of the prison service's policy and procedures for the prevention of suicide and self-harm, with particular reference to the risks posed by mentally disturbed prisoners. Judge Tumin is expected to report in the autumn.

  Traffic Wardens
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to transfer the functions of traffic wardens to the private sector; and if he expects this service to be operated by existing or by new businesses.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans to transfer the functions of traffic wardens to the private sector.

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to institute a review of the judicial system in the Channel Islands to fulfil his responsibilities to ensure that good government is being maintained.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have no reason to believe such a review is necessary.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what rights of appeal British citizens have to British courts and Government Departments when they have a grievance against courts in the Channel Islands;

  (2) how he ensures that the United Kingdom citizens have the same rights of legal review of court decisions in the Channel Islands as on the mainland in cases where appeal judges from the English bench are involved.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Channel Islands are not within the United Kingdom. They have their own courts and courts of appeal with full jurisdiction. Senior barristers from the United Kingdom, appointed by the Queen, serve on the panel from which appeal court judges are drawn. There is a final avenue of appeal to the judicial committee of the Privy Council.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of these policies is 136
  demonstrated by the latest statistics which show a record increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT of 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373,000.

  Over the past 12 months, the Home Office has helped small firms by continuing to develop and improve the information, access and opportunities necessary to enable them to tender for our business. We have revised and reissued a booklet entitled "Selling to the Home Office", which, together with the list of contact points for each of our local establishments throughout England and Wales, provides details of our typical purchasing needs and guidance for potential suppliers on where and how to make the initial approach. This has been reinforced by the provision of a central point of contact in the Home Office for general supplier inquiries and representation at exhibitions and seminars held locally for small firms.

  Home Office performance indicators on purchasing are directed to securing better value for the money we spend, and do not differentiate between the size of firms to which contracts are awarded or provide statistical information about the business placed with small firms.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations about the quality of the news and current affairs service provided by the managing editors of Greater London Radio, Greater Manchester Radio, and BBC Radio WM for the communities which they serve; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning the future of Greater Manchester Radio.

  Mr. Waddington
  So far this year I have received nine letters from hon. Members and four letters from members of the public expressing support for BBC local radio stations in metropolitan areas.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the current number of listeners to Greater London Radio.

  Mr. Waddington
  Any information on listenership is derived from the BBC which will be able to give my hon. Friend its latest estimates and details of the methodology employed.

  Data Matching
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce safeguards to protect the rights of the individual against the dangers of data matching; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  Not at present. I will consider carefully any recommendation the Data Protection Registrar may make when his consideration of this issue is complete.

  British Overseas Citizens
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances east African holders of former United Kingdom passports, which did not give a
  137
  right of abode in the United Kingdom, who have adopted east African citizenships are permitted to renounce those citizenships and to resume the status of British overseas citizen.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any new appointment has been made to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Waddington
  Mr. Edward H. Wignall, who retired from the Electricity Council in September 1989, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. He will take up his post on 30 July 1990. This appointment is being made to fill a vacancy created by the departure of one of the members from the authority to take up the offer of a Harkness fellowship.

  Prisoners (Grievance Procedures)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached a decision on the recommendations made in the report of the working group on grievance procedures concerning the introduction of new procedures for handling prisoners' requests and complaints and the possible establishment of a prison ombudsman.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have decided that, in the light of experience gained in pilot schemes at Hull, Lindholme and Wakefield prisons, the new procedures which have been developed for handling prisoners' requests and complaints, and which are intended to replace the present petitioning system, should be introduced in all establishments on 25 September to coincide with the reorganisation of prison service headquarters. I have also decided to accept the working group's recommendation that it would be sensible to defer a decision on whether or not to establish a prisons ombudsman until there has been time for the new requests/complaints procedures to bed down and for their impact to be assessed.

  Community Service and Probation Orders
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest information he has on the proportion of community service orders and probation orders successfully completed; and what was the proportion which were followed by reconvictions for further offences, relative to persons discharged from custodial sentences.

  Mr. John Patten
  A total of 79 per cent. of the 43,150 probation orders that ended in 1988 were successfully completed—ran their full course, or were terminated early for good progress or were replaced by a conditional discharge order. The specified hours were completed in 72 per cent. of the 35,600 community service orders which ended in 1988.

  Source: Probation Statistics, England and Wales, 1988.

  The latest available comparative statistics about convictions for further offences relate to 1979— "Reconvictions of those given probation orders", Home Office statistical bulletin 34/86. Comparisons with custody must be interpreted with caution because the figures relate to the two years following release rather than the two years
  138
  following the start of a community-based sentence and because they reflect the characteristics of the offenders involved as well as the influence of the type of sentence. A new study using the most recent data is planned.

  Proportion of persons reconvicted of a standard list offence within two years of starting an order (January-February 1979)

  Males under 21

  Males aged 21 and over

  Females

  Probation order

  56

  43

  27

  Community service order

  58

  46

  37

  Within two years of discharge from a custodial sentence in 1979

  69

  51

  42

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to acquire the information required to total the number of firearms certificates and shotgun certificates which were in force in England and Wales on 31 December 1989.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The number of firearm and shotgun certificates on issue at 31 December 1988 was published in Home Office statistical bulletin 18/89, a copy of which is in the Library. Information relating to 31 December 1989 will also be published soon in a Home Office statistical bulletin.

  Birmingham Public Inquiry Office
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the most recent estimate he has made of the cost of(a) establishing and equipping and (b) operating the proposed Birmingham public Inquiry office; and when he now estimates it will be opened.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: The estimated total cost of furnishing and equipping the office is £44,000, of which some £14,000 has already been spent. Annual running costs are expected to be in the region of £140,000. We intend to open the office when the necessary funding can be made available.

  Immigration
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a woman European Community student is entitled to bring her husband into the United Kingdom if the husband is not a European Community national.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: European Community law confers right of entry upon spouses and certain other family members of nationals of other EC states who are exercising EC treaty rights in this country. If an EC national is receiving a service which is provided as an economic activity then, under EC law, he or she is exercising those rights. This is normally the case where a student is paying for education at a private college, but not where the education is provided as part of the state education system.

TRANSPORT

  Thornbridge Viaduct, M6
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce an immediate ban on Sunday working on the Thornbridge viaduct of the M6 motorway, Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The contractors are encouraged to complete the work as quickly as possible in accordance with restrictions laid down within their contract.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what form of compensation is available to residents whose homes are covered in dust from the work on the Thornbridge viaduct of the M6 motorway, Birmingham.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department's standard conditions of contract require contractors to be insured against third party claims. The contract for the reconstruction of the concrete verges of both carriageways of the Thornbridge viaduct is a standard one. The contractor has written to local residents giving them a telephone number to contact if problems arise.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has taken any noise measurements of the repair work on the Thornbridge viaduct of the M6 motorway, Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No noise measurements of the repair work have been carried out so far but our agents will take measurements of noise if considered necessary. The environmental health officer for Birmingham has visited the site but as far as we are aware did not take any noise measurements. He is able to take whatever noise measurements he decides.

  Wadebridge Bypass
  Mr. Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress made on the design and consultation process leading to the planned construction of the A39 bypass of Wadebridge, north Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have almost completed the statutory procedures. Subject to a successful outcome it should be possible to invite tenders next spring in accordance with the national trunk road programme published in the roads report earlier this year.

  Housing (Heathrow)
  Mr. Ground
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times houses in the vicinity of Heathrow airport have suffered vortex damage from aircraft in respect of which repairs have been carried out or compensation paid under the airport compensation scheme in each year since the scheme was instituted; and how many such houses have suffered from damage once, twice, three times, four times, five times or more than five times.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on vortex damage should be sought from Heathrow Airport Ltd.

  Property Sales
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the money realised from sales of domestic properties by his Department is treated.

  Mr. Freeman
  Proceeds from the sale of properties acquired in connection with the construction of motorways and trunk roads are appropriated in aid of class VII, vote 1—national roads, England. Proceeds from the sale of coastguard cottages are appropriated in aid of class VII, vote 2—administration and transport services.

  King's Cross-St. Pancras Project
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the King's Cross-St. Pancras project to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 22 to 26 October 1990.

  A629-A650 Airedale Route
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average daily traffic flows for the A629-A650 Airedale route at (i) Kildwick to Steeton, (ii) Steeton to Beechcliffe, (iii) Hard Ings road, Beechcliffe to Victoria Park and (iv) Victoria Park to Crossflatts.

  Mr. Freeman
  The 24-hour average daily traffic flows recorded in 1989 on the A629-A650 Airedale route were:

  Vehicles per day

  Kildwick to Steeton

  18,600

  Steeton to Beechcliffe

  24,200

  Hard Ings Road, Beechcliffe to Victoria Park

  23,500

  Victoria Park to Crossflatts

  16,800

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the vehicle inspectorate executive agency annual report for 1989–90 will be published.

  Mr. Chope
  The annual report has been published today. Copies are being placed in the House Library.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage further private sector involvement in rail freight.

  Mr. Freeman
  I welcome greater private sector involvement in the railways and have today launched "Charterail", a new rail freight joint venture between British Rail, GKN and City investors. "Charterail" plans to offer customers a total door-to-door distribution operation and is primarily aimed at the fast-moving consumer goods market.

  Marchioness (Report)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to implement the recommendations of the chief inspector of marine accidents' interim report on the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Directly after the tragedy I announced immediate requirements for chartered Thames river craft to record passenger numbers before sailing, and lodge the record ashore, and that passengers should be given proper instructions on where to find emergency equipment and what to do in the case of an emergency. Regulations to make these provisions mandatory for all passenger craft throughout the United Kingdom came into force on 12 April 1990.

  Within 10 days I had received the marine accident investigation branch's interim report, and announced that the six recommendations made in that report should take effect as soon as practicable, with the assistance of the Port of London Authority where required.

  The two recommendations on look-outs and lights on vessels of more than 40m in length were implemented on 18 September 1989 by amendments to the general direction for navigation in the port of London.

  The third recommendation related to the need for those in charge of passenger launches to keep continuous radio watch—implemented in the same general directions for navigation—and look frequently astern—covered in a PLA notice to mariners. This recommendation also proposed that if necessary insulation against noise should be provided on passenger launches. My surveyors are taking action to ensure that launches are modified so that recommended noise levels are not exceeded.

  The fourth recommendation proposed a review of traffic control arrangements, particularly under bridges. This has been considered, and a contractor has been appointed to develop a triggered light system, activated by the passage of ships along the river, indicating priority for larger vessels at bridges.

  The fifth recommendation was that the interim recommendations should be transmitted to port authorities generally. This has been done.

  The final recommendation suggested that the Department should examine the possibility of setting standards for the construction of ships' bridges, with a view to international agreement. This recommendation is being dealt with on two fronts. First, the question of bridge visibility has already been raised at the International Maritime Organisation with a view to incorporating the IMO guidelines as an amendment to the safety of life at sea convention 1974. Secondly, inspections of all relevant vessels on the Thames are taking place to determine existing visibility standards in order to determine necessary action. These inspections are well under way.

  Apart from this action, I should also add that all passenger craft on the Thames were inspected by my surveyors after the tragedy, and the frequency of random inspections has been increased.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to make the chief inspector of marine accidents' report into the collision between the Marchioness and Bowbelle publicly available.
  142
  Mr. Parkinson
  I have received the final report of the chief inspector of marine accidents into the collision between the Marchioness and Bowbelle and have been considering publication in the light of the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute the master of the Bowbelle.

  I have been advised by the director that publication of the report would give rise to a serious risk of prejudice to the current criminal proceedings. In these circumstances, the balance of the public interest lies clearly in favour of delaying publication of the full report and I am driven to the conclusion that the report cannot be published until the prosecution is concluded.

  However, in the interest of ensuring safety on the River Thames, and generally improving the safety of life at sea, I am anxious that the recommendations of the chief inspector should be made available so that action to avoid such an accident in future can be taken as soon as possible. I am therefore today publishing the chief inspector's recommendations in advance of the full report. The chief inspector is forwarding the recommendations to those persons or bodies who in his opinion are most fitted to implement them. I am placing copies in the Library.

  I can assure the House that the chief inspector's report will be published in full as soon as possible after the prosecution is completed.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Freeman
  Overall responsibility for helping small businesses rests with the Department of Employment. The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of their policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics, which show a record increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT of 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373,000.

  The policies of the Department of Transport are concerned to ensure that transport infrastructure is adequate and to lift the burden on businesses caused by unnecessary regulation so that all businesses can flourish.

  Much progress has been made on commitments made in the November 1988 White Paper, "Releasing Enterprise", including the change to the heavy goods vehicle plating and testing threshold that the Secretary of State announced at the time of the Budget statement. This change means more sensible rules for business to comply with and understand in a sector of the vehicle market which is expected to expand, and will bring up to 200,000 light goods vehicles out of the HGV plating and testing scheme and into the less costly MOT scheme. This will be of considerable benefit to small businesses using light goods vehicles.

  The Department is also at the forefront of the initiative to create executive agencies. The vehicle inspectorate executive agency was created on 1 August 1988, becoming

  143
  the very first executive agency in Government. On 2 April 1990, three more executive arms of the DTp attained agency status—the vehicle certification agency, the driving standards agency and the driver and vehicle licensing agency. All the agencies share the common objective of improving customer service while providing good value for money. Individual agencies publicise financial and service quality targets in their annual business plans.

  Departmental procurement procedures also encourage the use of small firms. The Department procurement unit encourages small firms to supply the Department—mainly through the pamphlet, "Selling to the Department of Transport" but also by attending "meet the buyer" events. Approximately 1,000 copies of the pamphlet have been issued since the beginning of February.

  Cross-city Rail Line, Birmingham
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any submissions from British Rail for the authorisation of the electrification of the Birmingham cross-city line between Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that an extension of the cross-city electrification scheme to Lichfield Trent Valley is being considered by British Rail. Such an extension would not require ministerial authorisation.

  Tankers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 July,Official Report, column 83, if he is now in a position to publish his assessment of the review of tanker traffic in the deep water route west of the Hebrides and the Minch.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A survey of tanker traffic using the Minch and the alternative deep water route to the west of the Outer Hebrides was carried out in September and October last year. I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Laden tankers over 10,000 grt are recommended to use the deep water route when weather conditions permit. During the 21 days and nights of the survey, 21 tankers passing through the area off the north-west of Scotland could have used the route. Of these, four used the route, four claimed that they were prevented from doing so by bad weather and 13—an average of only two laden tankers every three days—used the Minch route in weather conditions which appeared to allow use of the deep water route.

  My Department has sought explanations from shipowners on the use of the Minch route. It is clear from the responses that routes were carefully considered taking account of weather conditions and forecasts at the time of route planning.

  My Department will continue to urge shipowners and masters to use the deep water route whenever weather conditions make it practicable. They will do this both directly and indirectly through national flag state administrations, harbour authorities and the International Maritime Organisation. But it will never be possible to eliminate tanker traffic from the more sheltered Minch route, as it is essential that ships' masters retain the freedom to use that route when they judge it to be safest.

  National Bus Company
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received to renationalise the former constituent companies of the National Bus Company.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have received no such representations.

  Rent Revenue (Blighted Houses)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the rents obtained from tenants in houses purchased by the Government which are blighted by projected road schemes maximise the revenue to the Treasury.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is the Department's general policy to contract out the management of residential property acquired in advance of trunk road proposals. It is the responsibility of managing agents to find suitable tenants at appropriate rents. My hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic will write to my right hon. Friend about the effect of these arrangements in his constituency.

  A27
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive details of the economic appraisal and cost benefit analysis relating to the possible construction of a temporary roundabout at the A27/B2132 Arisford junction.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Very shortly. We shall let my hon. Friend know the outcome of our consideration of the appraisal.

  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive detailed designs for the proposed equestrian underpass on the A27 at Fontwell; and what prospects he envisages for construction work on this project in the current year.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: We expect to receive detailed designs early this autumn. Subject to this, and there being no difficulties in obtaining the necessary land, we would hope to be able to process a scheme for a start of works next spring.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Ombudsman's Reports
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions a local education authority has refused to comply with the principal findings of a report by the Commissioner for Local Administration.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This is a matter for the Commissioner for Local Administration in England who is entirely independent of central and local government. I understand that to date local authorities have refused to comply in a total of 165 cases. Although the commission's records do not permit a breakdown of this total, they have identified three cases in the last two years where local education authorities have failed to comply.

  Wandsworth CTCs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated effect on central Government receipts and expenditure of the proposed opening of two city technology colleges in the London borough of Wandsworth; and what is the effect on the central Government capital and other allocations for Wandsworth of the proposed reorganisation of secondary schools in Wandsworth.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am currently considering a proposal from ADT plc for the establishment of a city technology college in Wandsworth, which has been the subject of consultation with the local authority and others with an interest. Should I decide in favour of the proposal, I would be prepared to fund up to 80 per cent. of the capital costs and to meet all normal running costs thereafter.

  I am aware that the London borough of Wandsworth intends to publish a consultation document on its secondary reorganisation proposals, which include the establishment of a voluntary aided school with CTC characteristics. If such a school were to be established, it would be treated as any other voluntary aided school in relation to bids for central Government contributions towards capital expenditure; and, correspondingly, capital bids for county schools would be treated in the normal way.

  School Meals
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what were the proportions of pupils receiving free school meals in every year since 1979–80;

  (2) what were the proportions of pupils receiving school meals in every year since 1979–80.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The proportion of pupils receiving school meals and free school meals in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools since 1979 is given in the table. There was no school meals census in 1985.

  Proportion of pupils receiving a school meal

  Proportion of pupils receiving a free school meal

  1979

  64

  12

  1980

  48

  10

  1981

  49

  11

  1982

  49

  14

  1983

  51

  16

  1984

  51

  17

  1986

  49

  18

  1987

  50

  18

  1988

  47

  12

  1989

  43

  11

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the gross and net costs of restoring the right to free school meals to those children who lost that right through the Social Security Act 1986.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  It is not possible to estimate the cost of reintroducing the wide variety of discretionary schemes which existed prior to the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers and proportions of pupils in special schools in classes over 10.
  146
  Mr. MacGregor
  Information on the numbers and proportions of pupils in special schools in classes over 10 is not available centrally.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of their policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics which show a record increase in the number of small businesses registered for VAT, of 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373,000.

  It was estimated that during 1989–90 the Department purchased goods to the value of £11·5 million—£6·1 million the previous year—of which some £4·2 million benefited small firms—£2.4 million the previous year.

  Approximately 40 per cent. of our services—minor works, cleaning, transportation, and so on—continues to be provided by small firms.

  Performance indicators and a computerised procurement monitoring system are currently being developed. Meantime this Department continues to operate a policy of including small firms on tender lists whenever an appropriate opportunity arises.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students in each England and Wales local authority area received(a) mandatory awards and (b) discretionary awards in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The data required are listed in the table.

  Mandatory and discretionary award holders: academic year 1988–89

  Local education authority

  Total mandatory award holders1

  Total discretionary award holders2

  Barking

  320

  321

  Barnet

  3,946

  506

  Bexley

  1,326

  277

  Brent

  2,796

  568

  Bromley

  2,897

  367

  Croydon

  3,137

  917

  Ealing

  2,716

  710

  Enfield

  2,253

  122

  Haringey

  2,153

  678

  Harrow

  2,504

  729

  Havering

  1,207

  601

  Hillingdon

  1,551

  552

  Hounslow

  1,710

  512

  Kingston-Upon-Thames

  1,455

  237

  Merton

  1,583

  415

  Newham

  1,245

  748

  Redbridge

  1,965

  811

  Richmond-Upon-Thames

  2,067

  274

  Sutton

  1,334

  301

  147

  Local education authority

  Total mandatory award holders1

  Total discretionary award holders2

  Waltham Forest

  1,425

  378

  Inner London

  18,469

  7,972

  Birmingham

  7,534

  2,226

  Coventry

  2,619

  692

  Dudley

  2,025

  1,349

  Sandwell

  1,394

  1,391

  Solihull

  2,229

  189

  Walsall

  1,939

  1,441

  Wolverhampton

  1,968

  71

  Knowsley

  853

  1,238

  Liverpool

  3,733

  2,238

  St. Helens

  1,502

  1,094

  Sefton

  3,556

  138

  Wirral

  3,679

  1,469

  Bolton

  2,442

  1,780

  Bury

  1,781

  1,588

  Manchester

  3,004

  2,688

  Oldham

  1,479

  752

  Rochdale

  1,406

  987

  Salford

  1,177

  789

  Stockport

  3,336

  1,421

  Tameside

  1,179

  938

  Trafford

  2,716

  944

  Wigan

  2,215

  2,716

  Barnsley

  1,245

  1,255

  Doncaster

  1,923

  1,252

  Rotherham

  1,684

  1,726

  Sheffield

  3,994

  3,239

  Bradford

  2,994

  979

  Calderdale

  1,428

  348

  Kirkless

  2,960

  2,844

  Leeds

  5,260

  1,534

  Wakefield

  1,780

  2,201

  Gateshead

  1,188

  174

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  2,047

  911

  North Tyneside

  1,516

  1,184

  South Tyneside

  1,005

  226

  Sunderland

  1,712

  667

  Isles of Scilly

  28

  25

  Avon

  8,333

  2,664

  Bedfordshire

  3,938

  1,666

  Berkshire

  7,010

  1,060

  Buckinghamshire

  6,978

  520

  Cambridgeshire

  5,264

  451

  Cheshire

  10,048

  1,749

  Cleveland

  4,417

  1,136

  Cornwall

  3,655

  2,005

  Cumbria

  3,513

  1,426

  Derbyshire

  6,594

  7,420

  Devon

  8,198

  2,924

  Dorset

  4,743

  1,727

  Durham

  3,833

  482

  East Sussex

  5,332

  635

  Essex

  10,063

  6,701

  Gloucestershire

  4,877

  1,694

  Hampshire

  13,983

  3,404

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,100

  463

  Hertfordshire

  9,975

  1,074

  Humberside

  5,852

  4,229

  Isle of Wight

  875

  291

  Kent

  11,416

  6,706

  Lancashire

  13,452

  5,311

  Leicestershire

  7,523

  3,516

  Lincolnshire

  4,487

  1,099

  Norfolk

  4,217

  2,447

  North Yorkshire

  7,806

  3,490

  Northamptonshire

  3,531

  422

  Northumberland

  2,557

  1,533

  Nottinghamshire

  6,781

  906

  Oxfordshire

  5,530

  473

  Shropshire

  3,456

  913

  Somerset

  3,675

  1,317

  Staffordshire

  7,829

  701

  Suffolk

  4,029

  1,445

  148

  Local education authority

  Total mandatory award holders1

  Total discretionary award holders2

  Surrey

  12,015

  1,306

  Warwickshire

  4,776

  2,095

  West Sussex

  5,684

  671

  Wiltshire

  4,141

  1,111

  Clwyd

  3,618

  1,098

  Dyfed

  3,512

  1,991

  Gwent

  3,687

  3,281

  Gwynedd

  2,985

  2,192

  Mid-Glamorgan

  3,795

  3,441

  Powys

  1,008

  616

  South Glamorgan

  4,314

  476

  West Glamorgan

  3,374

  295

  Total England and Wales

  415,368

  157,273

  1 Excludes sandwich students in their placement year who receive a fees only award.

  2 Excludes sandwich students in their placement year who receive a fees only award. Includes all other higher education and further education discretionary award holders.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will specify the powers under which he proposes to authorise expenditure on access funds in relation to the student loans scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Payments of the access funds to the funding councils will be made under the powers available in sections 131(4) and 132(4) of the Education Reform Act 1988. Payments of the access funds to local education authority colleges of further education and to institutions directly grant-aided by the Department will be made under new regulations, to be laid before the House this week, made under the powers in section 100(1)(b) and (3) of the Education Act 1944. The regulations will enable the Secretary of State to make payments of the access funds to such institutions; they will not prescribe how the funds should be disbursed by these institutions to their students.

  University Pay
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce his decision on the university lecturers' salary negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the time taken to reach this decision.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department has today notified the chairman of committee A of the Universities Academic Salaries Committees that we accept the pay increases recommended for non-clinical academic staff in the committee's 25th report. My Department has also written to the chief executive of the Universities Funding Council to authorise the release of the £20 million held back against the conclusion of a satisfactory pay settlement. I had to consider the 25th report carefully against the criterion which we set for the release of the £20 million—greater flexibility and differentiation in the salary structure. I have made it clear that I shall be looking for greater expansion of the flexibility element within the pay structure in next year's settlement for non-clinical academic staff.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Esprit Buildings, Brussels
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the amount of British equipment which was supplied for the new Esprit building in Brussels.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has no information on this matter, which is one for the European Commission in view of its responsibility for equipping the new Bredel building in Brussels, occupied by Esprit together with many other Commission staff.

  Textiles and Clothing
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Ministers from other European Community countries on the need for barriers to Community exports of textiles and clothing to be reduced, and for subsidies to be ended.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are regular discussions between EC Ministers, both bilaterally and in the Council, on the current Uruguay round of GATT multilateral trade negotiations, in which one of the Community's main objectives is to secure greater market opening and effective rules on subsidies.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives from the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend's predecessor met representatives of the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance on 12 June to discuss progress in the GATT Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in negotiations for strengthening general agreement on tariffs and trade rules and disciplines applying to international trade in textiles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The trade negotiations committee is meeting this week in Geneva to take stock of progress in all 15 Uruguay round negotiating groups on the basis of reports from the groups' chairmen. The aim of the meeting will be to narrow differences of view as far as possible and to identify areas where further work is needed. The EC's position—supported by the United Kingdom—is that trade in textiles should be integrated into GATT on the basis of strengthened rules and disciplines.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in the GATT negotiations on the future framework for world trade in textiles and clothing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The chairman of the GATT negotiating group on textiles and clothing has produced a chairman's report for consideration by the trade negotiations committee in Geneva this week. This is designed to take into account various negotiating positions and, therefore, contains a significant number of alternative options. Many of these differences of view are unlikely to be resolved until nearer the end of the negotiations in December, but the 150
  European Community continues to press for a progressive phase out of the MFA over a transitional period and on the basis of strengthened GATT rules and disciplines.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to his Department by the textiles and clothing industries regarding the GATT rules(a) governing subsidies, (b) governing dumping, (c) controlling theft of designs and brand names and (d) on safeguards.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The GATT rules mentioned by the hon. Member are the subject of regular representations to Ministers in my Department, particularly in the context of the current multilateral trade negotiations.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the level of imports of textiles and clothing in the first four months of 1990, and for the same four months in 1989.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The value of imports was £2,662 million in the first four months of 1990, compared with £2,411 million in the same four months of 1989.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to his Department by the textiles and clothing industries about the trade barriers faced by United Kingdom exporters to countries outside the European Community.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Ministers in the Department frequently receive representations from the textile industry about foreign barriers to United Kingdom exports, both directly and through hon. Members. It is one of the European Community's main aims in the Uruguay round to achieve a reduction by all parties in their tariff and non-tariff barriers.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the level of United Kingdom textiles and clothing(a) imports from and (b) exports to Turkey in the first four months of 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The figures are:

  (a) £80 million.

  (b) £7 million.

  Unpublished Departmental Reports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central of 16 July,Official Report, column 383, he will now list the number of unpublished reports prepared by his Department under the Insurance Companies Acts in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Redwood
  The table sets out the number of completed investigations under section 44(2)(b) of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 since 1980.

  Number

  1980

  0

  1981

  1

  1982

  0

  1983

  2

  1984

  1

  1985

  0

  1986

  0

  1987

  3

  1988

  3

  1989

  1

  Companies House
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what increases there have been in the charge for postal sales of the microfiche records of companies from Companies House since December 1983; what has been the average annual increase; what has been the basis on which the charge has been set; and what effect changes in the efficiency of the Companies House agency have had on the charges.

  Mr. Redwood
  The price of obtaining a company search by post was set at £2 when the service was introduced in December 1983. It was subsequently increased to £4 in July 1988 and to £5 in July 1990, which is equivalent to an average annual increase of 15 per cent. The policy is now that the price of this service should cover its costs, taking one year with another, although in the past it has not done so. The increases would have been much higher without the productivity gains achieved by Companies House over this period.

  Tradeable Information Guidelines
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons are awaiting copies of the tradeable information guidelines, based on the European Communities synergy guidelines; and when he intends to send the Department's guidelines to those who have requested them.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department of Trade and Industry published tradeable information guidelines in September 1986. This served in part as the basis for the European Commission publication "Guidelines for improving the synergy between the public and private sectors in the information market". A revised edition of the United Kingdom guide has been published by my Department this month, entitled "Government-held tradeable information. Guidelines for government departments in dealing with the private sector". This is now being distributed to Government Departments and others who have expressed interest.

  Company Information
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what United Kingdom legislation provides for the public right to postal sales of company information from the Registrar of Companies on the price basis required by EEC directive 68/151 article 3, paragraph 3.

  Mr. Redwood
  Section 709 of the Companies Act 1985 provides a statutory right to certified copies of company documents. When this section is amended by section 126(2) of the Companies Act 1989, there will additionally be a statutory right to uncertified copies. There are no express provisions in the Companies Act on the price basis for providing these services or the method of delivery.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legislative provision he intends to introduce in respect of charges for the postal sales service for company information on microfiche and other forms.

  Mr. Redwood
  The statutory fees for certified copies of documents are prescribed by the Companies (Fees)152
  Regulations 1988. When section 126(2) of the Companies Act 1989 is brought into force, the regulations will be amended to prescribe a statutory fee for uncertified copies, which will cover the postal search service.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to review the commitment given by the Government in November 1983 that they did not intend to license operators other than British Telecommunications and Mercury Communications to provide basic fixed-link telecommunications for a period of seven years.

  Mr. Lilley
  We will publish a consultative document in the autumn setting out the issues to be reviewed and indicating where appropriate the Government's preferred options. The review will be wide-ranging and will be conducted in close association with the Director General of Telecommunications. It will cover local and trunk telephone services, cable entertainment services and international telecommunications. There will be a period for public comment, after which the Government will aim to announce their decisions early in the new year.

  ECGD
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of policyholders with the Export Credits Guarantee Department with an annual export turnover of under(a) £1 million and (b) £500,000 in each of the years 1985 to 1989.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of policyholders with the Export Credits Guarantee Department with an annual export turnover of under £1 million for each of the years 1985 to 1989.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 19 July 1990]: The ECGD insures contracts with buyers in specified countries and does not necessarily require policyholders to inform the ECGD of their annual export turnovers. In addition, some companies insure their business with ECGD through an intermediary rather than direct with the ECGD. Accordingly information is not held in the form required to answer the question. In the financial year 1989–90 a total of 4,720 policyholders each declared business of less than £1 million. This was not necessarily their total export turnover. These figures refer only to the Cardiff-based insurance services short-term business and not to project business.

  Ford Plant (Hungary)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact upon British industry of the locating of Ford's proposed automotive components plant in Hungary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 19 July 1990]: The siting of investment is a commercial matter for the company. Many overseas companies, particularly in the car and automotive components sectors, including Ford, have invested in the United Kingdom, attracted by the favourable climate for business created by the Government.

  EC Structual Funds
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of European Community structural funds devoted to correcting regional imbalance was devoted to projects within the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 July 1990.]: The United Kingdom's share of the European regional development fund over the last five years is shown in column C:

  ERDF commitments

  £ million

  (A) Total EC

  (B) Total United Kingdom

  (C) United Kingdom share Per cent.

  1985

  1,469

  358

  24·4

  1986

  2,227

  368

  16·5

  1987

  2,581

  449

  17·4

  1988

  2,543

  387

  15·2

  1989

  3,020

  343

  11·4

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) to what extent Government policy is compatible with that of the Community in regard to the expansion and use of structural funds within the Unite Kingdom; and what plans he has to achieve full compatibility after 1992;

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom secures a fair and justifiable share of European structural funds up to and beyond 1992.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Government policy is already compatible with that of the Community with regard to the structural funds, which involve a partnership between national Governments, the Commission and others. The Community support frameworks, which detail the amounts of funding, are agreed between the Government and the Commission.

  The Government will continue to make every effort in their contacts with the Commission to ensure that the United Kingdom obtains its fair share of the structural funds up to and beyond 1992.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of projects and the value of the financial support from European structural funds devoted to each region of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and what is the number which he expects to be supported in each region in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The number of projects receiving structural fund assistance and the value of European social fund and EAGGF guidance fund commitments by region are not readily available. A regional breakdown of European regional development fund commitments over the last five years is in the table.

  ERDF Commitments

  £ million

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  North

  27

  41

  63

  71

  58

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  24

  47

  32

  25

  30

  East Midlands

  18

  2

  3

  3

  0

  East Anglia

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  154

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  South East

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South West

  10

  22

  28

  16

  5

  West Midlands

  46

  40

  67

  25

  20

  North West

  77

  55

  40

  41

  80

  Wales

  58

  47

  56

  64

  63

  Scotland

  71

  57

  117

  97

  21

  Northern Ireland

  26

  43

  41

  44

  66

  Multi-regional

  0

  13

  3

  1

  0

  Total United Kingdom

  358

  368

  449

  387

  343

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been received from European Community structural funds in the Yorkshire and Humberside steel area programme in each year since 1988; and what funding is expected in 1990–91 and 1991–92 in this area.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Commitments from the European regional development fund and the European social fund to the Yorkshire and Humberside steel area programme were £7·1 million in the calendar year 1988 and £20·8 million in 1989. Commitments for 1990, 1991 and 1992 are expected to be £28·9 million, £37·3 million and £31·4 million respectively. Commitments by financial year are not readily available.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the sum available from the structural funds of the European Community between 1987 and 1990; and what proportion of that sum was devoted to South Yorkshire.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: In the period 1987 to 1990 commitments from the European regional development fund, European social fund, and the EAGGF guidance fund for the whole of the European Community are estimated at £12 billion, £9·6 billion and £3·6 billion respectively, giving a total of £25·2 billion for all three structural funds. Figures for ESF and EAGGF guidance commitments for South Yorkshire are not readily available. ERDF commitments for South Yorkshire in the period 1987 to 1990 are estimated at £59–1 million, some 0·5 per cent. of total EC and ERDF commitments.

  Financial Services
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often those offences under the Financial Services Act concerning (i) inducing another person to enter an investment by knowingly making a false or misleading statement, (ii) knowingly engaging in any act or course of conduct which creates a false or misleading impression of the market and (iii) inducing another person to enter an insurance contract by knowingly making false or misleading statements have been used.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have been asked to reply.

  Records available to my Department show that no persons had been prosecuted under the Financial Services Act 1986 up to the end of 1988.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vietnamese Boat People
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding overcrowding in the detention centres for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The 10 detention centres in Hong Kong have a combined design capacity of 45,000 places. Their current population is 44,200. A new purpose-built detention centre at Tai a Chau will be completed later this year, making available an additional 10,000 places. This will enable the Hong Kong Government to close some of the smaller existing centres, further reduce the populations in the main detention centres, and make more accommodation available to UNHCR and the voluntary agencies to enable them to expand their programme of services.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding the treatment of communicable diseases in the detention centres for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The majority of patients suffering from communicable diseases are admitted to the infectious disease unit of the Princess Margaret hospital. In 1988 there were 1,491 cases, the majority of which were chicken pox. In 1989 there were 2,583 cases, 20 per cent. of the total number of notifiable diseases reported in Hong Kong. This increase is explained by the arrival of over 34,000 boat people in Hong Kong during that year. Of these cases, 1,271 were chicken pox, 149 dysentery, 685 malaria, 83 measles, 226 tuberculosis, 120 viral hepatitis and 23 cholera.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding current living conditions in each of the detention centres for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Living conditions in the detention centres have steadily improved as new purpose-built accommodation has become available.

  Considerable progress has been made in expanding the voluntary agency programmes which cover education, medical care, family planning and excursions for children.

  Water supplies are more than adequate, per capita consumption being well above the average for Hong Kong. Food is prepared in central kitchens in each centre by Vietnamese workers, using dietary scales drawn up in conjunction with the UNHCR. Sanitary conditions are satisfactory and have improved with the reduction in overcrowding and as boat people become more familiar with the facilities.

  Visas
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each of the last 12 months for which figures are available, the numbers of(a) applications received for visas for visits to the United Kingdom, and (b) such visas granted at the embassy of Her Majesty's Government in Moscow.
  156
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Information is available as follows:

  Visa applications received

  Visas issued

  1989

  27,918

  27,838

  1 1990

  15,643

  15,612

  1 January to May.

  European Community Directives
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received to his letter to the President of the European Commission proposing regular six-monthly reviews of national compliance with EEC directives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In his reply of 15 June, M. Delors agreed that the Community should redouble efforts to ensure full and correct national implementation of European Community decisions, and referred to Commission consideration of new ways of presenting reports on implementation of Community law.

  At its Dublin meeting the European Council asked the Commission to strengthen its supervisory procedures and agreed to review the matter in December.

  Ilois People
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his responsibilities in relation to the Ilois people from the British Indian Ocean Territories who are currently in Mauritius.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. All are Mauritian citizens, although some may also be British dependent territories citizens.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Agriculture Specialists
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 March,Official Report, columns 787–88, concerning the number of Overseas Development Administration agricultural specialists who are women, whether there have been any changes in the figures since that date.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The number of the ODA's own specialists overseas remains at eight, none of whom are women. We still have one woman natural resources adviser on secondment to a technical co-operation assignment in Bangladesh.

  Rihand Power Station
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 19 July, when an appraisal of the Rihand power station project will begin; when it will be completed; and who is carrying out the assessment.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The appraisal of the power station will be taken forward in a series of studies: an initial assessment of issues was conducted in October 1989; if a contract is awarded to a British contractor and British aid
  157
  funding is requested, a further appraisal will be carried out to assess the economic, financial and engineering aspects of the proposed contract and, in the light of the World bank's study of the Singrauli area, of the environmental aspects of the project. As the contract has yet to be awarded, it is not possible to say when these further studies will be completed. The appraisal studies will be led by staff from the Overseas Development Administration and may call on expertise from outside the administration.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 July,Official Report, column 489, what is the value of the provisional offer of aid for the second stage of Rihand power station; what is the total value of the contract for the second stage; which British company has been nominated as the main contractor; and what is the exact megawattage of the second phase.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No commitment has been given to a specific amount of aid. Before making any such commitment, the Overseas Development Administration will need to be satisfied that the proposed contract price and the project as a whole represent a cost-effective and environmentally sound approach to power generation in India. Following international tendering, discussions are in progress between the client, the National Thermal Power Corporation, and contractors, and the value of any contract has therefore yet to be determined. GEC was nominated as the main British contractor in 1987. The proposed second phase of the power station will be for 1,000 M W.

  Contracts (Value-for-money Inquiries)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that no contractual relationship exists between Messrs Biwaters and any firms of consultants Her Majesty's Government have employed on value-for-money inquiries, checks or audits on contracts assisted by the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [pursuant to her reply, 18 July 1990, c. 600]: Not only were there no contractual relationships between Biwater and either the firms or the individual specialist carrying out the value-for-money checks at the time the checks were commissioned, as I have already informed the hon. Gentleman, but there were no such relationships at any time during the execution of the checks.

PRIME MINISTER

  EC Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Prime Minister is she will make a statement on the progress of ministerial interdepartmental co-ordination in preparation for the European Community intergovernmental conference meetings in December.

  The Prime Minister
  Interdepartmental preparations for both intergovernmental conferences continue in the usual way.

  Community Care
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received on community care aspects of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many representations in correspondence, and Health Ministers receive further representations at regular meetings with organisations about our plans for community care.

  Court Proceedings (Children's Evidence)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to introduce changes to the rules governing the giving of evidence by children in court proceedings involving allegations of physical abuse or sexual abuse; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 July at column 674.

  ECGD
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to her reply of 19 July, when the review of Export Credits Guarantee Department medium-term credit will be completed; who is undertaking it; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The availability of Export Credits Guarantee Department medium-term cover is kept under close and continuing review. The reviews are undertaken by ECGD and then in consultation with all the interested Government Departments.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 July.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 July.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 July.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 July.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 July.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has so far been made by the Cabinet Office efficiency unit inquiry into departmental handling of hon. Members' correspondence with Ministers; and if she will make a statement.
  159
  The Prime Minister
  The scrutiny is now under way. The scrutiny team rightly attaches great importance to seeking Members' views and sent a questionnaire to all hon. Members and is arranging to see a number of Members to discuss their views on this subject. The team is expected to produce its report by the end of November.

  Security Vetting
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement about the procedures for security vetting within the Government.

  The Prime Minister
  The security vetting system continues to form a key part of the protective arrangements for safeguarding national security and countering terrorism. The system that has been used to investigate the reliability of those who are expected to have regular access to highly classified information is known as positive vetting (PV); it has now been in operation for nearly 40 years. A more rigorous form of PV—known as enhanced positive vetting (EPV)—has been applied to all employees of the security and intelligence agencies and to a small number of people on closely associated work in other Government Departments since the implementation of the recommendations of the Security Commission in its report on the Prime case published in 1983—Cmnd. 8876. In addition, it has been the long-standing practice of successive Governments to carry out a more limited range of background checks, including criminal record checks, for access to less sensitive information and, increasingly, for the purposes of countering terrorism: this system has been known within the Government as normal vetting (NV).

  As indicated in the Government's response, published today, to the Home Affairs Select Committee report on criminal records which commented on the use of criminal record checks for the purpose of security vetting, the Government have decided, following a comprehensive review, that the security vetting system should be restructured and operated on the basis of defined and published criteria. From 1 October 1990 all candidates for security vetting will be asked to complete a security questionaire which will explain the purpose of the procedure and invite them to provide the personal details required for the necessary checks to be carried out. Vetting will then be carried out on the basis of the following revised statement of policy.

  The aim is to ensure that checks are carried out only to the extent necessary to safeguard national security and for the purposes of countering terrorism in the light of the current assessment of the threats to security. The changes will not affect the position of any individuals who have been vetted under the current arrangements.

  When the reliability of a public servant is thought to be in doubt on security grounds, there is a right of appeal to the three advisers—the tribunal appointed by the Government to advise Ministers in such cases—where security considerations are involved and to the permanent head of the Department in cases involving aspects of conduct and character alone. These arrangements will remain in force. Copies of a statement of the existing procedure, which will be amended as necessary to reflect the following policy, and the current terms of reference of the three advisers are available in the Library of the House.

  Statement of Vetting Policy: with effect from 1 October 1990.
  160
  In the interests of national security and of safeguarding Parliamentary democracy, it is the policy of HMG that no one should be employed in connection with work the nature of which is vital to the security of the state who:

  (a) is, or has been, involved in, or associated with any of the following activities threatening national security:

  (i) espionage,

  (ii) terrorism,

  (iii) sabotage,

  (iv) actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means; or

  (b) is, or has recently been, a member of any organisation which has advocated such activities; or

  (c) is, or has recently been, associated with any such organisation, or any of its members, in such a way as to raise reasonable doubts about his or her reliability; or

  (d) is susceptible to pressure from any such organisation or from a foreign intelligence service or a hostile power; or

  (e) suffers from defects of character which may expose him or her to blackmail or other influence by any such organisation or by a foreign intelligence service or which may otherwise indicate unreliability.

  2. In accordance with that policy Government Departments will in future submit all candidates for posts involving access to highly classified information to one of the following levels of vetting clearance, depending on the circumstances:

  (a) PV(S): this level of clearance is required before regular access to SECRET information can be authorised. In some circumstances, where it would not be possible for an individual to make reasonable progress in their career without clearance to SECRET level, it may be applied to candidates for employment whose duties may not, initially, involve regular access to SECRET information. A PV(S) clearance will normally consist of a full record check, that is a check against any relevant Departmental personnel records, a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records, and other necessary security checks, including a check against the records of the Security Service and police forces. In some cases further enquiries, including an interview with the subject, may be carried out.

  (b) PV(TS): this level of clearance is required before regular and constant access to TOP SECRET information can be authorised and for certain other posts involving access to highly sensitive classified information or material. It may also be applied in the following circumstances:

  (i) at the discretion of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before employment overseas in posts connected with British diplomatic or consular missions:

  (ii) at the discretion of Home Office, the Northern Ireland Office and the Scottish Office, in a post in the police service involving regular and constant access to SECRET information held or generated by a Special Branch which relates to espionage, sabotage or terrorism, or to actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means;

  (iii) at departmental discretion before employment in a departmental security post;

  (iv) at the discretion of the security and intelligence agencies to members of their ancillary staff.

  A PV(TS) clearance will consist of a record check on similar lines to that carried out for PV(S) clearances, supplemented by a formal check on the credit worthiness of the individual and by interviews with the subject and persons familiar with their character in both the home and the work environment.

  (c) EPV: this is the most rigorous form of PV clearance now applied to members of the security and intelligence agencies and to a small number of staff employed on closely associated work in

  161
  Government Departments. It consists of the same sort of enquiries as those made for a PV(TS) background investigation, but to a greater depth.

  3. In addition security checks may also be carried out in the following circumstances:

  (a) for the protection of classified information. Basic security checks, known as Reliability Checks, may be carried out in the interestes of national security before:

  (i) individuals are granted unescorted access to premises or areas where highly classified information or material is held and where there is a risk of accidental access to that information or material; and

  (ii) individuals are authorised to have access to certain categories of information classified CONFIDENTIAL, mostly in the fields of defence and foreign affairs.

  The aim of such checks is primarily to ensure that the character of the individual concerned is such that they can be trusted in circumstances where they may gain access to information of importance to national security

  (b) for the protection of public figures and military and civil establishments at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations. Irrespective of the degree of access to classified information security checks, known as Counter Terrorist Checks, may be carried out in the interest of national security before:

  (i) individuals take up posts which involve proximity to public figures at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations, or which give access to information or material assessed to be of value to terrorists;

  (ii) individuals are granted unescorted access to certain military and civil establishments assessed to be at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations.

  The aim of such checks is to prevent individuals who have connections with terrorist organisations, or who may be vulnerable to pressure from such organisations, from gaining access to certain posts and, in some circumstances, premises where there is a risk that they could exploit that position to further the aims of a terrorist organisation.

  4. A check against the National Collection of Criminal Records is an invariable feature of a Reliability Check clearance; and criminal record information may also be taken into account in a Counter Terrorist Check clearance. Other security checks may be carried out as necessary.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many requests for(a) renewals and (b) variations of firearms certificates have been refused in each of the Royal Ulster Constabulary divisions in Belfast in each of the last three years for which figures are available;

  (2) how many applications for a firearms certificate for (a) shotguns, (b) rifles, (c) handguns and (d) other firearms have been refused in each Royal Ulster Constabulary division in Belfast in each of the last three years for which figures are available, or as much of such information as is available to him;

  (3) if he will publish a table to show by reference to Royal Ulster Constabulary division how many firearms certificates have been withdrawn in each of the last three years; and if he will specify, by type and number of firearms, the firearms to which such certificates related and indicate how many of the certificates were withdrawn because the holder had been convicted of (a) terrorist
  162
  activity and (b) other illegal actions for which he was sentenced in a court of law, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not held in a manner which makes the statistics asked for readily available and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) shotguns, (b) (c) handguns and (d) other firearms have been stolen from the legal owners in each Royal Ulster Constabulary division in Belfast in each of the last three years for which figures are available, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not recorded in the format sought. The following information is available however for the past two years:

  Bullet firing weapons

  Shotguns

  Other weapons (including air weapons)

  A Division

  1988

  1

  2

  1

  1989

  6

  2

  0

  B Division

  1988

  2

  2

  1

  1989

  4

  0

  0

  D Division

  1988

  8

  16

  2

  1989

  2

  2

  1

  E Division

  1988

  2

  4

  0

  1989

  4

  3

  1

  Education Board Tribunals
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date did each of the appeals tribunals of the five education area boards commence their work in connection with the new transfer procedure; how many appeals have been received in each of the five education areas; and when he expects all appeal hearings to be completed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Education area board

  Date appeals tribunals commenced work

  Number of appeals received

  Belfast

  19 July 1990

  105

  Western

  16 July 1990

  121

  North-Eastern

  16 July 1990

  116

  South-Eastern

  Expected to be 26 July 1990

  91

  Southern

  Expected to be 7 August 1990

  77

  I expect appeal hearings to be completed by the end of August.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grade 2 pupils were refused places in grammar schools; and how many grade 3 and 4 pupils, including those already attending the preparatory
  163
  departments of grammar schools, were accepted into grammar schools arising from the new transfer procedure this year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information in the form requested is not readily available. In this year's transfer procedure tests 2,789 pupils were awarded grade 2 of whom 1,872 have been admitted to grammar schools. In addition 399 pupils awarded grade 3 and 80 pupils awarded grade 4 have been admitted to grammar schools.

  Teachers
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the funding formula for individual schools in Northern Ireland under local management of schools will make provision for the real cost of teachers' salaries rather than the average salary of a teacher in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under the formula the determination of budgets for schools will be based principally on age-weighted pupil numbers. For schools with fewer than 12 teaching staff, the formula may include a factor to provide some protection if the teachers' salaries are higher than average. For all schools, additional teachers' salary costs associated with school reorganisation will be funded outside the formula.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the 15th report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The report has been published today, and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990.

  The report covers a wide range of matters which the commission has considered during the period under review. These include discrimination and equality of opportunity including fair employment, education, the law relating to children, police and criminal evidence matters, prisons, emergency legislation, the Broadcasting Bill and electoral law.

  I attach importance to the work of the commission and value the advice it gives me on a range of human rights issues. I am particularly grateful to the commission for having maintained a programme of work in addition to its recent review of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing laws and institutions to secure freedom from discrimination and further equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland. I laid the second report of that review before Parliament on 26 June—Cm·1107.

  Copies of my response to the commission's 15th report and of the report itself have been placed in the Library.

  Airports
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government plan to privatise Northern Ireland Airports Ltd.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government have decided that Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. is a candidate for privatisation. We shall seek specialist advice.

  Terrorist Offences
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were charged with terrorist-type offences following initial detention under Acts other than the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts and the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts in 1989.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 4 July 1990]: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Terrorism
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons known or claiming to be members of the Irish Republican Army have been killed and injured each year since 1969 as a result of terrorist activities.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 19 July 1990]: The information is not available.

WALES

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has laid before Parliament under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  A report will be laid before Parliament within the required period of one year from 18 December 1989, the date of implementation of section 11 of the Act.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any of the district health authorities in Wales have indicated to his Department an interest on opting out of the present national health service structure in their entirety; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Pembrokeshire health authority has expressed an interest in self-governing status. If the authority submitted a successful application for such status, this would not involve opting out of the NHS structure. Self-governing trusts will remain firmly part of the NHS.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the number of patients requiring non-urgent treatment as in-patients for traumatic and orthopaedic surgery at Withybush hospital at the latest available date who had waited for(a) up to three months, (b) between three months and six months, (c) between six months and nine months, (d) between nine months and one year, (e) between one year and 15 months, (f) between 15 months and 18 months, (g) between 18 months and two years and (h) more than two years;

  (2) what was the number of patients requiring treatment as out-patients for traumatic and orthopaedic surgery at the latest available date who had waited for (a)

  165
  up to three months, (b) between three months and six months, (c) between six months and nine months, (d) between nine months and one year and (e) more than one year at (i) Nevill Hall hospital, (ii) University Hospital of Wales and (iii) Morriston hospital;

  (3) what was the number of patients requiring urgent treatment as in-patients for general surgery including urology at the latest available date, who had waited for (i) between one month and two months, (ii) between two months and three months, (iii) between three months and four months, (iv) between four months and five months, (v) between five months and six months, (vi) between six months and one year and (vii) more than one year at (a) Withybush hospital, (b) St. Woolos hospital and (c) University Hospital of Wales;

  (4) what was the number of patients requiring non-urgent treatment as in-patients for general surgery including urology at the latest available date, who had waited for (i) between three months and six months, (ii) between six months and nine months, (iii) between nine months and one year, (iv) between one year and 15 months, (v) between 15 months and 18 months, (vi) between 18 months and 21 months and (vii) between 21 months and two years at (a) Withybush, (b) Nevill Hall, (c) Princess of Wales, (d) Prince Charles, (e) University Hospital of Wales, (f) Cardiff royal infirmary and (g) Neath hospitals;

  (5) what was the number of patients requiring treatment as out-patients for general surgery including urology at Morriston hospital, at the latest available date who had waited for (a) between one month and two months, (b) between two months and three months, (c) between three months and six months, (d) between six months and nine months, (e) between nine months and one year and (f) longer than one year;

  (6) what was the number of patients requiring urgent treatment as in-patients for traumatic and orthopaedic surgery at Withybush hospital at the latest available date who had waited for (a) less than one month, (b) between one month and two months, (c) between two and three months, (d) between three and four months, (e) between four and five months, (f) between five and six months, (g) between six and seven months, (h) between seven and eight months, (i) between eight and nine months, (j) between nine months and one year and (k) more than one year;

  (7) what was the number of patients requiring non-urgent treatment as in-patients for ophthalmology for the latest available date at Singleton and St. Woolos hospitals who had waited for (a) between six and nine months, (b) between nine and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 15 months, (d) between 15 and 18 months, (e) between 18 months and two years and (f) over two years;

  (8) what was the number of out-patients requiring ophthalmology treatment at the latest available date at the University Hospital of Wales who had waited for (a) between three and six months, (b) between six and nine months, (c) between nine months and one year and
  (d) longer than one year;

  (9) what was the number of out-patients requiring gynaecology treatment at the latest available date at Prince Charles and Morriston hospitals who had waited for (a) up to three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to nine months, (d) nine months to one year and (e) longer than one year.
  166
  Mr. Grist
  Information for the ranges of waiting times specified is not collected centrally in the detail required. The latest information available is published in the "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1990: No. 1" and refers to 30 September 1989; a copy is in the Library of the House.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. In Wales the latest available figures show that in 1989 the total number of businesses registered for VAT was 85,200; an increase of 21 per cent. on 1980. The Department's specific policies to encourage enterprise in Wales are:

  Support for Local Enterprise Agencies
  There are currently 23 Local Enterprise Agencies in Wales. Three more organisations have in the year to June 1990 applied to become approved Local Enterprise Agencies and are at present being considered for approval.

  Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs)
  TECs will take over responsibility for delivering the Small Firms Counselling Service from 1 April 1991. The advent of TECs allows an added dimension of local employer-led flexibilities to be built into these services and TECs will be able to integrate these into their other enterprise programmes. The Mid Glamorgan and West Wales TECs commenced operations on 23 July; the five remaining TECs will come on line early in 1991.

  Regional Selective Assistance, Regional Enterprise Grant
  Small businesses continue to take advantage of the help available under Regional Selective Assistance. In the year to the end of June 1990, 145 small firms (employing less than 200 people) accepted offers of RSA totalling just over £11·4 million. These results are almost identical to the previous year. A further 289 small firms (employing less than 25 people) accepted offers of Regional Enterprise Grant totalling £2·52 million. This compares with 261 small firms accepting offers of £2·18 million in the previous 12 months.

  Enterprise Wales
  Launched in January 1988, the Consultancy Initiatives have proved extremely popular in Wales. More than 2,800 companies have applied. In 1989–90 alone, 1,174 Business Reviews were carried out, 27 per cent. above economic weight, and 885 projects were commissioned, 19 per cent. above economic weight.

  WDA Advisory Services—Small business inquiries
  During 1989–90, a total of 13,000 sessions of advisory visits and interviews have been conducted by the WDA's Business Development staff. Small Firms counsellors undertook over 10,000 first time visits to clients during the same period.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the statutory and other requirements which ensure that changes in the ownership and/or management of private establishments for mentally handicapped people are notified to the authorities.

  Mr. Grist
  Under sections 2 and 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984 it is an offence for any person whether owner or manager to carry on a residential care, nursing or mental nursing home without being registered.
  167
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what powers to check on the suitability of(a) the proprietor, (b) the manager and (c) anyone with a position of responsibility in respect of a private establishment for mentally handicapped people are currently held by a social services department and by any other authority.

  Mr. Grist
  Under the Registered Homes Act 1984, registering authorities can refuse registration of a residential care, nursing or mental nursing home if any person concerned or intended to be concerned in carrying on the home is considered not a fit person. In assessing fitness, authorities are advised to investigate whether the applicant for registration or others concerned with the

  Average class size in year GCSE classes, Wales

  Welsh counties

  Mathematics

  English

  French

  German

  Welsh as a first language

  Clwyd

  24

  25

  19

  17

  22

  Dyfed

  25

  26

  19

  12

  22

  Gwent

  24

  23

  18

  15

  —

  Gwynedd

  23

  24

  14

  15

  23

  Mid Glamorgan

  25

  24

  18

  15

  24

  Powys

  24

  23

  16

  15

  11

  South Glamorgan

  24

  25

  20

  14

  18

  West Glamorgan

  23

  23

  17

  14

  20

  Source: Secondary Schools Staffing Survey 1989.

  Prescribing
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will(a) list and (b) place in the Library a copy of any guidelines or advice his Department has offered to family practitioner committees in Wales in respect of the responsibility assumed by them in April for giving advice to general practitioners on prescribing.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to a Welsh health circular No. WHC(89)68/WHC(FP)(89)22, entitled "Managing the General Medical Services". A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Health Authority Loans
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the loan of £500,000 by South Glamorgan health authority to Gwynedd health authority in the financial year 1990–91.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 23 July 1990.

  BP Chemicals, Port Talbot
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking about flaring and noise from BP Chemicals, Port Talbot.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given on 20 July at columns 758–59.
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  home have preiously committed offences under the Registered Homes Act 1984 or received criminal convictions.

  Teacher-pupil Ratios
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give each county's average teacher-pupil ratio for general certificate of secondary education classes in(a) mathematics, (b) English, (c) modern European language and (d) Welsh.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Teacher-pupil ratios by individual subject are not available, however information relating to the average size of GCSE classes in year five is as follows. In order to give an accurate figure for GCSE in a modern European language, information for French and German has been given separately.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  International Peto Institute
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to the reply of 15 December 1989,Official Report, column 848, how much money has so far been contributed to the International Peto Institute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  In my reply of 15 December at column 848, I indicated that the Government proposed to commit £5 million from Government funds over four years towards the capital costs of the International Peto Institute subject to conclusion of a satisfactory agreement covering access for children and trainee conductors, and to satisfactory progress with construction. I also indicated that we proposed to stimulate interest in the private and voluntary sectors with a view to raising a similar amount from those sources.

  Discussions are continuing on these issues and I hope to make a further statement in the near future.

  Labour Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people the Government estimate(a) are not in full-time work, (b) are not in part-time work and (c) are in part-time but would prefer to be in full-time work, because they remain at home to care for elderly, sick or disabled relatives; and what is the average amount of time they remain out of the labour force.

  Mr. Scott
  There is no information on which to base such estimates.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish his annual report on the social fund; and when he will publish the social fund commissioner's annual report.

  Mr. Newton
  My report has been published today and I have laid it before Parliament. I have also placed copies both of my report and of the social fund commissioner's report in the Library. The social fund commissioner's report is expected to be published tomorrow.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of their policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics which show a record increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT, of 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373,000. Specific measures which have been introduced by the Department include:(i) We commissioned external consultants in July 1989 to carry out research on employers' reactions to the new literature which had been issued in April 1989 on national insurance contributions (NICs) and statutory sick pay (SSP). The research showed that the new literature was considered a great improvement over the old. Additional ways of improving our communications package were identified and some of the documents were revised accordingly in April 1990.
  New guidance on statutory maternity pay (SMP) has been produced; a new SMP chapter has been added to the employers' "Quick Guide", which previously contained only SSP and NIC information, and a SMP manual became available in April 1990.
  A fact card, which explains company directors' NICs in a simple way, was distributed to employers in April 1990. A company directors' NICs booklet which gives detailed guidance on this area has also been produced.
  (ii) In January 1990 we launched a free seminar service for employers to help them administer SSP and SMP. This was introduced with the small employer particularly in mind and the national extension of this service followed a successful pilot exercise in Scotland. During the period January 1990 to June 1990, 1,228 people attended 103 seminars.
  (iii) We have commissioned the Institute of Data Processing Management (IDPM) to produce a test pack, for producers of payroll software, to enable them to test the SSP and SMP components against Departmental standards. This is an extension of the IDPM's existing payroll evaluation service and has benefits for software producers and employers alike. Software producers can ensure the accuracy of their product and advertise it accordingly. Employers will be able to purchase, with confidence, software which will greatly assist them in the administration of SSP and SMP.
  170
  (iv) In November 1989 the Department held the inaugural meeting of the new DSS employers' advisory panel. The panel is made up of small business people, representatives of employers' organisations including the National Federation of Self-Employed and Small Businesses Ltd. and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, and payroll managers. The panel advises the Department on policy, procedures and communications with business.
  (v) We give prominence, on our training courses for purchasing staff, to the need to consider using small firms, and give each participant copies of Department of Employment booklets "Think Big Buy Small" and "Tendering For Government Contracts".

  We have not designed performance indicators specifically for monitoring achievements in this area but the Department has a system to monitor proposals which impact on business, to ensure that the needs of small businesses are taken into account. We attach particular importance to action taken to help small firms and will continue to explore further ways of doing so.

  School Meals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children were eligible for free school meals in 1985; and how many are currently eligible.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In 1985, children in families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement were eligible for free school meals. The number of children of school age, aged five and over, in such families at that time was:

  Number

  Supplementary Benefit

  1 1,431,000

  Family Income Supplement

  2288,000

  1 February 1986: the nearest date for which information is available.

  2 October 1985.

  No information is available about the number of children eligible under the local authority discretionary schemes which existed in 1985.

  Currently, only children in families receiving income support are eligible for free school meals. The latest information relates to May 1989 when there were 1,309,000 children aged five or over in such families. When family credit replaced family income supplement in 1988 the children's rates were set at a higher level to provide help in cash in place of free school meals. In April 1990 there were 446,000 children aged five or over in family credit families.

  Severe Disability Premium
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now make a statement on the Government's response to the social security commissioners' decision in the case for severe disability premium of Simon Crompton; and how many other severely disabled people have already benefited or will benefit from the decision.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The regulation with which this commissioner's decision is concerned was amended from 9 October 1989. Information on the number of people who benefited under the reinterpretation of the unamended regulation is not yet available.

  Pensioners, Wirral
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether pensioners over 75 years of age living in the Wirral have been paid the additional housing benefit to which they are entitled following the Government's changes in the rules for those aged over 75 years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am aware that the metropolitan borough of Wirral was not able to implement the changes to the housing benefit scheme in October 1989. The authority overcame its difficulty by the end of January 1990 and all pensioners should now be receiving their proper housing benefit entitlement.

  Scottish Pensioners
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many senior citizens in Scotland received state benefits additional to the standard pension in the periods(a) April 1987 to April 1988, (b) April 1988 to April 1989 and (c) April 1989 to April 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest version of the family expenditure survey (1987) shows that in Scotland 65 per cent. of pensioners in receipt of the retirement pension and supplementary benefit received at least one other social security benefit. It is not possible from the family expenditure survey to separate accurately retirement pension and supplementary benefit.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to increase the percentage of departmental Select Committee reports debated on the Floor of the House on substantive motions.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  No. Although only a small number of debates have taken place on substantive motions there have been innumerable debates which have Select Committee reports tagged as relevant to the debate. The number of such reports could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Telephone Services
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether, in drawing up proposals to widen the facilities available to make telephone calls to institutions of the European Commission, he will consider the possibility of using the services offered by Mercury.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The question of introducing the services offered by Mercury Telecommunications to the House exchange was addressed in the first report this Session from the Services Committee; and is to be further considered this autumn by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee. I shall ensure that my hon. Friend's request is included in that consideration.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the policies pursued by the House of Commons (Services) Committee to help 172
  small businesses; and what steps have been taken to develop performance indicators by which these achievements can be monitored.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The House of Commons (Services) Committee has no responsibility in these matters.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if there are any plans to arrange for a publicly broadcast trial of provision for the use of subtitling and sign language in televising the proceedings of the House as suggested by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  This is a matter which the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House, and its successor Committee, will be considering in the autumn, in consultation with the broadcasters, once the detailed evaluations of the signing and subtitling trials recently organised by the Select Committee are available.

ENERGY

  British Coal
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the European Commissioner responsible for competition policy regarding the three-year coal contract between British Coal and the electricity generation companies.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no present plans to do so.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the European Commission regarding the pricing structure of British Coal's contract with the two electricity generators and its impact on private mine operators.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Commission is keen to see the transition to a fully competitive coal market and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has assured it of the importance which the Government attach to private mine operators having a full and fair opportunity to supply the power station market.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the proportion of coal and oil-fired installed capacity for electricity generators fitted with flue gas desulphurisation in Japan, West Germany and Great Britain, the time scale for completion, and the cost per £ kilowatt installed.

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest available published information can be found in the OECD-IEA publication "Coal Information 1990", a copy of which can be obtained from the House Library.

  Coal and Electricity
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what requests for information he has received from the European Commission regarding the impact on competition in the coal industry and the electricity generation industry of the three-year coal contract between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen.
  173
  Mr. Baldry
  The Commission has received memoranda and other information both from my Department and from the coal and electricity industries.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are his proposals for employees and pensioners of the electricity industry in England and Wales to participate in the forthcoming share offers; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government welcome the opportunity which privatisation of the electricity supply industry provides for employees to become shareholders in the new companies.

  Employees will be offered free shares to a fully paid value of about £140, plus shares at a fully paid value of about £2 for every year of continuous service in the electricity supply industry up to a date close to flotation.

  Employees will also be offered two free fully paid shares for every share bought at the offer price on a matching basis up to a maximum fully paid value of about £440 worth of free shares. Under this element of the package, if an employee bought shares with a fully paid value of £220, he would receive free shares to a fully paid value of £440.

  Employees will be able to buy shares up to a maximum fully paid value of about £1,250 of additional shares at a discount of 20 per cent. from the offer price.

  Employees applying for shares will be treated on a priority basis, over the general public, up to an individual fully paid limit of shares worth about £15,000. This may be subject to scaling down if the number of shares in any one company applied for by employees and pensioners exceeds a prescribed proportion of the total number of shares on offer.

  The free and matching shares will be available to employees who satisfy certain minimum qualification periods on length of employment and hours worked per week. The discount and priority shares will be available to each person employed in the electricity industry at a date close to the flotation date.

  We have also decided that pensioners of the companies should be able to apply on a priority basis, over the general public, for shares up to a fully paid limit of about £15,000, subject to any necessary scaling down.

  We have also made special arrangements for employees of the National Grid Company, the Electricity Association and Nuclear Electric which will not be floated on the stock exchange. National Grid Company employees and Electricity Association employees will receive offers on terms similar to those of the RECs' employees, but in all 12 of the regional electricity companies; Nuclear Electric employees will receive offers for shares in National Power, also on similar terms.

  I announced yesterday, in my statement on PowerGen, that in the event of a trade sale arrangements would also be made for PowerGen employees to receive benefits broadly comparable in financial terms.

  Further details of the share offer arrangements will be made available to employees and pensioners in due course, including those resulting from Inland Revenue, stock exchange and other requirements applying to these offers.
  174
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those companies which have approached him regarding a trade sale of any part or subsidiary of any of the electricity generating or distribution companies.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement yesterday,Official Report, columns 39–51.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the quotations committee of the international stock exchange regarding exemptions for each or any of the electricity supply industry companies from the minimum three-year profit and loss account track record before flotation.

  Mr. Baldry
  No such exemptions have been sought.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of their policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics which show a record increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT, of 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373,000.

  In developing and implementing my Department's policies, full account is taken of the needs of small businesses. They have benefited from measures to encourage competition and stimulate energy efficiency.

  The Coal Industry Act 1990 provides a modest, but significant, measure of liberalisation for the United Kingdom coal market by raising the tonnage limit on licensed—non-British Coal—opencast sites and the manpower limit on licensed deep mines. The Government have continued to make available funding for British Coal Enterprise Ltd. resulting in a cumulative total of 61,000 job opportunities, many of which are in small businesses, in 2,865 individual projects—this compares with 41,041 and 2,600 respectively in 1989.

  The new regime for the electricity supply industry will have the effect of opening up the supply of electricity to competition, will give small businesses a choice of electricity supplier and put downward pressure on the prices they pay.

  Officials are encouraged to use small firms for departmental purchases of goods and services where this is consistent with obtaining value for money. About 43 per cent. of purchases have been from them in 1989–90 compared with 38 per cent. in 1988–89. A booklet "Selling to the Department of Energy—a guide to firms wishing to supply the Department with goods and services." has recently been produced and should be of particular benefit to small firms.

  Electricity Sales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the director general of the Office of Electricity Regulation about the upper limit on direct sales by the generating companies to above 1 MW customers.

  Mr. Baldry
  My officials are in regular contact with the office of the Director General of Electricity Supply on regulatory matters. Before announcing his recent decision on the direct sales limits at the end of May the director wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State informing him of his conclusions.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those proposed independent electricity generation projects which incorporate combined heat and power technology.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The proposed projects that incorporate combined heat and power technology and that have been made public are as follows:

  Company

  Location

  South East London CHP

  London

  Forth Energy Ltd.

  Newcastle

  Sheffield Heat and Power

  Sheffield

  Shell

  Shellhaven

  Mobil Oil Co. Ltd.

  Coryton

  ICI/Enron

  Teeside

  British Nuclear Fuels

  Calderhall

  Texaco/Mission Energy

  Pembroke

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of independent electricity generation projects which(a) include electricity distribution companies in the owning consortium and (b) do not include any such companies.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend is aware of the regional electricity companies' interest in a number of independent electricity generation projects. Participation in such schemes is a commercial matter and it is for the companies themselves to decide whether they wish to hold an equity interest in any particular project.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the participation of the electricity distribution companies in electricity generating consortia.

  Mr. Baldry
  Decisions to invest in independent generation projects are matters for the company concerned.

HEALTH

  Iodine 125
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the incidence of iodine 125 in thyroid glands in the London area.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has recently received a draft report of research funded by the Department of the 176
  Environment entitled "Iodine 125—its distribution in the United Kingdom from measurements and biological monitoring, and absorbed doses (individual and collective) derived from measured activities in human thyroids". In accordance with normal practice, the Department has referred the draft report for peer-review. However, I am advised by the Department of the Environment that levels of radioactivity in the River Thames are extremely low and that the levels in drinking water are well below the guideline values recommended by the World Health Organisation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

  Dedicated Clinics
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide additional dedicated clinics for family planning and the menopause.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The level of provision of menopause and family planning clinic services is a matter for individual health authorities to determine in the light of local needs and priorities. Guidance issued by the Department asks health authorities to strike a proper balance between services provided by specialist clinics and those provided by GPs, bearing in mind matters such as clinics' wider health role.

  Self-governing Hospitals
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of interest have been received for self-governing hospitals and other units; and how many formal applications have been submitted.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  So far, 200 units have expressed an interest in becoming self-governing. A total of 59 formal applications have been received to date.

  NHS Reforms
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed national health service reforms on national health service efficiency.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The national health service reforms will introduce NHS contracts—or service agreements—between health authorities and GP fund holders on one side, and hospitals and other units on the other. These agreements will specify the cost, volume and quality of services to be provided. This specification of services in contracts will provide an incentive to ensure that resources go more directly to the hospitals or units which provide the best quality and best value care. This will be an important stimulus in making the national health service more efficient.

  AIDS
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his assessment of the proportion of people with HIV infection who will go on to develop full-blown AIDS.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest estimate on the proportion of people infected with HIV who will progress to AIDS from the San Francisco city clinic cohort study of 489 homosexual men is 53 per cent. at 11·1 years. By 1990, of those known to have been infected between 1977 and
  177
  1980, 61 per cent. had developed AIDS and a further 18 per cent. had AIDS-related complex. Only 14 per cent. of those infected with HIV for 10 years or longer did not show physiological markers of damage to the immune system. Data from studies of other groups of people infected with HIV including injecting drug misusers show similar rates of progression.

  Since 1987 the use of zidovudine has been reducing the rate at which people with early HIV disease progress to AIDS. It is probable that zidovudine only temporarily halts the progress of the disease. Current information suggests that at least 75 per cent. of people infected with HIV will develop AIDS and this figure may eventually rise to over 90 per cent.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what communications he has had with Dr. Perutz and his colleagues concerning the dissemination of information about AIDS since 12 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have not been in communication with Dr. Perutz, but the Department contacted a number of Dr. Perutz's medical and scientific colleagues about the content of the Channel 4 programme "Despatches". The issues raised in the programme, which appeared to be based on a misunderstanding of the nature of AIDS, have subsequently been the subject of correspondence in the medical and scientific press and in newspapers. Dr. Anthony Pinching appeared on television with the producer of the programme and refuted many of its claims. We are grateful to Dr. Perutz for his action in writing to the press drawing attention to the erroneous information contained in the programme.

  Programmes of this kind underline the importance of public education initiatives which have already begun to reduce the spread of HIV infection in the United Kingdom, and point to the need for a continuing programme of education to sustain public awareness and knowledge, and influence behaviour.

  Community Care
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning his plans for care in the community.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We receive many representations in correspondence and at regular meetings with organisations concerned with our plans for community care.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will add pernicious anaemia to the list of chronic illnesses for which free prescriptions are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No.

  Eye Tests
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated saving to the Exchequer from the abolition of free eye tests in financial year 1989–90; and what is the estimate for 1990–91.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The estimated saving for 1989–90, in England, is £70 million, and for 1990–91, is £90 million.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific areas of possible need for social care will be included in local authority assessments of mentally ill people in hospital, under the care programme approach; and whether authorities will receive guidance from his Department about this.

  Mr. Dorrell
  For each person suffering from a serious mental illness, adequate arrangements need to be made for that individual's accommodation and meals. In addition, it may be necessary to provide social care services such as the home help service. It is for health and social services professional staff to judge what health and social care services are necessary in each case.

  The Department intends to issue a circular shortly, setting out the requirement to introduce the care programme approach from 1 April 1991, and giving some guidance.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each regional secure unit, the number of patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; and how many were informal patients for the latest available date.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not currently available centrally.

  Bethlem and Maudsley Health Authority
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representation he has received about the plan by the Bethlem and Maudsley special health authority to reduce the range of services it offers, and the closure of Hilda Lewis house; if he will make additional funds available to the authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no plans to close Hilda Lewis house, nor are there any plans to reduce permanently the range of services offered by the special health authority (SHA). Earlier this year we received nine representations about the authority's plans to implement a number of temporary measures designed to make the most efficient use of its valuable clinical resources. We have now received a further three representations about Hilda Lewis house.

  The changes taking place within Hilda Lewis house are part of a movement towards short-stay and outreach services within the community. This reflects a changing pattern of need and is in line with long-term objectives for the configuration of psychiatric care. Child and adolescent services make a heavy demand on resources and the SHA is aiming to continue to provide these very important services in the most effective and efficient way.

  The SHA received a revenue allocation of £27·1 million in 1990–91. It benefited from the national average growth in resources which represents a cash increase of almost £2 million over 1989–90. It is for the health authority to decide how best to allocate these resources in providing the services required to support its national teaching and research role.

  Dental Checks
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated saving to the Exchequer from the abolition of free dental check-ups in financial year 1989–90; and what is the estimate for 1990–91.
  179
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The estimated income from dental examination charges in England in 1989–90 was £50 million. We anticipate revenue of some £55 million in 1990–91.

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients have been discharged from psychiatric hospitals in the last year for which records are conveniently available; and how many have been traced to local authority care.

  Finished district spells for NHS hospitals in 1987–88

  (a) Duration of stay

  (b) Intended destination on discharge

  Clinical speciality

  Total

  Less than 12 moths

  12 months or more

  Usual residence

  Local authority residential accommodation

  Elsewhere

  Mental illness

  181,400

  177,500

  3,900

  163,100

  3,900

  14,400

  Mental handicap

  35,000

  32,500

  2,500

  32,800

  700

  1,500

  Total

  216,400

  210,000

  6,400

  195,900

  4,600

  15,900

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. It is the policy of the Department and the NHS to provide equal opportunity to all potential suppliers, of whatever size, to trade on a value-for-money basis. This policy continues to underpin all NHS and departmental contracts with external suppliers. To help small businesses a guide on how to do business with the NHS has been published and is currently being reviewed. Two joint CBI/NHS seminars have been held in the past year where it has been emphasised that quality counts more than size of business. In addition, the NHS procurement directorate and NHS supplies departments respond to a large number of individual requests for advice and guidance from small businesses that wish to enter the NHS market or have other trading problems they wish to resolve. The NHS deals with several thousand suppliers through over 3,000 delivery points. It is not practicable to monitor centrally the precise extent to which the NHS draws on small businesses but it is estimated that some 80 per cent. of suppliers fall into the small to medium-size category.

  GP Budgets
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the cash-limited budget for general practitioner ancillary staff in the current financial year;

  (2) what is the general practitioner premises cash-limited budget for the current financial year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply the then Under-Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) on 1 May at column
  180
  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available centrally is shown in the table. The number of finished district spells is not equivalent to the number of patients discharged as some patients may be admitted more than once during the year.

  519. We expect shortly to announce a further substantial increase in resources for final alloctions to FPCs to meet in full the actual level of commitments for practice staff reimbursement and premises improvements as at 31 March 1990.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the date from which health service managers base success in reducing waiting lists will be calculated;

  (2) what factors will be taken into consideration in determining whether health service managers' remuneration should be reduced for failing to reduce waiting lists;

  (3) which health service managers will have their remuneration linked to the reduction of waiting lists.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The national health service managers eligible for performance-related pay are regional, district and unit general managers, and those senior managers below general manager level who have accepted a performance-linked contract.

  Awards of performance-related pay depend on the manager's achievement of objectives set each year under the individual performance review system. The objectives for regional general managers are set by regional chairmen in consultation with the chief executive of the national health service management executive and this process is repeated at succeeding management levels.

  In setting an individual manager's objectives we consider the existing standard of the services for which he or she is responsible and deficiencies which need to be remedied. Thus a regional general manager in whose region there are unacceptably long waiting times will be required as part of his or her objectives to secure their reduction by an agreed margin. Regional chairmen and general managers will in turn be responsible for ensuring that suitable objectives are set for the managers reporting to them. The management executive will be agreeing with regional health authorities in the autumn reviews specific targets for the reduction in the number of patients waiting over one year for treatment in the period to March 1992.

  Performance is assessed each year against all the objectives set for a manager.

  Health Conference, London
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who was invited to the special health conference in London on 17 July.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Invitations were issued to chairmen and general managers of regional and district health authorities, family practitioner committees, and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospital and also to members of the national health service management executive and the national health service policy board.

  Prescribing
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list and place in the Library a copy of any guidelines or advice his Department has offered to family practitioner committees in respect of the responsibility assumed by them in April for giving advice to general practitioners on prescribing.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 July.

  Allergy
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has in respect of the number of people affected by pollen in(a) 1990, (b) 1985 and (c) 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Epoxy Resin
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has identified any possible public health implications resulting from the use of epoxy resin to line water mains; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of Health Committee on the Medical Aspects of the Contamination of Air, Soil and Water has reviewed reports of laboratory and field tests to determine concentrations of leached chemicals and toxicological tests on the major components of one formulation of epoxy resin. They advised that the epoxy resin could be approved for relining water mains in situ. This was taken into account by the Department of the Environment's Committee on Chemicals and Materials of Construction for Use in Public Water Supplies and Swimming Pools, which approved this formulation of epoxy resin in March 1989 for use for in situ relining of water mains.

  Great Ormond Street Hospital
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 570, to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, what was the total claim against Cusdin, Burden and Howitt, R. T. James and Partners and McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd., respectively; and what was the final settlement in each case.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The total cost of remedial works for the cardiac wing at Great
  182
  Ormond Street hospital amounted to some £21 million. In accordance with advice from leading counsel, an out-of-court settlement was reached with each of the parties involved. In this settlement the health authority received £425,000 from Cusdin, Burden and Howitt and £8 million from R. T. James and Partners. On withdrawal of its counter-claim against the health authority, McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd. received £90,000.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will end the liability of people who live over their shops to pay both business rates and community charge.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It would be inappropriate to change the fundamental liability for either the community charge or the business rate of people who live on their business premises, because adults generally have to pay a personal charge irrespective of where they live, and rates are paid on all non-domestic property. However, we recognise that the occupiers of composite hereditaments with lower rateable values may need a longer period to adapt to the higher bills which they face under the new system. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made on 19 July by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment,Official Report, columns 1185–89.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the community charge liability of a single householder who leaves his only house furnished but not occupied in order to do voluntary service overseas for a period of(a) three months, (b) six months and (c) nine months in a community charge year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The community charge registration officer for an area determines the residence of an individual taking account whether a move abroad is temporary or permanent. Where the move is permanent, no personal community charge is payable, but a standard charge may arise on any furnished property remaining which is no one's main home. The amount of standard charge will depend in a particular case on whether a maximum multiplier has been prescribed by the Secretary of State or, if it has not, whether the local authority has used its discretion to specify classes of circumstances where a multiplier of less than the maximum may apply.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to end the entitlement of the mature student spouse of a top income tax rate payer to pay the reduced rate of 20 per cent. community charge.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A very small proportion of full-time students have employment-related or private income which attracts income tax at the higher rate. The administrative cost of screening about 500,000 students, the overwhelming majority of whom have incomes which would qualify for maximum community charge benefit, would greatly exceed the increased charge revenue collected from such a small group, to the disadvantage of all charge payers and taxpayers.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about
  183
  the liability of housebuilders for standard community charge on new houses which they have not sold; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have received a number of representations from the housebuilding industry. We have provided for no standard charge to be payable on properties whose construction is not complete and for six months thereafter unless the property becomes occupied before that date. Local authorities have the discretion to extend that period of time, and may wish to take into account the prevailing state of the housing market.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with those local authorities that have been charge-capped on the problems of raising community charge income over a reduced period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with those local authorities that have been charge-capped about the problems of raising the community charge income over a reduced period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Of the 17 authorities which put forward alternatives to the caps I originally proposed, a number

  Shops

  Offices

  Factories

  Hotels and Boarding Houses

  Mines

  Region

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Without transition

  With transition

  Northern

  -14

  -4

  -36

  -9

  -49

  -11

  28

  5

  9

  4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  -3

  -3

  -27

  -8

  -37

  -9

  39

  12

  115

  17

  East Midlands

  -1

  0

  -22

  -6

  -35

  -9

  64

  15

  67

  14

  East Anglia

  31

  10

  5

  2

  -11

  -4

  64

  16

  —

  —

  Inner London

  74

  14

  23

  9

  6

  0

  146

  20

  —

  —

  Outer London

  26

  7

  -0

  1

  -19

  -6

  59

  17

  —

  —

  Rest of South East

  33

  10

  30

  10

  -12

  -4

  82

  16

  39

  20

  South West

  34

  9

  12

  5

  -15

  -5

  36

  8

  -25

  -7

  West Midlands

  -14

  -4

  -23

  -7

  -47

  -10

  56

  15

  113

  20

  North West

  -15

  -4

  -35

  -8

  -46

  -10

  30

  10

  49

  17

  England

  19

  4

  12

  5

  -30

  -7

  80

  15

  74

  14

  Walsall MBC

  -37

  -11

  -44

  -12

  -56

  -11

  21

  7

  —

  —

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

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance the Government have issued in respect of the treatment by charging authorities of teachers in boarding schools who occupy tied accommodation in performance of their job for community charge purposes in respect of that accommodation; and whether this position is affected in any way by the designation given to such a teacher's own and separate property.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Guidance has been given to local authorities on the interpretation of sole or main residence in community charge practice note No. 9. Guidance was also given last year on the scope of local authorities' discretion to specify their own classes of standard charge property. One example given of possible additional classes was property which is empty because the owner is required to live elsewhere as a condition of his or her employment. However, we have now proposed that the Government should prescribe centrally such a class of property, limiting the maximum multiplier an authority may set to one times the personal charge. Our proposals are contained in the
  184
  made representations about the collection of community charges. My right hon. Friend considered all relevant information including any representations made by authorities before taking his decisions on the final caps, which were approved by the House on 12 July.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about proposed amendments to the operation of the poll tax.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend did so on 19 July.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 6 July, if he will publish the overall percentage increase in rate bills in 1990–91 as against 1989–90 of(a) shops, (b) factories, (c) hotels and boarding houses, (d) offices and (e) mines, in total, by economic regions, and for Walsall metropolitan borough council (i) including the effects of transitional relief and (ii) excluding the effects of transitional relief.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The percentage change represented by the figures given in my reply of 6 July, with the addition of similar information in respect of Walsall metropolitan borough council, is shown in the table.

  consultation paper "The Standard Community Charge and Other Matters", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities whose expenditure per capita for the current year is less than the level of central support received by(a) Westminster and (b) Wandsworth, expressed as a per capita figure.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Since most authorities' spending per capita is less than central Government support per capita for Westminster and Wandsworth the question has been answered in terms of local authorities whose expenditure per capita exceeds or is equal to the level of central Government support per capita for Westminster and Wandsworth. The authorities are as follows:

  (a) Authorities whose expenditure per capita is greater than or equal to central Government support received by Westminster.

  City of London

  Islington

  Tower Hamlets

  Manchester

  185

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Wolverhampton

  Camden

  Salford

  Newham

  Coventry

  Brent

  Sandwell

  Liverpool

  Bradford

  Westminster

  Walsall

  Birmingham

  Wirral

  Wandsworth

  Gateshead

  Waltham Forest

  Calderdale

  Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

  Oldham

  Knowsley

  Kirklees

  Ealing

  South Tyneside

  (b) Authorities whose expenditure per capita is greater than or equal to central Government support received by Wandsworth.

  Bolton

  Barking and Dagenham

  Sunderland

  Kingston-Upon-Thames

  Richmond-Upon-Thames

  Trafford

  Sheffield

  Leeds

  Wigan

  Croydon

  Enfield

  Sefton

  Tameside

  Bury

  Merton

  Harrow

  Cleveland

  Stockport

  Rotherham

  All other authorities receive less.

  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum that would have been raised by councils in England in 1990–91 from the community charge if Government guidelines had been followed; what information he has as to the total sum that will be raised; what was the total sum raised from domestic rates in England in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Had authorities spent at the level of their standard spending assessments they would have raised £7·9 billion from personal and collective charges. Authorities have budgeted to receive £10·5 billion from charges. These figures exclude community charge benefits and transitional relief. Net domestic rate income in 1989–90 was £8·4 billion.

  It is for local authorities to justify their levels of spending to their charge payers.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many people in the population the Government estimate to be eligible to pay 20 per cent. of their poll tax bill; how many such people are on the poll tax registers; and how many he estimates will pay their 20 per cent.;

  (2) what is the estimated revenue that will be received in 1990–91 from those who are required to pay 20 per cent. of their poll tax.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Some 4·5 million people are estimated to be paying 20 per cent. of the personal community charge. Community charges registration officers have a duty to maintain an accurate register of those subject to the charge. All of those liable are obliged to contribute towards the costs of local services.

  No separate estimates of revenue received from such charge payers have been made.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in descending order from highest to lowest the demand on the collection fund per adult as shown on the community charge bill for each borough or district council in Essex.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 19 July 1990]: The information is given in the table:
  186

  Demand per adult £

  Basildon

  233·96

  Harlow

  210·10

  Thurrock

  163·40

  Southend-on-Sea

  160·36

  Brentwood

  138·91

  Castle Point

  107·64

  Chelmsford

  106·99

  Tendring

  105·86

  Rochford

  93·57

  Braintree

  88·29

  Epping Forest

  81·54

  Colchester

  80·98

  Maldon

  73·20

  Uttlesford

  63·99

  Notes:

  1. Figures may not correspond precisely with those shown on charge bills because for parts of some authorities the demand may include expenditure on special expenses for which only charge payers in those areas contribute.

  2. Differences in demand per adult may be affected by differences in the spending needs of authorities, their use of:financial resources and their efficiency in service delivery.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the review of the community charge arrangements as they affect small bed-and-breakfast establishments.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 17 July 1990]: I refer to the statement made on 19 July by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Official Report, columns 1185–89.

  Commons
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his written answer of 27 November 1989 to the hon. Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr), when he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with the acknowledged deficiencies in the Commons Registration Act 1965; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 18 July,Official Report, column 562.

  Japanese Knotweed
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the extent, environmental impact and rate of spread of Japanese knotweed; whether he is currently funding any relevant research; and whether he has any proposals to control its rate of spread.

  Mr. Trippier
  Japanese knotweed is regarded as a troublesome pest in much of Wales and parts of north-west and south-east England. I am advised that Welsh Water has conducted field trials on methods of controlling this species and that the Nature Conservancy Council takes steps to control it on sites important to wildlife.

  The most effective chemical treatments are picloram and glyphosate—only glyphosate should be used on sites adjacent to water. Uprooting small plants and regular cutting or mowing also help to deter the plant's growth and spread over particular sites.

  Sewerage System
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on repairs and modernisation of the sewerage system in the 1980s.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In England between 1980–81 and 1988–89 the then regional water authorities spent £2,899 million, in November 1989 prices, on sewerage services.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the nature of the hazardous waste shipped to England for disposal from United States military bases in Turkey, Greece, the Azores and Iceland during the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Records of imports of hazardous waste from United States military bases in these countries consigned under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 are kept by the disposal authorities concerned. The Department of the Environment has no record of any such imports being notified under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations introduced in 1988. The Government are discussing with the United States authorities whether disposal in the United Kingdom should continue to be an option in the future.

  Government Advertising
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Government have spent on poll tax advertisements(a) during the Bill's passage through Parliament and (b) since, on (i) television, (ii) radio, (iii) newspapers, (iv) leaflets and (v) magazines.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Government have commissioned no advertisements for the community charge, either during or since the parliamentary passage of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to which I assume the hon. Member refers.

  Since enactment, my Department has, however, produced and maintained a range of leaflets on individuals' rights and duties under the community charge system, which are available free on request; distributed a leaflet to all households in England when most councils started to compile their registers last year, and took advertising to draw attention to the leaflet; and mounted an information campaign earlier this year to draw people's attention to the availability of community charge benefit and transitional relief, and how to claim them. The rounded costs involved are set out in the table:

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Wimpeys

  3—8·9

  2—22·0

  5—22·6

  2—14·6

  4—7·8

  Mowlems

  9—52·3

  4—12·6

  8—16·2

  5—12·5

  4—63·9

  Taylor Woodrow

  —

  3—10·1

  3—34·3

  —

  5—65·6

  Tarmac

  9—82·0

  4—27·2

  4—96·8

  6—17·1

  8—67·4

  Kier

  4—8·4

  5—13·7

  7—19·0

  5—48·8

  5—16·1

  Laings

  4—14·4

  6—23·9

  10—57·7

  2—95·2

  4—22·3

  Balfour Beatty

  7—46.l

  5—19·4

  4—20·8

  2—5·2

  8—21·7

  188

  £'000

  Television advertising

  1,624

  Radio advertising

  282

  Newpapers (including freesheets and minority language papers)

  1,563

  Leaflets (including the household leaflet)

  1,645

  Magazines

  266

  In addition the cost of distributing the household leaflet was £301,000.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has more recently commissioned newspaper advertisements publicising the increased capital limit for community charge benefit announced in the Budget and reminding people of the time limit for making backdated claims and of the income levels likely to entitle people to benefit. My right hon. Friend has also produced free leaflets and a poster on how to claim community charge benefit and on the increased capital limits for income-related benefits.

  Beaches
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in the Official Report those bathing beaches which did reach an EEC satisfactory standard at the most recent test report, covering 1988;

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report those bathing beaches which did not reach the EEC satisfactory standard at the most recent test report, covering 1988.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The results for the 1988 bathing season were placed in the Library on 21 February 1989. The results for the 1989 bathing season were placed in the Library on 25 January 1990.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present estimate of the ievel of inflation which will apply or be assumed to be likely to apply to local government expenditure in 1991–92.

  Mr. Chope
  The proposals for local authority spending in 1991–92 announced by my right hon. Friend on 19 July were not based on any particular estimate of inflation, but reflected a judgment about the appropriate level of spending taking account of all relevant factors.

  Building Firms (Contracts)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contracts were given to Messrs. Wimpeys, Mowlems, Taylor Woodrow, Tarmac, Kier Construction, Laings, Balfour Beatty and Eden Construction in excess of £1 million by value in the years 1985–86, 1987–88 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of contracts in each of the years referred to, and their aggregate value, was:
  189
  Eden Construction Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lilley plc and no separate contracts were entered into with Eden Construction during the years referred to. Lilley plc was awarded four contracts with an aggregate value of some £5·8 million.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance. While separate information on small businesses is not available in my Department, the major deregulation initiatives affecting all businesses were set out in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm 512). These included simplification and clarification of the building regulations to limit requirements to those essential for securing the health and safety of people and for the protection of the environment; and to introduce a greater degree of flexibility.

  I have also proposed a series of changes to the planning system designed to simplify procedures. In particular, specific relaxations of permitted development rights for commercial and other uses under the general development order are currently the subject of consultation. The Government have also asked that local authorities deal promptly and positively with planning proposals from small businesses.

  Proposals to establish the system of integrated pollution control were also set out in the White Paper: this will be less administratively burdensome to industry than the arrangements it replaces. IPC will be given statutory force by the Environmental Protection Bill.

  Habitat Protection
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent within the United Kingdom of the habitats listed in annex 4 to the proposal for a Council directive on the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora which was issued by the European Commission on 30 March; to what extent the habitats listed in the annex are already covered by notified sites of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  We are taking advice from the Nature Conservancy Council as and when necessary on technical matters relating to the proposed EC habitats directive. However, no realistic assessment of the implications for the United Kingdom of the proposed annex 4 can be made until the current confusion over annex 5 (criteria for designation) has been resolved. We continue to press the Commission for clarification on this point.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to allow district councils to use more of their capital receipts to combat problems facing rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The rules on capital receipts in the new capital finance system enable us to target resources more effectively on the needs facing all local authorities.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 20 December,Official Report, column 330, what is his assessment of the effect on rate bills of the uniform business rate and the non-domestic revaluation, based on the local rating lists which came into force on 1 April.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am placing in the Library an analysis of the combined effects of the revaluation and the introduction of the uniform business rate in England and Wales.

  Between December and April there was a net addition to the rating lists representing an increase of about 2 to 3 per cent. in rateable values and rate bills. Overall the average by which rateable values have increased for properties occupied by private businesses and the nationalised industries has risen slightly to 8·1 times in England and to 8·5 times in Wales. The changes to the rating lists reflect the correction of errors, revisions based on later information or new regulations and the addition of new properties completed after the December lists were published

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make an announcement about the future development of county hall, London.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Last autumn a public inquiry was held into proposals for the redevelopment of the county hall complex. Following consideration of my inspector's report, my Department has today written to the appellants indicating my willingness to defer decisions on their appeals so as to allow them the opportunity to amend the proposals to overcome objections related to a relatively small part of the overall scheme. The letter and inspector's report have been copied to all parties who made representations to the inspector at the inquiry.

  Air Pollution Control
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue advice to local authorities on the exercise of their new air pollution control functions under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill.

  Mr. Trippier
  The new system of air pollution control being established under part I of the Bill represents a major strengthening of local authorities' powers over polluting industry.

  It is important that local authorities work to a common set of standards and I intend that no process should be

  191
  scheduled for local authority control until relevant guidance has been published. More than 70 guidance notes will be needed, and we are well on target to produce them. The final drafts of the first seven notes, produced with the assistance of the local authorities and industry, have today been circulated to interested parties for comment and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Through the guidance notes, not only local authorities, but industry and the public will be aware of the standards of air pollution control we expect to be achieved.

  Pollution Regulatory Authorities
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on proposals for cost-recovery charging for pollution regulatory authorities' costs.

  Mr. Trippier
  On 30 January this year I announced that, subject to enactment of the Environmental Protection Bill, cost-recovery charges to meet the costs of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) and the National Rivers Authority in administering integrated pollution control (IPC) would be introduced as from April 1991; and that the scheme would be based on an application fee payable when a process is submitted for IPC authorisation and an annual charge payable for holding each authorisation to cover the on-going costs of compliance monitoring. The level of charges for a particular plant would be linked to the number of specified "components" which it comprised, thus relating the amount payable to the size and complexity of the plant concerned.

  My Department has now published a consultation paper on proposals for the detailed operation of this scheme, inviting comment from industry, environmental groups and others with an interest.

  The paper also sets out proposals for charging schemes for local authority air pollution control of the "part B" process, and for the regulation of premises under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.

  I have placed a copy of the paper in the Library.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the timing of the implementation of integrated pollution control.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have received a number of representations from a variety of sources which have suggested that an implementation date of 2 January 1991 means that there would be an inadequate period for consultation with interested parties and the public on guidance notes and regulations to be issued under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill. I have considered these representations most carefully. Royal Assent to the Bill is now expected later than had previously been anticipated. A delay will also enable Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to broaden its training procedures for the implementation of IPC and associated work. I have decided therefore that IPC will now be implemented on 1 April 1991 for all new prescribed processes; prescribed processes undergoing a substantial change and large combustion plant. Other prescribed processes will be phased in over four years from 1 April 1992.

  Telford Development Corporation
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the wind-up date of Telford development corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Following statutory consultations under section 41 of the New Towns Act 1981, I have decided that Telford development corporation will be wound up on target on 30 September 1991. The necessary order will be made in due course.

  Pollution, Port Talbot
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has received in respect of pollution by BP Chemicals at Baglen bay, Port Talbot; and what action it is proposed to take about it.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 20 July 1990]: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales on 20 July, Official Report, Vol. 176, columns 758–59.

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set a limit on the fee which may be charged for carrying out tests for radon gas in domestic buildings.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: No. The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) will carry out a free test for radon at the householder's request in all cases where the board judges that the nature of the area and the house warrant such testing. In other cases, the fee is a matter of negotiation with the organisation requested to carry out the test. The NRPB currently charges a fee of £26·40 plus VAT in those cases which do not justify a free test.

  Direct Labour Organisation, Brent
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he intends to make of his sanction powers under part III of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 against the direct labour organisation of the London borough of Brent.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  On 20 December 1989, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State served a notice under section 19A of the 1980 Act on the London borough of Brent, setting out his view that the authority appeared to have failed to prepare the revenue account and statement of rate of return for the direct labour organisation's (DLO) activities in the financial year 1988–89; that it had failed to submit to him a report containing this information; and that it had failed to achieve the required rate of return on major new construction work.

  My right hon. Friend has now considered the response which the authority has made to the section 19A notice, and accepts that the authority has now prepared the revenue account and statement of rate of return and has submitted the relevant report to him. He has noted, however, that the report shows that Brent's DLO made a loss of over £1 million on major new construction work in

  193
  1988–89, following a loss of slightly less than £1 million on this work in 1987–88. He has further noted that the authority decided in July 1989 that the DLO should withdraw from major new construction work, but that the authority has not precluded the possibility that the DLO might return to this area of work in the future.

  My right hon. Friend has concluded that the record of financial failure by the DLO is such as to provide no confidence that it could achieve the required rate of return on major new construction work in the future. He has therefore today given a direction under section 19B of the 1980 Act prohibiting Brent's DLO from carrying out major new construction work.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the total number of jobs in the United Kingdom has increased since 1979.

  Mr. Howard
  The number of jobs in the United Kingdom increased by 1·8 million between June 1979 and March 1990, the latest date for which information is available. It now stands at 27,198,000—the highest level ever.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of unemployed people in the Gloucester constituency for the last month for which figures are available; and what percentage of that figure are long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Jackson
  There were 2,149 unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Gloucester in June

  Unemployed claimants by age in the United Kingdom

  Thousands

  April

  18–24 year olds

  25–49 year olds

  50 and over

  Male

  Per cent.1

  Female

  Per cent.1

  Male

  Per cent.1

  Female

  Per cent.1

  Male

  Per cent.1

  Female

  Per cent.1

  1986

  624

  (27·3)

  373

  (36·1)

  1,087

  (47·5)

  443

  (42·8)

  471

  (20·6)

  139

  (13·5)

  1987

  567

  (26·3)

  331

  (34·9)

  1,053

  (48·8)

  422

  (44·5)

  466

  (21·6)

  140

  (14·8)

  1988

  444

  (25·1)

  253

  (32·9)

  872

  (49·4)

  346

  (45·0)

  390

  (22·1)

  124

  (16·1)

  1989

  352

  (26·0)

  179

  (33·5)

  691

  (51·1)

  256

  (48·0)

  307

  (22·7)

  98

  (18·4)

  1990

  318

  (26·6)

  147

  (34·3)

  641

  (53·5)

  203

  (47·5)

  238

  (19·9)

  77

  (18·0)

  1 Figures shown in brackets give the proportion of total unemployment in the given age group.

  Note: The percentages do not add to 100 due to the exclusion from the table of those claimants aged under 18.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the latest unemployment figures for Sheffield expressed as a percentage; and what is the national average.

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1990, the unemployment rate for the Sheffield travel-to-work area was 7·9 per cent. The comparable figure for the United Kingdom was 5·5 per cent. These figures are on the unadjusted basis.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for unfilled vacancies in the Basildon constituency.

  Mr. Forth
  Vacancy data for parliamentary constituencies are not available. However, the number of vacancies in the Basildon jobcentre area in June was 326.
  194
  1990. For April 1990, the latest available date, about 27 per cent. of all claimants had been unemployed for more than a year.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in London.

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1990 unemployment in the London travel-to-work area was 186,168, 4·7 per cent. of the work force.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures; and what were the most nearly comparable figures for June 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1990 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom, was 1,617,100 compared with 1,069,000 in June 1979 on the consistent basis.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current unemployment figures; and what was the most nearly comparable figure in June 1989.

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1990 seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,617,100, compared with 1,811,300 in June 1989.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on changes in the age profile of unemployed men and women in recent years.

  Mr. Forth
  As shown by the table, all age groups have seen sharp falls in the numbers unemployed over the past four years.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the total number of employees who are counted twice in the employment totals.

  Mr. Forth
  The exact number of employees with two or more jobs included in the published employees in employment estimates is not known, since the estimates are based on figures collected from employers, who will not generally know if an employee is filling the post as an additional job.

  However, evidence on the number of people with two jobs can be derived from the labour force survey (LFS). It is estimated from the preliminary results of the 1989 LFS that 623,000 employees (2·8 per cent. of the total) in Great Britain had a second job as an employee in spring 1989.
  195
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment in the west midlands(a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1990 seasonally adjusted unemployment in the west midlands was 149,200, compared with 99,400 in June 1979.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of unemployed claimants in(a) Birkenhead and (b) the urban programme area, on 1 June 1983 and 1 January 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimants, in(a) Birkenhead parliamentary constituency and (b) Wirral local authority area, in which the Government target inner-city programme aid, for June 1983 and January 1990.

  Total unemployed claimants

  June 1983

  January 1990

  Birkenhead

  8,726

  6,479

  Wirral

  23,554

  16,025

  Direct comparisons over the time are affected by various changes to the count and by seasonal influences.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people in work in Scotland in 1979; and what is the number today.

  Mr. Forth
  In June 1979, the civilian work force in employment for Scotland was 2,262,000. In March 1990, the latest date for which information is available, it stood at 2,281,000, an increase of 19,000.

  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for people in full-time employment; and what was the comparable figure in 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  There were 20,232,000 people in full-time employment in Great Britain in March 1990, the latest date for which information is available. The earliest comparable information available is for March 1983 when there were 18,154,000 people in full-time employment. This represents an increase of 2,077,000 or 11 per cent.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will commission a study of the child care needs of working mothers.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department is contributing to the funding of the British social attitudes survey which includes questions on women's views of their child care needs. The need for any further research will be considered when the results of the survey are available.

  Long-term Unemployed
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to introduce to enable the long-term unemployed to receive training.

  Mr. Howard
  Employment training currently provides long-term unemployed people with a full range of 196
  opportunities to help them acquire the skills and experience they need to compete for jobs. Under training and enterprise councils training provision will become even more responsive to local needs.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measure he intends to introduce to enable the long-term unemployed to participate fully in the work force.

  Mr. Howard
  Long-term unemployment has halved in the past two years. The wide range of employment and training measures which the Government have put in place have helped to achieve that objective.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he proposes to take to help the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of people unemployed for one year or more has fallen by almost half a million in the last two years and in that period long-term unemployment has fallen faster than total unemployment. Our success has been based on policies which have led to a large number of new jobs, and on an extensive range of employment and training measures which are kept under regular review to ensure that they continue successfully and cost-effectively to help long-term unemployed people get back into work.

  Job Clubs
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to improve the work of job clubs.

  Mr. Jackson
  The job club programme is working well and continues to be very popular.

  Current initiatives to improve the programme further include a new guide for external contractors; improvements to job club leader training; and pilots of special help for people with severe literacy or language difficulties.

  Part-time and Temporary Work
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has made to the European Commission concerning its proposed directives on part-time and temporary work.

  Mr. Howard
  I have made it clear that the Government oppose the draft directives on the grounds that they would reduce job opportunities and damage competitiveness.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of jobs in the United Kingdom are part-time.

  Mr. Forth
  Part-time employment in Great Britain constituted 24 per cent. (6,369,000) of the work force in employment in March 1990, the latest date for which information is available. Figures for part-time workers in Northern Ireland are not available.

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effects of the abolition of the dock labour scheme.

  Mr. Howard
  The industrial relations in the former scheme ports have been transformed; labour productivity
  197
  has increased; and new business opportunities in and around the ports are booming as a direct result of the abolition of the dock labour scheme in July 1989.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment has been made so far by his Department of the effect on business at British seaports of the abolition in 1989 of the dock labour scheme.

  Mr. Howard
  The July edition of the Employment Gazette contained an article, based on assessments carried out in 15 former national dock labour scheme ports, which reviewed developments which had occurred in the first year after the abolition of the scheme. It found that there had been substantial changes in the composition of the labour force; industrial relations in the docks had been transformed; labour was now being utilised much more flexibly, labour productivity had increased markedly; investment in the docks was beginning to increase and new business opportunities in and around the ports were developing; training was being approached more systematically and health and safety standards were being maintained.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many students have completed training under the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Since its launch over 700,000 people have benefited from the opportunities provided by employment training. It is currently helping about 200,000 unemployed people to obtain the skills and experience they need to get and keep jobs. Under training and enterprise councils it will become even more responsive to local needs.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recontracting process for employment training.

  Mr. Jackson
  The recontracting exercise for employment training has been successful and 99 per cent. of providers have agreed new contracts.

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many students are currently undertaking training under the employment training scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  An estimated 200,000 people are currently undertaking employment training.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's review of employment services for disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  The results of the review were published on 29 June in a consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities". The document sets out our intentions for the development of services in the 1990s taking forward themes, established in the 1980s, of integration into the work force and the active commitment of employers to good practices in creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The document has been widely distributed and the period of consultation lasts to 31 December.
  198
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to improve employment services to people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  A consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", was published by this Department on 29 June. The document sets out our intentions for the development of services in the 1990s taking forward themes, established in the 1980s, of integration into the work force and the active commitment of employers to good practices in creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The document has been widely distributed and the period of consultation runs to 31 December.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to introduce to preserve and enforce the quota system for employment of people with disabilities.

  Mr. Jackson
  This Department's consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", invites comments on the merits and demerits of the quota system for employment of people with disabilities. Decisions on its future operation will be taken when we have considered the comments that we receive.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to improve the legislative framework for the employment of people with disabilities.

  Mr. Jackson
  This Department's consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", invites comments on the merits and demerits of various legislative approaches to promoting the employment of people with disabilities. Decisions on the best way forward will be taken when we have considered the comments that we receive.

  Training
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the total British work force attended formal training courses in 1989.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to oblige every company to set up a training body with guaranteed trade union representation at every workplace.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no such plans. The most effective incentive for companies to train is a knowledge and understanding of their skill needs, not centralised regulation.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met his opposite numbers in Germany, France and Italy to discuss training.

  Mr. Howard
  This year I have visited West Germany and Italy to discuss training issues with my opposite numbers. When I attended the EC Labour and Social Affairs Council of Ministers in May and an informal meeting of this Council in Italy on 12 July, at which training was discussed, I met my counterparts from these and other EC member states.

  Labour Mobility
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the early indications of greater labour mobility between European Community member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no reliable estimates of labour mobility between European Community member states.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from organisations in Lancashire on his plans for the technical and vocational education initiative extension programme.

  Mr. Jackson
  Lancashire is being funded to start its extension programme this autumn. There have been several representations seeking more funds in the first year of the programme. The Department is reassuring the education authority, schools and colleges that Lancashire will be getting its full share of funds over the life of the programme.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the technical and vocational education initiative for the next three years.

  Mr. Jackson
  By September 1990, 103 education authorities will be in their five-year extension phase of TVEI. The remaining 29 authorities will come into extension when resources permit, provided the authorities' plans meet the appropriate standards. The total budget available for TVEI in 1990–91 is £134 million. Planned expenditure for 1991–92 and 1992–93 is £133 million and £141 million respectively. The total cost of the extension phase will be about £900 million as envisaged in 1986 when TVEI extension was announced.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy on the development and financing of the technical and vocational education initiative.

  Mr. Jackson
  TVEI brings important benefits to pupils and employers and contributes to improving the nation's skill supply. The Government therefore aim to extend TVEI to all 14 to 18-year-olds in maintained schools and colleges and are providing £900 million for this purpose. In each local authority TVEI extension funding is spread over five years and by this autumn 103 authorities will have started their extension phase.

  Secondary Picketing
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to reintroduce the right to carry out mass secondary picketing.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no such plans.

  Mines (Safety)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has considered external legal advice in regard to proposed changes in the regulation of safety in mines.
  200
  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Commission would submit regulatory proposals to Ministers only if it was satisfied on legal advice from its solicitor that they were legally sound.

  Footballers (YTS)
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the England football team in the world cup competition had received football training under YTS.

  Mr. Howard
  Two members of the England football team—Paul Gascoigne and David Platt—have received football training under YTS.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met a professional footballer who had received football training under YTS.

  Mr. Howard
  I met Paul Gascoigne in Naples during the quarter-finals of the world cup on 1 July.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the football training made available under YTS in recent years.

  Mr. Howard
  Football training has been provided under YTS and now under youth training since the introduction of YTS in 1983. All 92 Football League clubs are involved in youth training.

  The effectiveness of the training is evident from the substantial number of ex-trainees now playing regular first team football at clubs throughout the four divisions of the Football League and at international level. The last four young players of the year, including this year's winner, Matthew Le Tissier, were trained on YTS, as were Paul Gascoigne and David Platt, who excelled in England's world cup team in Italy this year.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to improve the work of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1990–91 and beyond sets out the priorities of the commission and executive for this and the next two years. The plan will be published in July.

  Employee Involvement
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to help encourage further the degree of employee involvement among British companies.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend takes every opportunity to emphasise the importance of effective employee involvement. The Department promotes and supports its development through research and by publicising best practice, as in our booklet "People and Companies".

  Wages Councils
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to introduce to improve the working of the wages councils.
  201
  Mr. Forth
  The councils are empowered to set minimum rates of pay in certain industries. Checks by wages inspectors show that compliance with wages council orders is running at a very high level.

  Sheltered Placement Scheme
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future funding arrangements for the sheltered placement scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  Proposals for a rebalancing of the sheltered employment programme over a transitional period of five years, in favour of sheltered placements, are contained in the consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" which was published on 29 June. Views are invited on the existing funding arrangements and possible cost-effective improvements to them which could be met within existing resources. Interested parties have until 31 December to comment.

  Agriculture (Accidents)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to introduce to prevent deaths due to agricultural work.

  Mr. Forth
  No legislative proposals are planned. However, the Health and Safety Executive will continue with its programme of strategies aimed at helping the agricultural industry to achieve reductions in fatal accident levels. These include: targeting inspection at those workplaces that present the greatest risk to employees, the self-employed, their families and the general public including children, carrying out advisory and publicity work to promote an increased awareness of health and safety in the industry, and liaising with all sides of industry to improve the health and safety aspects of products.

  In seeking compliance with health and safety legislation, inspectors will also use innovative inspection techniques including blitz initiatives targeted at specific farming operations. They will also pay more attention to the management of health and safety.

  Inspectors will pursue their inquiries and any enforcement action to the highest levels at workplaces which do not measure up to the standards expected of them.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to introduce to prevent accidents and fatalities as a result of agricultural work.

  Mr. Forth
  No legislative proposals are planned. However, the Health and Safety Executive will continue with its programme of strategies aimed at helping the agricultural industry to achieve reductions in the numbers of non-fatal and fatal accidents. These include: targeting inspection at those workplaces that present the greatest risk to employees, the self-employed, their families and the general public including children, carrying out advisory and publicity work to promote an increased awareness of health and safety in the industry, and liaising with all sides of industry to improve the health and safety aspects of products.

  In seeking compliance with health and safety legislation, inspectors will also use innovative inspection techniques including blitz initiatives targeted at specific farming operations. They will also pay more attention to the management of health and safety.
  202
  Inspectors will pursue their inquiries and any enforcement action to the highest levels at workplaces which do not measure up to the standards expected of them.

  Employee Rehabilitation Centre, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the provision after 1993 of the services of the employee rehabilitation centre, Western avenue, Cardiff.

  Mr. Jackson
  Plans for the provision after 1993 of the services of the employment rehabilitation centre, 'Western avenue, Cardiff, have yet to be made. The South Glamorgan committee for the employment of disabled people will be consulted in drawing up any such plans.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Employment what assessment he has made of the effects on employment of the introduction of a minimum wage requirement at the level of half median male earnings.

  Mr. Forth
  Officials in the Department have estimated that the introduction of a minimum wage set at half median male earnings would result in the loss of about three quarters of a million jobs.

  EPCOT
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to pay an official visit to the British showcase at EPCOT in Florida.

  Mr. Howard
  I have no plans to make an official visit to the British showcase in Florida.

  Astra Training Services Ltd.
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many freehold sites have been sold to Astra Training Services Ltd.; what is the total anticipated revenue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The sale of training businesses at 45 skill centres plus the STA head office, mobile training service, sales teams and colleges to Astra Training Services Ltd. included the acquisition by Astra of 28 freehold sites. These sites formed part of the overall sale package, which involved a payment from the Government to Astra of some £10·7 million.

  Confederation of British Industry
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the estimated size and skills knowledge of the labour force for the rest of the decade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. and learned Friend meets the CBI from time to time to discuss a wide range of labour market issues. These include the importance of determining the future training needs of the work force and how best employers can meet these needs in the light of demographic trends forecast for the next 10 years.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on low pay.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) on 22 May 1990 at column 157.

  Industrial Action
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days have been lost over the last two years through unofficial industrial action; and what proportion this constitutes of the total number of days lost through industrial action.

  Mr. Forth
  A special exercise has shown that in 1988 approximately 1·3 million working days were lost through unofficial stoppages, about one third of the total for the year. The analysis is not available for 1989.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recontracting process for youth training.

  Mr. Jackson
  The youth training recontracting process has been managed successfully and 98 per cent. of providers have agreed new contracts.

  Tourism
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken to improve standards in the small hotel and guest house sector.

  Mr. Forth
  The English tourist board operates the "Crown" classification and grading scheme for serviced accommodation. One of the main objectives of the scheme is to improve the quality and range of services and facilities offered to the customer. About 11,000 establishments in England are already participating in it and more are joining all the time. Over half of the participants have applied for a commendation for quality, a new optional feature of the scheme.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met members of the Health and Safety Commission; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 29 June 1990 at column 342.

  Creche Facilities
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms operating in Scotland currently provide creche facilities for their employees' children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in
  204
  helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of their policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics which show a record increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT, of around 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373,000.

  Measures operated by my Department to assist small businesses include: the small firms service, which is operated by the Training Agency of the Department, and provides information and business counselling to new and established businesses. It was a record year for the service, which carried out more counselling, more work with growing firms, and answered more inquiries during 1989–90, than ever before. In the last financial year, the service answered over 317,000 inquiries (an increase of 12·9 per cent. on 1988–89), handled over 36,000 counselling sessions (an increase of 17·7 per cent. on 1988–89), and conducted over 36,000 counselling cases (an increase of 20·4 per cent. on 1988–89).

  Business growth training was introduced in 1989 to provide help to established firms to develop their business and management skills. It has already proved to be a highly successful scheme, with over 122,000 owner managers assisted to date.

  My Department also provides financial assistance through the enterprise allowance scheme and makes substantial grants available to Business in the Community, local enterprise agencies and the Prince's Youth Business Trust amongst others. To take the enterprise allowance scheme as an example, it has been a great encouragement to unemployed people to go into self-employment. In the period 1989–90 over 78,000 have participated in the scheme. Since the start in 1983 over 500,000 people have taken advantage of the scheme.

  The enterprise training element of employment training and the business enterprise programme help people set up in business through the provision of targeted training in all the basic aspects of business. The combined number of entrants to these programmes increased from 43,489 in 1987–88 to 59,480 in 1989–90. In addition, the graduate enterprise programme helps graduates take the first steps to setting up businesses on their own. The number of entrants to this programme rose to 1,184 in 1989–90.

  Assistance of this type for the self-employed and small firms will in future be provided locally by training and enterprise councils. TECs will have the opportunity to tailor assistance to local circumstances.

  The loan guarantee scheme continues to enhance smaller firms' access to finance. In the 12 months to 30 June 1990, 3,450 loans were guaranteed representing total lending of £104 million. Usage during the year remained buoyant with applications averaging 285 a month compared with 200 a month in the previous year, and 120 a month two years ago.

  Over the past year I have continued my campaign to improve the access of small firms to Government contracts. My Department has published and distributed

  205
  booklets designed for both Government purchasers and small firms which identify purchasing needs, departmental contacts and give guidance on improving Government purchasing procedures. I have also appointed a purchasing consultant to improve the systems by which small firms can get better access to public contracts. My Department publicises its own contracts and has produced a departmental guide for those companies that want to tender, including small firms. We have encouraged managers to use local small firms in devolving the purchasing function and budgets where appropriate.

  My Department has continued with action to reduce burdens on business; through the Employment Act 1989, for example, the procedures for taking on women and young people have been simplified. We have also produced a range of advice and guidance for smaller companies, including the well-received self-employment starter pack. As well as maintaining a close interest in domestic deregulation, we are working hard to ensure that the EC's social charter does not impose unnecessary burdens, with the circumstances of small businesses very much in mind.

  The Department monitors all its programmes and also commissions external evaluations which are published. In December 1989 we published an overview, "Small Firms in Britain", a copy of which is in the Library. The report surveys developments in the sector, includes key statistical indicators and outlines Government policy and measures as a whole towards small firms.

  Flame-retardant Fabrics
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what evidence he has that workers in the upholstery and bedding industry are experiencing health problems as a result of the materials used in the manufacture of flame-retardant covers and treated fabrics;

  (2) whether the Health and Safety Executive has had discussions with the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union regarding the materials used in the manufacture of flame-retardant covers and treated fabrics;

  (3) if he will ask the Health and Safety Executive to carry out an investigation into (a) the abrasive effect of coated fabrics upon hands and arms and (b) nose and throat irritation from dipped and sprayed fabrics experienced by employees in the manufacture of flame-retardant covers and treated fabrics in the upholstery and bedding industry.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive is already investigating evidence that flame-retardant and crease-resistant finishes applied to textile fabrics may result in skin, nose and throat irritation in workers handling those fabrics in the upholstery and bedding industries, and has been discussing the problem with the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will forward plans submitted to his Department from voluntary sector projects to the European social fund for approval.

  Mr. Forth
  Operational programmes, which represent aggregated bids from all interested organisations, including those representing the voluntary sector, were 206
  submitted to the European Commission on 15 June. No individual project applications have as yet been made by the voluntary sector.

  Maternity Pay
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to harmonise female employees' entitlement to maternity leave related to pay with the practice in other countries in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans. The Government believe that member states should be free to make their own arrangements for maternity, in accordance with national traditions and practices.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will lift the present restriction whereby female employees are entitled to claim maternity benefit only when they have worked for the same employer for two or more years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply.

  No such restriction exists. Statutory maternity pay (SMP) is payable for 18 weeks to women who have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks at the qualifying week (the 15th week before the baby is due). Where a woman with a recent employment record has worked for her current employer for fewer than 26 weeks she will normally qualify for maternity allowance from the Department of Social Security instead of SMP from her employer.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been reported since the start of the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of suspect cases placed under restrictions each week is as follows:

  Week ending

  Number

  5 January 1990

  245

  12 January 1990

  293

  19 January 1990

  283

  26 January 1990

  294

  2 February 1990

  309

  9 February 1990

  329

  16 February 1990

  361

  23 February 1990

  369

  2 March 1990

  424

  9 March 1990

  392

  16 March 1990

  402

  23 March 1990

  354

  30 March 1990

  334

  6 April 1990

  328

  13 April 1990

  295

  20 April 1990

  274

  27 April 1990

  303

  4 May 1990

  349

  11 May 1990

  338

  18 May 1990

  399

  25 May 1990

  365

  1 June 1990

  353

  8 June 1990

  362

  207

  Week ending

  Number

  15 June 1990

  247

  22 June 1990

  291

  29 June 1990

  262

  6 July 1990

  219

  13 July 1990

  206

  The pattern of suspect cases reported this year has so far followed closely the trend that occurred in 1989, in which an increase in cases during January and February was followed by an overall decrease during the spring months, albeit with fluctuations.

  Whilst there has been an underlying decrease in the numbers reported in the last few months compared to the high point in February/March, this has been subject to marked fluctuations and it cannot be assumed that this trend will continue.

  Agricultural Prices
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will describe the net effects on supply estimates of the European Community decisions on agricultural prices for 1990–91.

  Mr. Gummer
  The voted provision for class III vote 1 for the intervention board executive agency (CAP market support) is a token of £1,000 due to the forecasts of receipts exceeding expenditure. The cost of the price-fixing decisions in the United Kingdom in 1990–91 has been estimated at £125 million. This relates mainly to the devaluation of the green pound and to reductions in the payment period for intervention intake. These measures, together with changes in market conditions which have arisen since the supply estimates were published, are expected to result both in increased expenditure and receipts. The necessary changes will be sought through a winter supplementary estimate.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Ministry in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have continued to place high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  The Department has continued to contribute significantly to this process. We have maintained pressure for a more market-oriented common agricultural policy, and the 1990 price-fixing agreement consolidated the progress made last year. These achievements, together with the reforms to systems of agricultural support worldwide being negotiated in the current GATT round, will further encourage a competitive and efficient agricultural industry, well placed to compete with its counterparts in other Community countries.

  We have also continued to make available to farmers a range of income-generating schemes—for example the
  208
  farm woodlands scheme, set-aside, the farm diversification grant scheme and the environmentally sensitive areas scheme—designed to encourage them to diversify their enterprises, as well as provide opportunities to enhance the environment. We have recently launched pilot schemes to encourage more extensive farming of beef cattle and sheep.

  All the schemes operated by my Department are closely monitored. Reports on particular schemes are published from time to time.

  Plankton Recorder Programme
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in re-establishing the continuous plankton recorder programme.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following the withdrawal of direct funding by the Natural Environment Research Council from the continuous plankton recorder survey, the Ministry has renewed its contract with NERC for £150,000 per annum for a further two years to safeguard the Ministry's interests in this survey as a source of valuable information relevant to our fisheries and environmental protection interests.

  The Ministry has successfully persuaded the international scientific community of the value of maintaining such environmental monitoring programmes and took the lead in promoting an international funding trust to secure the future of this survey. I am pleased to report that the international response has been sufficient to enable the trust to be established so that the survey will continue. The constitution of the trust is currently being drafted.

  Aspartame
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the Food Advisory Committee considered(a) summary or (b) full data when it approved the use of aspartame; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will place the data considered by the Food Advisory Committee on aspartame in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  The data on aspartame considered by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee (FAC) (the predecessor of the Food Advisory Committee) comprised the case of need and a report from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, containing its considered advice on the safety of the sweetener. This is contained in the FAC report on the review of sweeteners in food (FAC/REP/34). Copies of this report are already lodged in the Library.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy of the agreements between his Ministry and food companies, and advice given by his Ministry, relating to the labelling of products containing aspartame, in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is a statutory requirement to declare aspartame in ingredients lists under the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 (S.I. 1984 No. 1305). My Ministry has issued no further advice on this matter nor does it have any agreements with food companies about aspartame.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now ask his Food Advisory Committee to urgently review aspartame; and if he will make a statement.
  209
  Mr. Gummer
  Both the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment are currently reviewing the use of all sweeteners in food. I anticipate receiving their full report and recommendations early next year but in the meantime they will inform me if they see the need for any action earlier.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has received from the United States Food and Drug Administration concerning the safety of aspartame; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My officials have received information on the safety of aspartame from a number of sources including those originating in the United States of America. This information, together with new data produced and collected since aspartame was approved in this country seven years ago, is currently being considered by the independent Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT).

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a compulsory health warning on products containing aspartame; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The use of aspartame in a food product will appear in the ingredients list. There is no general health hazard arising from the use of this sweetener; the small number of people who suffer from phenylkentonuria and should therefore not ingest aspartame have access to advice from their doctors to avoid products containing it.

  Food Irradiation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to lay the regulations under the Food Safety Act 1990 that will control the process of food irradiation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The first essential step is to arrange for consultations to take place on our proposals. Only when these have been completed and the results assessed will regulations be laid.

  Active Ingredients
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the active ingredients which have been approved since 3 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  There is no provision in food law for the approval of "active ingredients"; this is a concept confined to medicines legislation.

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the pesticides which have been approved since 3 April, indicating whether it was a full or partial review in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following approvals for agricultural pesticide products have been issued by my Department since 3 April:
  210

  Number

  Experimental permits

  21

  Full or provisional approvals

  98

  Off-label approvals

  11

  of which:

  Number of products

  Approvals

  New active ingredients

  Fenpropathrin

  1

  A provisional approval and an experimental permit

  Paclobutrazol

  4

  Provisional approvals

  Reviewed active ingredient

  Alachlor (full review)

  1

  Provisional approval ex-tended for one year

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment is responsible for the approval and review of non-agricultural pesticides.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report details of work he is sponsoring on pesticide effects on shepherds.

  Mr. Gummer
  All suspected adverse reactions reported by shepherds and others to licensed sheep dips are investigated under Medicines Act procedures. The findings will be fully taken into account as part of the review of ectoparasiticide products to ensure that modern standards on safety, quality and efficacy are being met. The review is expected to have been completed early in 1992.

  Richard Kimberlin
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 26 June,Official Report, column 204, if he will list the amount of money paid to Mr. Richard Kimberlin for each year he has provided expert advice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department has paid the following fees and expenses to Dr. Kimberlin for consultancy work commissioned with him:

  £

  1989

  4,279·00

  1990

  3,128·34

  Sheep Dip
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the National Rivers Authority about the emptying of sheep dips; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Sheep dip emptying has not been the focus of recent discussions with the National Rivers Authority, as last year sheep dips gave rise to only 13 out of 2,889 agricultural water pollution incidents. Nevertheless the guidance available on disposal is currently being reviewed to see how this can best be improved.

  Sugar Substitutes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a compulsory health warning on Sweet and Low saccharine granulated sugar substitutes along the lines of that used in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no plans to do so. Saccharin has been cleared as safe by the independent expert advisory committees. At my request the committees have, however, recently reviewed saccharin. I expect to receive their recommendations very shortly when I can consider whether any further action is necessary.

SCOTLAND

  Community Care
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to implement the new arrangements for community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 18 July 1990.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost in staff time and resources within the Scottish Office of working to prepare for the implementation of the community care reforms.

  Mr. Lang
  Some 25 officials within the Scottish Office have devoted a significant proportion of their working time within the past eight months to preparations for the implementation of the arrangements announced in the White Paper published in November 1989. This work has included preparing advice for Ministers on the content of legislation and other matters, drafting guidance documents for consultation purposes and taking forward discussions with local authority and voluntary sector interests. All this work would have been necessary regardless of the particular timetable chosen for implementing the proposals. The amount of time expended by individual officials has varied considerably and accurate calculations of the total cost could not be produced without disproportionate expenditure.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland exactly how much extra funding Scottish local authorities have been calculated to require to implement the community care reforms; whether this can be broken down into region-by-region figures for Scotland; and what are the calculations of need and precise method used to arrive at these figures.

  Mr. Lang
  The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities provided estimates of the additional costs involved for Scottish local authorities in total in implementing the proposals in the White Paper "Caring for People". Officials of my Department have discussed these with representatives of the convention and further discussions will take place in the light of the phased implementation plan.

  My right hon. and learned Friend will have regard to the financial implications of community care in announcing the local authority settlement later this week.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what representations he has received from voluntary organisations in Scotland concerning the implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consultations he has had with health authorities in Scotland concerning the regulations to be made under section 2(7) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 in order to extend the rights of authorised representatives; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) when he intends to lay an order to bring into force section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what monitoring his Department carries out as to whether local authorities in Scotland are fulfilling their duties under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) what consultations he has had with voluntary organisations in Scotland concerning the regulations to be made under section 1 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) what information he has laid before Parliament under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) what research he has undertaken on the implementation by local authorities in Scotland of sections 4, 8, 9, 10 and 13 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (8) when he intends to lay an order to bring into force sections 1 and 2 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (9) what consultations he is having with local authority associations in Scotland concerning the implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (10) what consultations he has had with local authority associations in Scotland concerning the regulations to be made under section 2(7) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 in order to extend the rights of authorised representatives; and if he will make a statement;

  (11) what plans he has for consulting upon and implementing sections 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will produce a simple guide to these sections shortly thereafter.

  Mr. Lang
  Sections 4, 8(1) and 9 to 14 of the Act have already been implemented. Progress on implementing the remaining provisions is dependent on the availability of resources and no consultations have been held about implementation of further provisions. I have received representations from the care in the community Scottish working group on the implementation of sections 1 and 2.

  The first report to be laid before Parliament under the Act—"Care of Persons with a Mental Handicap or Mental

  213
  Illness in Scotland"—is at present being printed. Scottish Office officials have met the Association of Directors of Social Work to discuss local authority progress in implementing section 13 of the Act and the need for further guidance. We will be considering what further monitoring arrangements are required.

  Dentures
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of persons who had(a) full and (b) partial national health service dentures made in the periods (i) April 1988 to April 1989 and (ii) April 1989 to April 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Financial year figures are not available centrally. Calendar year figures are set out in the table:

  Number

  1988

  Full dentures

  104,830

  Partial dentures

  67,956

  1989

  Full dentures

  95,529

  Partial dentures

  86,013

  Hearing Impairment
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish universities and institutes of higher education make special provision for students with hearing impairments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not available. It is for the universities and other institutions themselves to decide what special arrangements should be made for students with hearing impairments.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision has been made within mainstream primary and secondary state schools in Scotland in the five years ended June 1990 to assist children with hearing impairments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Education authorities are responsible for ensuring that sufficient specialist assistance is provided for all children with special educational needs.

  As for provision in mainstream schools for pupils with hearing impairment, individual authorities adopt varying approaches. Most children are taught by class teachers supported by visiting specialist teachers. Some authorities also have units for the hearing impaired housed in primary and secondary schools, although the bulk of the pupils' time is still spent in the mainstream class. Most children are taught using either the oral-aural approach or the total communication method, with the former more commonly used in the mainstream setting.

  Social Security
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much will be transferred from the Department of Social Security to Scottish local authorities for their new responsibilities; whether this can be broken down region by region for Scotland; and how these figures are calculated.
  214
  Mr. Lang
  The amount of the proposed transfer of resources from the Department of Social Security to Scottish local authorities has not been determined yet. As indicated in the written reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 18 July, the first transfer of such funds is now planned for 1993–94.

  Self-governing Schools
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all those schools which have expressed an interest in opting out.

  Mr. Lang
  Parents at Holm primary school in Orkney have presented the school board with a formal request seeking a ballot on self-governing status.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many redundancies there were in the Borders region for every year since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  There are no comprehensive statistics on redundancies. Information on the number of redundancies involving 10 or more workers confirmed to the Department of Employment as having occurred in the Borders region between 1979 and June 1990 is set out in the table.

  Confirmed redundancies

  Year

  Number

  1979

  50

  1980

  938

  1981

  536

  1982

  542

  1983

  367

  1984

  238

  1985

  149

  1986

  313

  1987

  335

  1988

  355

  1989

  564

  1 21990

  174

  1 The figures for 1990 are provisional and may be subject to revision as later data become available.

  2 January to June.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the unemployment levels for each Scottish region in October for every year since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The tables provide the available information. For the period 1979 to 1982 data are available only on the number of registrants at jobcentres. From 1983 the available information is for unemployed claimants. Comparisons over time are affected by the various changes in coverage and in particular by the discontinuity between 1982 and 1983.

  Number of registrants at jobcentres by Scottish Region

  Region1

  October2

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  Borders

  1,280

  2,080

  3,058

  3,458

  Central

  7,821

  11,206

  16,618

  19,178

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4,179

  5,656

  7,514

  8,192

  Fife

  9,497

  12,889

  17,845

  18,142

  Grampian

  8,126

  10,687

  14,743

  16,981

  Highlands

  6,505

  7,209

  9,360

  10,873

  Lothian

  21,752

  28,306

  40,893

  47,146

  215

  Region1

  October2

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  Strathclyde

  105,386

  147,820

  188,882

  200,489

  Tayside

  12,398

  18,190

  23,823

  24,619

  Orkney

  391

  476

  632

  813

  Number of claimants unemployed by Scottish region October2

  Region1

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Borders

  3,486

  3,416

  3,379

  3,718

  3,189

  2,404

  2,087

  Central

  17,762

  18,303

  18,666

  18,487

  16,526

  12,491

  10,834

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7,312

  7,647

  7,949

  7,824

  6,852

  6,066

  4,352

  Fife

  18,247

  19,446

  21,144

  22,030

  20,245

  16,545

  13,244

  Grampian

  16,028

  16,769

  17,129

  22,432

  19,715

  15,374

  11,090

  Highland

  10,173

  12,501

  13,099

  13,528

  12,097

  10,268

  7,636

  Lothian

  43,428

  44,742

  45,624

  47,160

  43,414

  34,158

  26,864

  Strathclyde

  188,962

  192,194

  197,292

  194,455

  176,894

  146,133

  120,697

  Tayside

  24,880

  24,756

  25,753

  25,665

  22,884

  18,416

  14,959

  Orkney

  719

  737

  765

  859

  821

  701

  493

  Shetland

  709

  667

  697

  794

  743

  638

  410

  Western Isles

  1,719

  1,932

  1,814

  2,284

  2,082

  2,052

  1,459

  1 Regional totals are aggregates of wards.

  2 Figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further changes he proposes to make to alleviate the impact of the community charge on poorer families and pensioners.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The community charge benefit scheme is already helping those on lower incomes. This scheme is much more generous than the former rates rebate scheme and over 1 million people in Scotland are paying a reduced community charge as a result. The extension of the community charge relief scheme which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 19 July means that many more former ratepayers, pensioners and disabled people will receive help with their bills and over a longer period.

  Mackinnon Memorial Hospital, Skye
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of(a) major and (b) intermediate surgical operations performed at the Mackinnon memorial hospital in Skye in 1988 and 1989, respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no generally recognised classification of operations into major and intermediate and information is not held centrally in this manner. The total number of cases operated on in Mackinnon memorial hospital in 1988 and 1989 were 734 and 733 respectively.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the accurancy of the 1990 declarations made by Scottish fishing vessels as to catches of cod made in or attributed to area VII; and what steps are taken to ensure that arrangements for the accurate declaration in log books of fish catches in area VII are being complied with.

  Mr. Lang
  Landings by Scottish fishing vessels of cod recorded as having been caught in International Council
  216

  Region1

  October2

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  Shetland

  227

  273

  404

  567

  Western Isles

  927

  1,346

  1,674

  2,292

  1 Regional totals are aggregates of jobcentre areas.

  2 Figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation.

  for the Exploration of the Seas area VII are being investigated and currently six cases are being prepared for submission to the prosecuting authorities. Inquiries are continuing in respect of a number of additional cases where some evidence of misreporting exists.

  Log books are examined when fishing vessels are boarded and at the end of each fishing trip when a copy of the log book pages are handed in to the local fishery office. Checks are made to ensure that the entries are compatible with the catch on board or landed and are consistent with any sightings of the vessel while it was at sea.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will name the Scottish fishing vessels which claim to have entered area VII and caught cod fish since 1 January; and if he will list separately those which were(a) at the limit of their quota or (b) had not filled their quota for cod fishing in areas VIa or IV.

  Mr. Lang
  No. It would not be appropriate to name individual vessels in the manner requested. Under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 information about an individual data subject cannot be disclosed, except in a limited number of circumstances, without that subject's consent.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist for identifying the names of fishing vessels that use the Caledonian canal from either east to west or west to east.

  Mr. Lang
  All vessels which pass through the Caledonian canal are logged by the canal office of the British Waterways Board.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set up an inquiry into misdeclaration by Scottish fishing vessels of cod catches since January.

  Mr. Lang
  The circumstances which have given rise to allegations of misreporting of cod catches by Scottish fishing vessels are being investigated.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions Department of
  217
  Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland officials have (a) witnessed fishing vessels either registered or based at Scottish ports enter into area VII or leave area VII either in anticipation of a catch or with a catch on board and (b) sighted Scottish fishing vessels within area VII.

  Mr. Lang
  The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is responsible for patrolling only that part of ICES area VII which is adjacent to the south-west coast of Scotland. Aerial surveillance during April, May and June 1990 identified six Scottish fishing vessels in that area.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions Scottish fishing vessels have entered into area VII since 1 January.

  Mr. Lang
  The information on entry to ICES area VII is not available in the form requested. However, records show that Scottish vessels which landed fish (of all species) into Scotland from ICES area VII have made a total of 446 trips to that area since 1 January 1990. Many Scottish fishermen traditionally fish area VII.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state which fishing vessels reported to DAFS at Scrabster their movements(a) in a westerly direction across the 4 deg W line since 1 January and (b) in an easterly direction across the 4 deg W line since 1 January.

  Mr. Lang
  It is assumed that the question relates to vessels making radio reports to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. These reports were made to Ullapool or Aberdeen rather than to Scrabster. A total of 1,649 reports were received in the period 1 January to 30 June 1990. Of these, 887 were from vessels proceeding east to west, 731 from west to east and 31 from vessels fishing close to the 4 deg W line.

  In the same period 24 vessels which were unable to make radio reports called in to Scrabster voluntarily. Of these 15 were heading west and nine were heading east.

  The large number of vessels involved precludes listing them individually.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what catches were recorded by Scottish vessels from ICES area VIId, VIIb and VIIc in June.

  Mr. Lang
  Landings into Scotland by Scottish vessels during June for ICES areas VIIb and VIIc were as follows. No landings from area VlId were recorded in June by Scottish vessels.

  Area VIIb

  Area VIIc

  Species

  1 Tonnes landed

  1 Tonnes landed

  Cod

  135

  1

  Haddock

  24

  20

  Plaice

  18

  —

  Whiting

  9

  —

  Saithe

  102

  —

  Catfish

  1

  1

  Dabs

  1

  —

  Dogfish

  3

  —

  Ling

  1

  1

  Megrims

  3

  3

  Monkfish

  12

  5

  Skate

  1

  1

  1 Rounded to the nearest tonne.

  218
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the incidence of calling in in respect of Scottish vessels landing at each Scottish port in June 1989 and June 1990 broken down by length of vessel.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: It is assumed that the question refers to calling in vessels for inspection, when crossing the 4 deg line. No vessels were called into port for physical inspection in either June 1989 or June 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Scotland (1) how many Scottish vessels landing area VII catches at Peterhead failed to radio in;

  (2) what was the average number of days at sea per trip recorded for June in respect of Scottish vessels landing at Peterhead having declared fishing in sea area VII;

  (3) how many Scottish vessels landing area VII catches at Peterhead in June had radioed in; and what percentage were physically summoned for inspection.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 20 July.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will order a full investigation into the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland monitoring of fish landings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: As I have already indicated to the hon. Member, urgent consideration is being given to fisheries enforcement procedures, in the light of recent developments.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students in each Scottish local authority area received(a) mandatory awards and (b) discretionary awards in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Awards under the students' allowances scheme—broadly equivalent to mandatory awards—are administered centrally and do not distinguish between individual local authority areas. The total number of such awards offered to Scottish domiciled students in session 1989–90 was 65,825.

  Discretionary awards for students attending other full-time courses of further or higher education are the responsibility of individual education authorities under the Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations 1988, as amended. Information on these awards is not held centrally.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Lang
  Small firms continue to play an important and dynamic role in the regeneration of the Scottish
  219
  economy. Small firms also continue to benefit from the comprehensive schemes of support that the Government have introduced. In the main, these are delivered through the Scottish Development Agency, the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Industry Department for Scotland, where policy responsibility lies. In addition to providing services specific to Scotland, the SDA, HIDB and the Industry Department for Scotland are responsible for the delivery and monitoring in Scotland of United Kingdom services on behalf of other Departments, including the Department of Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry. During 1989, there was a net increase of over 4,500 or 4·2 per cent. in the number of companies registered for VAT in Scotland. This is double the increase of the previous year. VAT returns indicate that between 1980 and 1989 the number of new businesses operating in Scotland showed a net increase of 19,900.

  The following describes the services available to small firms in Scotland during the periods 1988–89 and 1989–90 and some of their achievements.

  For the period 1988–89 IDS made 128 offers of regional selective assistance to the value of £12 million to small companies—those employing fewer than 200 people worldwide—in Scotland. This contributed to the creation of 2,180 new jobs and the safeguarding of 560 existing jobs. In 1989–90 167 offers of RSA were made to the value of over £17 million which contributed to the creation of 3,080 new jobs and the safeguarding of 340 existing jobs. For the period 1988–89 IDS made 2,180 offers to the value of £70 million under the revised regional development grants scheme to proposed projects by small companies in Scotland with the potential for 20,980 new jobs. In 1989–90 236 offers of RDG were made to the value of over £12 million with the potential for 3,400 new jobs. The last date for applications under this scheme was 31 March 1988. Information on the grant offered to small firms under the original RDG scheme is not available. Under both the investment and innovation elements of the regional enterprise grants scheme, 226 offers to the value of £2 million were made in Scotland in 1988–89, to companies employing under 25 people, contributing to the creation of 490 new jobs and the safeguarding of 400 existing jobs. In 1989–90 432 offers of REG to the value of over £4 million were made contributing to the creation of 1,640 new jobs and the safeguarding of 1,660 existing jobs.

  During the periods in question, the better business service scheme was administered by IDS, SDA and the HIDB. The scheme allows small companies to have access to subsidised professional business advice and in 1988–89 some 6,804 offers of assistance were made with an associated value of £3·1 million. In 1989–90 some 8,090 offers of assistance were made with an associated value of £3·7 million.

  Scottish Development Agency support for small businesses includes the provision of financial assistance, premises and a wide range of advisory services, including the small firms service (SFS) in Scotland and the administration of DTI's consultancy initiatives, under the enterprise initiative. In addition, the SFS offers an integrated and complementary range of business services including a Government business shop, a Euroinfocentre, a franchise desk and a Companies House satellite office. Under the consultancy initiatives, some 1,235 consultancy projects were undertaken during 1988–89 and in 1989–90 this figure was 1,158. In the year 1988–89, the agency had
  220
  contact with 19,250 small firms and some £·1·8 million was invested in 92 small firms creating or safeguarding 1,600 jobs. In 1989–90 the small firms service handled 17,286 inquiries; figures for SFS investment are not yet available, but across all sectors in Scotland the SDA invested £7 million and safeguarded 6,091 jobs.

  As well as delivering a small firms counselling service in its area, the Highlands and Islands Development Board undertakes a wide range of activities in support of businesses, most of which are small, to help them overcome the difficulties in operating in this peripheral and rural part of the United Kingdom. The measures taken include financial support to business, provision of factories and assistance with business advice and training. In 1988–89, the board approved 1,220 offers of financial assistance worth £25·3 million on projects involving proposed private sector investment of some £44·4 million and the creation or safeguarding of 3,300 jobs. For the period 1989–90, the board approved 983 offers of financial assistance worth £19·4 million on projects involving proposed private sector investment of £51·1 million and the creation or safeguarding of 2,700 jobs. In the period 1988–89, the HIDB completed 12,553 sq m of factory floor space. In this period some 3,130 jobs were housed in HIDB factories. In the period 1989–90, the HIDB completed 7,208 sq m of factory floor space. In this period, some 3,200 jobs were housed in HIDB factories.

  Local enterprise trusts have proved to be an important catalyst in fostering the enterprise culture in Scotland. The Government have continued to demonstrate their recognition of the valuable role played by the trusts, and the SDA provided financial support of £1·24 million to the 40 enterprise trusts in 1988–89, the latest year for which figures are available—an increase of almost 21 per cent. over the previous year. This has triggered a further £4·23 million from the other public and private sector partners. During 1988–89 trusts in Scotland counselled 25,200 clients from which 3,900 small businesses were formed. Companies assisted by enterprise trusts created some 9,000 new jobs. The SDA bases its financial assistance on its appraisal of each trust's annual management plan which contains details of the previous year's projects and objectives for the oncoming year.

  The Scottish Office continues to provide wholehearted support for the deregulation initiative. Recent steps which have been taken to embed further the deregulation message within Scottish Office Departments include arrangements for deregulation awareness training, a ministerial message on deregulation, a staff competition for deregulatory suggestions and the inclusion of advice on the topic in the Scottish Office staff handbook. The Government business shop in Glasgow continues to provide a very effective single access point for information on how to deal with Government regulations.

  As for public purchasing and supplier development, in the past year IDS, SDA and MOD have co-operated in the organisation of two seminars on civil and defence procurement. IDS made a strong contribution to a seminar organised by Strathclyde Innovation on improving the availability of development funding for small businesses. A major seminar was organised by IDS/SDA in October 1989 on the subject of supplier development. Another such event, focusing more closely on import substitution is planned for the latter half of 1990.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the numbers of senior citizens who received national health service eye tests during the periods(a) April 1988–89 and (b) April 1989–90

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Low Incomes
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will accept the recommendations made to him by COSLA concerning those on low incomes and the effects of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is at present considering the various recommendations made to him recently by COSLA. Some of these fall within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security whom we will be consulting before we respond to COSLA.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark),Official Report, 5 June, column 497 (a) on what date Dr. W. B. Martin became director of the Moredun research institute and (b) what research projects into scrapie were initiated by the Moredun research institute while Dr. W. B. Martin was its director.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Dr. W. B. Martin took up appointment as director of the Moredun research institute on 1 July 1977. During the period of his directorship, studies on changes in the brain of sheep exposed to scrapie agents were initiated at the institute, together with a programme of field observation work.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what share incentives will be offered to employees and pensioners when the two Scottish electricity companies are privatized.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has today announced details of the employee and pensioner share incentives to be made available when the electricity companies in England and Wales are offered for sale to the public. Although precise details of equivalent incentives in Scotland will not be determined until nearer the time when the two Scottish electricity companies are floated, I expect the special arrangements for both retired and existing employees of the Scottish electricity industry to be broadly in line with those on offer in England and Wales.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for 1990–91 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Yes, I intend to change three of the cash limits within my responsibility as follows.
  222
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 21, will be increased by £800,000 from £128,790,000 to £129,590,000. This increase is needed to accommodate additional expenditure not foreseen last autumn including, in particular, increased accommodation charges and costs relating to the new NHS executive. This will be offset by savings on the cash limits for class XV, vote 3, which will be reduced by £600,000 from £142,816,000 to £142,216,000, and for class XV, vote 6, which will be reduced by £200,000 from £251,542,000 to £251,342,000. The increase will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  As a consequence of these changes and of the reallocation of expenditure within class XV, vote 21, the Scottish Office running costs limit will be increased by £990,000 from £220,964,000 to £221,954,000.

  Pre-school Education
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 1979–80 to 1988–89 in (1) Inverclyde, (2) Strathclyde and (3) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 12 July 1990]: The readily available information is set out in the table:

  Children1 in Nurseries

  Places2 in Playgroups

  Fully Qualified3 Staff

  Scotland

  1979–80

  35,500

  41,750

  3,116

  1980–81

  36,166

  43,749

  3,281

  1981–82

  36,725

  40,924

  3,203

  1982–83

  38,536

  43,301

  3,317

  1983–84

  40,650

  43,549

  3,358

  1984–85

  42,428

  43,861

  3,410

  1985–86

  42,787

  41,492

  —

  1986–87

  44,051

  43,426

  1987–88

  46,431

  46,838

  3,722

  1988–89

  48,484

  45,342

  3,872

  Strathclyde

  1979–80

  16,467

  17,415

  1,466

  1980–81

  16,617

  19,820

  1,538

  1981–82

  17,200

  17,093

  1,525

  1982–83

  18,046

  18,089

  1,604

  1983–84

  18,868

  19,111

  1,617

  1984–85

  19,793

  17,742

  1,595

  1985–86

  20,476

  16,227

  —

  1986–87

  21,049

  16,823

  —

  1987–88

  22,048

  20,274

  1,763

  1988–89

  22,599

  16,030

  1,832

  Inverclyde

  1988–89

  1,035

  709

  91

  1 Number of children attending local authority nursery schools and day nurseries.

  2 Number of children for which registered pre-school playgroups are registered and number of places in local authority pre-school playgroups.

  3 Full-time equivalent number of teachers, trained nurses, and care staff in local authority nursery schools and day nurseries.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for each of the Training Agency area offices in Scotland what is the percentage allocation of employment
  223
  training funds to mainstream and non-mainstream groups; and what are the reasons for the relative proportions.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 17 July 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested. For Scotland as a whole about 13 per cent. of the employment training funding available for people starting employment training in 1990–91 following agreement of new contracts with training providers is for entrants from non-mainstream groups. The expenditure on all non-mainstream provision delivered in 1990–91 is likely to be somewhat higher, reflecting higher proportions of non-mainstream trainees at the start of the period.

  Information at area office level is for internal management purposes only.

  Needle Exchange Schemes
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the needle exchange schemes currently operating in each of the health board areas in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Three health boards currently operate needle and syringe exchange schemes as follows:

  Lothian health board
  Needle and syringe exchange arrangements exist in the Muirhouse, Craigmillar and Leith areas of Edinburgh.

  Greater Glasgow health board
  Schemes are operating at Ruchill hospital, Glasgow and in the Castlemilk and Easterhouse areas of the city.

  Table I: people who have died with AIDS

  Patient characteristic

  31 December 1987

  30 June 1988

  31 December 1988

  30 June 1989

  31 December 1989

  30 June 1990

  Homosexual-bisexual

  112

  114

  121

  132

  137

  238

  Intravenous drug misuser (IVDM)

  2

  3

  3

  4

  9

  11

  Haemophiliac

  4

  4

  5

  6

  6

  6

  Recipient of blood or blood products:

  Abroad3

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  United Kingdom

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Heterosexual: presumed infected:

  Abroad

  —

  2

  2

  2

  4

  4

  United Kingdom

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Child of HIV antibody positive parents

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  3

  Other

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Total

  21

  26

  35

  51

  64

  68

  1 Includes two visitors to the United Kingdom.

  2 Includes three visitors to the United Kingdom.

  3 Not blood transfusion.

  Table II: People with AIDS including those who have died

  Patient characteristic

  31 December 1987

  30 June 1988

  31 December 1988

  30 June 1989

  31 December 1989

  30 June 1990

  Homosexual/bisexual

  126

  138

  145

  155

  170

  278

  Intravenous Drug Misuser (IVDM)

  4

  7

  9

  22

  34

  44

  Haemophiliac

  4

  6

  6

  6

  8

  9

  Recipient of blood or blood products:

  Abroad3

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  United Kingdom

  2

  3

  3

  3

  3

  4

  Heterosexual, presumed infected:

  Abroad

  —

  4

  7

  7

  8

  9

  United Kingdom

  1

  1

  1

  3

  3

  3

  224
  Argyll and Clyde health board
  A mobile needle and syringe exchange scheme is currently operating in the Inverclyde area on a trial basis.

  AIDS
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the cumulative totals on 31 December 1987, 30 June 1988, 31 December 1988, 30 June 1989, 31 December 1989 and 30 June 1990 of(a) people who have died with AIDS, (b) people with AIDS including those who have died and (c) HIV antibody positive persons in Scotland (i) by patient characteristic, (ii) in each of the health board areas and (iii) in total.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The cumulative totals for Scotland of (a) people who have died with AIDS, (b) people with AIDS including those who have died, and (c) people who have been identified and reported to the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit as being HIV antibody positive on the dates shown are given in tables I, II and III respectively. The tables provide a breakdown by patient characteristic for Scotland as a whole. The figures of AIDS cases and deaths and of HIV antibody positive persons for particular health board areas are, in some cases, very low and as their publication, according to patient characteristic, may in consequence endanger medical confidentiality, geographical breakdowns are not produced.
  225

  Patient characteristic

  31 December 1987

  30 June 1988

  31 December 1988

  30 June 1989

  31 December 1989

  30 June 1990

  Child of HIV antibody positive parents

  1

  1

  2

  4

  4

  4

  Other4

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Total

  39

  61

  75

  102

  132

  154

  1Includes four visitors to the United Kingdom, two of whom are known to have died.

  2 Includes four visitors to the United Kingdom, three of whom are known to have died.

  3Not blood transfusion.

  4Includes one visitor from outside United Kingdom, who is known to have died.

  Table III: HIV Antibody positive persons

  Patient characteristic

  31 December 1987

  30 June 1988

  31 December 1988

  30 June 1989

  31 December 1989

  30 June 1990

  Homosexual/bisexual

  206

  233

  242

  264

  280

  304

  Intravenous Drug Misuser (IVDM)

  792

  827

  858

  892

  910

  926

  Homosexual and IVDM

  3

  5

  6

  6

  6

  7

  Haemophiliac

  175

  176

  176

  176

  277

  277

  Recipient of blood transfusion/blood products

  10

  10

  10

  31l

  312

  312

  Heterosexual contact

  462

  581

  589

  5108

  5120

  5143

  Infant/Child (not haemophiliac)

  664

  669

  775

  781

  792

  7101

  Other/not known

  8169

  9203

  9224

  9230

  9232

  9234

  Total

  1,381

  1,504

  1,580

  1,668

  1,729

  1,804

  Notes:

  1 Includes 16 children.

  2 Includes 17 children.

  3 Includes one child.

  4 Includes four people with contact abroad.

  5 Includes 12 people with contact abroad.

  6 Includes 26 children who have at least one parent identified as misusing IV drugs.

  7 Includes 27 children who have at least one parent identified as misusing IV drugs.

  8 Includes five people of African origin and one person of Caribbean origin.

  9 Includes 12 people of African origin and one person of Caribbean origin: also one person with possible exposure abroad.

  Disabled People (Training)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he takes to ensure that, in accordance with the employment training equal opportunities code of practice, disabled people have equality of opportunity; and whether extra training costs resulting from a trainee's disability are met by the Government.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The Training Agency, through its approved training organisation process, ensures that all employment training providers have and follow an equal opportunities policy allowing easy access to appropriate training for disabled people. Additionally, disabled individuals can enter the programme without having to satisfy the normal eligibility conditions regarding length of unemployment.

  In their contract dealings with the Training Agency, individual training managers negotiate and agree terms which take account of the costs of all training provided including the needs of disabled trainees.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the areas in Scotland in which special measures to ease access to youth training announced in March have been set up, which include links between social work departments, hostels accommodating homeless young people, voluntary organisations and suitable training providers.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: As part of the new arrangements announced for youth training, all Training Agency area offices in Scotland have appointed guarantee liaison officers whose remit is to assist young people within the youth training guarantee group and to establish or reaffirm links with voluntary organisations, social work departments, careers and probation services, and the Department of Social Security; and to encourage training managers to establish close links with hostels for homeless young people.

  WAR CRIMINALS: EXECUTIONS
  WAR CRIMINALS: EXECUTIONS
  STINGER ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES
  STINGER ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES
  NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN STORAGE: SAFETY
  NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN STORAGE: SAFETY
  POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS: SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
  POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS: SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
  RESIDENTIAL AND NURSING HOME CARE: EXPENDITURE FORECASTS
  RESIDENTIAL AND NURSING HOME CARE: EXPENDITURE FORECASTS
  DOCKLANDS: IMPROVED ACCESS FROM THE SOUTH
  DOCKLANDS: IMPROVED ACCESS FROM THE SOUTH
  VEHICLE NUMBER PLATES: EUROPEAN FLAG
  VEHICLE NUMBER PLATES: EUROPEAN FLAG
  GATT URUGUAY ROUND: EC POSITION
  GATT URUGUAY ROUND: EC POSITION
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: NON-PAYMENT
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: NON-PAYMENT
  EC BATHING WATER QUALITY REPORT
  EC BATHING WATER QUALITY REPORT
  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL: ADVICE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL: ADVICE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
  POLLUTION CONTROL: COST-RECOVERY CHARGES
  POLLUTION CONTROL: COST-RECOVERY CHARGES
  INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL: IMPLEMENTATION
  INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL: IMPLEMENTATION
  BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD: REPORT ON WATERWAYS MAINTENANCE
  BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD: REPORT ON WATERWAYS MAINTENANCE
  TELFORD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: WIND-UP
  TELFORD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: WIND-UP
  HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE
  HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE
  LANDFILL SITES: MONITORING AND REMEDYING DEFECTS
  LANDFILL SITES: MONITORING AND REMEDYING DEFECTS
  RADIOACTIVE WASTE: NIREX REPOSITORY
  RADIOACTIVE WASTE: NIREX REPOSITORY
  FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS: PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATION
  FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS: PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATION
  CHURCH SCHOOL CLOSURES
  CHURCH SCHOOL CLOSURES