Written Answers of 26 July 1990

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  City Fraud
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has held recently with the Director of Public Prosecutions about City fraud; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I frequently meet the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss matters of departmental interest. However, as I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 9 July 1990, primary responsibility for the prosecution of commercial fraud rests with the Serious Fraud Office. I met the director of the Serious Fraud Office on Monday 16 July to discuss matters of departmental interest.

  "Statutes in Force"
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will state the dates to which Her Majesty's Stationery Office's publication "Statutes in Force" applies(a) in respect of new statutes and (b) in respect of repeals and amendments.

  The Attorney-General
  As to new statutes, all relevant Acts which received Royal Assent before 24 May 1990 have been duly published in "Statutes in Force". Information on the repeal of whole Acts is up to date to 29 June 1990, and amended Acts in "Statutes in Force" are up to date to various extents ranging from 1 January 1983 to 1 May 1990.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  The Attorney-General
  No political advisers or public relations advisers are currently employed to advise Ministers in any of the Departments for which I am responsible.

THE ARTS

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he intends to publish the corporate plan of the natural history museum.

  Mr. Mellor
  I am pleased to say that the museum published its corporate plan in April and copies are available from the museum on request.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of those local authorities known to him that have set their standard community charge multiplier at less than twice the personal community charge in respect of properties unoccupied for more than(a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am arranging for this information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Krypton 85
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out into Krypton 85 before authorising its release into the atmosphere in 1992; what regulations apply to Krypton 85; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Discharges of radioactive gas into the atmosphere are regulated by authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. My Department has supported research into immobilisation of Krypton 85 for purposes of disposal. Applicants for an authorisation are required to justify their proposals with reference to their own research results where appropriate. No application for such an authorisation to be granted in 1992 has been received. All applications are carefully assessed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution before authorisations are granted.

  BISF Houses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations the Minister for Housing has received from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North requesting a meeting regarding BISF houses; and when he will reply.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replied to the hon. Member's request in his letter of 29 March 1990.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications of the Parnham report "BISF Houses: An Assessment of Condition", for the policies of his Department.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department has not seen this report, which we understand has been commissioned privately.

  European Environment Agency
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met his European Community counterparts to discuss the issue of the development of a European environment agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I discussed the European environment agency with EC Environment Ministers and their counterparts in eastern Europe in Dublin on 16 June 1990. The progress made in adopting the regulation on the agency was welcomed. The regulation takes actual effect when a decision on the siting of the agency is made.

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has reviewed its policy on radioactive waste management and storage following the publication of the European Commission's proposals for radioactive waste management and storage.

  Mr. Trippier
  The 19th report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities broadly endorsed the Government's policy on radioactive waste management and storage. No further review was therefore required.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what controls govern the disposal of radioactive waste to the dustbin by local authority collection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The disposal of radioactive waste with domestic refuse system is controlled by the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 (RSA 60). Unless exempted by way of an order issued under RSA 60 any such disposal requires authorisation.

  House Renovation Grants
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the reasons for the delay in publishing the regulations on the house renovation grants scheme; what is the average interlude between the publication of regulations and the starting of a scheme; and what representations he has had from(a) local authorities and (b) others on this matter.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990 (S.I. No. 1189) were not laid before Parliament until 8 June as they had been the subject of an extensive consultation exercise. It was necessary to take account of comments received from consultees before the regulations could be finalised. Information is not available on the average time taken between the publication of regulations and the start of a scheme and it could be collected only at disproportionate cost. Since the regulations were laid my Department has received two representations from local authorities and 13 from hon. Members.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the water companies that have had complaints sent to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission over the cost of water pipes to new homes since privatisation; and if he will list the complaints received, by company.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Complaints about the actions of, and charges imposed by, water and sewage undertakers fall to be dealt with in the first instance by the customer service committees established by the Director General of Water Services. Reference of any individual complaint to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is a matter for decision by the director general.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the amount charged by individual water companies for connection to the water system for(a) new homes and (b) new businesses; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Section 79 of the Water Act 1989 enables water and sewage undertakers to levy charges to cover the cost of additional infrastructure required to meet the demands of new customers. The initial limits, which were set by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, are listed in the table. These charges are payable on the provision of new supplies or sewerage services for domestic purposes and are in addition to the longstanding arrangements for the provision of local infrastructure through requisitioning payments and connection charges.

  Water service companies: Water and sewerage infrastructure charge limits (at 1990–91 prices)

  Water £

  Sewerage £

  Anglian Water Services Limited

  479

  597

  Southern Water Services Limited

  365

  485

  Thames Water Utilities Limited

  403

  337

  Yorkshire Water Services Limited

  529

  626

  Northumbrian Water Limited

  111

  240

  North West Water Limited

  198

  338

  Severn Trent Water Limited

  498

  356

  Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig

  259

  332

  South West Water Services Limited

  654

  557

  Wessex Water Services Limited

  551

  983

  Statutory water companies: water infrastructure charge limits (at 1990–91 prices)

  £

  Bournemouth

  1,000

  Bristol

  439

  Cambridge

  1,000

  Cholderton

  201

  Colne Valley

  435

  East Anglian

  1,000

  Eastbourne

  1,000

  East Surrey

  251

  East Worcestershire

  576

  Essex

  404

  Folkestone

  998

  Hartlepool

  252

  Lee Valley

  808

  Mid Kent

  1,000

  Mid Sussex

  392

  Mid Southern

  700

  Newcastle

  216

  North Surrey

  392

  Portsmouth

  358

  Rickmansworth

  395

  South Staffs

  606

  Sunderland

  485

  Sutton

  254

  Tendring Hundred

  1,000

  West Hampshire

  868

  West Kent

  834

  York

  222

  Chester

  758

  Wrexham

  390

  Fire Regulations
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the implications of the report by Bickerdike Allen Partners on fire and building regulations on the changes recommended in building requirements affecting fire safety regulations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A consultation paper containing proposals for amendments to part B, "Safety in Fire", of the Building Regulations 1985 was issued in March. Responses are now being considered. A number of those who have responded, including the Royal Institute of
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  British Architects, the British Institute of Architectural Technicians, the Association of Structural Fire Protection Contractors and Manufacturers, the Gypsum Products Development Association, and Cape Building Products Ltd., have referred to the recommendations made in the review of fire and building regulations undertaken by Bickerdike Allen Partners. These recommendations have already been accepted by the Government, and are in the course of being implemented. The part B proposals take account of them, and the two documents are intended to form a complementary approach to the improvement of fire safety in buildings.

  Planning Policy Guidance
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the planning policy guidance note, "The Countryside and the Environment", is to be published.

  Mr. Spicer
  The publication date has not yet been set. More than 400 responses were received to the consultation draft.

  Agricultural Dwellings
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to take to ensure that agricultural dwellings erected in accordance with the advice given in the annex to circular 24/73 are occupied by farmers or farm workers engaged in a financially viable agricultural practice.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Local planning authorities have extensive enforcement powers if an agricultural dwelling is occupied in breach of an agricultural occupancy condition.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider publishing new guidance encouraging local planning authorities to restrict the occupation of agricultural dwellings to persons working on the land identified in the planning permission.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This, and other suggestions, are under consideration with a view to publishing new guidance in the final version of the planning policy guidance note on the countryside and the rural economy.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has received concerning abuse of the special privilege given to agricultural workers' dwellings in the annex to circular 24/73.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  A number of responses to the consultation draft of the planning policy guidance note on the countryside and the rural economy commented on this point, and the Council for the Protection of Rural England has sent me a copy of its recent report, "A Place in the Country".

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details for each local housing authority for 1989–90 of(a) the estimated expenditure by housing associations, (b) the actual expenditure by housing associations, (c) the estimated number of completed housing units by housing associations, (d) the actual number of completed housing units by housing associations and (e) the extent of overspending by housing associations.
  378
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This matter is for the Housing Corporation. I have asked the corporation to respond to the hon. Member direct.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will lift restrictions preventing local authorities from diverting money from capital receipts into the building of homes.

  Mr. Portillo
  The rules under which local authorities set aside a reserved part of their capital receipts as provision for credit liabilities enable resources to be targeted more effectively on need. Local authorities are free to use all the usable part of their capital receipts for capital expenditure on any service.

  Women's Temporary Accommodation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that women going into temporary accommodation will have the choice of accommodation with high security and women only if that is what they wish.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The choice of temporary accommodation made available to any household accepted as homeless under the homelessness legislation is a matter for each local authority. Local authorities should seek to ensure that the type of accommodation offered is appropriate to the circumstances of each individual household.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken into the relationship between the breakup of family relationships and homelessness, temporary accommodation and bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The results of a major national study of homelessness and temporary accommodation carried out for the Department by the university of Birmingham's centre for urban and regional studies was published last year. My Department has also commissioned the university of York to carry out a study of the housing effects of relationship breakdown; this will be completed in 1992. Results of the first stage have already been published.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the community charge will be collected from homeless families, eligible for an 80 per cent. rebate, who have been placed in temporary accommodation in another borough; and if he will estimate the administrative cost of the housing benefit being assessed by the placing authority and the community charge being collected by the receiving authority.

  Mr. Portillo
  Generally the sole or main residence of such families would be expected to move to the receiving authority and the community charge would be paid at the new address. If the accommodation was designated for the collective charge, payments would be made to the receiving authority through the landlord, otherwise,
  379
  payments would be made directly to the authority. Information is not available in the detail requested on cost of housing benefit administration or collection of the community charge.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures will be taken to ensure that families in bed-and-breakfast or temporary accommodation receive adequate information regarding the collection of the community charge and advising them of rebates available; and what safeguards there will be to ensure the confidentiality of financial information for those people and families whose tax is collected under a collective charge.

  Mr. Portillo
  Advice has been given to local authorities in community charge practice notes 14 and 21. The landlord of a collective charge property will not need to hold information other than the names of qualifying individuals, the periods during which they are resident and the amounts payable by way of contribution for each day by the individuals, These records may be inspected by the local authority. A community charge benefit claimant will have his or her benefit paid by the authority either directly or by way of a voucher. There is no need for the landlord of a collective charge property to hold separate information about an individual's financial status.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to local authorities as to whether they should send out community charge bills or uniform business rate bills in respect of those caravans on protected sites whose status he has announced his intention to clarify by means of further legislation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Department wrote to all charging authorities in England on 30 March informing them of the reply given that day to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope) (Official Report, columns 346–47). In view of the proposed requirement on charging authorities to refund any payments of the standard charge in respect of caravans on protected sites, the letter drew to authorities' attention the need to consider to what extent they wished to take steps to collect the standard charge. It is my impression that most authorities have chosen not to levy a standard charge in these cases.

  Pollution, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many monitoring points for assessing the levels and effects of automobile exhaust pollution exist in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Warren Spring laboratory operates, under contract to my Department, three Greater London sites monitoring the levels of air pollution, the majority of which is caused by road transport.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on how many occasions in the current year the concentrations of gases produced from the 380
  photochemical decomposition of exhaust emissions in London have exceeded safety levels as designated by the EEC and other international standards;

  (2) what information he has about the measured concentrations of ground level ozone and benzene in the Greater London area during the current spell of hot weather; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will make a statement about the level of photochemical smog in London during July.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government release data from the United Kingdom national ozone monitoring network should any two sites measure an exceedance of a 60ppb (parts per billion) hourly average, which is considerably more stringent than the World Health Organisation guide value for ozone of 76–100 ppb. There are currently no comparable EC guide values. Data from the network covering the London area are given below.

  Date

  Number of hours over 60ppb

  Maximum levels

  5 May 1990

  6

  88

  6 May 1990

  6

  79

  17 June 1990

  4

  67

  15 July 1990

  1

  64

  20 July 1990

  3

  74

  21 July 1990

  6

  88

  Modelling studies suggest that peak kerbside and urban background benzene concentrations are in the order of 60ppb and 6ppb respectively. There are no international guide values for benzene.

  By the end of 1992, and to comply with EC legislation, new cars will be fitted with catalytic converters, cutting the emissions of the ozone precursors nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, including benzene, by more than 80 per cent. Since road transport is the major source of these pollutants in urban areas, these measures will lead to substantial improvements in all aspects of urban air quality.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those members of the panel of independent inspectors who are currently available to hold public inquiries in England and Wales into road schemes, with their ages, qualifications, and last two previous professional appointments.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Shire Counties (Expenditure)
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total estimated expenditure per head for each shire county for 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  Net revenue expenditure per head of relevant population 1990–91

  Avon

  750

  Bedfordshire

  778

  Berkshire

  732

  Buckinghamshire

  741

  381

  Net revenue expenditure per head of relevant population 1990–91

  Cambridgeshire

  702

  Cheshire

  744

  Cleveland

  905

  Cornwall

  713

  Cumbria

  729

  Derbyshire

  785

  Devon

  679

  Dorset

  606

  Durham

  714

  East Sussex

  624

  Essex

  681

  Gloucestershire

  688

  Hampshire

  653

  Hereford and Worcester

  634

  Hertfordshire

  691

  Humberside

  797

  Isle of Wight

  702

  Kent

  663

  Lancashire

  777

  Leicestershire

  760

  Lincolnshire

  667

  Norfolk

  644

  Northamptonshire

  743

  Northumberland

  722

  North Yorkshire

  663

  Nottinghamshire

  769

  Oxfordshire

  714

  Shropshire

  726

  Somerset

  715

  Staffordshire

  668

  Suffolk

  678

  Surrey

  615

  Warwickshire

  694

  West Sussex

  585

  Wiltshire

  679

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reductions in expenditure(a) in central Goverment and (b) in local government have been achieved arising from the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The projected long-term annual saving resulting from staff savings following abolition of the GLC and metropolitan county councils is estimated at £100 million.

  Pollution Inspectors
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the annual report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution district inspectors for 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to publish HMIP's annual report for 1988–89 next month.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the district offices of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution he intends to run down, close or relocate; where he intends to maintain existing staffing levels at Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution district offices; and whether staff who leave district offices or are transferred will be replaced with staff of equal grade.

  Mr. Trippier
  Staff in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution have been informed that regional offices in 382
  Bedford, Bristol and Leeds will be the focus of the development of its regional structure. Sub-offices in Cardiff, Lancaster and London will be retained. Staff leaving or transferring from present offices in Lincoln, Luton, Chelmsford, East Grinstead, Sheffield, Darlington, Preston, Chester and Birmingham will not be replaced at those offices. The need for, and location of, further sub-offices will be considered carefully when regional offices are staffed up to complement.

  Shire Counties (Manpower)
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of people employed in(a) the fire services and (b) the library service in the shire counties in 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows:

  Non-metropolitan counties in England

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total staff

  (a) Fire service (Regulars and Others)

  20,032

  1,296

  21,328

  (b) Public Libraries and Museums

  10,344

  11,648

  21,992

  Source: Joint staffing watch for England, March 1990 survey.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Professor D. Pearce is my special (economic) adviser on environmental matters and Mr. P. J. Rock is my special (political) adviser. Mr. R. Marsh is special (political) adviser to the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities, the Minister for Housing and Planning, and the Minister for the Environment and Countryside.

  It is not the practice to give information about the salaries of individual advisers as they are negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential. The normal civil service rules apply to expenses and each adviser may be provided with secretarial assistance.

  No public relations advisers are currently employed by my Department, nor are there any special advisers on secondment.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the future of county hall, London SE1.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave on 24 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis).

  Council Houses (Defects)
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from or on behalf of people who bought council houses and have
  383
  been unable to resell them since the Building Research Establishment issued a report in 1987 alleging defects in large panel system dwellings and building societies have refused to accept mortgage risks on such properties; what action he is taking to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department has received a number of representations about the mortgageability of dwellings built from large panels, and we commissioned our Building Research Establishment to carry out a major study to establish the facts about the structural adequacy and durability of such buildings. That study revealed no general problem of structural safety. We published the report in 1987, and drew it to the attention of major lending institutions, who have confirmed that it is their policy to grant mortgages on large panel system dwellings, judging each building on its merits, in the same way as they do dwellings of more traditional construction.

  Local Authorities (Costs)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to his duty of monitoring all new costs imposed on local authorities by Ministers, he will publish, by Department, a list giving the estimate of all such costs in the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92, subdivided pursuant to(a) Acts passed since 31 July 1989, (b) statutory instruments coming into force since 31 July 1989 and (c) departmental circulars issued since 31 July 1989.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the major new burdens falling to local government in 1990–91 include: community charge collection, the implementation of the Children Act, new initiatives in waste disposal management, and the structural maintenance of bridges after existing EC derogation in respect of lorry weights ends in 1999.

  The major new burdens falling to local government in 1991–92 will include the first phase of community care, the expansion of responsibilities relating to mental illness, the code of practice on litter, and new responsibilities arising from the Environmental Protection Bill and the Food Safety Bill.

  The best estimates of the costs of these burdens, plus savings resulting from improvements in efficiency or the removal of responsibilities, were taken into account, along with all other relevant factors, when we set the levels of total standard spending for the respective years.

  Tanhouse Estate, Skelmersdale
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant he is proposing to make to the West Lancashire district council to upgrade the Tanhouse estate in Skelmersdale under the estate programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Estate Action resources to improve the Tanhouse estate have been provisionally earmarked as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  1·150

  1991–92

  1·019

  1992–93

  1·00

  Total

  3·169

  384
  Final approval is subject to agreement on a detailed scheme.

  Councillors (Allowances)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the operation of the local authority members' allowance scheme introduced under the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Portillo
  Yes. We have already agreed with the local authority associations, in discussing the proposed new system, that there will be a review of its working after about a year.

  Housing Act 1988
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to when Westminster council will complete the evaluation of the Walterton and Elgin estate in the matter of the application by the tenants of the estate to change their landlord under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988;

  (2) if he will take action to ensure that Westminster council does not delay further in processing the applications by tenants of the Walterton and Elgin estates to change their landlord under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988;

  (3) what information he has on the reasons for the delay by Westminster council in processing the application by tenants of the Walterton and Elgin estate to change their landlord under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988, the local authority has eight weeks to notify the applicant landlord of the price it considers should be paid for the property. Extensions to this period are a matter between the local authority and the applicant landlord, and the Secretary of State has no locus in the matter. I understand that in the case of the Walterton and Elgin estate in Westminster the reasons for the delay are being discussed by the parties concerned, and I hope that the outstanding issues can be speedily resolved.

  Sewage Treatment
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made by his Department of the Oxymaster sewage treatment system in regard to the implementation of technological improvements to meet European Community standards on sewage treatment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My officials have discussed the Oxymaster system in detail with representatives of the manufacturers. However, it is not our practice to recommend one commercial product rather than other alternative products.

  Nitrogen Oxides
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, on 17 July Official Report, column 499, when he expects to receive the final report into evaluation of nitrogen oxide abatement technologies for large combustion plant; and if he will place a copy in the Library on receipt.
  385
  Mr. Trippier
  My Department expects to receive a final report on NOx abatement technologies for large combustion plant early in the autumn. Consideration will then be given to placing it in the Library.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Antarctic conservation is to be addressed by the environment White Paper.

  Mr. Trippier
  The White Paper will deal with a wide range of international environment issues, including the environment in the polar regions.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has or plans to commission any independent research into the housing needs of disabled people and the extent to which those needs are currently being met; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Department has commissioned Ernst and Young management consultants to carry out an independent study of the housing needs of elderly and disabled people. They began work on the research this month and aim to complete it in the spring of 1992.

  Solvent-free Paint
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department or Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has evaluated the benefits to reduced pollution of the development of solvent-free paint; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Harwell laboratory and the Warren Spring laboratory are making a study of volatile organic compounds and their effects under contract to my Department. These studies include the benefits from reducing solvent content of paints.

  Mains Water (Connection)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a system of interim relief in respect of payments for connection to mains water supplies.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We first announced proposals for the introduction of water and sewerage infrastructure charges in May 1989. Introduction was delayed until 1 April 1990. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to introduce further transitional arrangements.

  Hostel Deficit Grants
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his policy to increase the number of hostel deficit grants.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has been considering proposals put to him by the Housing Corporation for replacing hostel deficit grant by a flat-rate allowance. He wrote to the corporation and the National Federation of Housing Associations on 25 July announcing his decision that the 386
  allowance should be introduced for new schemes from next April and extended, or equivalent arrangements applied, to existing schemes as soon as practicable. The new grant system should be seen as transitional, since it will need to be kept under review in the light of the evolution of the care in the community policy.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are employed by the Nature Conservancy Council's Great Britain headquarters for the purposes of processing grant applications; and what number will be required to do this work following the Nature Conservancy Council's reorganisation.

  Mr. Trippier
  Seven people are currently employed to process grant applications at the Great Britain headquarters of the Nature Conservancy Council. I cannot yet say how many staff may be allocated to this work following reorganisation as staffing levels for the new conservation agencies are still under consideration.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those persons or organisations that have been consulted over the future funding requirements of the Nature Conservancy Council or the Countryside Commission.

  Mr. Trippier
  Discussions about the future funding requirements of the successor bodies to the present Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission are taking place between the relevant Government Departments, the existing agencies and the chairmen-designate of the new bodies.

  Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is liaising with the department of chemical engineering at Bath university over research into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls;

  (2) if he will fund research being carried out by the department of chemical engineering at Bath university into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are no formal liaison arrangements with the department of chemical engineering at Bath university on research into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls. Officials in my Department are aware of the work going on there and Professor Thomas is on the mailing list for the environmental protection technology scheme which the Department funds. I am not aware of any recent approach by the university to fund the research being carried out there, but I am happy to consider, in the usual way, any research proposals which the university cares to make.

  Air Pollution
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been undertaken by his Department into the use of lichen to assess the extent of air pollution.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department is currently commissioning a review of the use of lichens as one possible method
  387
  of assessing the extent of air pollution in the United Kingdom. The results of this research will be published in due course.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the deadline for compliance set by the European Community's directive on sulphur dioxide emissions from large construction plants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The deadline for achieving a 60 per cent. reduction on 1980 levels of sulphur dioxide emission levels from existing large combustion plants in the United Kingdom is 2003.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what projects are currently funded by his Department to study air pollution.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department's research programme on air pollution currently funds over 40 projects. This programme is reviewed in the Department of the Environment report on research and development 1986–88. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. This review contains a full list of research reports and papers produced and is currently being updated.

  Environmental Management
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met his United States counterpart to discuss issues of environmental management.

  Mr. Trippier
  During the London meeting of the parties to the Montreal protocol in June I was able to discuss a wide range of international environmental issues with Willian Reilly, administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

  Radioactive Discharges (Sellafield)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from the Governments of the Republic of Ireland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Sweden and Denmark, regarding radioactive discharges from the Sellafield nuclear installation.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what budget his Department has set for allocation to the Sports Council for use in the prevention and detection of drugs in sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  Government grant in aid to the Sports Council for 1990–91 is £43·747 million. The Sports Council allocates this according to its priorities. I understand that it has allocated £600,000 for its drugs testing programme in 1990–91.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has had any discussions with Yorkshire Water about pollution of the River Aire in Leeds; and if he will make a statement.
  388
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is for the National Rivers Authority, as the body primarily responsible for the control of water pollution, to pursue local issues with dischargers, including, where appropriate, water and sewerage undertakers.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requirements exist in respect of the fitting of non-return valves to household equipment so as to prevent pollution from water syphoning back into the mains supply.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Water byelaws are in force throughout the United Kingdom that require household equipment to be fitted with non-return valves or other no less effective devices to prevent the pollution of water from water syphoning back into mains supply.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to fully implement the recommendations of the 1981 Commission on Energy and the Environment regarding ferruginous discharges into rivers and streams.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Following the commission's recommendations, discharges of waste water from active mine workings—including ferruginous discharges—were brought within the pollution control system for the first time upon implementation by this Goverment of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The relevant provisions have been substantially re-enacted in the Water Act 1989.

  Discharges from abandoned mine workings do however present particular difficulties, as the commission recognised. The ownership of many such workings is unknown and cannot be traced. The National Rivers Authority has been considering the extent of these problems in England and Wales and we shall be discussing further with the authority how they might best be tackled.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, on 19 July Official Report, column 725, how many authorisations (a) were granted and (b) were in force for discharges of radioactive waste to the public sewer in 1989 in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Greater London and (iv) East Sussex.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the Department's "List of Premises in England and Wales currently authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This lists the authorisations in force at April 1988. The detailed information requested by the hon. Member can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the National Rivers Authority's review of discharge consents and compliance assessment will be made public.

  Mr. Trippier
  The National Rivers Authority has today published its review of the discharge consent system. The aim of the review is to ensure that the system serves to protect water quality and is effective in enabling pollution control standards to be enforced. I therefore welcome the review as a major and important contribution in this difficult and technical area. It will help to provide a sound basis for the authority's future work in securing lasting improvements in the water environment.
  389
  The National Rivers Authority has published its review in order that interested parties should have the opportunity to comment on the proposals, before decisions are taken about implementation. I look forward to hearing from the authority what conclusions it draws in the light of the comments it receives.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the guidelines given to chairmen and members of urban development corporations where a conflict of interests may arise.

  Mr. Portillo
  The guidelines are designed to ensure that the duties of urban development corporation chairmen and board members do not conflict with their private interests.

  Chairmen are required to sign undertakings which reflect their particular circumstances. If they are involved with companies that might otherwise operate in the urban development area they will normally be required to confirm that the companies will not so operate during the term of their appointment.

  Other board members must declare to the board their private interests which might give rise to a conflict. If a particular case gives rise to a possible conflict of interest, the member is required to write in advance to the chairman and it is for the other board members to decide what action to take. Unless the interest is trivial, the member would normally withdraw from the discussion and not vote on it.

  Specialised Housing
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each local authority in England, the number of(a) sheltered housing units, (b) wheelchair housing units and (c) mobility housing units provided, together with the number of units in each category started in each year from 1981 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Local authorities report the numbers of sheltered dwellings and wheelchair dwellings in their areas in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIP1). The latest figures are for April 1989 and appear in columns A2a1 and A2c1 (local authority owned sheltered and wheelchair dwellings respectively), A2a2 and A2c2 (housing association), A2a3 and A2c3 (other public sector) and A2a4 and A2c4 (private sector) of HIP1 all items print (1989), a copy of which is in the Library. Mobility dwellings are not identified separately from the general housing stock.

  The publication "Local Housing Statistics—England and Wales" gives information for individual local authorities in England about the numbers of sheltered dwellings for the elderly started each year and about the numbers of wheelchair and of mobility dwellings for the chronically sick and disabled started each year.

  The issue and table numbers that show these data for calendar years from 1981 to 1988 are as follows:

  Tables numbers for:

  Issue number of "Local Housing Statistics

  Sheltered dwellings

  Wheelchair and mobility dwellings

  1 2 1981

  62

  11

  11

  1 1982

  66

  7(a)

  7(b)

  1 1983

  70

  9

  10

  390

  Issue number of "Local Housing Statistics

  Sheltered dwellings

  Wheelchair and mobility dwellings

  1 1984

  74

  9

  10

  1 1985

  78

  10

  11

  1986

  82

  10

  11

  1987

  86

  10

  11

  1988

  90

  12

  13

  1 Tables in issues 62 to 78 show dwellings for the elderly: with warden; and dwellings for chronically sick and disabled: specially designed and mobility.

  2 Figures for dwellings for the elderly: with warden, for period July 1980 to December 1981 are shown in table 7(a) issue number 66.

  Shire Counties (Education)
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total estimated expenditure on tertiary education in all shire counties for 1990; and what was the total actual expenditure on tertiary education in all shire counties in 1985.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is as follows. The figures are not on a comparable basis because of changes in the definition of local authority expenditure in 1990–91 and because polytechnics were transferred from the local authority sector in 1989–90.

  Actual spending on education 1985–86 £ million

  Estimated spending on education 1990–91 £ million

  Avon

  213·2

  n/a

  Bedfordshire

  122·2

  176·8

  Berkshire

  155·5

  219·2

  Buckinghamshire

  136·2

  192·0

  Cambridgeshire

  133·2

  193·9

  Cheshire

  217·8

  295·8

  Cleveland

  152·2

  203·8

  Cornwall

  87·3

  133·2

  Cumbria

  108·7

  n/a

  Derbyshire

  209·1

  315·0

  Devon

  197·2

  280·5

  Dorset

  112·2

  163·6

  Durham

  130·3

  189·0

  East Sussex

  124·8

  164·7

  Essex

  314·3

  442·1

  Gloucestershire

  106·5

  153·4

  Hampshire

  320·1

  439·3

  Hereford and Worcester

  133·1

  190·7

  Hertfordshire

  223·9

  315·2

  Humberside

  209·9

  281·3

  Isle of Wight

  24·6

  34·7

  Kent

  287·1

  412·1

  Lancashire

  326·7

  432·2

  Leicestershire

  216·5

  290·8

  Lincolnshire

  111·4

  160·1

  Norfolk

  136·7

  202·2

  Northamptonshire

  128·2

  179·0

  Northumberland

  65·9

  96·3

  North Yorkshire

  143·6

  202·9

  Nottinghamshire

  250·8

  323·7

  Oxfordshire

  119·7

  162·7

  Shropshire

  87·2

  130·6

  Somerset

  87·4

  138·3

  Staffordshire

  238·4

  316·2

  Suffolk

  119·7

  176·1

  Surrey

  181·9

  252·4

  Warwickshire

  101·4

  150·3

  West Sussex

  114·1

  174·1

  Wiltshire

  110·3

  n/a

  n/a = not available

  Radioactive Waste Management
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the participation of the United Kingdom in the International Atomic Energy Agency's radioactive waste management advisory programme.

  Mr. Trippier
  The United Kingdom participates fully in the radioactive waste management advisory programme of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings have taken place between officials of his Department, and other United Kingdom experts, and members of the International Atomic Energy Agency in furthering its radioactive waste management advisory programme in each year since 1987, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department is represented on the international radioactive waste management advisory committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency which meets at least every two years. In addition, my officials and United Kingdom experts attend many advisory groups and other ad hoc meetings of the agency each year.

  Common Land
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will bring forward detailed proposals on common land.

  Mr. Trippier
  On 29 January 1987 the then Minister for the Environment, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) made a statement accepting the case for legislation on common land, at a suitable opportunity when parliamentary time permitted, based broadly on the recommendations of the Countryside Commission's common land forum.

  The common lands of England and Wales represent one of our most valuable environmental assets. They include some of our most scenically attractive areas. They are often of great importance for nature conservation. Much common land comprises vital habitat for birds and other wildlife, particularly ground nesting birds protected by the EC birds directive. Although usually in private ownership, common land is often used by the general public as a way of enjoying the countryside.

  The aim of our policy is to safeguard the status of common land and to strengthen the ways in which we protect and use it. There are three main requirements.

  First, while we welcome the recent House of Lords judgment in the Hazeley Heath case, there remain weaknesses in the legislation governing the registration of common land. As well as ensuring that land correctly registered as common retains that status, we need to be able to remove land that was registered in error.

  Secondly, we need new arrangements to ensure that common land is properly managed, in the interests of those who own the land and those who have commoners' rights over it, and to preserve its conservation value.

  Thirdly, there is scope to improve public access to common land. The arrangements for this must take account of the particular characteristics of individual commons. The forum recommended that there should be a general right of access to all common land, except where
  392
  an agreed management scheme provides otherwise. In most cases there will be no reason why the public should not have free access, as already applies in urban areas. In some cases, however, particularly where commons are important for conservation or where increased access would adversely affect other existing uses, the arrangements for access will need to safeguard those interests. In these cases this could best be achieved by extensions of the public rights of way system.

  We believe that in the great majority of cases it should be possible for all interests concerned to reach agreement locally on arrangements that will provide for better management and improved public access. In any case where a management association is unable to reach agreement, we propose that the matter should be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment for decision; in such cases existing arrangements would remain in force pending this decision.

  I believe that these proposals, prepared after extensive consultations, will command widespread acceptance. I will now be embarking on detailed discussions with those most directly involved to work out how to deal with the practical problems that remain.

  Minerals and Waste Disposal
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about decisions by county councils on minerals and waste disposal planning applications.

  Mr. Atkins
  Following a study which the Department undertook jointly in 1988 with the Association of County Councils, statistics have been collected quarterly on the decisions taken by county planning authorities on minerals and waste disposal applications. In future, these statistics will be published alongside those reporting decisions taken by district councils, to provide a comprehensive picture on local authorities' development control performance. County matter decisions will also be published annually with other development control statistics.

  I am concerned that there are increasing delays in giving decisions on county matter planning applications. My Department will consult on possible improvements to the system, notably the introduction of a standard planning application form for minerals proposals, and possible legislation to enable county matter applications to be made direct to county councils rather than via district councils. It will also commission research into the use made of section 52 agreements generally, including ways in which the conclusion of such agreements might be speeded up.

  Both industry and county planning authorities can help in a number of ways. Industry should ensure that applications are accompanied at the outset by sufficient supporting information to enable the application to be determined. Also, operators are strongly urged to discuss their proposals informally with the planning authority at the earliest possible stage before the application is submitted. Similarly, early discussion with the appropriate statutory bodies is recommended to resolve any conflicts of interest and establish what information should accompany the full application.

  I look to county councils to make every effort to improve their performance. In particular, they should target applications for consideration at an early meeting of

  393
  the planning committee. They should also seek prompt responses to the consultations that they are obliged to carry out with other bodies.

  Pollution Control Appeals
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1976 currently under consideration, showing the dates when they were first lodged; how many decisions have been issued since 3 January; and if he will make a statement on the time taken for these appeals to be determined.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Councillors
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementation of sections 9, 13, and 15 to 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be making an order commencing from 1 August 1990 for England and Wales, the provisions of sections 9, 13, and 15 to 17 of, and schedule 1 to, the 1989 Act. These deal with assistants to political groups, the voting rights of co-opted members of local authority committees, and the requirements for pro rata representation on committees and other bodies. He, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will be laying the necessary regulations before Parliament, to come into effect on the same day. The necessary order under section 9 is also being made to come into force in due course. Separate regulations deaing with pro rata representation on sub-committees of county police committees will be laid in due course.

  The Government are, however, still taking advice on certain aspects of the regulations to introduce the new system of councillors' allowances in England and Wales, and more time is needed to resolve these. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Rented Housing (Code of Practice)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has approved the draft code of practice in rented housing submitted to him by the Commission for Racial Equality.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have approved the draft code of practice and I am laying it before both Houses today.

  Housing (Conservation Areas)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses fall within (a) the designated conservation areas and (b) the designated areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has had to date to the consultation paper "Permitted Development Rights for Satellite Television Antennae"; and if he will make a statement.
  394
  Mr. Atkins
  I will write to my Friend.

  Bottle Banks
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the proportion of bottle banks per head of population in each London borough.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: Information supplied by the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation shows the following situation at the end of March 1990 for bottle bank sites that are accessible to the public:

  Borough

  Population per bottle bank site

  Barking

  16.400

  Barnet

  60,280

  Bexley

  18,370

  Brent

  42,870

  Bromley

  29,820

  Camden

  12,170

  City of Westminster

  5,660

  Croydon

  19,830

  Ealing

  21,240

  Enfield

  10,870

  Greenwich

  16.500

  Hackney

  26,990

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  9,350

  Haringey

  8,010

  Harrow

  12,320

  Havering

  14,730

  Hillingdon

  21,080

  Hounslow

  19,080

  Islington

  10,580

  Kensington and Chelsea

  13,960

  Kingston upon Thames

  16,810

  Lambeth

  18,420

  Lewisham

  9,540

  Merton

  11,720

  Newham

  20,700

  Redbridge

  14,430

  Richmond upon Thames

  8,460

  Southwark

  27,130

  Sutton

  10,510

  Tower Hamlets

  23,110

  Waltham Forest

  26,660

  Wandsworth

  32,140

  There are no bottle banks in the City of London.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when he consults about proposed motorway service area applications made under circular 18/84 after he has received the inspector's report on an inquiry into a Department of Transport motorway service area proposal.

  Mr. Atkins
  The timing and extent of any consultations will depend on the circumstances of the case, but it is customary to notify the developing Department of the proposed decision.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations to remove the need for chargepayers to inform community charge registration offices of their new home address or a forwarding address whenever they move to a new charging authority area; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There is no intention to remove the requirement for chargepayers to inform the CCRO for the
  395
  area concerned of their new address. Individuals may volunteer a forwarding address to the CCRO for an area in which they no longer reside, so that they can receive confirmation that their original register entry in that area has been deleted, but they are under no obligation to do so.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is issued to local authorities about the collection of outstanding community charge from a deceased's estate; and what guidance is issued with regard to the rating of a property rendered empty by the death of the occupier or owner.

  Mr. Portillo
  Guidance on the collection of outstanding community charge where the person who was subject to the charge has died is contained in community charge practice note No. 24.

  A standard community charge may arise in respect of a property which was the sole or main residence of the owner and which becomes vacant on his or her death. The Government have provided that no charge is payable until three months after the grant of probate or letters of administration are made. Charging authorities have discretion to extend this period and to set a standard charge which is less than the maximum if they wish. Guidance on this is contained in practice note No. 13 and practice note No. 24. Copies have already been placed in the Library of the House.

  We propose for next year an extension to six months after the grant of probate, or letters of administration are made, of the period before an unoccupied property can be charged at a multiplier of more than 0 on the death of the occupier. Details are contained in a consultation paper, "The Standard Community Charge and other Matters", published on 19 July, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether residents of Anchor housing and other sheltered housing schemes will be eligible for the further transitional relief under the provisions announced last week; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  We estimate that more than 4 million additional people will receive transitional relief next year as a result of our proposals. Whether an individual qualifies and by how much will depend on the assumed rates bill, the assumed for actual community charges and the number of chargepayers who were resident in the property on 31 March 1990. Those relatively few people in sheltered housing schemes who do not qualify for transitional relief may of course be entitled to community charge benefit.

TRANSPORT

  Veteran Aircraft
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the flying accidents involving veteran service aircraft in private ownership which have occurred during the past 15 years.
  396
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The following information is for the period 1 January 1976 to date and refers to notifiable accidents to United Kingdom-registered aircraft worldwide and foreign-registered aircraft in the United Kingdom. Types such as the Auster, Chipmunk, and Argosy, which have both civil and military certification, have been excluded.

  Date

  Accident

  11 December 1977

  Heinkel 111, Madrid, struck high ground

  6 February 1978

  Spitfire, Coventry, wheels up landing

  27 August 1978

  Avro 19, Andrewsfield, wheels collapsed on landing

  24 June 1979

  Sea Fury, Munster, ran out of fuel

  25 May 1980

  Invader, Manston, axle broke while taxying

  21 September 1980

  Invader, Biggin Hill, crashed during display

  2 August 1981

  Sea Fury, Waddington, engine failure

  15 May 1982

  Me 109, Biggin Hill, swung on landing

  22 June 1982

  Harvard, Malta, crashed during air race

  18 September 1982

  Sopwith Pup, Hucknall, hard landing

  21 August 1983

  Lysander, Chipping Norton, engine failure in flight

  19 August 1984

  Varsity, Marchington, engine failure on take off

  7 September 1985

  Harvard, Bourne, crashed during aerobatics

  5 March 1986

  Spitfire, Southampton, wheels collapsed on landing

  31 May 1986

  Catalina, Plymouth, float struck buoy

  2 July 1986

  Sopwith Pup, Biggleswade, engine failure in flight

  2 July 1986

  Sopwith Pup, Middle Wallop, wheels collapsed landing

  10 August 1986

  Vampire, Cranfield, canopy separated on take off

  21 June 1987

  Blenheim, Denham, crashed on golf course

  28 July 1987

  Provost, Englefield, engine failure in flight

  7 July 1988

  Mosquito, Hawarden, swung off runway on landing

  2 November 1988

  Catalina, North Weald, wheel retracted on landing

  15 June 1989

  Harvard, Gransden, swung off runway on landing

  24 June 1989

  Argus, Lydd, engine failure in flight

  25 June 1989

  Avro 504, Old Warden, engine failure in flight

  1 July 1989

  Spitfire, Hartley Whitney, engine failure in flight

  18 July 1989

  F100, Hum, overran runway on landing

  25 July 1989

  B17, Binbrook, crashed on take off

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the percentage of properties suitable for residential use and owned or administered by his Department (i) empty for more than six months, (ii) empty for more than one year (iii) the regional distribution of these properties, (iv) the number of these properties located in inner London boroughs and (v) the number of these properties located in outer London boroughs.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in the form requested. At 31 March 1990 the Department owned 2,241 residential properties acquired in advance of requirements for the trunk road programme. The Department's policy is not to leave properties empty if they are to be retained for six months or more and a tenant can be found. The table sets out the information that is available.
  397

  Analysis of empty property total

  Total stock

  Empty

  Being sold

  Repair/relet in progress

  Awaiting demolition

  Awaiting decision

  South Eastern

  218

  74

  26

  33

  0

  15

  South Western

  104

  27

  19

  6

  2

  0

  West Midlands

  127

  49

  9

  30

  4

  6

  North western

  353

  49

  10

  15

  10

  14

  Northern

  29

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  53

  15

  9

  4

  0

  2

  East Midlands

  47

  21

  19

  2

  0

  0

  Eastern

  348

  40

  10

  0

  28

  2

  London

  962

  81

  41

  20

  12

  8

  Total

  2,241

  358

  143

  112

  56

  47

  M3
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the report from Mott Macdonald and Kelsey Associates into the widening of the M3 between Bar End and Bassett was commissioned.

  Mr. Chope
  On 13 June and 27 June 1989 respectively.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the alternative tunnel schemes for the proposed route of the M3 around Winchester which he has at any time considered.

  Mr. Chope
  Since the announcement in September 1981 of the fresh study into the Bar End to Compton section of the proposed M3, the following alternative tunnel schemes have been considered. References in brackets identify options discussed at inquiries.

  1982 Consultation

  Various tunnel options under St. Catherine's Hill.

  1985 Inquiry

  Tunnel under Compton between Poles Lane and Place Lane (CI).

  Five tunnel alternatives under Twyford Down (L1, L2, J3, K3 and INVPS).

  One tunnel option under Plague Pits Valley (K2).

  1987–88 Inquiry

  Eleven tunnel or part tunnel options under Twyford Downs (JAG 2, 3 and 3A, TPC1, AL1 and 2, JK1, CC2, EJV1, a land bridge and Base Case option).

  Two tunnels at Compton (AEB1 and 2).

  Post 1987 Inquiry

  Dual four lane tunnel under Twyford Down.

  Egremont Bypass
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the start date of the Egremont bypass; what slippage has occurred in the commencement of the work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Work is expected to start in the spring next year. We have had to postpone the planned start to prepare a compulsory purchase order on a factory which has been built recently, without planning permission, on the line of the road.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what errors have occurred concerning compulsory purchase orders issued in connection with the Egremont bypass; and what delays have resulted.

  Mr. Chope
  No delays have resulted from errors in the compulsory purchase orders.

  Greater Manchester Relief Road
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) with which organisations his Department has had consultations regarding the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road sections M56 to M62 and M62 to M66;

  (2) when the consultant's report on the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road between (a) the M56 and the M62 and (b) the M62 and the M66 will be published;

  (3) when he will seek the views of the public on possible routes for the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road between (a) the M56 and the M62 and (b) the M62 and M66;

  (4) if he will arrange for the hon. Member for Worsley to be given copies of the consultant's reports on the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road which are currently being considered by interested local authorities and others.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has consulted 33 organisations on an informal and in confidence basis. I am sending a list to the hon. Member. This consultation is part of the fact-finding process leading to the preparation of a technical appraisal report by our consultants. The consultants' report will not be released to those organisations and it is not our policy to publish such reports. Publication could lead to widespread and unnecessary blight on routes which, after consideration of the report, the Department decides are not viable. We shall, however, after consideration of the consultants' report publish our conclusions in the form of a document for public consultation. This will present information and seek comments on routes which we believe are viable and explain why we have rejected other options. Our current programme envisages a public consultation early next year. I shall ensure that the hon. Member receives the public consultation documents.

  Road System Management
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the new units, regional offices and divisions created for the management of the road system; and if he will list their addresses, telephone numbers, directors, and deputy directors where appointed, and the last prior professional appointments of those directors.

  Mr. Chope
  Management of the national road system of motorways and trunk roads in England is the
  399
  responsibility of the Department of Transport. I have today written to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.

  Airports (Review)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the procedure for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission quinquennial reviews of airports in Britain; which airport companies are to be reviewed; what is the time scale for the review; and if he will make a statement on competition in airport services.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Airports designated under section 40 of the Airports Act 1986 have imposed on their permissions to levy airport charges conditions regulating the maximum amounts which may be levied during a five-year period. At the end of that period the Civil Aviation Authority may modify those conditions, having first made a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The Airports Act lays down that provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 and Competition Act 1980 shall apply in relation to such references. The commission's report on the reference must be completed within six months of the reference being made.

  Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have been designated under section 40, as has Manchester airport. The conditions imposed in respect of the BAA plc airports expire at the end of March 1992, and the CAA proposes to make a reference to the MMC towards the end of this year. The conditions imposed in respect of Manchester airport expire at the end of March 1993.

  Designation under section 40 is only one element of the machinery for the economic regulation of airports established under the 1986 Act, which elsewhere empowers the CAA to act against exploitative, discriminatory or predatory pricing by any sizeable airport, including the four owned by BAA in Scotland. I am satisfied that the Act provides a properly rigorous regulatory regime.

  Road Schemes (Reports)
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what stage inspectors' reports on road schemes promoted by his Department are seen by the road programme management division or any regional office responsible to it.

  Mr. Chope
  Inspectors' reports are first sent to the planning inspectorate, which passes on the report to the regional office and the headquarter organisation of the road programme directorate.

  Bus Companies
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the early privatisation of Merseybus and GM Buses together with the current financial support provided to these organisations by the passenger transport authorities.

  Mr. Freeman
  We support the early privatisation of all local authority bus companies. I therefore welcome the progress made towards a sale of Merseyside Transport Ltd. to its employees, and have made it clear to the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority that we would also consider sympathetically a sale of Greater Manchester 400
  Buses Ltd. Passenger transport authorities have no powers to provide financial assistance to their bus companies, except in exceptional cicumstances and with the Secretary of State's consent. No applications for such consent have been received in respect of these companies.

  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet decided whether to use his powers under section 61 of the Transport Act 1985 to require the division of Greater Manchester Buses into smaller units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am asking independent consultants to advise on the implications which different forms of splitting would have both for the financial position of the company and for competition in the area. I shall take a further decision in the light of their report.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available the prices paid for individual subsidiaries of the National Bus Company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Individual sale prices will be published in the forthcoming report by the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Public Accounts Committee.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the minimum period required to elapse between successive driving examinations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  For the "L" test the minimum period prescribed in regulations is one month. There is no corresponding minimum period for HGV or PSV tests.

  M40
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department had given approval for the northbound carriageway of the M40 motorway, south of junction 5, to be reduced to one lane on 20 July, without prior publicity or warning being given to traffic before entering sliproads to join the motorway; and whether his Department will publish details of any future roadworks on the M40 over the holiday period.

  Mr. Chope
  The lane reductions on the westbound carriageway of the M40 near junction 5 between 18 and 22 June were to enable the Department's agents—Buckinghamshire county council—to carry out safety fence maintenance.

  The restrictions were during the off-peak period only, and setting up advance signing would not have been practicable. It is not the Department's policy to divert or encourage motorway traffic on to unsuitable local roads.

  The M40 is presently being widened between junctions 4 and 5. This work will continue until autumn 1991. Extensive publicity has been given to this contract. The motorway may be restricted to single-lane running in each direction from 10.00 to 16.00 and 20.00 to 06.00 Monday to Thursday and 10.00 to 15.00 on Fridays. Two-lane running is maintained between 10.00 and 15.00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

  I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the publicity leaflet.

  Aviation
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will formalise the agreement with the United States Government giving additional flights between the United Kingdom and the United States of Amercia; when he expects to announce the two new routes between United Kingdom regional airports and United States airports arising from this agreement; and how many routes now exist between the United States and United Kingdom airports, broken down by United Kingdom airports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Administrative arrangements are expected to be completed within the next few days to bring the new agreement into immediate effect. Formal processes will be concluded at a convenient time thereafter. One of the new route opportunities created for the United States will be used to provide cover for the existing service by American Airlines between Chicago and Manchester, which at present operates informally. The two other new route opportunities available to the United States and the two new opportunities for the United Kingdom will be allocated by the authorities of the two countries following applications by interested carriers. This process depends upon decisions initially to be made by carriers according to their commercial judgment. No timetable therefore applies.

  Existing routes between the United Kingdom and the continental United States are as follows. Services are not operated on all routes.
  Between London and Prestwick/Glasgow and Anchorage, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Cincinnati, Washington/Baltimore, Charlotte, Tampa, San Diego and Orlando.Between Manchester and Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington/Baltimore, Tampa, San Diego, Newark and Orlando.
  The new agreement will allow two services by the United States, in addition to the existing Chicago—Manchester service, and two by the United Kingdom using any regional airport, including Manchester.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received from the embassy in Washington concerning the anti-competitive nature of hub and spoke operations by airlines in the United States of America.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department regularly receives from the British embassy in Washington material concerning airline operations in the United States.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts his officials have had with United States Department of Justice officials investigating hub and spoke operations by airlines in the United States of America.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None.

  Road Closures
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department will publish a list of all major motorway and trunk road lane closures in 402
  England, Scotland and Wales expected over the coming seven-week holiday period; and what measures his Department is taking to publish these closures and to ensure that holiday traffic is suitably directed towards other routes.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department issues a fortnightly bulletin listing lane closures on motorways which also includes certain all-purpose trunk roads. This information is disseminated by national and local media, including Ceefax and Oracle, and the motoring associations. It is also displayed on TV monitors at some motorway service areas. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the latest bulletin.

  Every effort is made to avoid maintenance work on routes used by holiday traffic in peak periods. Where this is unavoidable, suitable diversions are signed when available. Where practicable, closures are lifted during bank holidays.

  I understand that similar procedures are operated in Scotland and Wales.

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the volume of radioactive waste of(a) high, (b) intermediate and (c) low level transported by sea transport to and from the United Kingdom in each year since 1983.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department does not collect data of the kind requested.

  Road Construction
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has any plans to undertake an environmental impact assessment of all current and planned road construction programmes.

  Mr. Chope
  Protecting and enhancing the environment is a major consideration in planning roads. My Department carries out a full environmental assessment for all schemes in the national trunk road programme costing over £1 million.

  British Rail (Fire Incident)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up a full public inquiry into the response by British Rail to an incident involving an alleged fire in a carriage attached to the 13.44 Haywards Heath to Manchester train, No. IC 5845 on 15 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no through train between Haywards Heath and Manchester on Sundays. On 15 July, coach No. IC 5845 was used on two services, the 18.00 Manchester to Birmingham New Street and the 21.37 Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly. There is no trace of a fire occurring on that coach. I understand that BR London midland and southern regions have no record of any fires occurring on InterCity trains on Sunday 15 July. If the hon. Member can provide any further details, I will make further inquiries.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the appointment of consultants for the Scarisbrick, Penfold, Ormskirk and Rufford bypasses.
  403
  Mr. Chope
  I expect to announce the appointment in the autumn and I shall write to my hon. Friend with the information.

  Merchant Shipping
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the decrease in United Kingdom merchant shipping for 1989; and what were the comparable figures for West Germany, Sweden and Norway.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The figures requested are shown in the table:

  Gross tonnage of trading vessels over 100 gross registered tonnes

  million

  1 January 1989

  1 January 1990

  3 Difference

  United Kingdom

  4·7

  4·3

  -0·4

  British fleet1

  20·7

  19·3

  -1·4

  West Germany

  3·6

  3·7

  +0·1

  Sweden

  2·0

  2·3

  +0·3

  Norway2

  12·8

  16·5

  +3·7

  1 Includes the Crown Dependencies and Dependent Territories.

  2 Includes Norway's international register.

  3 Change in definition of "trading" means the figures are not strictly comparable between years.

  Oil Tankers
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider introducing restrictions on oil tanker movements in the Minch in order to reduce damage caused to the marine environment by oil spillages.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Tankers cannot be banned from the Minch: their captains must always have the option of using the Minch route in adverse weather conditions, rather than the rougher deep water route (DWR) to the west of the Outer Hebrides.

  We have considered the possibility of mandatory restrictions very carefully. The only restriction that could be imposed under international law is a traffic separation scheme. There is no evidence that this is needed, as tankers appear to use the existing recommended routes. All vessels would be obliged to use it in accordance with the collision regulations, and this would seriously inhibit the activities of fishing vessels. A scheme might also encourage tankers to use the Minch route. We have therefore concluded that restrictions are impracticable. My Department already urges shipowners and masters to use the outer routes when practicable, and will raise the use of the DWR at the International Maritime Organisation.

  British Rail (Finance)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for the last 10 years the total figure provided in public service obligation grant to British Rail by the Government, the amount and proportion of that figure spent in Wales each year, and the amount and proportion of that figure spent in South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan each year;

  (2) how much money is to be made available to British Rail in respect of (a) Wales and (b) South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan during 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; what percentage of the United Kingdom total
  404
  each figure represents; and what assessment he has made of the expected economic, social and environmental impact of this expenditure.

  Mr. Freeman
  The public service obligation grant (PSO) is paid in order to ensure the provision of essential local British Rail passenger services. It currently covers the gap between costs and revenues for BR's provincial and network SouthEast sectors. InterCity has not received grants since 1987–88. PSO grant is paid as a global sum and is not allocated to particular areas. Figures for PSO grant in respect of each of the years are given in the table.

  Year

  Cash £ million

  1990–91 Prices £ million

  1980

  576

  1,039

  1981

  749

  1,230

  1982

  817

  1,258

  1983

  854

  1,250

  1984–851

  853

  1,190

  1985–86

  820

  1,085

  1986–87

  690

  883

  1987–88

  775

  942

  1988–892

  456

  517

  1989–902

  488

  520

  1990–913

  474

  474

  1991–924

  401

  383

  1992–934

  382

  352

  Notes:

  1 1984–85 was a 15-month year. The figure given is the 12-month equivalent.

  2The 1988–89 nd 1989–90 figures have yet to be finalised.

  3Estimate, subject to review.

  4Estimates.

  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about British Rail's external financing limit for 1990–91.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I am pleased to announce a revised external financing limit (EFL) of £700 million for British Rail for 1990–91. This represents an increase of just over £100 million, after adjustments for the 1989–90 outturn and for other external receipts. The revised EFL includes full provision for the expenditure that BR plans to incur in the current year on safety measures, particularly those arising from the Hidden report on the Clapham Junction accident, and will also help BR to maintain its large investment programme. The net increase of £54 million above the original EFL published in the 1989 autumn statement will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  CCAB Limited
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, of 24 April,Official Report, column 115, he will make a statement on the details and conclusions of his Department's review of the accounts of CCAB Ltd.

  Mr. Redwood
  Having reviewed the accounts of CCAB Ltd. for the year ended 31 December 1988 in the light of the hon. Member's query in his letter of 16 November 1989, we saw no grounds for challenging the directors' judgment that the accounts gave a true and fair view.

  Cassettes (Imports)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list, by country of manufacture, the amount of video and audio cassettes imported into the United Kingdom for each year since 1979; and if he will list the amount of video and audio cassettes manufactured in the United Kingdom for the same period.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Import Restrictions
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 6 July, if he will list the 11 complaints made by Her Majesty's Government during 1989, indicating in each case the nature of the complaint and the country against which it was made.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is not the Government's practice to give details of particular complaints referred to the Commission. It could be damaging to the interests of the United Kingdom if allegations against other member states that were as yet unproven were made public. United Kingdom companies might be discouraged from pursuing complaints if they know that they were not to be treated in confidence. Should a complaint lead to the initiation of formal proceedings by the Commission, these are made public.

  Of the 11 complaints made in 1989, one has resulted in such formal proceedings; in relation to Denmark's revision of social security contributions discriminating against imports the Commission has issued a "reasoned opinion".

  Two further cases have been the subject of letters requesting the member state's observations under article 169. Four cases have resulted in positive action by member states, without formal procedures being required. Four cases are still being considered by the Commission.

  Political Donations
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask the Official Receiver to investigate allegations of political donations by British and Commonwealth prior to its declaring that it had within the provisions of the Insolvency Acts.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Official Receiver can investigate only companies that are in compulsory liquidation. The affairs of British and Commonwealth are a matter for its administrators appointed under the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Telephone Chat Lines
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 1989,Official Report, column 109, to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), whether he has any plans to take action to reduce the use of telephone chat lines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications. He has taken firm action to control telephone chat lines and other premium-rate telephone services. In December 1989, he introduced separate codes of practice governing the operation of 406
  multiline chatline services and one-to-one services. He has also recently announced that from 1 August he is to withdraw recognition of the code of practice that governs one-to-one services. Such services will not be able to operate from that date unless the director general recognises a new code of practice.

  Regulations
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Billericay on 3 July,Official Report, column 360, what was (a) the estimated cost to business, for each year, of complying with the regulations and (b) the number of entirely new regulations introduced in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  In line with published arrangements, not all regulations made over the three years in question were the subject of compliance cost assessments. I am therefore unable to provide the comprehensive estimates requested.

  The numbers of entirely new regulations—excluding amending, revoking and consolidating instruments and commencement orders for Acts—introduced in each of the years 1987–89 were as follows:

  Number

  1987

  33

  1988

  45

  1989

  86

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations have been abolished in the last three years(a) in the normal course of events and (b) in response to his Department's deregulation units recommendations.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1987, 682 statutory instruments, including regulations, rules and orders, were abolished. Information for 1988 and 1989 is not yet available. During the three-year period, the deregulation unit played a part in the abolition of a number of regulations, but where its recommendation was the determining factor cannot readily be established.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet his federal German counterpart; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Lilley
  I plan to meet my federal German counterpart in September in Berlin to discuss a number of matters including the possibility of co-operation between British and West German firms in the GDR and other eastern European markets.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the President of the European Commission; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Lilley
  I intend to make early contact with those European Commissioners whose portfolios are relevant to my Department.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet his Japanese counterpart; and what matters he expects to discuss.
  407
  Mr. Lilley
  I expect to meet Mr. Muto, the Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry, in London on 3 September and to discuss with him a range of current bilateral and multilateral trade issues.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the European Commissioner for trade matters; and what he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Lilley
  I plan to make early contact with Commissioner Adriessen to discuss a range of issues.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet his counterpart from the German Democratic Republic; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have no immediate plans to meet my East German counterpart. The Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), visited the German Democratic Republic last month with a group of British business men. He had extensive discussions with GDR Ministers, including those for Economy and Trade, about the effects of unification and the opportunities for British companies.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet his French counterpart; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Lilley
  I hope to meet my French opposite number at an early opportunity to discuss a broad range of issues.

  US Competition Policy
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements exist to keep his Department informed of regulatory and competition policy developments in the United States of America.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department maintains frequent formal and informal bilateral contacts with United States regulators. In the financial services area these contacts, together with participation in the International Organisation of Securities Commissions—of which both the United Kingdom and the United States are members—provide regular access to information on regulatory developments in the United States. My Department is informed of developments in the competition policy regimes of the United States through participation in the OECD committee on competition law and policy and through regular diplomatic contact with the United States Administration.

  Post Office (External Financing Limit)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to make any change in the Post Office's external financing limit for 1990–91.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Post Office's external financing limit for 1990–91 currently stands at £38 million, as set out in the public expenditure White Paper. I am now setting a revised limit of zero to reflect the final outcome of the Girobank sale.

  ECGD Insurance Services
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to the replies of 18 December 1989,Official Report, columns 23–24, and 19 July, Official
  408
  Report, column 677, what progress has been made on privatising the Export Credits Guarantee Department's insurance services.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have decided that the short-term business of ECGD should be sold by means of a competition among prospective trade purchasers and consortia.

  Subject to securing the necessary legislative authority, the Government's intention remains to vest the business of insurance services in a Government-owned company in April 1991 and to complete the sale as soon as possible thereafter.

  Samuel Montagu and Co. Limited are issuing by the end of this month, on my behalf, a preliminary information memorandum and prequalification questionnaire to bona fide investors who have indicated an interest in purchasing the company. Copies of the information memorandum and questionnaire will be sent to other interested bona fide investors on application to Samuel Montagu. Responses to the questionnaire must be submitted to Samuel Montagu by midday on 28 September 1990. In the light of responses received, the next stage in the process will be to dispatch an invitation to tender to shortlisted bidders in due course. Normal competition legislation and procedures will apply to the sale process.

  Insurance Companies
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many representations he has received concerning commissions paid by insurance companies to other consultants;

  (2) what plans the Government have to review laws governing the payment of commissions to consultants by insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received 31 letters commenting on the report by the Director General of Fair Trading on disclosure of information about life insurance products and commissions paid to independent financial advisers. This report was published on 11 April this year and concluded that certain of the existing rules regarding disclosure of commission payments by insurance intermediaries were anti-competitive. The Department circulated a letter on 21 June seeking views of all interested parties by the end of September. The Secretary of State will take account of the responses to this letter, and of the other representations which have been made to him, before reaching a decision.

  Trade Balance
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the United Kingdom trade balance with South Africa, the Philippines and South Korea, respectively.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information on the value of United Kingdom visible imports from and exports to individual countries is summarised in table Ib of Business Monitor MM20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", a copy of which is kept in the Library.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers
  409
  in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Lilley
  The terms of appointment of my predecessor's special advisers came to an end automatically on his resignation. No new appointments have yet been made. No public relations advisers are employed in this Department.

  Shareholders' Rights
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will bring forward an amendment to the Companies Acts to allow shareholders to speak against a resolution at an annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting asked to approve a rights issue.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. Such an amendment is unnecessary, as a shareholder appearing on the register of members already has the right to speak at a general meeting against a resolution proposing a rights issue, subject to the provisions of the normal rules governing the conduct of meetings.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage increase to date in(a) the volume of United Kingdom imports of (i) semi-manufactures less erratics and (ii) finished intermediates and (b) in the volume of United Kingdom manufacturing less food, drink and tobacco since 1970 and 1979.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information on manufacturing output cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. The other information can be found on the CSO database, which is accessible through the House of Commons Library.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decisions he has come to on(a) the size, (b) the composition, (c) the terms of reference and (d) date of completion of the film production working parties established after the Prime Minister's film seminar.

  Mr. Redwood
  We are consulting with the industry on these matters and we hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Consumer Goods
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current estimate of direct and indirect European Community content of manufactured consumer goods sold through the retail trade in England and Wales.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information on which to base an estimate is not available.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many shares Her Majesty's Government hold in British Telecom; what was the last departmental valuation of that holding; and what plans he has to sell all or part of the holding.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: Her Majesty's Government currently hold one special rights redeemable preference share and 2,941 million ordinary shares in British Telecommunications plc. The ordinary shareholding has a value of some £8,600 million at current market prices.

  It is Her Majesty's Government's policy to sell residual shareholdings in privatised companies as the circumstances of the companies and market conditions permit.

  British Telecom Agreement (Vietnam)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what part his Department played in the cancellation of the recent £42 million British Telecom agreement with Vietnam;

  (2) what representations were received from the American Government regarding British Telecom's £42 million agreement with Vietnam which was recently cancelled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licensing matters.

  Environment Exhibition, Czechoslovakia
  Ms. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to meet representatives of British industry to discuss participation in the international environmental exhibition and conference to be held at Brno, Czechoslovakia in October.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: I have no plans for such a meeting.

  The existence of the exhibition has been widely publicised and it is up to the companies in the industry to decide on participation in the light of their own commercial judgment.

  Textiles and Clothing
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the level of production in the textiles and clothing industries in the most recent three months for which figures are available, and for the same three months one year previously.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: The latest available figure, in terms of United Kingdom manufacturers' sales by value, is £3,334 million in the second quarter of 1989, compared with £3,171 million in the same period of 1988.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent contacts he has had with the textiles and clothing industries.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: My right hon. Friend's predecessor met representatives of the textiles and clothing industries on 12 June and my right

  411
  hon. and noble Friend Lord Trefgarne then Minister for Trade visited Edinburgh on 29 June to meet hon. Members and representatives of the Scottish knitwear and woollen industry. He also visited textile and clothing businesses in Yorkshire on 27 April and Lancashire on 4 May. Progress in the Uruguay round of the GATT multilateral trade negotiations was discussed on all these occasions.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: My Department continues to contribute to the Government's policy of creating a climate in which smaller businesses flourish.

  The enterprise initiative was launched in January 1988 to encourage the process of wealth creation through individual initiative and enterprise. It brings together a range of services provided by DTI for industry and commerce, many of which are concerned with improving the competitiveness of smaller firms. The six consultancy initiatives, for example, offer financial support to small and medium-sized firms for between five and 15 days of consultancy in the following key management areas: design; marketing; manufacturing systems; quality; business planning; and financial and information systems. By 30 June 1990, 54,700 applications had been received, 49,000 initial business reviews undertaken and 23,700 assisted consultancy projects completed or under way.

  Regional enterprise grants are aimed specifically at small businesses in the development areas and South Yorkshire employing fewer than 25 people and are designed to support their investment and innovation projects. In 1989–90, 2,123 applications were received and 1,540 offers were made with a total value of £12·0 million.

  The small firms merit award for research and technology is an annual competition which provides cash awards to firms with fewer than 50 employees in order to bring forward innovative technological projects of particular promise. In 1989, 150 awards came from 828 applications.

  Refinements over the last year of the services offered to exporters will assist smaller companies realise their export potential. The active exporting scheme operated by chambers of commerce with DTI pump-priming funding is aimed at companies with a turnover of £1 million to £10 million per annum. In their first full-year, the 32 export development advisers gave advice to more than 2,600 small and medium-sized companies, of which about 1,000 are now exporting, or seriously considering exporting.

  In addition, help with smaller firms is a high priority of my Department's single market campaign. The range of single market material includes an action guide specifically designed for smaller firms, to whom over 286,000 copies of the action guide have been dispatched direct, in addition to the more than 400,000 copies originally mailed or included in publications covering the small firms sector. The current phase of the campaign draws attention to the many sources of expertise, such as trade associations and
  412
  chambers of commerce, that can provide relevant information and advice to help smaller firms prepare for the single market.

  It is also worth noting that, in 1989–90, the inner cities initiative task forces supported projects that are expected to give support to 3,584 new and existing businesses, the majority of which are small ones.

  The Government's deregulation initiative, co-ordinated by the DTI, takes particular account of the problems with regulation faced by small firms.

  It would be prohibitively expensive to set out all the performance measures that are collected as part of the Department's wide-ranging and professional evaluation programme, which is designed to ensure that the Department's programmes secure good value for money.

  Rainham Marshes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the composition and terms of reference of the Hogg committee on Rainham Marshes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: There is no formal ministerial "committee" chaired by me in relation to this project. Officials in a number of Departments have been in consultation with MCA Inc. These discussions have been co-ordinated by DTI officials, reporting to me.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a list of all Monopolies and Mergers Commission reports into nationalised and privatised enterprises, indicating also subsequent Government decisions.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Sports Footwear
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list, by country of manufacture, the amount of sports footwear, imported into the United Kingdom for each year since 1979; and if he will list the amount of sports footwear manufactured in the United Kingdom over the same period.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Figures for total United Kingdom imports and manufacturers' sales are contained in the table. United Kingdom imports by country are available only at disproportionate cost.

  Total sports footwear

  Manufacturers' sales

  Imports

  Year

  Million pairs

  Million £

  Million pairs

  Million £

  1979

  6·9

  29·3

  22·2

  47·7

  1980

  5·9

  28·1

  20·7

  46·7

  1981

  6·2

  29·1

  30·1

  71·3

  1982

  6·2

  28·8

  30·9

  82·2

  1983

  5·9

  28·7

  30·8

  100·0

  1984

  4·5

  26·0

  36·5

  126·8

  1985

  5·1

  31·4

  38·3

  156·3

  1986

  4·8

  31·7

  37·6

  151·5

  1987

  5·2

  32·2

  47·0

  185·8

  1988

  9·1

  50·2

  38·4

  153·8

  1989

  8·6

  48·9

  33·9

  159·0

  413
  Source:

  Business Statistics Office (BSO) and Customs and Excise, as published in the Footwear Industry Statistical Review by the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation (BFMF).

  Note:

  Manufacturers' sales relate to establishments with a minimum employment of 25, for 1979–83 data; and a minimum employment of 50, for 1984 onwards.

  Military Equipment (Exports)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment is made by his Department of the legislation of European and north American Governments that regulates the export of lethal and non-lethal military equipment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This is a matter for the Governments of the countries concerned. Our assessment indicates that NATO allies have comparable legislation to control exports for strategic reasons.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legislation regulates the provision of military training by British companies to foreign military forces.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by his Department of alleged breaches of legislation that regulates the export of lethal and non-lethal military equipment by European and north American companies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This is a matter for the Governments of the countries concerned.

  Crops (Alternative Uses)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will consider introducing incentives for industries who will seek to develop processes for using home-grown crops for industrial purposes as substitutes for imported wood pulp and similar materials;

  (2) what steps have been taken to encourage industry to make use of crops for purposes other than food.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Within the Link initiative a new programme entitled "Crops for Industrial Use" has recently been announced. It involves five sponsors—the agricultural and food research council, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, the science and engineering research council and the Department of Trade and Industry—with the agricultural and food research council taking the lead. It is timely to encourage industry to examine the potential for the such use of crops and the programme is an opportunity to participate in the underpinning research necessary, to inform commercial judgments on exploitation.

  Recycling
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of retail and distributive industries to discuss recycling of materials through the establishment of bottle, can and paper banks.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not yet had the opportunity to meet those 414
  concerned with the recycling of material collected through bank schemes. My Department maintains regular contact with those involved. I met representatives of the recycling industries in the House of Commons on 11 July.

  Competition Policy
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on competition policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  In deciding whether to refer merger situations to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, I shall in future pay particularly close attention to the degree of state control, if any, of the acquiring company.

  One of the Government's fundamental policy objectives has been to allow market forces to determine the most efficient allocation of resources in the interests of industry, commerce and the consumer. We have taken many important steps towards this objective over the last decade including an extensive programme of privatisation, deregulation, and the vigorous application of competition policy. This objective could be undermined by nationalisation by the back door. State-controlled companies are not subject to the same disciplines as those in the private sector. They tend to have the assurance of Government backing for their business activities and consequently do not compete on even terms with private sector companies which operate under the threat of financial failure. Their managements may be motivated to make non-commercial decisions. They may not deploy resources efficiently; and an increase in the resources they manage may well reduce competitive forces. It is important that the MMC should have the chance to consider in detail mergers involving state-controlled companies.

  All bids by state-controlled companies, whether United Kingdom or foreign, will be treated evenhandedly. I shall of course continue to exercise my discretion in deciding whether to refer any particular case to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, after receiving advice from the Director General of Fair Trading. But among the factors to which I shall give particularly close attention will be the degree of state control, if any, of the acquiring company.

  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission will, of course, continue to weigh up each case on its merits. Referring a merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission does not prejudge whether it may be expected to operate against the public interest.

  Microwave Television
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conclusions he has reached on the allocation of frequencies for single-point to multipoint microwave television services; and whether his announcement of 18 June of a review of spectrum usage calls into question the allocation of frequencies above 40 GHz to the multipoint video distribution system.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  British Companies (Overseas Regulation)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the activities abroad of British companies are regulated by his Department.
  415
  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Exports to Iraq
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes in the procedure of his Department were instituted as a consequence of the Iraq supergun incident at Easter.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The administration of export licensing by my Department was thoroughly reviewed in 1988 and the need to ensure that the controls remain effective, and are efficiently administered, is kept under continuous study.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what information he received from the United States authorities regarding the nature of exports to Iraq from Consarc Engineering of Bellshill, Lanarkshire; and if he will make a statement;

  Imports from the European Community as a percentage of United Kingdom home demand

  1979

  1988

  Divisions 2–4

  Manufacturing industries

  13

  20

  Division 2

  Ores, metals, chemicals and non-fuel minerals

  12

  22

  Class 21

  Extraction and preparation of mealliferous ores

  10

  n/a

  Class 22

  Metal manufacturing

  12

  16

  Class 23

  Extradition of minerals nes

  5

  20

  Class 24

  Non-metallic mineral products

  6

  12

  Class 25

  Chemical industry

  19

  30

  Class 26

  Production of man-made fibres

  29

  54

  Division 3

  Metal goods, engineering and vehicles

  18

  25

  Class 31

  Metal goods nes

  6

  10

  Class 32

  Mechanical engineering

  19

  26

  Class 33

  Office machinery and data processing equipment

  46

  40

  Class 34

  Electrical and electronic engineering

  14

  21

  Class 35

  Motor vehicles and parts

  32

  36

  Class 36

  Other transport equipment

  12

  13

  Class 37

  Instrument engineering

  25

  29

  Division 4

  Other manufacturing industries

  10

  13

  Classes 41/42

  Food, drink and tobacco

  11

  12

  Class 43

  Textile industry

  15

  27

  Class 44

  Leather and leather goods

  12

  18

  Class 45

  Footwear and clothing industries

  11

  14

  Class 46

  Timber and wooden furniture

  6

  9

  Class 47

  Paper, printing and publishing

  4

  9

  Class 48

  Processing of rubber and plastics

  12

  18

  Class 49

  Other manufacturing industries

  13

  16

  n/a = not available.

  Association of British Chambers of Commerce
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to arrange the meeting with Mr. Miles Middleton of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce planned by his predecessor.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend intends to rearrange the meeting planned by his predecessor, but a convenient date has not yet been found.

  Postal Orders
  Sir John Stradling Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue a directive to the Post Office to reduce the charges made for postal orders.
  416
  (2) if Consarc Engineering of Bellshill, Lanarkshire had fully complied with the procedure of his Department in regard to the export of vacuum furnaces to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not the practice to disclose information concerning individual export licensing matters.

  Import Penetration
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to his answer of 18 July,Official Report, column 645, concerning import penetration from the European Economic Community, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures given into the categories used to provide the information given in his answer of 29 July 1988, Official Report, column 646.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Estimates for 1979 and 1988 are given in the table. Figures for 1970 are not readily available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The level of charges levied for postal orders is an operational matter for the Post Office. I have no plans to take powers to reduce such charges.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) in assessing the public sector costs of maintaining the Export Credits Guarantee Department's project group operations, what account is taken of spin-off benefits derived from overseas projects, employment and contributions to tax revenues;

  (2) what provision will be made in Export Credits Guarantee Department credit cover in the future for high-risk markets; and at what rates of premium.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 July 1990]: The cost and availability of ECGD cover for project exports will be

  417
  determined under the new portfolio management system. The PMS is intended to inform decisions on project exports so that the national interest reasons for giving support including spin-off benefits are properly weighed against the financial risks to ECGD and the taxpayer. The Government still have a number of decisions to take before PMS is operational.

  Leather Industry
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he will take in order to protect the United Kingdom leather industry from unfair trading practices in the form of(a) export embargoes of raw hides and skins and (b) cash compensation schemes to promote exports.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: Export embargoes and export subsidies affecting the United Kingdom leather industry were among the non-tariff trade measures that the Government notified to the EC Commission as priority United Kingdom targets for elimination or reduction in the GATT Uruguay round negotiations on non-tariff measures. The Commission, which negotiates on behalf of the Community, recently informed the GATT secretariat and the countries concerned of the Community's desire to see these measures removed. In the autumn the EC will be holding a series of bilateral negotiations on market access problems.

  EC Regulations
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 16 July,Official Report, column 385, to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr. Warren), if he will publish a table indicating the date on which the various Council regulations that cover the circumstances in which EEC

  Region

  Number of projects

  Created jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs

  1987

  Scotland

  31

  3,704

  2,061

  5,765

  Wales

  58

  4,054

  877

  4,931

  Northern Ireland

  17

  1,135

  1,341

  2,486

  North East

  31

  3,491

  852

  4,343

  North West

  28

  1,323

  4,896

  6,219

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  23

  1,147

  961

  2,108

  West Midlands

  59

  3,079

  2,271

  5,350

  East Midlands

  11

  456

  398

  854

  South East

  55

  2,698

  599

  3,297

  South West

  11

  564

  328

  892

  Other United Kingdom

  1

  0

  5,700

  5,700

  Total

  325

  21,651

  20,284

  41,935

  1988

  Scotland

  58

  5,429

  1,978

  7,407

  Wales

  56

  6,006

  2,085

  8,091

  Northern Ireland

  22

  2,610

  916

  3,526

  North East

  22

  2,041

  31

  2,072

  North West

  30

  1,763

  3,844

  5,607

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  23

  1,790

  380

  2,170

  West Midlands

  69

  3,671

  7,840

  11,511

  East Midlands

  18

  1,139

  880

  2,019

  South East

  55

  2,698

  599

  3,297

  South West

  5

  479

  0

  479

  Other United Kingdom

  3

  325

  0

  325

  Total

  352

  27,653

  18,937

  46,590

  1989

  Scotland

  29

  4,275

  642

  4,917

  418
  inspectors are permitted to enter the premises of United Kingdom companies, referred to in that answer, were considered by the House.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 19 July 1990]: Regulations 17(1962) and (EEC) 1017/68 were both adopted before we joined the Community. Following the recommendation of the Select Committee on European Legislation, the other regulations were debated in the House as follows:

  Regulation (EEC) 4056/86 on 11 March 1986

  Regulation (EEC) 3975/87 on 9 December 1986

  Regulation (EEC) 4253/88 on 21 December 1988

  Regulation (EEC) 4064/89 on 17 May 1989

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total amount of all inward investment into Britain in the years 1987–88 and 1988–89; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures, region by region.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: These figures are not readily available on a financial year basis. However, the table gives details of the number of inward investments decisions known to the Invest in Britain Bureau for the calendar years 1987 to 1989 and the associated jobs for the United Kingdom by region. Comparable information on the total level of financial investment by inward investors is not available.

  The decision recorded include the establishment of a new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in joint venture. The figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and do not take into account subsequent developments.
  419

  Region

  Number of projects

  Created jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs

  Wales

  38

  3,664

  302

  3,966

  Northern Ireland

  17

  1,187

  8,558

  9,745

  North East

  46

  4,495

  1,438

  5,933

  North West

  52

  2,646

  4,538

  7,148

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  10

  600

  200

  800

  West Midlands

  85

  5,558

  7,035

  12,593

  East Midlands

  10

  4,349

  2,420

  6,769

  South East

  20

  2,063

  610

  2,673

  South West

  8

  1,848

  40

  1,888

  Other United Kingdom

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  315

  30,685

  25,783

  56,468

HEALTH

  Nurses' Pay (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average pay of a newly qualified nurse in London at the present time.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The gross pay of a newly qualified nurse appointed to a position on the minimum of salary scale grade D and working in the centre of London, is £11,173 in respect of basic salary and London allowance. On average, a nurse on grade D will receive in addition approximately 18 per cent. in respect of leads and allowances.

  NHS Costs
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each regional and district health authority for the most recent year for which information is available (i) the average cost per patient per day and (ii) the average cost per consultant/general practitioner episode for women using(a) consultant obstetric beds and (b) general practitioner maternity beds.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Tables, showing preliminary 1988–89 district health authority data for the specialties requested, have been placed in the Library. Regional health authorities as such do not directly provide these services.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will monitor the health of the children of service men who were involved in the nuclear weapons testing at Christmas Island.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Following recommendations from the independent expert Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE), the Government are currently considering a number of proposals for further studies of the children of individuals who have received radiation doses from occupational exposure. In particular, urgent consideration is being given to a proposal to link the data held on the national registry of radiation workers at the National Radiological Protection Board with those on the national registry of childhood tumours. A study involving test veterans' children would be considered only if it proves possible to proceed with the main worker-study proposal. In addition, any such research proposal would need to be considered first by the research co-ordinating committee established following a recent recommendation from COMARE.

  Medway Health District
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the figures for expenditure by the South East Thames regional health authority for 1989–90 and 1979–80, indicating what this represents after allowing for inflation; and if he will publish similar figures for the Medway health district.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The annual accounts of the South East Thames regional health authority together with those of the district (formerly area) health authorities comprising the South East Thames health region record total revenue expenditure of £471·2 million (cash) for 1979–80 and £1,039·3 million (cash) for 1988–89 (the latest year available). These figures represent an increase in real terms of 17·2 per cent. measured at 1988–89 prices.

  Prior to 1 April 1982 the Medway district formed part of a larger area health authority and in such cases district-based figures were not collected centrally. However, the separate annual accounts of the Medway health authority show total revenue expenditure of £36·4 million (cash) for 1982–83 and £61·1 million (cash) for 1988–89 representing an increase in real terms of 24 per cent. (measured at 1988–89 prices) compared with 9·8 per cent. for the region as a whole over the same period.

  Nursing Staff
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of the Royal College of Nursing to discuss recruitment and levels of nursing staff.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We attach great importance to the need to recruit and retain sufficient numbers of nursing staff. A wide range of issues relating to this objective are discussed in the various meetings which Ministers and officials regularly hold with representatives of the Royal College of Nursing.

  Among the many initiatives currently under way in this area are the national nurse recruitment advertising campaign, which has so far resulted in over 175,000 requests for information on nursing careers, and the Open college "Return to Nursing" initiative to be launched next month, for which the Department has provided funding of £100,000.

  District Health Services
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which authorities will be responsible for the recruitment, administration and payment of the district nurse, health visitor and community midwifery services when the National Health Service and Community Care Act is fully implemented; and if he will make a statement.
  421
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A working party is being set up under Catherine McLoughlin, the director of nursing on the national health service management executive, to produce guidance on the principles for future management arrangements for community nursing.

  The working party will look at examples where effective and efficient services are being provided. It will be looking to find the best way of sharing examples of good practice more widely as managers and staff seek to meet the needs of their local populations.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the need for balloting to occur before hospitals become national health service self-governing trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a number of letters from representative bodies and individuals on this subject. We have consistently made clear our view that ballots are not sensible. Applications for NHS trust status include complex and detailed proposals on service, management and personnel matters which cannot be reduced to a form which could be used as the basis for ballot when a unit applies for trust status. Regional health authorities will seek the views of all those with an interest as part of the statutory public consultation process.

  Perioperative Deaths
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish a list of those hospitals that have not yet met in full the requirements of his circular containing the recommendations of the confidential report on perioperative deaths;

  (2) if he is satisfied that all general hospitals have now met the standard required by his Department's recommendations contained in "Achieving A Balance" and the confidential report on perioperative deaths;

  (3) if he will publish a list of those hospitals that have not yet met in full the requirements of his circular "Achieving A Balance."

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  "Achieving A Balance" is a 10-year plan for action which is monitored annually by a technical sub-group consisting of members of the profession, NHS management and the Department.

  The most recent reports for the year 1988–89 show that regional health authorities are making steady progress in the implementation of the plan. Individual hospitals are not required to report directly to the Department on their progress.

  Information is not held centrally on which hospitals have not yet met the recommendations made in the independent professional report "National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths 1989," published June 1990.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of accident and emergency units in England and Wales; how many accident and emergency units have closed in the last three years; and how many accident and emergency units are scheduled for closure by the end of 1990.
  422
  Mr. Dorrell
  On 31 March 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 511 national health service hospitals with accident and emergency departments in England. Information on the number of closures and proposed closures is not collected centrally.

  Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Condoms
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) airports and (b) seaports in the United Kingdom which are issuing free condoms and leaflets on holiday health hazards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On 1 July 1990 the Health Education Authority began a campaign to alert young holidaymakers to the risks from casual sex while away from home and advocating the use of condoms as a means of reducing the risk of HIV infection. The campaign, which will run until 30 September 1990, consists of radio advertising, posters and supporting promotional material. Posters have been sited at all main airports in the United Kingdom—Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Glasgow, Luton, Belfast International, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands and Newcastle)—ferryports—(Dover and Folkestone)—holiday resorts in England and Wales and mainline stations serving the south coast. Tube advertising cards have also been placed on the Piccadilly Line, which serves Heathrow airport. The poster has been offered to regional and district health authorities and local health education units for use in local campaigns in support of the national initiative.

  The booklet "The Travellers Guide to Health" a copy of which has been placed in the Library is also widely available.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the annual management and maintenance costs of the empty residential properties owned by the national health service in (i) inner London and (ii) outer London for the latest period for which figures are available;

  (2) what percentage of properties suitable for residential use and owned by the national health service in inner London is (i) currently empty awaiting sale, (ii) empty for more than six months and (iii) empty for more than one year;

  (3) what percentage of empty properties owned by the national health service and suitable for residential use in outer London is (i) currently empty awaiting sale, (ii) empty for more than six months and (iii) empty for more than one year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  School Health Service
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish(a) the study carried out by his Department into the school health service and (b) a manual of good practice guidance on the role of the school health service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The work carried out by the Department was designed to identify current issues in the school health
  423
  service in England as a first step in deciding whether national health service authorities needed any guidance on good practice and the role of the service. We are now discussing the findings with national health service general managers in England to determine the need for, and nature of, such a good practice guide, which would draw on the work done so far and take account of the changes introduced by the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. We aim to complete these discussions during the autumn and will consult on any draft guidance.

  Islington Health Authority
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis of his calculation that between 1982 and 1989 real-term spending by Islington health authority rose by 9·5 per cent. and that the initial cash allocation year is up by 9 per cent. on last year—Official Report, 6 July, column 1319.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimate of a 9·5 per cent. increase in real-term spending between 1982 and 1989 by Islington health authority is based on the increase in gross revenue expenditure between 1982–83 and 1988–89, as reported in the health authority's annual accounts, adjusted for the increase in gross domestic product for the same period.

  The 9 per cent. initial cash increase represents the difference between initial cash allocations in 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Pollution, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the number of admissions in Greater London arising from respiratory problems caused by the recent hot weather.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Maternity Services
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he intends developing an integrated information system for maternity care data; and if he will meet the Royal College of Midwives to discuss the subject;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the collecting of information about the maternity services with regard to working paper 11, "Framework For Information Systems: The Next Steps".

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Working paper 11, and "Framework For Information Systems: The Next Steps", a copy of which is available in the Library, dealt with the process of preparing information systems within the national health service, to support the changes described in the White Paper "Working for Patients". This involved wide consultation with health authorities and professional and other organisations, including the royal colleges, about information systems for services, including maternity, which will be the subject of contracts after April 1991.

  "The Next Steps" identified the need to develop patient-based information systems to allow the linkage of community, in-patient and out-patient episodes. This is particularly relevant for maternity services. The service is now addressing the need for integrated systems, with the support of the Department. The views of the Royal College of Midwives will be considered with others.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of Health employs one special adviser, Mrs. Tessa Keswick. We do not employ any outside public relations advisers. Mrs. Keswick's salary is paid from departmental running costs and she is entitled to claim expenses at normal civil service rates. It is not our practice to publicise the salaries of individual advisers as they are individually negotiated and are therefore confidential.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on which statutory authorities, including the national health service, and to what extent, the responsibility for institutional care of elderly people who are heavily dependent on nursing care now lies.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Until the relevant sections of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 are brought into force, responsibility for continuing nursing care either in hospital or nursing homes rests with district health authorities. Income support is also available to help with the cost of care for people who have made their own arrangements with private and voluntary homes.

  Prescribing Costs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy in relation to the transfer of prescribing costs from hospitals to general practitioners in those circumstances where patients attend out-patient clinics(a) on a continuing basis and (b) following treatment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Prescribing responsibility for an aspect of an out-patient's care lies with the doctor who has clinical responsibility for that aspect. If the hospital clinician is responsible for the particular element of a patient's care, it is his responsibility to prescribe; similarly if a GP has the clinical responsibility, he has the prescribing responsibility. The decision as to which doctor has clinical responsibility for any particular aspect of a patient's treatment at any given time is for the doctors concerned to take.

  The question of costs for any particular drug should not be a factor in deciding where clinical and hence prescribing responsibility lies. There are no plans to change this policy.

  Dangerous Drugs (Labelling)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he is planning any new initiative to improve the labelling of dangerous drugs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 December 1989, at column 601.

  The EC Commission submitted its proposal for a directive on the labelling of drugs and on package leaflets to the Council of Ministers in January. Negotiations at official level are now in progress.

  Conceptions
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many conceptions in 1988(a) led to maternities and (b) were terminated under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, among residents of England and Wales aged under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, under 20 years,

  Numbers and rates of conceptions leading to maternities and abortions, 1988 England and Wales

  Age of woman at conception

  Number of conceptions leading to maternities and abortions

  Conception rates per 1,000 women in age-group

  Total

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Total

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Total

  849,549

  681,831

  167,718

  77·2

  61·9

  15·2

  Under 161

  8,782

  4,110

  4,672

  9·4

  4·4

  5·0

  16–19

  111,927

  73,346

  38,581

  75·5

  49·5

  26·0

  Under 20

  120,709

  77,456

  43,253

  66·6

  42·8

  23·9

  20–24

  256,041

  202,781

  53,260

  125·4

  99·3

  26·1

  25–29

  267,085

  233,042

  34,043

  135·8

  118·5

  17·3

  30–34

  143,142

  123,367

  19,775

  84·0

  72·4

  11·6

  35–39

  51,242

  38,964

  12,278

  30·0

  22·8

  7·2

  40 and over

  11,330

  6,221

  5,109

  6·4

  3·5

  2·9

  1 Rate per 1,000 women aged 13–15.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many conceptions in 1988(a) led to maternities and (b) were terminated under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, among residents of England and Wales aged under 14 years, 14 years, 15 years, 16 years, 17 years, 18 years and 19 years; and in each case, what was the rate per 1,000 population in each age group.

  Numbers and rates of conceptions leading to maternities and abortions, 1988, England and Wales

  Age of woman at conception

  Number of conceptions leading to maternities and abortions

  Conception rates per 1,000 women in age-group

  Total

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Total

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Under 141

  305

  138

  167

  1·0

  0·5

  0·6

  14

  1,761

  711

  1,050

  5·7

  2·3

  3·4

  15

  6,716

  3,261

  3,455

  20·4

  9·9

  10·5

  16

  15,821

  8,924

  6,897

  45·1

  25·4

  19·7

  17

  25,423

  15,872

  9,551

  67·6

  42·2

  25·4

  18

  32,208

  21,672

  10,536

  86·9

  58·5

  28·4

  19

  38,475

  26,878

  11,597

  100·0

  69·8

  30·1

  1 Rate per 1,000 women aged 13.

  Births
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many live births and stillbirths in 1989, were(a) born within marriage, (b) jointly registered births outside marriage and (c) solely registered births outside marriage.

  England and Wales

  Outcome

  Total

  Within marriage

  Outside marriage

  Jointly registered

  Solely registered

  Live births

  687,725

  501,921

  132,267

  53,537

  Stillbirths

  3,236

  2,169

  623

  444

  Live and stillbirths

  690,961

  504,090

  132,890

  53,981

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many live births and stillbirths in England and Wales in 1989 were jointly registered by parents who were not married to each other but lived at the same address.
  426
  20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, 35 to 39 years, and 40 years and over; and in each case, what was the rate per 1,000 population in each age group.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is given in the table. All pregnancies of women usually resident in England and Wales which led to a maternity or terminated by abortion under the 1967 Act are included and those that led to a spontaneous abortion are excluded.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is given in the table. All pregnancies of women usually resident in England and Wales which led to a maternity or terminated by abortion under the 1967 Act are included and those that led to a spontaneous abortion are excluded.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Dorrell
  The number of live births in England and Wales in 1989 jointly registered by parents who were not
  427
  married to each other but lived at the same address was 95,858. These data are not yet available for stillbirths but
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Community Care
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how joint finance arrangements will be affected by the delay in implementing the community care proposals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Not at all. Current joint finance arrangements remain in force. We welcome and encourage collaborative work between health and social care providers. Health authorities and local authorities should continue to make plans to make the best possible use of joint finance for community care services.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of(a) people discharged from long mental illness hospital, (b) mentally handicapped people discharged from hospital, (c) day care places for the mentally ill available, (d) places for the mentally ill in community care homes and hostels, (e) day care places for the mentally handicapped and (f) places in community homes and hostels for the mentally handicapped, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows the number of patients discharged to the community from national health service mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units after a stay of one year or more, for the period 1979 to 1986.

  In 1987–88 there were 3,900 finished district spells, excluding deaths, after treatment of more than a year, under a consultant for a mental illness specialty. Similarly for mental handicap there were 2,500 finished district spells. Finished district spells include transfers to other hospitals outside the district of treatment.

  Discharges1 from mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units England (1979 to 1986)

  Year

  Mental Illness

  Mental Handicap

  1979

  3,460

  1,178

  1980

  3,376

  1,120

  1981

  3,516

  1,246

  1982

  3,465

  1,229

  1983

  3,563

  1,457

  1984

  3,928

  1,919

  1985

  3,441

  2,052

  1986

  3,571

  2,528

  1 Excludes death and transfers.

  Comprehensive information on the number of day care places provided by national health service mental illness or mental handicap hospitals in England is not collected centrally.

  Information on local authority day care places and places in homes and hostels for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people in England is published in two annual statistical series: "Adult Training Centres for Mentally Handicapped People and Day Centres for Mentally Ill, Mentally Handicapped, Elderly and Younger Physically Handicapped People" (References A/F 11A/87 to A/F 11A/88) and "Homes and Hostels for Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped People" (References A/F 11/79 to A/F 11/86 and A/F 11A/87 to A/F 11A/88. Figures for 1989 are not yet available. Copies of all publications are in the Library.
  428
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of expenditure already incurred by local authorities in preparation for the introduction of the Government's community care proposals, in terms of(a) staffing, (b) training, (c) planning and (d) in other ways.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Immunisation
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from Action Research for the Crippled Child concerning immunisation uptake; and what response he has given.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department received in July 1989, a copy of the Peckham report "Factors Influencing Immunisation Uptake in Childhood" prepared on behalf of Action Research for the Crippled Child, from the group's director general, Colonel A. N. Brierley-Smith. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has replied to Colonel Brierley-Smith and I have arranged for copies of this correspondence to be placed in the Library.

  My hon. Friend has also recently written to the Department about the report, to which I shall reply shortly.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations and discussions he is having concerning the introduction of parent-held child immunisation record cards, following completion of the pilot study; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Officials are to meet members of the British Paediatric Association today.

  Maternal Deaths
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the number of maternal deaths in 1989 from(a) all causes, (b) abortion, illegal, legal and spontaneous and (c) unknown methods of abortion; and what percentage of maternal deaths were due to abortions of all types.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is as follows:

  Number of maternal deaths in England and Wales 1989

  Cause

  Number of deaths

  (a) Spontaneous, legally induced, and illegally induced abortions1

  —

  (b) Unknown method of abortion2

  —

  (c) Ectopic pregnancy and other abortive outcome3

  6

  (d) Total maternal deaths4

  56

  Note:

  8·9 per cent. of maternal deaths were due to abortions of ally types.

  1 Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes 634–636.

  2 Assigned to ICD code 637.

  3 Assigned to ICD codes 630–633, 638–639.

  4 Assigned to ICD codes 630–676.

  Abortion
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many legal abortions were carried out in England and Wales in 1970, 1975, 1980 and each year from 1985 onwards on women resident in(a) the Isle of Man, (b) Jersey and (c) the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
  429
  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is as follows:

  Number of abortions performed in England and Wales under the Abortion Act 1967 to residents of (a) Channel Islands and Isle of Man for
  1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985 and (b) the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey for 1986–891

  21970

  21975

  21980

  21985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  11989

  Isle of Man

  165

  373

  484

  515

  148

  158

  182

  221

  Jersey

  290

  287

  313

  322

  Guernsey3

  128

  139

  132

  166

  1 Provisional.

  2 Prior to 1986 number of abortions for Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are not available separately.

  3 Includes other and unspecified Channel Islands.

  Disability
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has visited any local authorities who participated in the pilot implementation of sections 1 to 3 of the 1986 Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I intend to do so. Officials are in contact with representatives of the consortium "Act Now" about the appropriate time and choice of authority for a visit.

  Hampstead Health Authority
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the spending per resident by Hampstead health authority was for each of the years 1978 to 1989 inclusive; and what was the comparable national average spending over the same period.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information for the Hampstead health authority and figures in aggregate for all district health authorities (DHAs) in England for the years since their establishment on 1 April 1982 are shown in the table. These figures relate expenditure on services managed by Hampstead health authority to numbers of residents. They do not show expenditure on services for Hampstead residents, since they do not take account of services provided by other districts for Hampstead residents, or services provided by Hampstead health authority for residents of other districts.

  Total revenue expenditure on Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) per resident

  Hampstead Health Authority £ (cash)

  England average £ (cash)

  1982–83

  551

  166

  1983–84

  580

  175

  1984–85

  610

  185

  1985–86

  518

  194

  1986–87

  546

  208

  1987–88

  592

  227

  11988–89

  688

  252

  1 latest available

  Sources:

  (a) Annual accounts of the Hampstead health authority and all other district health authorities in England for the financial years 1982–83 to 1988–89.

  (b) Mid-year estimates of resident population—1982 to 1988 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes:

  1. Hospital and Community health services (HCHS) covers the total expenditure by district health authorities including that
  430
  on hospital, community health and where relevant patient transport (that is, ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. District capital expenditure, all expenditure incurred by regional health authorities on behalf of their regions as a whole and by special health authorities, and so on, is excluded. Expenditure on family practitioner services, which is accounted for by family practitioner committees and cannot strictly be attributed to particular districts, is also excluded.

  3. The figures for Hampstead and certain other districts within the North East Thames region were influenced by a change in the pattern of sub-regional resource allocations for long-stay patients in the period 1984–85/1985–86. Hampstead, in common with other districts within London, incurs the cost of London weighting allowances payable to staff. In addition, Hampstead incurs additional costs through the provision of service support for medical education and research.

  4. Prior to 1 April 1982 the Hampstead health authority's predecessor health district formed part of a larger area health authority and in those cases district-based figures were not collected centrally.

  Family Planning
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each district health authority in Greater London(a) the total number of family planning clinic sessions held in 1982 and 1988–89 and (b) the total number of family planning clinic premises in 1982 and 1988–89.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested for 1982 is shown in the tables. From 1988–89 the data are no longer collected centrally, following a recommendation of the steering group on health services information.

  Number of family planning clinic sessions held

  1982

  Barnet

  1,882

  Harrow

  1,334

  Hillingdon

  1,662

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  2,002

  Ealing

  87

  Riverside

  2,551

  Parkside

  3,932

  Barking/Havering/Brentwood

  1,874

  Hampstead

  908

  Bloomsbury

  3,886

  Islington

  2,023

  City and Hackney

  1,470

  Newham

  840

  Tower Hamlets

  964

  Enfield

  1,451

  Haringey

  1,247

  Redbridge

  1,119

  Waltham Forest

  1,022

  Dartford and Gravesham

  872

  Bexley

  1,246

  Greenwich

  1,186

  Bromley

  1,334

  West Lambeth

  841

  Camberwell

  1,219

  431

  1982

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  4,425

  Croydon

  2,293

  Kingston and Esher

  1,016

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  1,483

  Wandsworth

  2,197

  Merton and Sutton

  1,858

  GREATER LONDON TOTAL

  50,224

  Number of family planning clinic premises

  1982

  Barnet

  15

  Harrow

  7

  Hillingdon

  13

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  20

  Ealing

  11

  Riverside

  15

  Parkside

  21

  Barking/Havering/Brentwood

  22

  Hampstead

  6

  Bloomsbury

  7

  Islington

  10

  City and Hackney

  13

  Newham

  8

  Tower Hamlets

  12

  Enfield

  10

  Haringey

  11

  Redbridge

  6

  Waltham Forest

  8

  Dartford and Gravesham

  7

  Bexley

  11

  Greenwich

  12

  Bromley

  11

  West Lambeth

  1

  Camberwell

  9

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  24

  Croydon

  11

  Kingston and Esher

  8

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  11

  Wandsworth

  11

  Merton and Sutton

  12

  GREATER LONDON TOTAL

  342

  1Not available.

  Beverley Lewis
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has completed its consideration of the reports from the health and social services authorities and the coroner's report on the death of Beverley Lewis; and what further action he intends to take.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Following the death of Beverley Lewis on 17 February 1989 the Gloucester health and social services authorities both launched internal inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Beverley's death. The two inquiries made joint recommendations which were submitted to the coroner at the inquest. The coroner delivered a verdict of death by natural causes. The health and social services authorities' reports identified three areas where improvement in procedure are necessary and they are acting upon them:

  (a) An "at risk" procedure is being introduced for adults with a physical or mental handicap or who are suffering from mental illness.

  (b) Management of the community mental health teams is being strengthened.

  (c) Individual programme plans are being implemented for each individual with a mental handicap.

  I have reviewed the reports of both the health and social services authorities as well as the coroner's findings. The
  432
  social services inspectorate will work with the local health and social services and education authorities to learn, apply and disseminate the lessons of this tragic case and I have asked the Law Commission to consider and advise on the coroner's view that the relevant legislation needs to be clarified. In view of the extensive local inquiries, the coroner's verdict, the continuing involvement of the SSI, and the need for local management to concentrate on implementing the changes that have now been agreed, I have decided not to establish a further inquiry into the circumstances of Beverley Lewis's death.

  Children Act 1989
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to take into account the deliberations of the committee set up in 1989 relating to services for the under-fives, in relationship to quality in preparing guidelines for part III of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Yes. The conclusions of the report of the Department of Education and Science, "Committee of Inquiry into the Quality of Educational Experience of Under Fives", will be taken into account in the Children Act guidelines on day care services for pre-school children.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations his Department has held in relationship to quality in the guidance relating to part III of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Guidance under part III of the Children Act 1989 will be the subject of a wide-ranging consultation exercise. This process has commenced and comments will be welcome on any aspects of the draft guidance within the next three months.

  Social Services
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the last year in which his Department produced local authority profiles containing indicators of key social services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Key indicators of local authority social services 1987–88 were published on 19 July 1990. Local authority profiles covering 1981–82 to 1985–86 were published in April 1989; copies are available in the Library. The 1983–84 to 1987–88 versions are due to be released in autumn 1990.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has for each social services authority in England of the number of(a) telephones installed, (b) people assisted with telephone rentals, (c) aids provided (d) housing adaptations provided and (e) holidays provided; and if he will express this both as a total figure and at a rate per 1,000 of the population for the years 1981–82 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available is published in the statistical services' "Domiciliary Services, Meals, Aids and Adaptations" (reference A/F 18), copies of which are in the Library. Those data have not been collected centrally since the year ended 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the percentage increase in expenditure
  433
  on the personal social services since 1980, adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator, for each social services authority in England;

  (2) if he will rank all social services authorities by their expenditure per 1,000 of the population on the personal social services for (a) 1978–79 at current prices and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Capital Funding
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will outline the process following the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act whereby a service procurer or purchasing body would apply to the regional health authority for capital funding,; what conditions will determine eligibility for capital funding; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made;

  (2) if he will outline the process, following implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act, whereby a service provider within a district health authority would make application to the regional health authority for capital funding; what conditions will determine eligibility for capital funding; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act will not in itself change the means by which capital is allocated to units that remain under the management of district health authorities. Capital will be allocated by regional health authorities to the authority with management responsibility for the service or facility requiring capital investment. In assessing priorities for capital schemes, regions will take account of a range of factors including the needs and priorities of purchasing authorities, and the efficiency and effectiveness of alternative ways of meeting those needs. It will be a requirement of receiving funds that proposed schemes provide evidence that they will attract sufficient purchaser income to cover their revenue costs, including capital charges.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sources of capital funding that will be available to any hospital trust or any other self-governing trusts; what process of approval such trusts would have to go through following implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act in respect of such capital projects; what conditions will determine eligibility for any public contributions towards such projects; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Capital spending by national health service trusts will be funded from internally generated resources or by borrowing from the Government or private sector. Spending will need to be contained within external financing limits which will be set annually for each trust. Trusts will set out their proposals for capital spending in their annual business plans which will be discussed with the Department. In the case of major projects, they will be required to submit plans to the Department for approval in principle.

  Private Residential Homes
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the entitlement of residents in private residential homes to paramedical services from the national health service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Residents in private residential care homes have the same entitlement to paramedical services from the national health service as people living in their own homes.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of the delay in the implementation of the community care proposals, local authorities will be expected to begin to arrange contractual agreements with voluntary organisations as from April 1991.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Many local authorities already have contractual agreements or service arrangements with voluntary organisations. There is nothing to prevent them from continuing or developing such arrangements. Contractual agreements will not be a requirement from April 1991, but encouragement to local authorities to move towards their enabler role will continue as part of taking forward our community care proposals.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those mental handicap and mental illness hospitals that have firm dates for closure with the dates by which each is to be closed; and what was the number of in-patients at 31 December in each.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Buildings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update his Department's answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 15 May 1987,Official Report, column 428, concerning the average age of hospital buildings, showing appropriate percentage changes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information previously provided was taken from an exercise which has not been repeated.

  General Practice
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct family practitioner authorities to exclude from their consideration, when determining the indicative budget or prescribing amount for a particular practice or general practitioner, any sum likely to arise from the transfer of prescribing costs from hospital consultants to general practitioners in those circumstances where patients attend hospital out-patient clinics on a continuing basis and to make separate provision for such amounts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is not necessary to introduce such a procedure.

  It has been the policy of successive Governments that where a hospital doctor has clinical responsibility for a particular aspect of an out-patient's treatment, he should

  435
  prescribe, where a GP has that responsibility, he should prescribe, and where the two doctors share care they should
  decide between them who should prescribe, bearing in mind the patient's convenience.

  As announced in working paper 4 of the national health service review series, regional health authorities will be expected to examine out-patient prescribing policies within their region, to take a view of what is properly hospital or GP prescribing, and to establish budgets for their district health authorities and family health services authorities on the basis of conformity with the Government's policy. The amount set for each practice under the indicative prescribing scheme will cover the needs of all its patients including prescriptions initiated by a hospital doctor where the GP has taken over or agreed to share care.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update his Department's answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South East of 18 January 1988,Official Report, columns 569–72, concerning the breakdown, by specialty, of the waiting lists for operations at each of the Coventry hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information by individual hospitals is no longer collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Coventry health authority for the relevant information.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of annual revenue was spent on management, administrative and secretarial costs in each of the English district health authorities in 1985–86, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 2 July 1990]: No accurate information on national health service NHS management costs is available. Tables recording expenditure on district health authority headquarters administration and expressing that figure as a percentage of total revenue expenditure for the years 1985–86 and 1988–89 have been placed in the Library. Equivalent information for 1989–90 will be available in the autumn.

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of cases notified to him for 1989 and 1990 until the latest date for which figures are available, of cases of(a) food poisoning in general, (b) salmonella, (c) salmonella enteriditis, (d) salmonella enteriditis P4, (e) salmonella typhimurium, (f) campylobacter and (g) listeriosis;

  (2) if he will list the number of cases notified to him for each year since 1980 until the latest date for which figures are available by region for (a) food poisoning in general, (b) salmonella, (c) salmonella enteriditis, (d) salmonella enteriditis P4, (e) salmonella typhimurium, (f) campylobacter and (g) listeriosis.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 19 July 1990]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  In-patients (West Midlands)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the extra money allocated specifically to reduce in-patient waiting lists, by specialty, to each of the Birmingham health districts and the West Midlands health region in each year in which allocations have been made; and what assessment he has made of its impact upon in-patient waiting lists by each Birmingham health district and the West Midlands health region.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Information on the allocations is given in the tables. The West Midlands regional health authority has assessed the impact of waiting list funds on targeted specialties in 1989–90. During that year the region achieved an overall 10·9 per cent. reduction in its long wait in-patient lists, largely due to the successful targeting of waiting list funds. An assessment for each of the Birmingham districts and for Birmingham as a whole is given in the tables.

  West Midlands RHA and Birmingham DHAs' WLF allocations

  District

  Specialty

  Allocation £

  Waiting list fund 1987–88

  Central Birmingham

  General Surgery

  71,500

  Central Birmingham

  Urology

  52,000

  East Birmingham

  T and O

  350,000

  East Birmingham

  ENT

  6,000

  East Birmingham

  Ophthalmology

  70,000

  South Birmingham

  T and O

  408,500

  South Birmingham

  ENT

  80,000

  West Birmingham

  Ophthalmology

  79,500

  Sub total

  1,117,000

  West Midlands total WLF allocation

  3,120,000

  Waiting list fund 1988–89

  East Birmingham

  T and O

  318,000

  East Birmingham

  Ophthalmology

  74,000

  South Birmingham

  T and O

  236,000

  South Birmingham

  ENT

  380,100

  West Birmingham

  Ophthalmology

  90,100

  Sub total

  1,098,100

  West Midlands total WLF allocation

  3,354,000

  Waiting list fund 1989–90

  Central Birmingham

  Urology

  37,000

  Central Birmingham

  Gynaecology

  80,000

  East Birmingham

  Urology

  142,000

  North Birmingham

  T and O

  42,000

  North Birmingham

  General Surgery

  100,000

  South Birmingham

  Urology

  64,000

  West Birmingham

  Ophthalmology

  100,000

  Sub total

  565,000

  West Midlands total WLF allocation

  2,743,000

  Waiting list fund 1990–91

  2,850,000

  West Midlands total WLF allocation. Allocations to Birmingham districts yet to be confirmed.

  Effect of waiting list initiatives on targeted lists 1989/90 numbers waiting over a year (in-patients)

  Lists with initiative

  Lists without initiative

  Central Birmingham

  March 89

  338

  1,572

  March 90

  175

  1,172

  Difference

  -163

  -400

  437

  Lists with initiative

  Lists without initiative

  percentage difference

  -48·2

  -25·4

  East Birmingham

  March 89

  115

  600

  March 90

  51

  409

  Difference

  -64

  -191

  percentage difference

  -55·7

  -31·8

  North Birmingham

  March 89

  498

  179

  March 90

  281

  178

  Difference

  -217

  -1

  percentage difference

  -43·6

  -0·6

  South Birmingham

  March 89

  255

  326

  March 90

  86

  782

  Difference

  -169

  456

  percentage difference

  -66·3

  139·9

  West Birmingham

  March 89

  150

  399

  March 90

  22

  103

  Difference

  -128

  -296

  percentage difference

  -85·3

  -74·3

  Birmingham Districts as a whole

  March 1989

  1,206

  2,677

  March 1990

  593

  2,541

  Difference

  -613

  -136

  percentage difference

  -50·8

  -5·1

  Lists with initiative

  Lists without initiative

  Total

  West Midland Region

  March 89

  9,053

  10,942

  19,995

  March 90

  5,783

  12,024

  17,807

  Difference

  -3,270

  1,083

  -2,188

  percentage difference

  -36·1

  9·9

  -10·9

  Intensive Care Baby Units
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was, for the most recent year, the number of babies born alive in England with birthweights of(a) under 1,000 grammes, (b) 1,000 to 1,499 grammes, (c) 1,500 to 1,999 grammes, (d) 2,000 to 2,499 grammes, (e) 2,500 grammes and over and (f) with unstated birthweights; and what are the numbers of babies in each group who were admitted to special or intensive care baby units, the numbers discharged alive and their average lengths of stay;

  (2) for the most recent year, the number of babies born alive in England at gestational ages of (a) under 28 weeks, (b) 28 to 31 weeks, (c) 32 to 36 weeks, (d) 37 to 41 weeks, (e) 42 or more weeks and (f) with unknown gestational ages; and what are the numbers of babies in each group who were admitted to special or intensive care baby units, the numbers discharged alive and their average length of stay.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: The information requested on live births by birthweight is as follows:

  England 1989

  Birthweight

  Under 1,000 grammes

  2,325

  1,000–1,499 grammes

  3,891

  1,500–1,999 grammes

  8,283

  438

  Birthweight

  2,000–2,499 grammes

  28,127

  2,500 grammes and over

  586,749

  unstated birthweight

  19,982

  Source: OPCS

  Information on gestation, type of care received and outcome are not included in birth registration data, but are being collected from 1988–89 in the maternity hospital episode system. Complete data for 1988–89, the first year of the system, are not available and the extent to which the incomplete data can be used to make reliable estimates is currently under consideration. Preliminary indications are that the percentage of live births by gestation are as follows:

  Babies born alive by gestation 1988–89 England

  Number of weeks gestation

  Per cent.

  All

  100

  Under 28

  1

  28–32

  1

  33–36

  5

  37–40

  70

  41–42

  19

  Over 42

  1

  Unknown

  4

  More detailed analyses are available only at disproportionate cost.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the new(a) membership and (b) chairpersons of the regional health authorities will be announced.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 20 July 1990, c. 766]: All the appointments of non-executive members of regional health authorities have now been confirmed and I have today placed a full list in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Official Meetings
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet the Federal German Chancellor Dr. Kohl; and what matters she expects to discuss.

  The Prime Minister
  I meet Chancellor Kohl several times during the year. We last met at the Houston economic summit on 9 to 11 July. I expect that there will be further contacts soon. Subjects for discussion include EC and NATO issues, east-west relations and German unification.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet her counterpart from the German Democratic Republic; and what matters she expects to discuss.

  The Prime Minister
  I had interesting and valuable talks with Herr de Maiziere during his visit to London on 26 and 27 June. I hope that we shall meet again before long and continue our discussions about German unification, east-west relations and EC and NATO subjects.
  439
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) when she last met Lord Hanson in an official capacity;

  (2) when she last met Michael Richardson of NM Rothschild in an official capacity.

  The Prime Minister
  My normal practice is neither to confirm nor deny meetings with private individuals even when no such meeting has taken place.

  Dairy Products
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister if the European Commission's decision on 19 July to raise export restitutions on dairy products is consistent with the agreement reached on 11 July at the economic summit in Houston; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Commission maintains that the action it has taken does not contravene agreements reached in the GATT international dairy arrangement on minimum export prices. The increase in export refunds is nevertheless likely to be unhelpful in the context of the current Uruguay round negotiations. The Commission took its decision without consulting member states. We had, however, made clear on earlier occasions that we were opposed to any increase in export refunds in the dairy sector at this time. We also opposed the 1 per cent. increase in milk quota agreed towards the end of last year, because, although it was helpful to many producers in the short term, it was bound to worsen the Community's existing problem of overproduction.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed in her Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  The Prime Minister
  There are no public relations advisers. The special advisers currently employed in my office are:

  Professor B. Griffiths

  Mr. A. Dunlop

  Mr. G. Guise

  Mr. R. Harris

  Mr. H. M. Harris-Hughes

  Mr. I. K. Whitehead

  All are paid from public funds. It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of individual advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential. Expenses may be paid within the normal civil service rules.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she discussed the prospects for the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference with President Bush during her recent visit to Houston.

  The Prime Minister
  No, but the matter was part of the final conclusions of the economic summit in Houston.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Cabinet Office will publish an up-to-date issue of the list of ministerial responsibilities.
  440
  The Prime Minister
  Copies of the list of ministerial responsibilities are expected to be available in approximately three weeks.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will take steps to remind all Ministers of the duty to ensure that—while their regular private office staff are away on holiday—all letters from Ministers to hon. Members have a copy thereof attached, as usual.

  The Prime Minister
  I have asked my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury to do so.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy on(a) the timing and (b) the mechanism of disbursement of the £5 million support she announced for British film production, following her seminar on film policy.

  The Prime Minister
  The fund will be provided over three financial years: £1 million in 1991–92 and £2 million in each of the two following years. The mechanism for disbursement has not yet been decided.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Crown Immunity
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what developments there have been in identifying the scope for removing Crown immunity from the Palace of Westminster.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  There are no developments to report. Consideration of the issues raised has disclosed no reason why the Palace of Westminster should not be subject to the same rules as Crown property generally.

  Library Services
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any plans to change the use of the Textline facility in the branch Library by hon. Members and staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The providers of Textline have recently given notice of substantial price increases and of a new charging structure, the consequence of which would be a very heavy increase in the costs of this service to the House within three years. The Library Sub-Committee of the Services Committee therefore decided that the Textline service should be withdrawn from the Branch Library with effect from early August 1990. Notices were posted in the Branch Library on 23 July informing users of the withdrawal of the service.

  Dining Rooms
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will indicate the latest date for which a booking in the private dining rooms has been accepted.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The latest date for which a private dining room has been booked is 18 December 1991.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will undertake a review of the current use of private
  441
  dining facilities in the House with a view to making provision in advance of the development of phase 2 for constituents and visitors to the line of route.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  It is understood that the Catering Sub-Committee will include the provision of refreshments for visitors as part of its review this autumn of observations received in response to the Services Committee's first report of this Session on the future development of refreshment facilities in the House (HC 234). No doubt all possible options will be considered at that time.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Bilateral Aid
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the percentage of United Kingdom bilateral aid spent on procurement of United Kingdom goods and services for each year since 1979, using the same criteria as were used for the figure on page 13 of the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93", chapter 2.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Procurement of United Kingdom goods and services under bilateral aid programmes, including both technical cooperation and financial assistance, using the criteria requested, has been as follows:

  £000's

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Malawi

  22,356

  15,346

  24,865

  46,494

  42,114

  Namibia

  605

  733

  969

  2,033

  1,543

  Zimbabwe

  23,636

  12,503

  12,498

  24,127

  21,385

  Papua New Guinea

  2,329

  4,873

  6,646

  14,643

  11,466

  India

  106,466

  143,481

  78,464

  101,045

  99,498

  St. Lucia

  530

  1,018

  3,174

  2,848

  8,872

  Grenada

  1,450

  776

  739

  1,225

  1,352

  Philippines

  1,840

  205

  262

  1,042

  11,913

  Note: The 1989 figures are provisional.

  Third World Debt
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the total interest payments on the external debts of the least developed countries as a percentage of all official development assistance to this category of countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  According to recent OECD figures, total interest payments made in 1988 by countries classified by the United Nations as least developed were US$2·2 billion. Official development assistance to this group of countries on a net basis—that is, after subtracting principal payments on concessional loans was US$13·9 billion. Figures for previous years, and provisional figures for 1989, are similar.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries within the least developed country category that Britain has been able to assist to date through implementation of the Paris club Toronto terms; and if he will make a statement on the debt relief gained by these countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The countries within the United Nations least developed category which have so far rescheduled debt in the Paris club on concessional "Toronto Terms"
  442

  Year

  Per cent.

  1979

  77

  1980

  67

  1981

  67

  1982

  70

  1983

  66

  1984

  61

  1985

  63

  1986

  71

  1987

  70

  1988

  69

  1989

  Not yet available

  Aid
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the amount of British aid in each of the last five years to Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, India, St. Lucia, Grenada and the Philippines.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The amount of gross bilateral aid, including new investments by Commonwealth Development Corporation, given by the United Kingdom in each of the last five years to Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, India, St. Lucia, Grenada and the Philippines is as follows:

  are Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda. No debts to the United Kingdom were covered by the reschedulings for Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Chad. The deferral of all due payments, together with the reduction in interest payable on the deferred amounts, will substantially ease the financing constraints on these countries as they pursue programmes of economic reform designed to lay the basis for sustained growth.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the debt service ratios for each of the least-developed countries between 1980 and the latest available figures.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Figures for the ratio of debt service paid to export receipts are available for all the least-developed countries except Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kiribati and Tuvalu in the "World Debt Tables 1989–90", published by the World Bank, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Figures are available in all cases for 1988; in some cases, figures to not extend as far back as 1980.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make it his
  443
  policy to support an early review of measures by multilateral institutions to ease the debt burden on the least developed countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The multilateral institutions have played their part in tackling the balance of payments problems faced by heavily indebted countries in the 1980s by providing financial support for programmes of economic reform. We have played a major part in ensuring that such support to the poorest countries is provided on highly concessional terms—especially through the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility and the World bank's International Development Association. It is important for the future functioning of the multilateral institutions that their preferred creditor status is maintained.

  Power Stations
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all coal-fired power stations funded from the aid-trade provisions and from the regular aid programme, since 1979, indicating the size of the power stations; which power stations use flue-gas desulphurisation technology; which power stations use other technology to limit sulphur dioxide emissions; and the sulphur content of the coal used; and for which stations an environmental impact assessment was carried out before aid was approved.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: The following list gives information on all coal-fired power stations funded from the aid-trade provision and from the regular aid programme since 1979.

  Date on which financing agreed

  Country

  Site

  Size

  Sulphur content in coal percentage

  1982

  Botswana

  Morupule

  3 x 30MW

  1·5 (1·06 + 2·0 blend)

  1982

  Brazil

  Jacui

  350MW

  0·54—1·06

  1988

  China

  Yueuang

  2 x 350MW

  0·28—0·31

  1984

  India

  Balco

  4 x 67MW

  0·3—0·5

  1982

  India

  Rihand

  2 x 500MW

  0·3

  1980

  India

  Titigargh

  4 x 60MW

  Not available

  None of the power stations is fitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment or uses other technology specifically to limit sulphur dioxide emissions, other than by generally maximising the overall efficiency of the plant. Sulphur contents are significantly lower than coal currently burned in United Kingdom power stations which has typically up to 3 per cent. sulphur content.

  The ODA did not carry out formal environmental impact assessment on these projects but it examined, in the course of appraisal, environmental factors, including the results of environmental assessments carried out by the recipient Governments, in order to establish the likely impacts of the projects.

  Since 1988 all projects have been subject to ODA's new environmental appraisal system.

EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to how many public sector organisations in Germany meet a(a) 6 per cent. quota, (b) 5 per cent. quota, (c) 4 per cent. quota and (d) 3 per cent. quota, for the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  I regret that information about the public sector organisations in Germany that meet their quota obligations is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to how many organisations and companies in France meet a(a) 6 per cent. quota, (b) 5 per cent. quota, (c) 4 per cent. quota and (d) 3 per cent. quota, for the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  The current quota system in France has only recently been introduced and compliance figures are not yet available.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has carried out any studies into the operation and effectiveness of the German quota/levy system for disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  No formal studies of the German system have been carried out by this Department. However, my officials are in regular contact with their European counterparts about all aspects of provision for people with disabilities, including the operation of quota/levy systems.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he plans to hold with disability organisations on his Department's proposals for employment services for disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  All disability organisations known to the Department have been written to seeking their views on the proposals contained in "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities". We are looking forward to receiving their comments.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which organisations are being formally consulted on his Department's review of employment services for disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: The results of the review were published on 29 June in a consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities". Copies have been sent to a wide range of organisations and individuals; including the all-party disablement group, the Select Committee on Employment, the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People, committees for the employment of disabled people, organisations of and for people with disabilities, providers of employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities, the CBI, the TUC, local authorities and professional bodies with an interest in the employment and training of people with disabilities. Copies of the document are available to anyone who wishes to comment.
  445
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has carried out any studies of the operation and effectiveness of the new 6 per cent. French quota system for disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: No formal studies of the French system have been carried out by this Department. However, my officials are in regular contact with their European counterparts about all aspects of provision for people with disabilities, including the operation of quota/levy systems.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has evaluated and costed the feasibility of establishing a disablement commission to investigate cases of unjustifiable discrimination against disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: No formal evaluation or costing studies have been conducted. Were such a commision to be established, the cost would undoubtedly be substantial.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to ensure adequate health and safety standards in bed-and-breakfast hotels; what is being done to ensure that all hotels used for the accommodation of homeless families are upgraded to higher standards; and how often bed-and-breakfast hotels are visited and inspected by environmental health officers to ensure that they are upgraded to desirable standards.

  Mr. Forth
  Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) it is the employer's responsibility to do everything that is reasonably practicable to protect the health and safety of workers and others who may be affected by his work activity.

  Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the HSWA in bed-and-breakfast hotels. The frequency of visits and inspections is at the enforcing authority's discretion. No information is available centrally on the frequency of such visits.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Howard
  Two special advisers are currently appointed to advise Ministers in the Department of Employment: Ms. C. Stratton and Mr. T. Collins. It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of individual advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential. The normal civil service rules apply with regard to expenses for special advisers. There are no public relations advisers paid by other organisations and seconded to the Department.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans his Department has to aid the funding of the English tourist network automation system.

  Mr. Forth
  In the 1989–90 financial year, the English tourist board gave support amounting to £50,000 towards the development of the English tourist network automation system. In the 1990–91 financial year, a further £120,000 has been allocated to support the system.

  Chipboard Manufacture
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has made any assessment of the health and safety implications involved in the process of the manufacture of softwood chipboard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive has not conducted any specific comprehensive assessment of health and safety aspects of softwood chipboard manufacture. However, standards applicable to chipboard manufacturing processes are contained in existing safety legislation enforced by HSE. It has no evidence to suggest that standards involving this manufacturing process are unsatisfactory.

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in 1990 prices, the 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 budgets for the National Council for Vocational Qualifications.

  Mr. Jackson
  A total of £5·4 million was provided for the National Council for Vocational Qualifications in 1989–90, and provision is currently estimated at some £5·2 million for this year. The plans for 1991–92 currently provide for a total of £5·7 million.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has held any meetings with the National Council for Vocational Qualifications about its budget for 1990–91 and 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Officials from my Department meet regularly with officers of the national council to discuss all aspects of the council's work. In addition, my hon. Friend the former Minister of State, Department of Employment met the council twice this year.

  The House was informed on 17 May 1990 of a review of the council's progress, currently being undertaken by my Department, with the agreement of the Secretaries of State for Education and Science, for Wales and for Northern Ireland—Official Report, 17 May, column 540. We shall be finalising the council's budget following completion of the review.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits were issued to foreign nationals in June 1990 and each of the preceding 11 months.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is as follows:
  447

  Number

  June 1990

  3,376

  May 1990

  3,317

  April 1990

  2,460

  March 1990

  2,882

  February 1990

  2,452

  January 1990

  2,541

  December 1989

  1,399

  November 1989

  2,856

  October 1989

  2,923

  September 1989

  2,575

  August 1989

  3,181

  July 1989

  2,743

  Bio-electro Magnetism
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has assessed the health and safety aspects of bio-electro magnetism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive regularly assesses the health and safety aspects of electromagnetic radiation and has published guidance, for example on the use of sun-tanning equipment and radio frequency dielectric heating equipment.

  PSV Training, Coventry
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now consider instructing the Training Agency to arrange for the provision in the Coventry area of public service vehicle training through the dual certificate to those individuals holding only a provisional driving licence; in what other regions these training courses are already provided; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  No. The training provision in each locality is determined by local officials of the Training Agency, and training and enterprise councils in the light of the needs of trainees and local labour market requirements. The information on the training provision in other regions is not available.

  Training Agencies
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of(a) employment training training agents and (b) employment training training managers who have received approved training organisation status for the most recent date for which information is available.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: As at 31 May 1990, 153 training agents and 881 training managers had received approval for stage one and one training agent and six training managers had received approval for stage two.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the employment training agency managers and directors involved in community programmes, YTS and employment training who have been investigated by the fraud squad, prosecuted and convicted in the period since June 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]No central record is kept by my Department on this type of 448
  information. Any information in respect of specific fraud allegations or investigations is held within the records of the Training Agency's 57 area offices and any such information must clearly be treated as confidential.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what investigations were carried out by the Training Agency or Manpower Services Commission into the training experience of directors of the Mutual Aid Centre Managing Agency and the High Wycombe Brass Tacks Agency.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The Training Agency investigates the ability of all potential training providers to deliver Government programmes and initiatives by carrying out on-site investigations to ensure that adequate facilities and arrangements are in place. A system of risk analysis is applied to the company's financial viability and where appropriate by examining whether previous initiatives have been successfully delivered.

  Written evidence of previous relevant experience is required for members of staff directly involved in the delivery of the training or assessment.

  The local approval process was followed in this case including consideration and approval by the relevant local tripartite area manpower board.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the implications for the provision of employment training of the conviction of two directors of Mutual Aid Centre Managing Agency.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: There are no implications. The Mutual Aid Centre Managing Agency is not a provider of employment training. My Department continues to operate a system of financial appraisal and monitoring designed to protect public funds and to reduce the risk of fraud.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received following his decision to reduce available funds for technical and vocational education initiative start-up in St. Helens.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend has received letters from the TVEI project director for St. Helens and from the headmaster of a special school.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers and proportions of primary pupils in classes(a) over 30 and (b) over 34.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The numbers and proportions of primary pupils in classes(a) over 30 and (b) over 34 in England at January 1989 are:

  Number of pupils

  Proportion of all pupils

  In Classes over 30

  803,882

  23·2

  In Classes over 34

  137,885

  4·0

  449
  The analyses relate to classes taught by one teacher during a selected period on the day of the school census.

  School Holidays
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to adjusting the school terms and school holidays; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to alter existing arrangements for school terms and holidays which allow for their determination by LEAs and school governors. He is aware of current interest in some schools in the possibility of introducing a four term year. He recognises that this would have major implications for many beyond the schools which would require very careful consideration.

  Women Teachers
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the proportions of(a) head teachers posts in primary schools, (b) deputy head teacher posts in primary schools, (c) head teacher posts in secondary schools and deputy head teachers posts in secondary schools which are held by women.

  Participation rates in full-time education for 16 to 18-year-olds in England 1979–80 to 1989–90

  1979–80 per cent.

  1980–81 per cent.

  1981–82 per cent.

  1982–83 per cent.

  1983–84 per cent.

  1984–85 per cent.

  1985–86 per cent.

  1986–87 per cent.

  1987–88 per cent.

  1988–89 per cent.

  1 1989–90 per cent.

  Aged 16

  42

  43

  48

  50

  48

  47

  47

  47

  48

  52

  56

  Aged 17

  27

  28

  30

  32

  32

  32

  32

  32

  33

  35

  39

  Aged 18

  14

  14

  16

  16

  17

  17

  17

  17

  18

  19

  20

  Aged 16–18

  28

  29

  31

  33

  32

  32

  32

  32

  33

  35

  39

  Note: Ages are at 31 August.

  1 Provisional.

  Capitation Expenditure
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the amounts of capitation spent by all local education authorities on schools in each year since 1979–80 at(a) 1979–80 prices and (b) current prices.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The items of expenditure covered by the term "capitation" can vary from LEA to LEA. Accordingly, the Department does not collect data on the size of the capitation allowances made by LEAs to the schools they maintain.

  Literacy
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he gives to local education authorities on methods of teaching primary school pupils to read; and what representations he has received on this subject.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend has published attainment targets and programmes of study for English which cover the teaching of reading to primary schoolchildren. I do not, however, give guidance on the teaching methods to be used in this or any other subject. That is a matter for the schools, and the professional expertise of teachers.

  Reading is naturally a subject of special interest and concern to parents and others, and one on which my right hon. Friend and I frequently receive representations.
  450
  Mr. MacGregor
  On 31 March 1987, the latest date for which information is available, the proportions of head and deputy head teacher posts in primary schools in England which were held by women were 47 and 61 per cent. respectively and in secondary schools in England were 17 and 31 per cent. respectively.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the proportions of female teachers in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

  Mr. MacGregor
  On 31 March 1987, the latest date for which information is available, the percentages of full-time qualified teachers in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England who were female were 80 and 47 per cent. respectively.

  16 to 18-year-olds
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the proportions of(a) 16-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds, (c) 18-year-olds and (d) 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education for each year since 1979–80, as a percentage of the same age group.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information requested is as follows:

  Higher Education
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Government's recent achievements in higher education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Government have continued to implement policies to improve aspects of higher education in England and Wales and have made important progress in carrying out the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  There are now over 1 million students in higher education, 36 per cent. more than in 1979. By the end of the 1990s, the number is expected to increase to nearly 1·2 million.

  Since the introduction of the Education Reform Act, polytechnics and colleges of higher education have been established as independent corporate bodies, funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council. With the recent announcement of the new Bournemouth and Humberside polytechnics there are now 31 polytechnics and 54 other major providers of higher education in the new PCFC sector.

  The shift in the balance of public funding between the block grant and the fee means that higher education institutions now have a financial incentive to admit additional students. In consequence, institutions are becoming increasingly responsive to the needs of students, employers and other interested "customers" of higher education.
  451
  Higher education is well placed to meet the challenges of the 1990s.

  Science (International Co-operation)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to promote international co-operation in science.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  A main objective for DES expenditure research is to increase international collaboration in science where this gives good value for money—for instance, where necessary concentration cannot be achieved at the national level—and having particular regard to possibilities for co-operation within the EC. To this end, the Department pays grant in aid annually to the five research councils, the Royal Society and the Fellowship of Engineering. In addition, resources are made available to the universities and polytechnics through the Universities Funding Council. It is for the scientific judgment of bodies in receipt of grant-in-aid and those they support, in discussion where appropriate with the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and the Department, to determine the particular scientific areas in which international co-operation should be promoted.

  Assessment Tests
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the provisions he is making to esure that children are regularly tested at the ages of seven and 11 years.

  Mr. Eggar
  Under the Education Reform Act 1988, my right hon. Friend is required to establish arrangements for assessing all pupils at ages seven, 11, 14 and 16 in the core and other foundation subjects of the national curriculum. the first national assessments of seven-year-olds in English, mathematics and science will take place in 1991. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave on 25 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) about the arrangements for those assessments. National assessments of seven-year-olds in the other foundation subjects will be phased in over the years 1992–94. The first national assessment of 11-year-olds—in the core subjects and technology—will be in 1994, with assessments in the other foundation subjects phased in over the years 1995–96.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers attended the seminars to evaluate the standard assessment tests pilot studies.

  Mr. Eggar
  The detailed breakdown of those attending the recent seminars was as follows:

  Number

  Teachers

  82

  Head teachers and deputy head teachers

  32

  Advisory teachers and co-ordinators

  20

  Local education authority inspectors and advisers

  30

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has had discussions with the National Council for Vocational Qualifications about the under-sevens project and training for early years workers.
  452
  Mr. Eggar
  I have not discussed the project with the council; the Department is represented on the project steering group.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment his Department made of the resource implications of standard assessment tests at seven years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The pilot assessments of seven-year-olds in English, mathematics and science, which took place in a sample of primary schools in May, will yield evidence about the resource implications of the prototype standard assessment tasks (SATs) used in the pilot. Responsibility for evaluating the pilot assessments rests with the School Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC) which will report to my right hon. Friend in October on the performance of the prototype SATs, including their resource implications. The specification for the SATs to be used in the first national assessment of seven-year-olds in 1991 will be settled by my right hon. Friend in the light of that report.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he expects to report his decisions regarding standard assessment tests for seven-year-olds.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend expects to settle the specification for the standard assessment tasks (SATs) to be used in the first national assessments of seven-year-olds in 1991 by October of this year, in the light of the School Examinations and Assessment Council's evaluation of the recent pilot assessments of seven-year-olds.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made under the new system of local management of schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 10 July 1990, at column 175.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of total education expenditure each shire county, under local management of schools, has held back from the schools themselves to cover the cost of administration and other facilities.

  Mr. Fallon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris). The costs of central administration are included in the figures for unlimited discretionary exceptions.

  Shire Counties
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of teachers employed in schools in shire counties in 1990; and what was the number of teachers employed in schools in shire counties in 1985.

  Mr. Fallon
  The number of teachers—full-time equivalents—in nursery primary and secondary schools maintained by local education authorities in English shire counties were, in thousands:
  453

  Number

  January 1985

  240·0

  January 1989

  237·8

  January 1990

  239·4

  A further 340 teachers were employed in grant maintained schools in these counties in January 1990.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total estimated expenditure on tertiary education in all shire counties for 1990; and what was the total actual expenditure on education in all shire counties in 1985.

  Mr. Eggar
  Local authority returns of expenditure to the Department of the Environment do not separately identify spending on tertiary education.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of(a) primary and (b) schoolchildren in shire counties in (a) 1990 and (b)

  Mr. Fallon
  The number of pupils in maintained primary schools and the number of pupils in all schools in non-metropolitan counties at January 1989 and January 1985 are given. Data for January 1990 are not yet available.

  1989

  1985

  Primary

  2,366,986

  2,275,847

  All pupils1

  4,259,134

  4,493,522

  1 The number of all pupils relates to pupils in maintained nursery, primary, middle and secondary schools. Special and independent school pupils are not included.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what factors underlie the proportion of the general schools budget allocated to schools under Cumbria's proposals for local management of schools budget; whether there are any elements in the calculation which are unique to Cumbria relative to other shire counties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Cumbria scheme for local management of schools adheres to the statutory and policy requirements in all respects. Cumbria local education authority is allocating 62·5 per cent. of the general schools budget in 1990–91 to schools through its approved formula. This compares with an average figure of 68·6 per cent. for those shire counties which have submitted budget information for 1990–91. A detailed breakdown of the factors which underlie this figure is given in the answer that I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris).

  Teachers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when he last reviewed circular 1/88, "Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach of Teachers and of Entrants to Teacher Training";

  (2) what consideration he has given to amending the guidelines in circular 1/88 to include clear guidance on (a) the entry of disabled people to teacher training courses and (b) the methods for retaining newly disabled teachers and thoe with severe disabilities such as diabetes or epilepsy; and if he will make a statement.
  454
  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. Friend is satisfied that circular 1/88, which was the subject of extensive consultation before it was issued, contains clear guidance on these matters. Appendix 2 of the circular explains that a candidate's disability or illness is not of itself a bar to entry to initial teacher training. A training institution's decision on whether a candidate with a disability is medically fit should take into account the nature and extent of the individual's condition and the age range and subject or subjects he or she intends to teach.

  Section 3 of the circular, in conjunction with regulation 9 of the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1989, gives clear guidance to teachers' employers on the action to be taken if a teacher becomes medically unfit while in service. Specific advice is offered on the circumstances in which the employment of teachers with epilepsy should be suspended or terminated.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the political advisers, and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Eggar
  Mrs. E. Laing is employed as special adviser to the Secretary of State. It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of individual advisers, as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings, and are therefore confidential. Expenses are paid in line with the normal civil service conditions, and may include secretarial support. All such costs are met from departmental running costs resources in the usual way. No public relations advisers are employed by Ministers.

  School Buildings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the average age of school buildings.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Department does not maintain a regular record of the age of school buildings.

  Ministerial Speeches
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost of printing and circulating the booklets containing his speeches on the national curriculum and testing.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 23 July, what the cost was of printing and distributing to schools the copies of the summary from his recent speeches to teacher associations.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of printing and circulating copies of the summary of recent speeches by the Secretary of State on national curriculum and assessment delivered to teacher associations was £26,250.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many copies of the booklet "Grant-Maintained Schools: Questions Parents Ask", setting out the case for grant-maintained schools, have been issued.

  Mr. Eggar
  In an initial distribution about 80,000 copies of the Department's booklet "Grant-Maintained Schools: Questions Parents Ask" were issued to schools that are eligible to apply for grant-maintained status and major organisations with an interest in the subject. To date, a further 75,000 copies have been sent on request to schools and others interested in the policy.

  Pre-school Education
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the report from the committee looking at education for the under-fives; and when he expects to publish the report.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report of the committee shortly and will then settle details of publication.

  Open University
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what resources his Department has made available in each year since 1983 to the Open university; whether he has reviewed the cost effectiveness of this contribution relative to contributions made to universities not widely employing distance learning methods; and if he will make a statement on the role of the Open university in United Kingdom higher education.

  Mr. Eggar
  The recurrent and capital grants made available to the Open university in each year since 1983 are given in the table. The Department is undertaking a review, together with the university, to enable the Government to determine the place of the university's provision within the total provision of higher education for part-time students, and to ensure that the public money devoted to funding the university is used to best effect.

  The Open University: Recurrent and Capital Grants in the financial years 1982–83 to 1990–91.

  Financial Year

  Recurrent £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  1982–83

  55·21

  2·03

  57·24

  1983–84

  56·42

  0·70

  57·12

  1984–85

  59·05

  1·40

  60·45

  1985–86

  60·93

  0·87

  61·80

  1986–87

  60·39

  2·08

  62·47

  1987–88

  64·25

  1·43

  65·68

  1988–89

  66·39

  2·37

  68·76

  1989–90

  72·77

  2·41

  75·18

  1990–91

  80·94

  2·13

  83·07

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last visited the Open university headquarters at Milton Keynes; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend visited the Open university on 14 February 1990 and discussed with the 456
  then vice-chancellor, Dr. J. A. Horlock, and his colleagues a wide range of issues relating to the university's strategy and provision, including the continuing education programme, the programme of teacher education, and the development of computer education courses.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the future of Replan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that was given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 12 July 1990, at column 313.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the effect on the work of Replan of the delay in responding to the proposals made by NIACE for a successor programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  A number of letters have been received on the future of the Replan programme. The present programme comes to an end in October 1991. Two separate proposals for a successor programme to Replan from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education and the Further Education Unit were received at the end of April. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce a decision in the autumn.

  Lancashire County Council
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of Lancashire county council's education budget was spent on the running of the education department's central and area offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Lancashire's return of expenditure for 1988–89 to the Department of the Environment shows that the authority spent about 2 per cent. of its gross education budget for the year on central education administration.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is his policy to introduce a new system of special educational needs management allowances from April 1991.

  Mr. Eggar
  The school teachers' pay and conditions document gives LEAs and governing bodies a considerable amount of flexibility to reward teachers, including teachers in special schools, who undertake management responsibilities. This flexibility will be increased still further on 1 January 1991 when the recommendations of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions are fully implemented.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will amend the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend has today laid before the House the Education (Special Educational
  457
  Needs) (Amendment) Regulations 1990. These regulations amend the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1983 to take account of the relevant provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988, the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1989 and the Children Act 1989. These regulations will come into force on 1 September 1990.

  Design Dimension
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support his Department has given to the Design Dimension in 1989–90.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the financial year 1989–90 the Department provided a total of £30,000 in financial support for the Design Dimension Educational Trust.

  Teacher Shortages
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the criteria used in his statement at the CLEA conference at Bradford on 18 July, concerning percentages of teacher shortage in local education authorities; if he will now publish similar tables showing the upper and lower-ranking 10 local education authorities respectively using the criteria(a) percentage of children being sent home over a given period, (b) percentage of classes of children who were not being given lessons by appropriate teachers over a given period and (c) any other criteria agreed with local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The measure of shortage to which my right hon. Friend referred in his speech to the conference of the Council for Local Education Authorities was the level of vacancies reported by local education authorities in response to the Department's regular January survey. The results of the survey for 1990 were published by my right hon. Friend on 17 July in DES News 247/90, a copy of which is in the Library. The percentages quoted were vacancies expressed as a proportion of teachers in post in the authority. The Department does not collect systematically from LEAs any other data relating to teacher shortages.

  The Government have acknowledged that there are shortages of teachers in some subjects and in some parts of the country. In both DES News 247/90 and in his speech to the CLEA, my right hon. Friend drew attention to the range of measures that the Government have implemented to combat teacher shortages.

  Students
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of Northern Ireland domiciled student entrants to polytechnics in England and Wales and regional colleges in Scotland in each year since 1968.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The readily available information covers all Northern Ireland domiciled enrolments in higher education in Great Britain and is as follows:
  458

  Year

  Thousands

  1981–82

  4·6

  1984–85

  5·2

  1987–88

  7·5

  Source:

  Education Statistics for the United Kingdom (HMSO).

  It is estimated that some 60 per cent. of the 7,500 enrolments in higher education in 1987–88 were enrolled in polytechnics and their equivalents in Scotland.

  History
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make proposals for history in the national curriculum.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am publishing my proposals for attainment targets and programmes of study for history today. They are substantially based on, but differ in some respects from, the recommendations of the history working group. I have taken account of the many comments I have received on the final report of the history working group, and also of the advice of the School Examinations and Assessment Council on the feasibility of the working group's proposals for the purposes of assessment. I am publishing that advice with my proposals. I am also republishing the working group's report so that it will be clear what changes I am making. I am also writing today to the chairman of the National Curriculum Council to ask that council to undertake the formal statutory consultation on my proposals and to report to me by 17 December.

  Section 42 Notices
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the section 42 results, under the Education Reform Act 1988, for Nottinghamshire and all other education authorities in England.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Epping Forest on 10 July,Official Report, column 185, he will list the dates on which section 42 notices were published by local education authorities in England, and indicate for each London education authority the controlling political party.

  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for each English education authority in ascending order, the percentage of their general schools budget taken up by their aggregated schools budget.

  Mr. Fallon
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Local education authorities with approved schemes for local management of schools were required to publish 1990–91 budget statements under section 42 of the Education Reform Act by 30 April 1990.

  The following information has been extracted from the copies of those statements sent to the Department by local education authorities between 11 April and 21 July 1990.
  459

  LEA

  Limited discretionary exceptions percentage of GSB

  Unlimited discretionary exceptions percentage of GSB

  Mandatory exceptions percentage of GSB

  ASB percentage of GSB

  Humberside

  10·00

  12·16

  9·60

  68·23

  Sandwell

  10·00

  9·09

  13·04

  67·87

  Derbyshire

  10·00

  14·36

  9·41

  66·23

  Bexley (C)

  9·99

  9·56

  14·57

  65·88

  Dorset

  9·92

  9·95

  12·39

  67·74

  Oldham

  9·90

  12·82

  11·66

  65·62

  North Tyneside

  9·82

  12·35

  8·17

  69·65

  Wakefield

  9·81

  12·97

  10·30

  66·92

  Havering (NOC)

  9·79

  6·17

  13·45

  70·59

  Kingston (NOC)

  9·76

  11·44

  15·52

  63·27

  Lancashire

  9·74

  10·28

  13·29

  66·69

  Norfolk

  9·72

  9·98

  7·22

  73·08

  Ealing (C)

  9·70

  11·00

  6·02

  73·27

  Knowsley

  9·69

  10·69

  8·15

  71·47

  Gateshead

  9·67

  10·63

  13·26

  66·44

  Isle of Wight

  9·63

  12·09

  11·32

  66·96

  Bromley (C)

  9·61

  11·31

  12·35

  66·72

  Newcastle

  9·58

  15·72

  10·48

  64·21

  Harrow (C)

  9·52

  9·65

  11·53

  69·30

  Wolverhampton

  9·48

  12·98

  12·21

  65·33

  Essex

  9·45

  8·46

  9·66

  72·43

  Barking (L)

  9·36

  16·18

  9·32

  65·13

  Shropshire

  9·36

  10·22

  10·20

  70·22

  Devon

  9·31

  11·85

  16·44

  62·41

  Northamptonshire

  9·24

  7·48

  11·06

  72·22

  Hounslow (L)

  9·21

  12·54

  17·16

  61·09

  Cambridgeshire

  9·20

  12·22

  18·98

  59·61

  Kirklees

  9·17

  13·77

  11·65

  65·42

  Doncaster

  9·06

  13·35

  5·12

  72·46

  Tameside

  9·00

  11·01

  10·57

  69·42

  Solihull

  8·98

  9·36

  11·72

  69·94

  Dudley

  8·93

  9·47

  13·31

  68·28

  Westminster (C)

  8·88

  13·07

  15·88

  62·17

  Bury

  8·88

  13·03

  8·98

  69·11

  Lincolnshire

  8·86

  7·33

  13·14

  70·67

  Birmingham

  8·85

  11·98

  12·29

  66·88

  Sutton (L/D)

  8·59

  8·59

  20·13

  62·69

  Cleveland

  8·54

  12·13

  8·12

  71·22

  Haringey (L)

  8·40

  18·88

  14·97

  57·76

  Redbridge (C)

  8·34

  9·17

  15·04

  67·44

  Coventry

  8·31

  13·01

  20·93

  57·74

  Staffordshire

  8·14

  12·90

  10·35

  68·61

  Walsall

  7·99

  8·95

  13·54

  69·51

  Suffolk

  7·93

  7·62

  15·10

  69·35

  West Sussex

  7·91

  8·45

  12·35

  71·29

  Enfield (C)

  7·89

  8·61

  28·37

  55·13

  Merton (L)

  7·86

  11·03

  23·14

  57·97

  Cumbria

  7·84

  17·46

  12·15

  62·55

  Cheshire

  7·81

  12·62

  8·95

  70·62

  Buckinghamshire

  7·74

  10·04

  14·12

  68·10

  Brent (NOC)

  7·57

  10·36

  15·76

  66·32

  Barnet (C)

  7·55

  11·87

  12·69

  67·89

  Warwickshire

  7·46

  12·55

  11·19

  68·80

  Sunderland

  7·21

  11·39

  9·87

  71·53

  South Tyneside

  7·14

  14·52

  17·40

  60·93

  Berkshire

  7·10

  8·07

  13·23

  71·59

  Trafford

  6·94

  9·57

  27·49

  56·01

  Leeds

  6·73

  9·92

  13·48

  69·87

  Bolton

  6·39

  11·65

  10·42

  71·53

  Surrey

  5·92

  13·42

  11·68

  68·98

  Sefton

  5·85

  9·59

  9·18

  75·38

  Gloucestershire

  5·80

  13·67

  10·28

  70·25

  (Key: ASB = Aggregated Schools Budget

  GSB = General Schools Budget)

  The following local education authorities with approved schemes have not yet sent copies of their budget statements to the Department;

  Avon, Barnsley, Befordshire, Bradford, Calderdale, Cornwall, Durham, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Liverpool, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Richmond (L/D), Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sheffield, Somerset, St. Helens, Waltham Forest (L), Wigan and Wiltshire.
  460
  As requested by my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest, the controlling political party for each London education authority is indicated (C=Conservative, L=Labour, L/D=Liberal Democrate, NOC=No overall control).

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount of private donations to city technology colleges, including planned and proposed colleges,(a) pledged, (b) confirmed (c) committed, and (d) actually paid over, showing in each case the nature of donations in kind rather than cash.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  War Crimes
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what record his Department has of representations since 1960 regretting the absence of legal powers requiring the United Kingdom authorities to prosecute persons resident in British-controlled territories for offences now to be covered by the War Crimes Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Home Office received occasional correspondence on this subject prior to 1986. But the report of the war crimes inquiry makes clear that until 1986, when the Simon Wiesenthal Centre submitted a list of alleged war criminals said to be living in Britain, the prevalent view was that no war criminals were resident here. Since then, the Home Office has received a large volume of correspondence on this issue, arguing both for and against the proposition that courts in the United Kingdom should be given jurisdiction over war crimes.

  Police Phone Calls (Tape Recording)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each police force in the United Kingdom, where tape recordings of telephone calls are carried out in their premises for(a) administrative, (b) operational or (c) investigative purposes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for the procurement and use of police equipment rests with individual police authorities and their chief officers. The information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Rape
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what personal details of victims in rape cases are given to defendants as part of prosecution evidence; and whether they are able to retain this information.

  Mr. John Patten
  Under section 102 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980 a party proposing to tender a written statement in evidence in committal proceedings must give a copy to each of the other parties in the proceedings. Such statements may be edited by the Crown prosecutor to remove inadmissible, prejudicial or irrelevant material; and under guidelines issued by the Attorney-General, "sensitive" unedited material need not be disclosed if it is "of private delicacy to the maker".

  The decision to withhold details included in a statement is for counsel to consider, striking a balance between the
  462
  degree of sensitivity and the extent to which the information might assist the defence. Following the amendment earlier this year of the Magistrates Courts (Rules and Forms) Rules 1981, a witness address need not as a matter of course appear on statements circulated to other parties.

  Prisons (Minimum Care Standards)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from(a) the chief inspector of prisons and (b) the Prison Officers Association concerning the introduction of minimum care standards in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have received no representations from Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons about the introduction of a code of minimum standards in prisons. The Prison Officers Association has made such representations from time to time, most recently at a meeting on 11 April 1990.

  Terence Rivett
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to establish the whereabouts of Terence Rivett, a prisoner who absconded from Ford prison in 1989, since his answer to the right hon. Member for Woking of 26 October 1989,Official Report, column 618; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  I will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Public Order
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received concerning the adequacy of existing public order laws relating to the publication of material and the incitement of hatred or violence; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will invite the Law Commission to examine and make recommendations relating to public order laws prohibiting the publication of material likely to incite hatred or violence against any religion, race or person; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The existing provisions in the Public Order Act 1986 are, in our view, sufficient to deal with situations that threaten public order. Representations are received from time to time about the scope and effectiveness of these provisions and should a strong case be made for amendment, it would be given most careful consideration. In the meantime, we have no plans to ask the Law Commission to review the legislation.

  Quashed Convictions (Compensation)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for compensating prisoners whose convictions have been quashed after long periods in gaol.

  Mr. John Patten
  Statutory provision for compensation for miscarriages of justice is contained in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and in addition a residual ex-gratia scheme exists on the basis of the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the then Home
  463
  Secretary, on 29 November 1985 at columns 689–90. Where the payment of compensation is considered to be justified, a note explaining the procedure for an independent assessor to determine the amount is supplied to the applicant. The applicant or his legal representative will be asked to provide any information they wish the assessor to take into account.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of grant aid paid under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, in respect of the total budget for 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Waddington
  A total of £89 million in 1988–89; £115 million in 1989–90. These figures are for the Home Office grant which accounts for 75 per cent. of total expenditure, the remainder being borne by the recipient local authorities; the latter figure also includes some back payments in respect of belated claims for grant.

  Mr. John Harker
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why John Harker, prisoner S11R69121, in Her Majesty's prison Kirkham, was not interviewed as part of his Department's inquiry into his allegations of unjust imprisonment.

  Mr. John Patten
  The detailed material set out in John Harker's representations was carefully considered and an interview was not considered necessary.

  Blasphemy
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite the Law Commission to examine and make recommendations relating to the blasphemy laws; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Law Commission considered the laws relating to blasphemy and blasphemous libel as recently as 1985, in its report on "Offences Against Religion and Public Worship" (Law Commission No. 145, HC442). It would not be appropriate to ask the Law Commission to consider this subject again after such a comparatively short interval.

  Football Matches (Policing)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will be issuing the circular to police authorities with regard to the assessment of charging for the policing of football matches; and what criteria will be used in determining the full cost of providing police officers inside football grounds.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We shall issue the circular as soon as we have considered the comments of the organisations that we are consulting on the draft. Charging criteria are a matter for police authorities.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the effect the ultra high frequency wavelengths allotted to Channel 5 will have on reception by domestic television sets; and if he will make a statement.
  464
  Mr. Waddington
  Channel 5 transmission at UHF wavelengths will have no direct adverse effect on reception by domestic television sets. There is, however, the possibility of interference between the Channel 5 transmission and the output of a video cassette recorder or similar device which is used in association with a TV set. We estimate that something over 750,000 video cassette recorders will need to be returned or modified in order to prevent this interference. The Broadcasting Bill provides that the cost of the work should be met by the Channel 5 licensee.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to change the regulations governing television licence fees in sheltered accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  No. Our views on this subject are already well known.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to determine the total amounts paid by each independent television company for the acquisition of musical copyrights in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have no plans to intervene in these commercial arrangements. But as the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Director General of Fair Trading is currently inquiring into the relationship between the ITV companies and music publishers to see whether this would justify investigation under competition legislation.

  Police (Videos)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why uniformed police officers were photographing and video-taping the general public attending a festival in Finsbury Park on Sunday 3 June.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that photographs and film were taken at the festival as background material to help learn from policing on this occasion and brief officers for future events. The police have a responsibility at such events for public safety and the prevention of crime, and the filming at the festival will help ensure that future large-scale public events also pass off successfully. The filming took place for no more than 15 minutes of an event which lasted some 12 hours.

  Immigration
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the number of visitors coming through immigration control from countries in the Caribbean over the last five years for which information is available; and how many visitors from Caribbean countries have been denied entry by immigration for each year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is published in table 1 of the annual Home Office Command Papers "Control of Immigration Statistics, United Kingdom" (Cmnd. 9863, 166, 415, 726 and 1124 for each year from 1985 to 1989 respectively), copies of which are in the Library.
  465
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his best estimate as to how many applications for(a) adult registration with entitlement, (b) naturalisation and (c) registration of minors his Department (i) will receive and (ii) expects to grant in 1990–91.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 July 1990]: Information is not available in the exact form requested. We currently estimate that in the financial year 1990–91 we will receive the following applications:

  Numbers

  Registration of adults

  4,000

  Registration of minors

  8,500

  Naturalisation

  23,000

  As explained in my reply on 20 June to a question from the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) at column 574, earlier forecasts of performance are having to be revised in the light of new information about intake, the disruption caused by the process to transfer of work to Liverpool and lower levels of output on the more difficult naturalisation casework than on registration. Until a stable pattern of output emerges following the completion of the process of work transfer, no reliable estimates of grants may be attempted.

  Table 1 Spouses and fiance(e)s in the Indian sub-continent applying for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom

  Number of persons or percentage

  Husbands

  1989

  1990

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  60

  70

  40

  60

  240

  70

  Applications granted2

  40

  50

  40

  50

  180

  60

  Applications refused initially

  20

  40

  20

  30

  110

  40

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  29

  —

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  70

  100

  50

  80

  300

  100

  Applications granted2

  50

  50

  60

  60

  220

  60

  Applications refused initially

  50

  40

  20

  30

  140

  50

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28

  —

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  90

  100

  110

  100

  400

  140

  Applications granted2

  60

  60

  50

  50

  210

  40

  Applications refused initially

  60

  70

  70

  80

  280

  90

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  54

  —

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  460

  430

  440

  420

  1,760

  620

  Applications granted2

  140

  200

  190

  200

  730

  210

  Applications refused initially

  320

  420

  310

  370

  1,430

  530

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65

  —

  Number of persons or percentage

  Fiances

  1989

  1990

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  50

  60

  40

  40

  200

  80

  Applications granted2

  40

  40

  40

  40

  160

  30

  Applications refused initially

  40

  30

  10

  30

  120

  30

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  35

  —

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  100

  60

  50

  60

  260

  80

  Applications granted2

  40

  40

  40

  40

  170

  60

  Applications refused initially

  50

  50

  30

  40

  170

  30

  466
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance from(a) wives, (b) husbands, (c) fiancés, (d) fiancées made at British posts in (1) New Delhi, (2) Bombay, (3) Calcutta, (4) Madras, (5) Dhaka, (6) Islamabad, (7) Karachi and (8) Colombo, for each quarter since January 1989, were (a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the primary purpose of the marriage was not immigration; how many refusals at each post were (x) wholly and (y) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the couple could support and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds; what was the refusal rate at each post; and what percentage of those refusals were (a) wholly and (b) partly on primary purpose grounds.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 July 1990]: The information requested on the Indian sub-continent is given in the tables. Where the numbers are small, the figures for individual posts have been combined. Information on refusals which takes account of successful appeals is not compiled for periods shorter than 12 months. Corresponding information for Colombo is not available centrally.
  467

  Fiances

  1989

  1990

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  40

  —

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  4

  4

  4

  10

  20

  10

  Applications granted2

  4

  4

  4

  4

  10

  4

  Applications refused initially

  4

  4

  4

  4

  10

  10

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  56

  —

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  110

  100

  80

  100

  390

  110

  Applications granted2

  50

  50

  40

  60

  210

  60

  Applications refused initially

  260

  170

  110

  230

  780

  210

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  77

  —

  Number of persons or percentage

  Wives

  1989

  1990

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received 1

  170

  200

  140

  170

  680

  180

  Applications granted2

  120

  130

  180

  180

  600

  160

  Applications refused initially

  10

  10

  20

  20

  70

  10

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  —

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  370

  290

  230

  270

  1,160

  460

  Applications granted2

  190

  190

  360

  270

  1,010

  270

  Applications refused initially

  10

  10

  20

  20

  50

  20

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  250

  310

  330

  330

  1,230

  310

  Applications granted2

  560

  450

  500

  340

  1,840

  350

  Applications refused initially

  70

  80

  60

  70

  280

  90

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  —

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  920

  780

  730

  630

  3,060

  920

  Applications granted2

  750

  910

  720

  470

  2,840

  660

  Applications refused initially

  40

  30

  40

  30

  140

  120

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Fiancees

  Number of persons or percentage

  1989

  1990

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  70

  60

  60

  70

  260

  60

  Applications granted2

  60

  30

  40

  60

  180

  50

  Applications refused initially

  20

  10

  4

  10

  50

  20

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  23

  —

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  80

  60

  50

  30

  220

  70

  Applications granted2

  40

  30

  30

  40

  140

  40

  Applications refused initially

  10

  10

  4

  10

  40

  10

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  20

  10

  10

  4

  40

  10

  Applications granted2

  10

  4

  10

  4

  30

  4

  Applications refused initially

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  —

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  —

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  40

  40

  50

  50

  190

  50

  Applications granted2

  80

  70

  40

  50

  240

  60

  Applications refused initially

  10

  4

  4

  4

  10

  10

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  — Not available.

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.
  468 469
  2 Granted initially or on appeal.

  3 Applications refused initially, minus applications granted on appeal, as a percentage of applications decided.

  4 Five or fewer.

  Table 2 Spouses and fiance(e) in the Indian sub-continent refused1 entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom in 1989

  Number of persons or percentage

  Number refused because couple could not accommodate and/or maintain themselves without recourse to public funds:

  Number refused because primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom:

  Primary purpose refusals as a percentage of all refusals:

  Solely for these reasons

  Partly for these reasons

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason

  Solely on primary purpose grounds

  Partly on primary purpose grounds

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Husbands

  —

  10

  50

  10

  72

  14

  Fiances

  4

  10

  50

  10

  59

  14

  Wives

  4

  4

  40

  4

  58

  3

  Fiancees

  4

  4

  20

  10

  42

  17

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Husbands

  4

  4

  80

  4

  91

  3

  Fiances

  —

  4

  110

  10

  95

  5

  Wives

  10

  4

  20

  4

  53

  6

  Fiancees

  4

  4

  20

  4

  42

  6

  Dhaka

  Husbands

  10

  50

  180

  50

  71

  20

  Fiances

  —

  10

  4

  10

  220

  260

  Wives

  60

  20

  4

  10

  4

  5

  Fiancees

  —

  —

  4

  —

  3

  3

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Husbands

  10

  710

  610

  710

  46

  53

  Fiances

  4

  330

  350

  340

  50

  48

  Wives

  430

  30

  10

  10

  23

  21

  Fiancees

  4

  4

  —

  4

  —

  218

  Total Indian sub-continent

  Husbands

  20

  780

  920

  770

  53

  44

  Fiances

  4

  350

  510

  360

  56

  40

  Wives

  110

  50

  80

  30

  20

  8

  Fiancees

  10

  10

  40

  10

  38

  12

  1 Applications refused initially, minus applications granted on appeal.

  2 Percentage based on fewer than 15 applications refused.

  3 Percentage not calculated for 5 or fewer applications refused.

  4 5 or fewer, or ½ per cent. or less.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he authorised visas to enable Mr. Hassan Ahmed and Mr. Mustofa Mohammed Osman to join their relations in the United Kingdom as set out in his Department's letter dated 9 February to the hon. Member for Woolwich; what steps he has taken to ensure that the British embassy at Mogadishu implements this decision; and why these visas have not yet been issued.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have been unable to trace this particular case. If the hon. Member would care to let me have more details and the Home Office reference number, I will look into the matter and write to him.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the governors of Brixton, Wormwood Scrubs, Holloway and Pentonville prisons as to how many of their inmates are on remand and are(a) untried or (b) unsentenced following the 31 March events in Trafalgar square.

  Mr. Waddington
  The numbers of unconvicted and convicted unsentenced prisoners held in those establishments on 24 July were:
  470

  Prison

  Unconvicted

  Convicted unsentenced

  Brixton

  755

  83

  Wormwood Scrubs

  497

  32

  Holloway

  199

  45

  Pentonville

  254

  28

  It would involve disproportionate cost to establish how many of those prisoners faced charges arising from the Trafalgar square disturbance on 31 March.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the number of prisoners in police cells in Greater Manchester for the last date for which figures are available; and if he will place in the Library figures for 26 August and 26 September as soon as they are avaiable.

  Mr. Waddington
  On Wednesday 25 July, the latest date for which information is available, 313 prisoners were held in police cells in the Greater Manchester police force. I will write to the hon. Member providing figures for 26 August and 26 September as soon as they are available, and will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Begging
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to control the spread of illegal begging on the streets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Decisions about measures to control illegal begging on the streets are an operational matter for the police. The police have adequate powers to tackle begging and I understand they normally arrest where there is some element of threatening or intimidating behaviour.

  Sex Offences
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of rape and sexual assault against(a) serving policemen and (b) ex-policemen have been made in each of the last 10 years; and how many convictions resulted in each category.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Such information is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police (Firearms)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with Greater Manchester police concerning the decision of Greater Manchester police to place a permanently mobilised group of armed police officers in Moss Side, Manchester.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. The posting and deployment of authorised firearms officers, like all other officers, is an operational matter for the chief constable.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he issues to police forces in England about the issuing and use of firearms by police officers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A copy of the Home Office guidelines which were issued to chief officers of police in March 1983 on the issue and use of firearms is in the Library.

  Criminal Injuries
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present situation of Mr. A. M. Jama of Liverpool in relation to his claim for criminal injuries.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have asked the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, which is entirely responsible for administering the compensation scheme and determining individual applications, to write to the hon. Member.

  Stop and Search
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is intended that the records of the ethnic origin of those stopped and searched under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act should be collated by the police forces concerned to ensure that racially discriminatory practices are not occurring; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Security Industry
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will include within the options being considered for improving the regulation of the private security industry the statutory regulation of that industry;

  (2) if he will include within the options being considered for regulation of the private security industry regulation of the terms and conditions of employees in that industry.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. The options that we are at present considering relate to improving the self-regulation of the private security industry, including the recruitment procedures followed within the industry.

  Fire Service College
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning future funding of the Fire Service college and the plans of Her Majesty's Government for its continued service to the public.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are consulting the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council on our proposals to introduce in stages new arrangements whereby fire brigades will be charged directly for the courses which their officers attend at the Fire Service college. We intend that the college should retain its premier position in the training of fire officers to deliver a fully effective service to the public.

  Police (Graduates)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each of the last five years, how many graduates have joined the police service in England and Wales; how many graduates were serving in forces in England and Wales; and what proportion of the service's strength this represents.

  Mr. Waddington
  The information requested is as follows:

  Graduates joining

  Graduates serving1 2

  Percentage of graduates1 2

  1985

  England and Wales

  492

  5,376

  4·45

  Metropolitan

  137

  —

  —

  Total

  629

  5,376

  4·45

  1986

  England and Wales

  542

  6,087

  4·7

  Metropolitan

  169

  —

  —

  Total

  711

  6,087

  4·7

  1987

  England and Wales

  496

  6,863

  5·2

  Metropolitan

  124

  —

  —

  Total

  620

  6,863

  5·2

  1988

  England and Wales

  401

  7,409

  6·0

  Metropolitan

  169

  —

  —

  Total

  570

  7,409

  6·0

  473

  Graduates joining

  Graduates serving1 2

  Percentage of graduates1 2

  1989

  England and Wales

  325

  7,162

  5·7

  Metropolitan

  111

  —

  —

  Total

  436

  7,162

  5·7

  1On 31 December each year.

  2Includes RUC.

  Homosexuals
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the Government have made or intend to make any investigation into the scale or pattern of violent attacks, motivated by homophobic prejudice, against lesbians and gay men;

  (2) whether the Government have any plans to initiate a study of the value of keeping police records of incidents of anti-gay violence with a view to developing appropriate police countermeasures to stamp out homophobic attacks.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 2 July 1990]: We have no plans to do so. All such assaults are to be deplored in exactly the same way as any crime of violence. A high priority is attached to the investigation of violence offences, three quarters of which are cleared up by the police.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cambodia
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has received from Khieu Samphan of the Khmer Rouge about Her Majesty's Government's policy on Cambodia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since the beginning of the year, two letters from Khieu Samphan have been addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about the work of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Since we have no dealings with the Khmer Rouge, the letters have not been acknowledged.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if visa facilities for travel to the United Kingdom could be established in the individual Baltic states.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are no plans to establish such facilities.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visas are granted annually to citizens of the Baltic states to travel to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No separate figures are available of visas issued to citizens of the Baltic states, most of whom still travel on Soviet travel documents.

  Irish Republic
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his counterpart from the Irish Republic; what matters relating to the Irish presidency of the European Community were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I last met the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 July. The Irish presidency of the EC ended on 30 June and was not discussed in any detail.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules of procedure have been adopted for the fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in August.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Draft rules of procedure will be put to the non-proliferation treaty review conference for adoption when the conference convenes in August.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have received from Nigeria in regard to prohibitions on the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A Nigerian proposal will be discussed at the forthcoming non-proliferation treaty review conference.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions will be made for the attendance at the upcoming fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty for(a) states not parties to the treaty, (b) nongovernmental organisations and (c) international organisations with an interest in security matters; and what information he possesses in regard to the stated desire to attend of parties in (a), (b) and (c), respectively.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Observer status at the review conference is open to non-party states, specialised agencies and regional intergovernmental organisations. With regard to non-governmental organisations I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 11 June to the hon. Member for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook). Applications for observer status are made to the secretary general of the review conference.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he, or any officials or Ministers in his Department were present at, or participated in, the colloquium on "Non-Proliferation in a Disarming World: Prospects for the 1990s", held in Geneva on 20 and 21 June;

  (2) what actions have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement the recommendations set out in the final document of the third nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference (NPT/CONF/III/64/1) in regard to (a) active involvement of non-proliferation treaty nuclear weapons states in nuclear disarmament negotiations, (b) resumption of negotiations in trilateral and multilateral fora towards a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty and (c) support for an international plutonium storage regime under international safeguards.
  475
  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 25 July.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department received an invitation to attend the conference on the proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons in London on 14 and 15 July; what information he has concerning the capability of Sweden to develop nuclear weapons; and whether he possesses any information as to the capacity of Sweden to simulate the effects of nuclear weapons test explosions without the direct use of computers.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 25 July to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang). As a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Sweden has undertaken not to develop nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals will be put forward by Her Majesty's Government at the fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 9 May to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang.).

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been received by Her Majesty's Government from non-nuclear weapon states parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to be involved directly in nuclear arms reductions talks, pursuant to the commitment set out in preambular paragraph 10 of the treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he has taken to encourage the Republic of South Africa to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty;

  (2) what steps he has taken to encourage Zimbabwe to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty;

  (3) what steps he has taken to encourage Namibia to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 28 February by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas).

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in the five years since the third review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to implement the recommendation of the final document of that conference (NPT/CONF/III/61/I) in the areas of nuclear disarmament.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 25 July to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official
  476
  Report those non-governmental organisations and their respective concerns that have communicated with his Department on nuclear non-proliferation matters since 1 June.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have frequent contacts with non-governmental organisations and other interested parties on issues related to non-proliferation.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle) on 4 July,Official Report, column 618, he will list all matters discussed in the current year at the European working group on non-proliferation referred to in that answer.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Various matters relevant to the nuclear non-proliferation regime have been discussed in the working group on non-proliferation.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs what financial and logistical contribution has been committed by the United Kingdom to the fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 11 June to the hon. Member for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook).

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representatives his Department had at the conference on chemical and nuclear weapons proliferation, organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament at Camden town hall on 14 and 15 July.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 25 July to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representatives his Department had at the colloquium on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty organised by the Council for Arms Control at Chatham house, London, on 10 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was represented by a senior official.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out those conclusions of the third quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty that have been implemented to date; and what plans there are to implement any outstanding recommendations before the fourth nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference in August.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The recommendations contained in the final document of the third review conference are wide ranging and apply to a number of states and international organisations; most have been implemented.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with his counterparts in the Democratic Republic of Germany on the implications of the unification of Germany for the membership of that state in the process of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
  477
  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ministers or officials from his Department last met the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations, or the United Nations department of disarmament affairs in regard to the forthcoming fourth quinquennial review conference of the non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We maintain close contact with the secretariat for the NPT review conference.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his French counterpart about France becoming a signatory on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 25 July to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom representation at the forthcoming quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty will be constituted.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 11 June to the hon. Member for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook).

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent meeting with his counterpart from the German Democratic Republic, he discussed the forthcoming quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with other European Community Foreign Ministers in preparation for the forthcoming quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and whether it is intended that a common position will be adopted by the European nations at that conference.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A joint declaration on non-proliferation was made by EC member states at the June European Council, but, as not all member states are parties to the non-proliferation treaty, there will be no common position at the review conference.

  United Nations Assembly
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out all those resolutions on defence and disarmament put to the last and present general sessions of the United Nations; how the United Kingdom voted on these resolutions; and what was the result of the full vote on each of these resolutions.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member, however, to the United Nations documents, "Resolutions and Decisions Adopted by the General Assembly during the first part of its 43rd (44th) session" and "Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council 1988 (1989)" which contain the information he requires and which are publicly available.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been charged under the summary offences ordinance in Hong Kong for each year in the last five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been charged in Hong Kong with collecting money in public without a permit for each year in the last five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Although no detailed analysis has been made, the Hong Kong Government consider it likely that only a very small number of prosecutions have been undertaken in recent years.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Hong Kong Government intend to ban the use of loudspeakers by any member of the public.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on civil and political rights in Hong Kong of the recent prosecutions under the summary offences ordinance.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It would not be appropriate to comment on the details of specific cases at this stage since the matter is sub judice pending the outcome of current court hearings. But it would not be right to view the current controls on the use of loudspeakers in public and the public collection of money as an infringement of civil liberties. These laws are of long standing and are widely understood, and supported, in the community. It should be noted that the international covenant on civil and political rights provides that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly may be subject to restrictions necessary, inter alia, for the respect and protection of the rights and freedoms of others. The restrictions on the use of loudspeakers is imposed very much with this in mind as excessive noise in a public place may create nuisance for members of the community.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Hong Kong Government intend to repeal the summary offences ordinance.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been charged with using a loud hailer without a permit in Hong Kong for each year in the last five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Because prosecution records in Hong Kong are not computerised, the information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate the Hong Kong
  479
  Government are able to make of the total amount collected in the pro-democracy rallies of 1989; and whether anyone was charged with the offence of collecting money without a permit.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Hong Kong Government have not made an estimate of the total amount of money collected at large-scale rallies during 1989 and do not consider it appropriate to do so. In the immediate aftermath of June 4 1989, when public emotions ran high, the law was applied in a flexible manner and no one was charged with collecting money in public without a permit.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed Bill of Rights for Hong Kong will entail the repeal of the summary offences ordinance or any part of it.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Existing legislation in Hong Kong, including the summary offences ordinance, is being reviewed to ensure that all provisions are in line with the proposed Bill of Rights.

  Thailand
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) the naval and air attaché, (b) the defence and military attaché and (c) the attaché (defence) presently attached to the British embassy in Thailand began their tours of duty.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The current naval and air attaché at the British embassy in Bangkok began his tour in November 1989; the defence and military attaché arrived in October 1988. There is no one at present filling the post of attaché (defence).

  Conservation Convention
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support a conservation convention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I shall write to the hon. and learned Member.

  Immigration
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the waiting times for different queues for interviews in relation to entry clearance for the United Kingdom at Islamabad.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As at 31 May, the estimated waiting times in months are:

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Islamabad

  3

  5

  9

  19

  Settlement queues are organised as follows:

  Q1 Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependant relatives over 70 years, special compassionate cases.

  Q2 All spouses, and all children under 18 years.

  Q3 Fiance(e)s and others applying for the first time for settlement.

  Q4 Re-applicants.

  Visitors
  Due to seasonal high demand, applicants for visit visas in Islamabad requiring a full interview can expect to wait up to five days.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are two special advisers, Mr. Lidington and Mr. Fraser. Their role is to consider the presentational and domestic political aspects of policy issues and to advise the Secretary of State and Ministers.

  It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of individual advisers. They are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Sri Lanka to grant direct entry for humanitarian aid agencies and to allow Commonwealth or United Nations mediators to negotiate a peaceful end to the civil war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. We are not aware that the Sri Lankan Government have restricted access for aid agencies. A number are already at work there, and the international committee of the Red Cross is currently supervising convoys of relief supplies to the north. President Premadasa has already spoken of involving the international community in any future talks with the LTTE.

  Nuclear Power
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom representation will be constituted at the 34 annual conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna in September.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In addition to members of the United Kingdom's permanent mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is intended that two officials from the Department of Energy and one from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will attend the 34th annual conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna in September.

  Whales and Dolphins
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea concerning the deaths of whales and dolphins in the south Pacific due to fine-mesh drift nets used by fishing fleets from those countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government of Japan and the Republic of South Korea are well aware of our concern about the use of large-scale drift nets in the south Pacific. We and our EC partners supported the United Nations resolution calling for its cessation by the end of June 1991 and welcomed the endorsement of this resolution by the 42nd annual meeting of the International Whaling
  481
  Commission. We also welcomed the recent decision of the Japanese Government to suspend drift net fishing in the south Pacific one year in advance of the deadline stipulated in the United Nations resolution. We do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and have no Government-to-Government dealings with the authorities there.

  Overseas Civil Service (Pensions)
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to bring the way in which the pensions of expatriate members of the overseas civil service in Hong Kong are paid into line with that prevailing in the other territories of the British empire.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 19 July]: There are no plans to change the present arrangements for paying pensions to members of Her Majesty's overseas civil service who have served in Hong Kong.

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all aid and trade provision projects from 1979 to date where his Department nominated lead companies, naming the companies and if they are a subsidiary, also listing the name of the parent company; what are the sums of money involved including the export value and the ATP element; and whether there was any other United Kingdom Government support for these projects including any assistance from the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Living Standards
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures to show the estimate of the annual rise in living standards since 1979 of(a) non-pensioner couples with children, (b) non-pensioner couples without children, (c) non-pensioner single people, (d) non-pensioner single people with children, (e) single pensioners and (f) pensioner couples up to the latest available date.

  Mr. Scott
  This information relates to incomes as calculated for households below average income, published 23 July 1990; incomes before housing costs.

  Estimate of annual percentage change 1979–87

  Per cent.

  Non-pensioner couple with children

  2·8

  Non-pensioner couple without children

  2·2

  Non-pensioner single people

  2·5

  Non-pensioner single people with children

  1·2

  Single pensioners

  2·7

  Pensioner couples

  3·0

  The figures are subject to sampling error, particularly in the case of non-pensioner single people with children. In 1987 the sample size for non-pensioner single people with children was 394—4·3 per cent. of the total sample.

  Incomes
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish an estimate of how much the real equivalent incomes of the bottom 5 per cent. and the top 5 per cent. of the population rose between 1978–79 and 1989–90, after payment of housing costs.

  Mr. Scott
  Because of the limitations of sample size and the variability of incomes at extremes of the income distribution, reliable estimates are not available for the lowest and highest 5 per cent. However, changes in the median incomes of those in the lower half of the income distribution are recorded in "Households Below Average Income, 1981–87", copies of which are available in the Library. When making comparisons with real income changes at the highest extreme of the income distribution, which rose by some 40 per cent. for the 95th percentile between 1979 and 1987, it is important to remember that household types, in terms of the numbers of earners per household, income composition and average tax rates are substantially different at the highest extreme, and are susceptible to greater variability over time. Figures beyond 1987 are not available.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state(a) how many people would gain, (b) what would be the average gain and (c) what would be the cost as a result of raising the level of savings under which housing benefit is payable to £10,000 on the assumption that (i) the rules for other benefits are unaltered, (ii) the interest actually received on savings and not an arbitrarily assumed return is used in assessing benefit and (iii) no change is made to the rule that those with savings under £3,000 receive benefit in full.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The level of savings under which housing benefit remains payable was increased in April to £16,000. On the assumption, therefore, that this £16,000 upper limit is used rather than £10,000 and the income counted in the calculation of housing benefit is the actual interest received rather than the assumed tariff income, it is estimated that 170,000 existing recipients of housing benefit would gain an average of £4·50 per week and 30,000 people would start receiving an average of £7·20 per week. These gains would go to those with higher levels of capital. However, for those with savings not far above the £3,000 lower level there would be an average loss of £1·40 a week: this adverse effect would reduce housing benefit for 110,000 present beneficiaries, and remove entitlement entirely from a further 10,000. The total cost would be around £40 million.

  It is not necessarily the case in the current housing benefit scheme that people with savings under £3,000 receive benefit in full. Savings of £3,000 or less do not affect the amount of income counted in the calculation of housing benefit. Where savings are £3,000 or less and total calculated income is equal to or less than the relevant applicable amount, maximum housing benefit is payable. However, many people with no savings or with savings of or below £3,000 have incomes in excess of the applicable amount, and this excess income reduces their maximum housing benefit by the amount of the taper.
  (Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985–86–87 family expenditure surveys).

  Benefit Changes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the changes to(a) national insurance benefits and (b) means-tested benefits since 1987, with (i) numbers affected, (ii) additional expenditure, (iii) additional savings and (iv) net cost of each change.

  Mr. Scott
  It is not possible to collate simply, and on a common basis in the way requested, the effects of a complex succession of interacting benefit changes. In particular the introduction of income support, family credit and the new housing benefit scheme was a major structural reform and the effect of these changes cannot be simply stated: information about the structural effects was provided by the illustrative figures published in the booklet "Impact of the reformed structure of income-related benefits", a copy of which is in the Library. Other details of these and other major benefit changes are published in the public expenditure White Papers for the relevant years.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures for the latest year available for Scotland showing the number of(a) single and (b) married retirement pensioners with gross weekly incomes excluding state pension benefits of any category and housing benefit and community charge benefit, at the levels of (i) less than £5, (ii) £5 to £10, (iii) £10 to £15, (iv) £15 to £20, (v) £20 to £30, (vi) £30 to £40, (vii) £40 to £50, (viii) £50 to £60, (ix) £60 to £70, (x) £70 to £80, (xi) £80 to £90, (xii) £90 to £100 and (xiii) over £100.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The percentage of pensioners with incomes excluding supplementary benefit and housing benefit are as follows:

  Per cent.

  Less than £5

  36

  £5 to £39·99

  32

  £40 and over

  32

  Source: 1987 Family Expenditure Survey.

  Note: The income bands requested have been aggregated to provide figures based on adequate statistical samples; for the same reason there is no disaggregation between single and married pensioners.

  Earnings
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women (i) in total and (ii) in each region earn above the national insurance upper earnings limit, divided into those on basic rate and the top rate of tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is estimated that during 1990–91 about 3·3 million employees will earn more than the upper earnings limit for class 1 national insurance contributions and that of these 2·9 million will be men and 400,000 will be women.

  Of these, it is estimated that 1·8 million men and 300,000 women will be basic rate taxpayers and 1·1 million men and 100,000 women will pay tax at the higher rate.

  It is estimated that about 200,000 self-employed basic rate taxpayers and about 300,000 higher rate taxpayers earn more than the upper profits limit for national insurance contributions. Of these some 10 to 15 per cent. are women.
  484
  The information is not available on a regional basis.

  Occupational Deafness
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to extend the categories of claimants eligible for industrial disablement benefit on the grounds of occupational deafness.

  Mr. Scott
  We are awaiting a report from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on measures to improve the administration and operation of disablement benefit provision for occupational deafness. This report will be considered and evaluated before any firm decision is made whether to extend further the list of prescribed occupations.

  Pensions
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to calculate future increases in pensions on the basis of a definite weekly sum above the rate of inflation.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government have honoured their commitment to maintain the value of the state retirement pension in line with prices. What matters most to pensioners is the value of their total income from whatever source. The success of the Government's policies is demonstrated by the 31 per cent. real-terms growth in pensioners' average total net income between 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the saving in public expenditure from the break in the earnings link in the uprating of pensions each year since 1979 and cumulatively, at current and 1990 prices;

  (2) further to his answer of 20 March, Official Report, columns 594–95, regarding the gross cost of uprating the basic national insurance pension in line with average earnings each year, if he will now give the figures revalued at 1990–91 prices, including the figure for 1990–91; and if he will also give the figures including the gross cost of uprating the invalidity pension and the widow's pension in line with average earnings, also at 1990–91 prices;

  (3) if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West of 20 March, Official Report, columns 594–95, regarding the gross cost since 1980 of uprating the retirement pension in line with average earnings, he will now give the figure for 1990–91; and if he will give the gross cost cumulatively since 1980 of uprating the invalidity pension and widow's pension, in addition to the basic retirement pension, in line with average earnings.

  Mrs Gillian Shephard
  [holding answers 5 June and 14 June 1990]: The information requested is set out in the tables.

  Table 1. Gross additional cost of uprating retirement pension in line with the higher of prices or earnings since 1979.

  Year

  Current prices £ billion

  April 1990 prices £ billion

  1980–81

  nil

  nil

  1981–82

  0·22

  0·35

  1982–83

  0·35

  0·54

  1983–84

  0·43

  0·62

  485

  Year

  Current prices £ billion

  April 1990 prices £ billion

  1984–85

  0·92

  1·27

  1985–86

  1·10

  1·43

  1986–87

  1·95

  2·47

  1987–88

  2·78

  3·38

  1988–89

  3·63

  4·17

  1989–90

  4·50

  4·80

  1990–91

  5·46

  5·46

  Total

  21·34

  24·49

  Table 2 Gross additional cost of uprating retirement pension, widow's pension and invalidity pension in line with the higher of prices or earnings since 1980 (Current Prices).

  £ billion

  Year

  Retirement pension

  Widow's pension

  Invalidity pension

  1980–81

  0·05

  1—

  1—

  1981–82

  0·26

  0·02

  0·04

  1982–83

  0·39

  0·03

  0·05

  1983–84

  0·47

  0·03

  0·07

  1984–85

  0·96

  0·05

  0·14

  1985–86

  1·14

  0·06

  0·16

  1986–87

  2·00

  0·10

  0·29

  1987–88

  2·83

  0·13

  0·43

  1988–89

  3·68

  0·15

  0·60

  1989–90

  4·57

  0·18

  0·79

  1990–91

  5·56

  0·21

  1·00

  Total

  21·91

  0·96

  3·57

  1 less than £0·01 billion.

  Figures on the additional cost of retirement pensions in table 2 are higher than those in table 1. Table 2 uses the actual rate of benefit paid in November 1979 to calculate the additional costs. This actual rate is higher than the rate that would have been paid had the "earnings or prices" rule been applied. Table 1 uses the lower implied rate of benefit in 1979 and so the costs for all subsequent years are lower.

  Table 3 Gross additional cost of uprating retirement pension, widow's pension and invalidity pension in line with the higher of prices or earnings since 1980 (April 1990 Prices)

  £ billion

  Year

  RP

  WP

  IVP

  1980–81

  0·08

  0·01

  0·01

  1981–82

  0·42

  0·04

  0·06

  1982–83

  0·60

  0·04

  0·08

  1983–84

  0·69

  0·05

  0·10

  1984–85

  1·32

  0·07

  0·20

  1985–86

  1·49

  0·07

  0·21

  1986–87

  2·53

  0·12

  0·37

  1987–88

  3·44

  0·15

  0·52

  1988–89

  4·22

  0·17

  0·69

  1989–90

  4·87

  0·19

  0·84

  1990–91

  5·56

  0·21

  1·00

  Total

  25·22

  1·12

  4·08

  The additional cost of uprating by this method for the benefits in table 3 would imply an increase in national insurance contributions of £4·63 a week for a person on average earnings.

  The Government Actuary in his latest quinquennial review has indicated that national insurance contributions would have to rise even more steeply in the future if benefits were to be uprated in this way.
  486
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated reduction in public expenditure as a result of the changes in SERPS provided for in the Social Security Act 1986 for each year up to 2035, at 1990 constant prices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: Estimated reduction in gross public expenditure as a result of the changes in SERPS provided for in the 1986 Social Security Act at 1990 prices is as follows:

  Year

  £ billions

  1995–96

  1—

  2001–02

  1—

  2005–06

  1

  2010–11

  2

  2015–16

  3

  2020–21

  5

  2025–26

  8

  2030–31

  11

  2035–36

  14

  Source: Government Actuary's Department.

  1 Indicates negligible savings.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the cost of reducing the pensionable age for men from 65 to 60 years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest estimate based on 1985–86 benefit rates of the net cost of reducing pensionable age for men to 60 years is £3,000 million.

  Disability Allowance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on implementing a national disability allowance scheme based on attendance allowance, with the top rate based on a higher scale of night and day allowance, and the lower rates based on the level of disability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We have received comments on our proposals for disability allowance from more than 70 organisations of and for disabled people and from a large number of individual people with disabilities. We regularly meet the disability organisations, and I met the Disability Benefits Consortium—an umbrella group representing more than 250 disability organisations on 5 April to discuss their views on "The Way Ahead". We shall continue to take into account the views of interested organisations and individuals while work is progressing on the two new benefits, disability allowance and disability employment credit.

  Mentally Handicapped People
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are being taken to ensure people discharged from mental and care institutions into bed and breakfast hotels or temporary accommodation have adequate support.

  Mr. Scott
  People discharged from mental and care institutions into bed and breakfast hotels or temporary accommodation are eligible for the full range of social security benefits in the usual way. They will also be eligible for support from the health and personal social services which are the responsibility in England of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Rape (Compensation)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons compensation for rape awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is subject to deduction from income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The vast majority of payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have no effect whatsoever on social security benefits. Under income support, the first £3,000 of capital is disregarded and an income equivalent to £1 a week is assumed for every £250, or part of £250, of capital over £3,000 up to £8,000. However, any income derived from that capital is completely ignored.

  Benefit

  Issue

  Women

  Men

  Unemployment Benefit

  Maximum age for receipt

  Age 65

  Age 70

  Age at which benefit rate changes to Retirement Pension rate

  Age 60

  Age 65

  Sickness Benefit

  Maximum age for receipt

  Age 65

  Age 70

  Age at which benefit rate changes to Retirement Pension basis

  Age 60

  Age 65

  Invalidity Benefit

  Maximum age for receipt

  Age 65

  Age 70

  Age at which benefit rate changes to Retirement Pension rate

  Age 60

  Age 65

  Invalidity Allowance and Invalidity Addition to Retirement Pension

  Maximum age for onset of incapacity for acquiring entitlement to lower rate

  Below age 55

  Below age 60

  State Maternity Allowance, Statutory Maternity Pay, Social Fund Payments to meet Maternity Expenses

  Conditions of Entitlement

  Entitlement where statutory conditions satisfied

  No entitlement in respect of paternity

  Widows Payment, Widowed Mothers Allowance, Widows Pensions

  Conditions of Entitlement

  Entitlement where statutory conditions satisfied

  No equivalent entitlement for widowers

  Category A Retirement Pension

  Minimum age of entitlement

  Age 60

  Age 65

  Age until which an individual may "deretire" or postpone claim to receive increments

  Age 65

  Age 70

  Working life for calculation of pension rate

  44 years

  49 years

  Category B Retirement Pension

  Conditions of Entitlement

  Aged 60 and over and (i) married at 60 to husband who is entitled to Category A Retirement Pension, or (ii) married after age 60 to husband entitled to Category A Retirement Pension, or (iii) widowed after age 60 and late husband satisfied contribution conditions for Category A Retirement Pension, or (iv) widowed before age 60 and in receipt of widows pension in consequence of husband's death

  Aged 65 and over and widowed over 65 late wife was over 60 when she died and satisfied contribution conditions for Category A Retirement Pension

  Retirement Pension Additional Pensions

  Age at 6 April 1978 for amendment of accrual formula from 5 April 1999

  Age 40

  Age 45

  Graduated Retirement Benefit

  Minimum age of entitlement

  Age 60

  Age 65

  Amount of graduated contributions paid to obtain one graduated retirement benefit unit

  £9·00

  £7·50

  488
  In addition, compensation payments arising from a personal injury which are placed on trust are wholly disregarded for at least two years. We propose to disregard these trust funds entirely from 1 October, although any actual payments made by the trustees will be treated in the normal way.

  These rules assist claimants and ensure that long-term provision can be made for those requiring long-term care.

  Benefit Claimants (Treatment)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the instances in which a woman, single, married or cohabiting, is treated differently, for the purpose of claiming and receipt of benefit, than a man would be in the same circumstances.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table.
  489

  Benefit

  Issue

  Women

  Men

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  Upper age for establishing entitlement

  60

  65

  Age at which payment can continue if the normal entitlement rules are no longer satisfied

  65

  70

  Invalid Care Allowance

  Upper age for establishing entitlement

  60

  65

  Age at which payment can continue if the normal entitlement rules are no longer satisfied

  65

  70

  Reduced Earnings Allowane (not payable in respect of industrial accidents on and from 1 October 1990)

  Transfer to Retirement Allowance

  Age 60 (except women 60 and over on 10 April 1989)

  Age 65 (except men 65 and over on 10 April 1989)

  Income of Unemployment and Sickness Benefit for Child dependant

  Claimant's age for entitlement

  60–65

  65–70

  Increase of Category A RetirementPension for Adult dependant

  Entitlement for spouse where pensioner residing with spouse in contributing to maintenance of spouse subject to earnings maximum

  Increase for husband only if pensioner was entitled to an increase of unemployment, sickness or invalidity benefit immediately before commencement of Retirement Pension entitlement

  No additional condition for increase for wife

  Child Benefit

  Priority of Title

  Wife or mother has priority over husband or father where it is necessary to decide priority

  Guardian's Allowance

  Priority of Title

  Wife has priority over husband where it is necessary to determine priority

  Income Support Housing Benefit Community Charge Benefit

  Higher Pensioner Premium depedent upon entitlement to Invalidity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance

  Subject to conditions for entitlement to these benefits (see above)

  Income Support

  Payability between ages 60 and 65 for claimants with no other income

  Paid in advance

  Paid in arrears

  Disentitlement of students on full time course of study

  Disentitlement ceases at age 60

  Disentitlement ceases at age 65

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current real value of child benefit as against the level in April 1987; and what would be the annual cost of restoring child benefit to its April 1987 level(a) assuming a similar increase in child dependancy additions paid with income-related benefits and (b) assuming no other benefit increases.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The April 1987 rate of child benefit —£7·25—would be worth £8·91 in April 1990 on the basis of the movement in the index of retail prices between those months. The costs of such an increase would be £1,030 million gross and £780 million net.

  Maternity Payments
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what would be the net cost of(a) abolishing, (b) reducing to one year and (c) reducing to six months, the two-year length of service qualifications for full-time workers employed for over 16 hours a week for receipt of statutory maternity pay;
  490
  (2) what would be the net additional cost of paying maternity allowance to (a) all full-time pregnant workers, (b) all part-time pregnant workers and (c) all pregnant workers;

  (3) what would be the net cost of (a) abolishing, (b) reducing to one year and (c) reducing to six months, the five-year length of service qualification for part-time workers employed for at least eight but under 16 hours for receipt of statutory maternity pay;

  (4) what would be the net cost of paying statutory maternity pay at the higher rate of nine tenths of the employee's average weekly earnings for the whole of the maternity pay period if the maternity pay period were (a) 18 weeks, (b) 26 weeks, (c) 39 weeks and (d) 52 weeks.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of abolishing the capital rule for receipt of the maternity expenses grant for families claiming income support or other income-related benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  491
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of reintroducing the national insurance maternity grant set at a level of £100 per child.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The net cost of paying a universal maternity grant of £100 is estimated as about £56 million. This figure assumes maternity payments under the social fund would no longer be payable.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At present there are no political advisers or public relations advisers employed to advise Ministers in this Department. The Department is in the process of recruiting one and it is likely that they will be appointed with effect from 16 August. Salary has yet to be agreed.

  Income Support
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of raising the income support rate for claimants aged 18 to 24 years to the level of the rate payable for claimants aged 25 years and over.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimated cost for income-related benefits would be in the region of £250 million.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985–86–87 Family Expenditure surveys and the 1989 annual statistical inquiry.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of restoring entitlement to income support to all 16 and 17-year-olds at(a) current 18 to 24-year-old levels and (b) at full adult levels.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimated annual cost of restoring entitlement to income support to all 16 and 17-year-olds at(a) current 18 to 24-year-old levels of personal allowance and (b) at full adult levels would be around £10 million and £150 million respectively.

  Costs are based on existing benefit rates and youth training allowances; the actual cost would also depend on the number of people on youth training.

  Source: The 1985–86–87 Family Expenditure surveys and the 1989 annual statistical inquiry.

  Pensioners (Housing Benefit)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether pensioners over 75 years of age living in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole 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
  The day-to-day administration of housing benefit is the responsibility of local authorities.492
  We are not aware that councils in Scotland had any particular difficulty in implementing the changes to the housing benefit scheme in October 1989.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to the national insurance fund of allowing(a) employees and (b) employers to contract out of national insurance contributions for receipt of unemployment benefit at the current contracting out rate for occupational and personal pensions, assessing the take-up rate as (a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent. and (c) 50 per cent.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Such estimates cannot be made on the basis of the assumptions provided. The net cost to the national insurance fund of introducing a system of contracting-out in respect of unemployment benefit would depend on the extent to which expenditure was reduced and the size of the rebate given. The rebate for occupational and personal pensions is based on the cost to pension schemes of providing guaranteed minimum pensions. It would not be appropriate to use that rebate as a basis for producing the estimates requested.

  Disability Premium
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated cost would be to his Department if the part-time earnings disregard for those who qualify for the disability premium in income support were to be raised by(a) £1 per week and (b) £5 per week.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimated cost in income support of raising the earnings disregard for those who qualify for the disability premium would be £500,000 for a £1 a week increase and £2 million for a £5 a week increase.

  Fazakerley Resettlement Unit
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, in the context of the current situation in respect of the Fazakerley resettlement unit, he will make a further statement, pursuant to that of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 27 June, House of Lords Official Report, columns 1696–97.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  As my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary made clear, it is our policy that no resettlement unit will close until suitable replacement facilities are available. Fazakerley resettlement unit is scheduled to close on 31 March 1991; suitable replacement facilities will be available.

  Retirement Pension
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the annual cost, net of tax, of raising the basic retirement pension for single people by £5 per week and the married couple's pension by £8 per week(a) assuming a similar increase in income-related benefits for pensioners, including invalidity pensioners and (b) assuming no other benefit increases.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) single lower limb amputees and (b) double lower limb amputees receive the mobility allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that information cannot be provided in the detail requested. The available information shows that there are 8,240 amputees with current awards of mobility allowance.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has decided on the criteria which will determine the circumstances in which deaf-blind people will be treated as being unable to walk or virtually unable to walk to enable them to become entitled to mobility allowance; and what plans he has to ensure that deaf-blind people take full advantage of the extension to the mobility allowance scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 22 February 1990]: The criteria were set out in the Mobility Allowance Amendment Regulations 1990 which were made on 20 March. Information about the extension was included in the new editions of the relevant leaflets which were published in April. We have been monitoring claims that have been received from deaf-blind people and we are contacting representatives of these people to discuss whether further steps need to be taken to ensure that they are aware of the new arrangements.

  Benefit Deductions
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have had deductions made from his Department's benefits because they are in arrears with their poll tax; and if he will publish the figures for each of his Department's offices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Deductions in respect of community charge arrears can only be made from income support. Information on the numbers of deductions in place is collected centrally on a quarterly basis. The latest available figures are for May 1990. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 2 July at columns 460–61.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard) will reply to the letters dated 4 June and 20 July from the hon. Member for South Hams about James Woodward of Brixham regarding community charge benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 25 July.

  Departmental Offices (Relocation)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to consult local councils, hon. Members and other interested parties before any decision is taken to relocate his Department's offices following his Department's operational strategy exercise.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the grouping together of existing local offices 494
  in local management units as part of the local office network review, details of which were given in a written reply to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Sir C. Smith) on 11 July at columns 242–43.

  I should make it clear that we are not talking about closing offices to the public, but, rather, an administrative amalgamation for management purposes. Once the geography of the LMUs has been decided, the local managers will be appointed and will begin to develop detailed plans for the organisation of work within their units. In drawing up these plans, managers will consult widely within the community.

  Death Benefit
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated annual savings as a result of the changes made to death benefit payments.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimated cost in 1989–90 of continuing to pay death grant at £30 per person is £20 million. The cost in 1989–90 of funeral payments from the social fund is approximately £24 million. Due to insufficient information, it is not possible to estimate the likely cost in 1989–90 of funeral payments that would have been incurred under the previous supplementary benefit scheme.

  Elderly People Homes
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue guidance to local authorities wishing to transfer elderly residents' homes to independent trusts while maintaining full eligibility for his Department's benefit entitlements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The provision of guidance to local authorities is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Awards of benefit in an individual case are a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities. The enhanced levels of income support are generally available only to residents in homes registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984 who satisfy the income, capital and other tests for income support and for whom local authorities have not arranged care.

  A local authority considering transferring residential care homes to the independent sector needs to satisfy itself as registering authority that the homes in question are properly registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984; and, as social services authority, it needs to satisfy the adjudication officer that it has not arranged the care of residents with the new proprietors. The authority will also need to satisfy itself that it will still be able to provide care for people for whom it is not otherwise available.

  Benefits (Young People)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what independent research he is proposing into the way in which the benefit provisions for 16 and 17-year-olds are working.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have carefully considered the representations from various individuals and organisations about the benefit provision for 16 and 17-year-olds.
  495
  From the evidence so far presented, we have not been persuaded of the need to make any major changes to existing arrangements. However, we want to ensure that we fully understand how young people are affected. For this we need statistically reliable information on how the income support rules are working in practice, and I am pleased to announce that, on the basis of a competitive tendering exercise, a contract has been awarded to the research agency MORI to undertake independent wide-ranging research into this area.

  The research will have two main elements. First, it will look at a representative sample of 500 successful and unsuccessful applications for income support under the "severe hardship" provisions. This will provide information on young people's understanding and attitudes towards the benefit system, their experience of training and the labour market and what happens to them after a "severe hardship" application has been decided.

  Secondly, the survey will collect detailed qualitative data on young people's experience of the benefit system. It will also offer some insight into the effect benefit withdrawal has had on the likelihood of young people leaving home. It will gain information on the circumstances and particular difficulties facing groups of special interest, including girls in the early stages of pregnancy and young people leaving local authority care.

  The MORI survey will be complemented by research that the Training Agency will undertake to ascertain what happens to "severe hardship" applicants who have applied to enter a youth training place.

  The research will start shortly and will complement the monitoring arrangements already operated by the Department and the Training Agency. These have led us to make a number of helpful adjustments to our procedures over the last 12 months and to improve the support for certain vulnerable groups. We expect the results from the research early in 1991.

  Table 1 Housing benefit recipients and average benefit amounts

  Number of recipients (000s)

  Average amounts £

  With income support

  Without income support

  Total

  With income support

  Without income support

  Total

  Total housing benefit

  2,410

  1,900

  4,310

  22·34

  13·90

  18·61

  Council Tenants

  Rent rebate

  1,380

  960

  2,340

  19·96

  14·13

  17·58

  Rate rebate

  1,360

  920

  2,280

  6·08

  4·42

  5·41

  Total housing benefit

  1,390

  980

  2,360

  25·94

  17·90

  22·61

  Private Tenants

  Rent allowances

  480

  350

  820

  25·10

  15·65

  21·12

  Rate rebate

  450

  270

  730

  4·43

  3·51

  4·08

  Total housing benefit

  490

  370

  850

  29·15

  17·43

  24·10

  Owner Occupier

  Rate rebate

  540

  550

  1,090

  6·01

  4·91

  5·45

  Pensioners

  1,080

  1,440

  2,520

  19·94

  13·51

  16·26

  Lone Parents

  470

  60

  530

  26·09

  15·99

  24·93

  Others

  860

  400

  1,260

  23·29

  14·99

  20·67

  Table 2 Housing benefit estimated expenditure 1989–90:

  £ million

  Total expenditure

  Pensioners

  Lone parents

  Two parent families

  Others

  Rent rebate

  2,265

  1,235

  390

  315

  330

  Rent allowance

  1,080

  390

  105

  75

  505

  Rate rebate

  1,170

  645

  165

  155

  205

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the latest estimates of the number of households receiving housing benefit in England showing (a) the division between those who also receive income support and those who do not, (b) the division between council tenants and others and (c) the division between pensioner households, lone-parent families, two-parent families and others;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report the latest estimates of the average amount of housing benefit paid in England, showing (a) the division between those households who receive income support and those who do not, (b) the division between rent rebates and rent allowances and (c) the division between pensioner households, lone-parent families, two-parent families and others;

  (3) if he will publish in the Official Report the latest estimates of the cost of housing benefit in England showing (a) the division between those households who receive income support and those who do not, (b) the division between rent rebates and rent allowances and (c) the division between pensioner households, lone-parent families, two-parent families and others;

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 25 June 1990]: The latest estimates of the numbers of households and the average amounts of benefit paid are in table 1. Information is not fully available in the form requested.

  The total expenditure figures in table 2 are derived from local authority estimates. The breakdown into client groups is achieved by modelling based on information from local authorities and the family expenditure survey. The local authority estimates do not separate expenditure into housing benefit paid with, or without, receipt of income support.
  497
  Notes:

  In Tables 1 and 2 Pensioners represent claimants or partners aged 60 or over; Lone Parents include only those who receive the lone parent premium.

  Source:

  Table 1, Housing Benefit management information May 1989.

  Table 2, Estimates from local authorities and DSS modelling.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his replies to the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham, 28 June,Official Report, columns 352–53, if he will tabulate figures, as in his Department's tax benefit model tables, setting out for each of the families chosen the components of gross incomes each of the deductions from gross income and the resulting replacement ratios; and what the replacement ratios would be if the non-householder families did not have to pay community charge, and if the couple with two children were paying average local authority rates in 1989–90, uprated, instead of community charge.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 17 July 1990]: The available information is set out in the tables.

  Pursuant to my replies of 28 June, at columns 352–53, it has been discovered that the information on replacement ratios given earlier was incorrect because no allowance was made for the work expenses specified. Corrected information is incorporated in the tables.

  The results in the tables remain arbitrary. They cannot reflect, except by chance, the actual circumstances of particular people and cannot claim to be representative of the population at large. Because of the different nature of community charge compared with the old rating system, it is not possible to apply a simple uprating factor to the latter.

  Table 1 Single person aged under 25

  Gross earnings per week £

  Deductions

  Replacement ratios Community Charge

  Tax

  NI

  Work expenses

  £350 Per cent.

  £450 Per cent.

  Zero Per cent.

  80·00

  5·55

  3·98

  10·00

  51·0

  51·0

  48·0

  100·00

  10·55

  5·78

  10·00

  41·0

  42·0

  39·0

  120·00

  15·55

  7·58

  10·00

  34·0

  35·0

  33·0

  Table 2 Single person with one child aged 3

  Gross earnings per week £

  Deductions

  Replacement ratios Community Charge

  Tax

  NI

  Work expenses

  £350 Per cent.

  £450 Per cent.

  Zero Per cent.

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  50·00

  104·0

  104·0

  96·0

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  50·00

  96·0

  96·0

  88·0

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  50·00

  91·0

  89·0

  83·0

  By Family Type

  Real rise per cent.

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Category and Group (median)

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  Married Pensioner

  Lowest

  13

  13

  7

  13

  15

  8

  2

  14

  19

  11

  9

  16

  12

  3

  11

  22

  17

  10

  23

  19

  4

  14

  24

  18

  17

  27

  20

  Highest

  16

  26

  19

  22

  32

  21

  498

  Table 3 Married couple with two children aged under 5

  Gross earnings per week £

  Deductions

  Replacement ratios Community Charge

  Tax

  NI

  Work expenses

  £350 Per cent.

  £450 Per cent.

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  10·00

  373·0

  382·0

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  10·00

  327·0

  334·0

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  10·00

  292·0

  297·0

  180·00

  22·28

  12·98

  10·00

  219·0

  221·0

  200·00

  27·28

  14·78

  10·00

  172·0

  174·0

  220·00

  32·28

  16·58

  10·00

  137·0

  143·0

  240·00

  37·28

  18·38

  10·00

  115·0

  119·0

  260·00

  42·28

  20·18

  10·00

  98·0

  102·0

  280·00

  47·28

  21·98

  10·00

  86·0

  88·0

  300·00

  52·28

  23·78

  10·00

  76·0

  78·0

  Notes:

  The methods and assumptions are those used in the published Tax/Benefit Model Tables but in tables 1 and 2 it has been assumed that no rent is payable.

  Replacement Ratios are rounded to the nearest per cent.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish a table showing the rise in real household incomes between 1979 and 1987, for the average and for all decile groups broken down by family status in the manner of his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South of 29 July 1988,Official Report, columns 815–17;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the rise in real household incomes between 1979 and 1987, broken down by economic type, for all decile groups and the average;

  (3) if he will publish a table showing the rise in real income between (a) 1979 and 1985, and (b) 1979 and 1987, broken down by (i) family type and (ii) economic type for all decile groups; and if he will show the average before and after housing costs.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 13 June 1990]: The information requested is in the tables.
  499

  Real rise per cent.

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Category and Group (median)

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  All Married Pensioners mean

  15·1

  27·0

  20·0

  16·9

  30·7

  22·6

  Single Pensioner

  Lowest

  13

  11

  3

  11

  7

  2

  2

  18

  17

  9

  12

  12

  6

  3

  17

  19

  10

  11

  9

  4

  4

  14

  18

  11

  15

  16

  6

  Highest

  17

  19

  16

  20

  27

  23

  All Single Pensioners mean

  15·3

  23·4

  15·0

  14·3

  23·2

  14·9

  Married Couple with Children

  Lowest

  -5

  -1

  10

  -10

  -7

  6

  2

  1

  9

  15

  -2

  5

  11

  3

  5

  16

  19

  1

  13

  16

  4

  6

  20

  22

  7

  19

  20

  Highest

  16

  35

  28

  15

  33

  25

  All Married Couples with Children mean

  8·9

  24·3

  25·1

  7·1

  23·0

  23·0

  Married Couple without Children

  Lowest

  -8

  -4

  -2

  -15

  -10

  -6

  2

  -2

  5

  11

  -4

  6

  12

  3

  3

  10

  13

  2

  13

  15

  4

  6

  18

  16

  7

  18

  17

  Highest

  13

  32

  28

  14

  35

  30

  All Married Couples without Children mean

  6·2

  19·4

  17·6

  6·3

  20·7

  17·6

  Lone Parent

  Lowest

  15

  14

  9

  17

  11

  2

  2

  13

  12

  10

  12

  9

  6

  3

  8

  11

  6

  4

  0

  -1

  4

  5

  10

  5

  -1

  2

  3

  Highest

  9

  8

  -1

  7

  2

  -7

  All Lone Parents mean

  9·9

  9·8

  3·9

  7·1

  4·7

  -0·1

  Single Person without children

  Lowest

  0

  0

  2

  -9

  -10

  -6

  2

  -1

  4

  8

  -3

  2

  6

  3

  2

  11

  12

  2

  12

  13

  4

  6

  19

  18

  7

  20

  19

  Highest

  9

  31

  27

  9

  34

  29

  All Single Persons without Children

  5·7

  21·6

  16·2

  4·6

  21·2

  15·1

  By Economic Status

  Real rise (per cent.)

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Category and Quintile group (median)

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  Pensioner

  Lowest

  13

  13

  5

  12

  13

  6

  2

  15

  18

  10

  11

  14

  8

  3

  15

  21

  14

  10

  16

  10

  4

  14

  22

  15

  16

  22

  14

  Highest

  17

  23

  18

  21

  30

  23

  All Pensioner mean

  15·2

  25·4

  17·8

  15·7

  27·3

  19·0

  Full-time worker

  Lowest

  9

  11

  12

  7

  6

  8

  2

  10

  18

  18

  7

  16

  17

  500 501

  Real rise (per cent.)

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Category and Quintile group (median)

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  3

  10

  20

  20

  9

  21

  21

  4

  12

  25

  23

  12

  25

  22

  Highest

  15

  35

  29

  15

  36

  27

  All Full-time worker mean

  13·4

  29·2

  25·7

  12·9

  29·7

  24·9

  Sick or disabled

  Lowest

  40

  53

  11

  40

  58

  10

  2

  17

  24

  19

  22

  28

  19

  3

  9

  21

  28

  3

  15

  21

  4

  3

  16

  23

  3

  17

  31

  Highest

  5

  15

  29

  6

  16

  27

  All sick or disabled mean

  10·0

  23·3

  24·8

  9·3

  22·7

  24·2

  Lone parent

  Lowest

  17

  20

  13

  18

  9

  2

  2

  19

  18

  13

  17

  16

  10

  3

  16

  17

  13

  10

  10

  8

  4

  10

  15

  11

  4

  6

  3

  Highest

  9

  19

  5

  5

  15

  1

  All Lone parents mean

  12·6

  15·6

  10·3

  10·1

  10·4

  5·5

  Unemployed

  Lowest

  11

  20

  25

  19

  14

  19

  2

  15

  21

  13

  11

  16

  11

  3

  1

  9

  11

  -7

  2

  10

  4

  -12

  4

  8

  -22

  -4

  3

  Highest

  -4

  18

  13

  0

  19

  11

  All Unemployed mean

  -1·8

  14·9

  20·8

  -7·1

  10·2

  9·3

  Other

  Lowest

  39

  39

  2

  70

  49

  -6

  2

  21

  24

  5

  17

  19

  1

  3

  19

  27

  9

  16

  25

  12

  4

  15

  27

  18

  15

  33

  19

  Highest

  17

  35

  19

  19

  39

  22

  All Other mean

  19·1

  31·1

  5·6

  20·6

  34·9

  4·4

  Total Population

  Real rise percentage

  Category and Quintile group (median)

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  1979–85

  1979–87

  1981–87

  1979–85

  1979–87

  Total Population

  Lowest

  4

  6

  7

  -1

  —

  2

  3

  10

  12

  —

  5

  3

  5

  14

  15

  4

  14

  4

  8

  18

  18

  8

  20

  Highest

  12

  29

  24

  12

  30

  Total population mean

  9·0

  22·9

  20·6

  8·3

  23·1

  Owing to the fact that when quintile groups are broken down as in the tables, the sample sizes are relatively small, these figures are liable to sampling error. The figures for the categories "Sick and Disabled"—with a sample size of 272—"Lone Parent"—293 on economic type and 394 on family type—and "Other"—606—are particularly prone to sampling error.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is satisfied that sufficient application forms for the social fund are available at his Department's offices throughout the Yorkshire region; and if he will make a statement.
  502
  Mr. Scott
  We are satisfied that sufficient application forms for assistance from the social fund are available at local Department of Social Security offices in the Yorkshire region.

  The social fund application form used for both community care grants and budgeting loans is currently undergoing revision with the aim of making it easier for applicants to complete. I understand that some offices in the Yorkshire area have recently experienced temporary difficulty in maintaining stocks of the existing form. Contingency plans have been put into place, and all offices should now have sufficient stocks to meet demand.
  503
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the monthly recommended proposed spending levels for social fund expenditure for the current year.

  Mr. Scott
  The figures set out in the table show the national anticipated expenditure profile for 1990–91.

  Per cent

  April

  7·98

  May

  8·90

  June

  7·83

  July

  8·03

  August

  7·93

  September

  6·81

  October

  8·82

  November

  9·50

  December

  7·65

  January

  7·28

  February

  8·78

  March

  10·49

  Total

  100·00

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals were in receipt of (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) income support and income support premiums, (iii) family credit, (iv) housing benefit, (v) child benefit and (vi) one-parent benefit; and what were the average payments made in(a) Wales, (b) the administrative area of Snowdonia national park, (c) the district of Meirionnydd and (d) the sub-district of Bala and Penllyn, during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 5 July 1990]: The table sets out the information requested for Wales. Separate information is not readily available for the sub-districts of Snowdonia national park, Meirionnydd, Bala and Penllyn.

  Number of recipients

  Average payment made (£ per week)

  Unemployment Benefit

  112,512

  234·63

  Income Support

  3262,000

  35·48

  Family Credit

  421,000

  27·70

  Housing Benefit

  5283,289

  17·04

  Child Benefit

  6347,622

  12·99

  One Parent Benefit

  633,188

  75·20

  1 As at November 1989.

  2 All UB recipients, all durations average for the United Kingdom.

  3 As at 28 February 1990. No further breakdown is available. The number and average amount of premiums per case is not readily available.

  4 As at March 1990, including backdated awards.

  5 Housing Benefit statistical enquiry May 1990.

  6 Provisional figures for 31 December 1989.

  7 The rate of one parent benefit at 31 December 1989 was a flat rate of £5·20 per week, per eligible family.

WALES

  Council Rents
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table, showing in descending order for each district council in Wales, the average rent level for council housing.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is as follows:
  504

  Average weekly council rents at 1 April 1990:

  £s per week

  Rhondda

  28·32

  Cardiff

  28·31

  Rhymney Valley

  28·28

  Ogwr

  28·08

  Blaenau Gwent

  27·92

  Torfaen

  26·92

  Monmouth

  26·85

  Lliw Valley

  26·22

  Taff Ely

  25·42

  Newport

  25·26

  Meirionnydd

  25·09

  Swansea

  24·62

  Montgomeryshire

  24·46

  Ynys Mon

  24·11

  Ceredigion

  24·06

  Llanelli

  24·01

  Neath

  23·97

  Port Talbot

  23·75

  Cynon Valley

  23·61

  Vale of Glamorgan

  23·59

  Carmarthen

  23·48

  Delyn

  23·41

  Brecknock

  23·35

  Merthyr Tydfil

  23·24

  Colwyn

  23·19

  Aberconwy

  23·18

  Radnorshire

  23·03

  South Pembrokeshire

  22·98

  Islwyn

  22·95

  Arfon

  22·16

  Dwyfor

  21·64

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  21·53

  Glyndwr

  21·50

  Dinefwr

  19·87

  Rhuddlan

  18·56

  Alyn and Deeside

  18·52

  Wrexham

  18·46

  Nurses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each of the health authorities in Wales the latest figures for(a) the number of appeals by nurses on clinical gradings, (b) the number of these which have succeeded and (c) the number which have been rejected.

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

  Health authority

  Appeals lodged1

  Successful2 at local level

  Unsuccessful at local level

  Clwyd

  465

  41

  116

  East Dyfed

  372

  58

  199

  Gwent

  1,015

  19

  407

  Gwynedd

  830

  111

  648

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,102

  69

  323

  Pembrokeshire

  136

  8

  48

  Powys

  563

  277

  186

  South Glamorgan

  896

  57

  381

  West Glamorgan

  336

  27

  219

  Total

  5,715

  667

  2,527

  1 Numbers exclude appeals withdrawn.

  2 Numbers include appeals allowed without formal hearing.

  Press Officers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press officers are employed by his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  At present my Department employs eight press officers, one of whom also works for the Department of Employment.

  Mental Handicap Institutions
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what checks authorities are(a) empowered to make and (b) obliged to make in the event of (i) a change of ownership and (ii) a change of management in respect of a private establishment for mentally handicapped people.

  Mr. Grist
  Change of ownership and management in respect of independent sector homes for people with a mental handicap have to be registered with the appropriate authority which is empowered under section 9 and 25 of the Registered Homes Act 1984 to refuse registration if the new or proposed owner or manager is not considered to be a fit person. Schedule 1 to the Residential Care Homes Regulation 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1345) sets out the information which must be supplied by all applicants for registration. It is the registration authority's responsibility to verify this information and follow up any points of concern.

  Planning Policy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department will publish a report on planning policy and the use of section 52 arrangements in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) on 16 July by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Cook-chill Methods (NHS)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy that cook-chill methods should not be introduced into national health service institutions in Wales pending fresh investigations and subsequent detailed advice from his Department.

  Mr. Grist
  It is a matter for local health authorities to consider how to provide catering services in a safe and effective way, and this may include the consideration of a cook-chill system.

  Detailed guidelines on cook-chill and cook-freeze catering systems were issued to the NHS in Wales in July 1989.

  Prescribing Costs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy in relation to the transfer of prescribing costs from hospitals to general practitioners in those circumstances where patients attend out-patient clinics(a) on a continuing basis and (b) following treatment.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department's policy on hospital out-patient prescribing is set out in circular HN (76) 69 which states that prescribing costs rest with the doctor with clinical responsibility, although this does not preclude negotiation between GP and consultant in individual cases.

  Disability
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources he intends to make available to(a) voluntary organisations and (b) statutory bodies in Wales in 1991 to promote awareness and facilities in respect of disability.

  Mr. Grist
  Decisions on the level of central Government resources to be provided in 1991–92 will be taken as part of the current public expenditure round.

  Road System Management
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the units or divisions responsible for the road system in Wales together with their addresses, directors, and the last prior professional appointment of those directors.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The trunk road system in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Office highways directorate which is mainly based at the Government Buildings, Ty-Glas road, Llanishen, Cardiff. The Director of Highways, Mr. K. J. Thomas BSc CEng FICE FIHT, was previously deputy director at the Property Services Agency's southern region at Reading.

  Other roads in Wales are the responsibility of county councils as local highways authorities.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish the consultative document sent to local education authorities in respect of a statistical model of the resources required to implement the national curriculum in Wales;

  (2) if he will list and publish the responses he has received in respect of his consultative document on a statistical model of the resources required to implement the national curriculum in Wales;

  (3) if he will give details of the timetable for responses to his consultative document in respect of a statistical model of the resources required to implement the national curriculum in Wales;

  (4) if he will give full details of the basis of the statistical model being produced to analyse the number of teachers needed to deliver the national curriculum in Welsh secondary schools;

  (5) what progress has been made towards formulating a statistical model of the resources needed to implement the national curriculum in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  An initial statistical model aimed at estimating the number of teachers required to deliver the
  507
  national curriculum in Wales was produced last year. The assumptions made in the model were circulated to the local education authorities in Wales. A copy of the letter is being deposited in the Library of the House. The assumptions made with regard to teachers of Welsh were discussed in detail with the LEAs and the model is being reworked to take account of those discussions; of changes in pupil numbers; and in the light of more recent guidance on the delivery of the national curriculum.

  The revised estimates of the number of teachers required to deliver the national curriculum will be available in the autumn. These will be published along with the assumptions made in the statistical model.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish his proposals for history in the national curriculum.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am publishing today my proposals for attainment targets and programmes of study for history in Wales. I have based them on the advice of the History Committee for Wales whose final report was published on 12 June. The working group, chaired by Professor Rees Davies, produced a balanced and carefully thought out curriculum which I am proposing to adopt in full. I am proposing some amendments to the structure for assessment to reflect the advice of the School Examinations and Assessment Council and the working group themselves. I am consulting the Curriculum Council for Wales and a wide range of educational interests on the proposals and I have asked for their responses by 2 November. The working group's report is already in the Library, and I shall also place a copy of my proposals in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what conclusions he has come to on the extent of additional resources, including the number of teachers, required to implement the national curriculum in Wales;

  (2) what extra funds he intends to make available to facilitate the proper and full implementation of the national curriculum in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The introduction of the national curriculum should not of itself require a much larger teaching force than at present. Estimates of the number of teachers required by subject are being compiled and will show that a different mix of teaching skills will be required in the future. We will publish these estimates in the autumn.

  The successful introduction of the national curriculum will also require considerable in-service training of existing teachers and expenditure on the preparation of materials. These are being funded through the LEA training grant scheme and education support grants; expenditure related to the national curriculum under these schemes was increased to almost £10 million in 1990–91 from under £7 million in the previous year. In addition nearly £3 million of the Welsh language specific grant is being directed to projects which support the national curriculum. The Curriculum Council for Wales is being funded at over £1 million a year to develop support for teachers and the School Examinations and Assessment Council receives over £1 million to develop assessment of the national curriculum in Wales.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will have discussions with British Rail regarding the effect of proposed timetable changes on the economy of Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I will raise this when I meet the chairman of British Rail.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he intends to take to identify(a) the specific communities affected and (b) the environmental, social and economic impact on those communities of implementation of the proposed reduction in rail services in South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the extent of the impact of fares increases proposed by British Rail for South Wales on the economy of Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan;

  (3) what assessment he has made of (a) the environmental impact, (b) the impact on road congestion and (c) the impact on the economy of Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan of the service reductions proposed by British Rail to take effect in October.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Levels of service and fares are operational matters for the commercial judgment of British Rail. However, I am aware that the local authorities in South Wales view with concern the changes which I understand British Rail propose to introduce in October. The Department is discussing these matters with the authorities concerned.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to provide or secure additional Government funds for the rail transport network in south-east Wales to assist the development of an infrastructure which favours the region's economy, environment and social structure.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The funding of British Rail is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. However the Welsh Office has assisted South and Mid Glamorgan councils to develop the rail infrastructure by means of additional credit approvals for projects deemed to be of regional or national importance.

  Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he is liaising with the Department of Chemical Engineering at Bath university over research into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls;

  (2) if he will fund research being carried out by the department of chemical engineering at Bath university into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department has not been approached by Bath university about research into alternative methods of disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls or for funding for such research.

  Eggs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he proposes to issue new guidelines on the use of raw shell egg as a binder material in the preparation of hamburgers or beef rissoles in public sector catering establishments.

  Mr. Grist
  No, but I shall consider the need to remind such establishments of the current guidelines.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he now proposes to ban the use of raw shell egg as a binder material in the preparation of beef rissoles or hamburgers in public sector catering establishments.

  Mr. Grist
  I have no plans to do so.

  Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that deaf people and those with communication disabilities have a statutory right to interpreters or other communication support during the assessment procedure.

  Mr. Grist
  Section 3(6) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 makes provision for a disabled person, or his authorised representative, who is unable to communicate, to be provided by the local authority with necessary services to ensure that such incapacity does not prevent the authority from discharging their functions or the making of representations by the disabled person, or his representative, under this section. In regard to the implementation of this section, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 23 July.

  Mental Illness and Handicap
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will make it his policy that no sales of land or property at existing facilities for people with mental illness shall take place until plans for full adequate alternative services for existing users have been agreed and approved;

  (2) whether he will make it his policy that no sales of land or property at existing facilities for people with mental handicap shall take place until plans for full adequate alternative services for existing users have been agreed and approved;

  (3) whether he will make it his policy that no sales of land or property at existing facilities for people with mental handicap shall take place until plans for full adequate alternative services for potential users have been agreed and approved;

  (4) whether he will make it his policy that no sales of land or property at existing facilities for people with mental illness shall take place until plans for full adequate alternative services for potential users have been agreed and approved.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend's policy, as stated in the Welsh Office mental handicap and mental illness strategies, already covers all these points.

  Health Workers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that ancillary workers are(a) recruited and (b) trained adequately to meet the shortfall on wards in Wales that will follow implementation of Project 2000 for nurse training.

  Mr. Grist
  The training and recruitment of ancillary workers is a matter for each individual health authority. However, I have made provision within the funding of Project 2000 for a contribution towards the cost of training new health care assistants to replace the lost student nurse service contribution. Health authorities have also been asked to undertake a systematic reassessment of the roles and functions of all support staff to health care professionals as part of the Care Sector Consortium's health care assistant project. This programme should be completed by September 1991.

  Road Construction
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has any plans to undertake an environmental impact assessment of all current and planned road construction programmes.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Environmental impact assessments are undertaken for all road schemes falling within the scope of EC directive 85/337.

  Community Care
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to introduce a statutory right to representation in community care services for disabled people who are unable or choose not to represent themselves.

  Mr. Grist
  Provision for the appointment of authorised representatives of disabled people and as regards their rights in relation to the provision of services for the person they represent is made in sections 1 and 2 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986. In regard to the implementation of these sections, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 23 July.

  Food Temperature Control
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish his timetable for the implementation of food temperature control regulations in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990, laid before Parliament on 18 July, will introduce temperature controls on certain foods in a staged implementation:from 1 April 1991 all foods in the controlled categories must be kept at or below 8°C (except in small delivery vehicles);
  from 1 April 1992 foods in the controlled categories in small delivery vehicles must be kept at or below 8°C; and
  from 1 April 1993 certain foods in the controlled categories must be kept at or below 5°C (except in small delivery vehicles).

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the number and proportion
  511
  of food outlets in Wales shown to be failing to meet current food temperature regulations when inspected during the past year.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available.

  Health Bodies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the names, (b) the positions and (c) the principal relevant qualifications of (i) the chairs and (ii) the members of (1) the quality working group, (2) the strategic direction implementation steering group, (3) the Welsh health planning forum and the health gain working group, the people-centred working group and the resource-effective working group, (4) the 10 health gain people-centred services panels of review, (5) the clinical resource utilisation group, (6) the Welsh advisory group on medical audit, (7) the contracts working group and (8) district audit committees.

  Mr. Grist
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Health Service Funding
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will outline the process, following implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act, whereby a service provider within a district health authority would make application to the Welsh Office for capital funding; what conditions will determine eligibility for capital funding; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made;

  (2) if he will outline the process, following the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act, whereby a service procurer or purchasing body would apply to the Welsh Office for capital funding; what conditions will determine eligibility for capital funding; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding, should an allocation be made;

  (3) if he will list the sources of capital funding that will be available to any hospital trust or any other self-governing trusts in Wales; what process of approval such trusts would have to go through following implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act in respect of such capital projects; what conditions will determine eligibility for any public contributions towards such projects; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made.

  Mr. Grist
  A paper setting out proposals for further arrangements for allocating capital funds to the health service in Wales was issued to the service for comment this week. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.

  The proposals distinguish between 'minor' capital—required for routine equipment replacement and relatively small developments—and 'major' capital—for strategically significant developments. The former would be allocated to health authorities for their discretionary use in proportion to their revenue formula shares. Authorities would be expected to use these funds to maintain and develop the services provided to their residents by hospitals with which they have contracted, including those which they do not themselves manage. The use of capital would be determined in negotiations between health
  512
  authorities and providing hospitals. The existing rules governing virement between capital and revenue would still apply, but otherwise the Department would not place any conditions on the use of these funds, although authorities would be accountable for their spending in the usual ways, and expenditure would have to be consistent with local strategies for health.

  Major capital would be allocated to specific projects according to their benefits in terms of health gain and return on investment. Health authorities or providing hospitals would be eligible to bid for these resources independently, but, in the case of hospitals, their bids would need to be supported by the potential purchasers of their services. Capital provided for major schemes would, of course, be earmarked specifically for those schemes and would form part of a centrally managed programme.

  Any NHS trusts in Wales would include the cost of the depreciation of their assets in their charges and this could then be used to fund further capital expenditure. For new developments and major equipment purchases trusts would borrow funds either from the Secretary of State or from elsewhere. The level of borrowing would be subject to an agreed financing limit which would reflect the need for working capital and investment set out in each trust's business plans. No specific conditions would be attached to a trust's borrowing limits, but trusts would be held to account for the funds borrowed and would, of course, be subject to audit.

  Medical Services
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list for each family practitioner services authority in Wales in each of the last five years(a) the total expenditure on ophthalmic services, (b) the expenditure on ophthalmic services per 10,000 registered population, (c) the number of opticians, (d) the number of opticians per 10,000 office of population censuses and surveys population, (e) the number of sight tests and (f) the number of sight tests per 10,000 office of population censuses and surveys population;

  (2) if he will list for each family practitioner services authority in Wales for each of the last five years (a) the number and percentage of general medical practitioners with consent to use a deputising service, (b) the number and percentage of night visits made by deputising services and (c) the night fees for general medical practitioners per 10,000 registered population;

  (3) if he will list for each family practitioner services authority in Wales, for each of the last five years (a) the number of practice nurses per partnership, (b) the number of practice nurses per practitioner and (c) the number of practice nurses per 10,000 registered population;

  (4) if he will list for each family practitioner services authority in Wales, for each of the last five yers (a) the total family practitioner services payments, (b) the total family practitioner services payments per 10,000 registered population, (c) the total family practitioner services administration costs, (d) the total family practitioner services administration costs per 10,000 registered population, (e) the total expenditure on general medical services and (f) the total expenditure on general medical services per 10,000 registered population;

  (5) if he will list for each family practitioner services authority in Wales, for each of the last five years (a) the total number of general medical practitioners, (b) the

  513
  number and percentage of general medical practitioners with list sizes under 1,000, (c) the number and percentage of general medical practitioners with list sizes over 2,500, (d) the number and percentage of general medical practitioners under 65 years of age practising single-handed and (e) the number of formal allocations to general medical practitioners per 10,000 registered population.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested cannot be provided in the time available. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  BISF Houses
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of tenants and owners of BISF houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I have not met representatives of tenants or owners of BISF houses. Those who are concerned about the condition of their homes should more properly approach their local authority.

  Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he has visited any local authorities who carried out pilot implementations of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986;

  (2) whether his Department has carried out any pilot implementations of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  No.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with voluntary organisations concerning the costs of implementing sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Grist
  As explained in the reply to the hon. Gentleman on 23 July, consultation is taking place with the Assembly of Welsh Counties and directors of social services in Wales about the additional costs in relation to the implementation of these sections since it is social services authorities who have responsibility for their implementation.

  GP Contract System
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received from general practitioners in Wales regarding the time taken in paperwork caused by the new general practitioner contract system; and what steps he is undertaking to minimise that paperwork;

  (2) what representations he has received from general practitioners in Wales regarding the screening and health check work required in the new contract; and if he will list all the suggestions general practitioners have made for improving that system and indicate the response to each suggestion.
  514
  Mr. Grist
  Many representations about the new contract were received in the spring and summer of 1989. Most of these covered a number of issues. Identification of those which relate to paperwork, screening and health checks is not now possible, except at disproportionate cost. There have been no recent representations on this issue.

  Welsh Language (Qualifications)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, subsequent to his promise to look into a qualification in Welsh for those pursuing the less intensive course at key stage 4, what consultations he intends to have with local education authorities and other relevant bodies; and if he will announce the timetable for such consultations.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The assessment of programme of study B in Welsh second language raises similar issues to the assessment of other non-core national curriculum foundation subjects. The School Examinations and Assessment Council has been asked to report on these issues and to offer its advice by the end of the year. We shall consider what further consultations may be necessary in the light of its advice.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest monthly and quarterly figures available to him for Wales as a whole and for each district health authority area in Wales for(a) eye tests undertaken and (b) new ophthalmic out-patient referrals; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1989.

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

  Many of the sight tests since April 1989 have been private transactions outside the national health service. Statistical information on these is not available centrally.

  (a) Sight tests paid for by family practitioner committees

  Family practitioner committee

  Six months ending:

  31 March 1989

  31 March 1990

  Clwyd

  50,117

  13,804

  Dyfed

  44,734

  14,237

  Gwent

  65,608

  18,400

  Gwynedd

  27,672

  7,888

  Mid Glamorgan

  73,776

  26,050

  Powys

  11,671

  3,665

  South Glamorgan

  70,821

  21,112

  West Glamorgan

  59,145

  16,826

  Wales

  403,544

  121,982

  (b) New out-patients seen by consultants in ophthalmology

  Quarter ending:

  Health authority

  31 December 1988

  31 December 1989

  Clwyd

  1,343

  1,267

  East Dyfed

  1,227

  1,136

  Gwent

  1,763

  2,081

  Gwynedd

  965

  1,015

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,276

  1,787

  Pembrokeshire

  386

  451

  Powys

  190

  208

  South Glamorgan

  2,260

  1,952

  West Glamorgan

  1,361

  1,518

  Wales

  10,771

  11,415

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) all the hospitals and (b) departments or wards in Wales that are either currently subject to consultation in respect of possible closure by health authorities or are under his consideration as a result of a health authority completing its consultative process.

  Mr. Grist
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Land Transactions Handbook
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales from what date the recent amendments to the land transactions handbook took effect.

  Mr. Grist
  The most recent amendment to the NHS handbook on land transactions was issued to Welsh district health authorities on 9 June 1989.

  Land Transactions Register
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has drawn to the attention of(a) South Glamorgan health authority and (b) other health authorities in Wales the recent amendments to the land transactions register.

  Mr. Grist
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman for clarification of the information he is seeking and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage increase in the incidence of(a) salmonella and (b) salmonella enteriditis in Wales in the first quarter of the current year and in (i) the first quarter of 1989 and (ii) the first quarter of 1988.

  Mr. Grist
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing(a) the number of cases of salmonella and (b) the number of cases of salmonella enteriditis in each district in Wales in each month from January 1989 up to the latest available date.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Environmental Health Officers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list(a) the total establishment of environmental health officers and (b) the number of posts filled in Wales for each of the past 10 years;

  (2) how many posts of environment health officers are currently vacant in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of local authority non-manual staff employed in environmental health in Wales for each of the last 10 years is given in the table. It is not possible to identify separately the number of environmental health officers included in this number. It is not possible to identify the total establishment of environmental health officers, or the number of vacancies centrally.
  516

  Number of non-manual staff employed in environmental health1 Total Wales

  Number

  1980

  785

  1981

  769

  1982

  748

  1983

  740

  1984

  796

  1985

  856

  1986

  822

  1987

  832

  1988

  826

  1989

  850

  1990

  2867

  1 Full-time equivalent as at March for each year.

  2 Figures for March 1990 are provisional.

  Prescribing Costs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in the case of a hospital trust or other self-governing trust offering an out-patient service on a continuing basis, all prescribing costs deriving from such a service will be met entirely from within the resources of such a trust.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today which makes it clear that the costs of drug prescribing should fall to be met by whoever has clinical responsibility for the patient concerned. NHS trusts will be in no different position in this respect from other NHS units.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will instruct family practitioner authorities to exclude from their consideration, when determining the monetary budget or prescribing amount for a particular practice or general practitioner, any sum likely to arise from the transfer of prescribing costs from hospital consultants to general practitioners in those circumstances where patients attend hospital out-patient clinics on a continuing basis and to make separate provision for such amounts.

  Mr. Grist
  Such instruction is not needed. Policy in this matter is clear. Where clinical responsibility for a patient, including the responsibility to prescribe, rests with a hospital doctor, the cost of prescribing is attributable to hospital service expenditure. Where such responsibilities are accepted by the patient's GP, the cost of prescribing is attributable to family practitioner services expenditure. The decision as to clinical responsibility in any individual case rests with the clinicians involved.

  The indicative amounts that family health service authorities will ascribe to GP practices will take account of cases where a GP has clinical responsibility for a patient whose treatment requires the prescribing of particularly high-cost medication.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that disabled people have a statutory right to(a) a written outcome of their assessment procedure, (b) make representations as to their community care needs during the assessment procedure and (c) review the outcome of the assessment.

  Mr. Grist
  We intend that from 1 April 1991 local authorities will be required to establish a procedure for
  517
  considering any representations, including any complaints, that are made to them about their discharge of responsibilities to an individual under any of their social services functions.

  In addition, section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 confers a right for disabled people or their authorised representatives to receive written statements on request following assessment and to make representations regarding assessments and their outcomes. In regard to the implementation of this section, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 23 July.

  GP Contract (Late Payments)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from general practitioners in Wales regarding late payments for their work under the new general practitioners contract; and what steps he is taking to reduce such delays.

  Mr. Grist
  None. I would expect any problems over payments to be discussed with the responsible family practioner committee.

  Project 2000
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of employees who will be needed to take the place of nurses in training in respect of ward duties once Project 2000 is implemented in each of the next five years(a) in Wales as a whole and (b) in each district health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  We have made provision to fund the staff replacement shortfall in the lost student contribution of nurse learners. The funding formula for Project 2000, which applies to each DHA in Wales, is based on a 50 per cent. student service contribution, apportioned on the basis of 50 per cent. qualified staff (Grade D), and 50 per cent. unqualified staff (Grade A); and the number of students indexed with the Welsh national board as at October 1989.

  Welsh Water (Press Release)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press releases were issued by the Welsh water authority in each of the years 1983 to 1988 and in the year 1989 up to the date of privatisation; how many were issued from the flotation date to the end of 1989; and how many have been issued by Welsh Water plc in the current year.

  Mr. Grist
  This was a matter for the Welsh water authority prior to 1 September 1990 and subsequently for Welsh Water plc.

  Slaughterhouses
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the slaughterhouses that were visited by European Community inspectors in 1989 and in 1990; if he will indicate which have had their approval suspended; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Tritium
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what regulations are relevant to the storage of Betalight components which contain tritium gas at BT Cwmcarn; and what actions have been taken to regulate such materials;

  (2) what inspections have been undertaken in the last 12 months in respect of the storing of Betalight components which contain tritium at BT Cwmcarn; and what quantities were stored at the time of such inspections.

  Mr. Grist
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

ENERGY

  Renewable Energy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current funding allocated to research projects involving renewable energy resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Just over £20 million has been set aside by my Department to fund research and development projects into sources of renewable energy in 1990–91.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the amount of coal imported to Teesside, Wearside and Tyneside for(a) each year from 1979 to 1989 and (b) each month in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Baldry
  Coal imports for these areas, listed by Customs trade port, were as follows:

  thousand tonnes

  Middlesbrough

  Hartlepool

  Sunderland

  Tyne

  1979

  941

  —

  22

  —

  1980

  1,255

  —

  13

  —

  1981

  1,175

  —

  6

  —

  1982

  735

  1

  43

  —

  1983

  708

  13

  102

  —

  1984

  1,447

  8

  23

  2

  1985

  2,352

  101

  88

  1

  1986

  2,610

  295

  243

  —

  1987

  January

  63

  15

  6

  —

  February

  283

  5

  12

  —

  March

  288

  3

  6

  —

  April

  223

  30

  9

  —

  May

  3

  10

  15

  —

  June

  200

  23

  7

  —

  July

  107

  35

  21

  —

  August

  230

  69

  4

  —

  September

  317

  35

  26

  —

  October

  239

  21

  12

  —

  November

  307

  44

  38

  —

  December

  240

  65

  43

  —

  Total1

  2,501

  354

  198

  —

  1988

  January

  136

  60

  23

  —

  February

  79

  38

  22

  —

  March

  490

  38

  37

  —

  April

  295

  14

  21

  —

  May

  343

  15

  62

  —

  June

  45

  28

  19

  —

  July

  285

  14

  31

  —

  519

  Middlesbrough

  Hartlepool

  Sunderland

  Tyne

  August

  162

  44

  48

  —

  September

  234

  18

  57

  —

  October

  143

  10

  23

  —

  November

  213

  21

  31

  —

  December

  145

  14

  43

  —

  Total1

  22,570

  314

  418

  —

  1989

  January

  103

  16

  23

  —

  February

  276

  6

  31

  —

  March

  206

  11

  38

  —

  April

  430

  5

  45

  —

  May

  176

  4

  23

  —

  June

  72

  4

  50

  —

  July

  —

  10

  10

  —

  August

  165

  2

  26

  —

  September

  457

  14

  2

  21

  October

  166

  9

  9

  —

  November

  401

  —

  17

  —

  December

  360

  8

  12

  —

  Total1

  2,812

  89

  287

  21

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (port of entry basis). Figures are for imports of hard coal. For the years 1979 to 1982 small quantities of lignite and peat may also be included.

  1 Due to rounding the sum of the constituent items may not equal the totals.

  2 Monthly figures have been adjusted to accord with a revised annual total.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if any military contract work has been undertaken by the atomic energy development establishment at Dounreay;

  (2) if the Dounreay reprocessing facility has reprocessed any fuel from the Herald reactor at Aldermaston.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Dounreay reprocessing facility reprocesses, under safeguards, all the fuel from the Herald materials test reactor (MTR) under a contract with the Ministry of Defence. Dounreay also provides waste management services to the adjacent Vulcan establishment and undertakes the post-irradiation examination of some components from that establishment, neither of which involves the MTR fuel cycle at Dounreay.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if any changes in the present safeguards regime at the atomic energy development establishment at Dounreay will be requested by the new reprocessing contracts the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is developing with reactor operators in Berlin, Madrid and Petter.

  Mr. Baldry
  No changes to safeguards would be required.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the co-operation agreement between the United States of America and United Kingdom governments, for the reprocessing at Dounreay of test reactor fuel pins.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am not aware that such an agreement exists.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations have taken place with his counterpart in the United States of America concerning matters of 520
  physical protection and travel of highly enriched uranium fuel originating in the United States of America to be reprocessed at Dounreay from reactors in Madrid, Petter and Berlin.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have had no specific consultations about this particular issue. However, physical protection and transport of nuclear materials have featured in the regular discussions of matters of common interest between officials from my Department and officials from the United States Government.

  PowerGen
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he(a) has had and (b) proposes to have with the direct electricity consumers of PowerGen about any trade sale.

  Mr. Baldry
  Consultations with PowerGen's customers are a matter for the company.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what period of time he proposes for alternative trade sale bidders to Hanson for PowerGen to emerge; and what period of time he proposes between short-listing of the qualified bidders and the final day for tenders to be received.

  Mr. Baldry
  These matters are under consideration.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on what date he, his officials, or any of his privatisation advisers first received an approach from Hanson about PowerGen.

  Mr. Wakeham
  As I told the House on 23 July at column 51, discussions on the best way to effect the private sale of PowerGen have been going on for a number of weeks.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the 12 area board chairmen regarding the sale of PowerGen.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he last met the Director General of the Office of Electricity Regulation to discuss the sale of PowerGen, and the implications for the regulatory regime of a single purchaser;

  (2) what changes he is considering to the regulatory regime in the event of a successful trade sale of PowerGen to Hanson, pursuant to his statement to the House of 23 July.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has not met the Director General of Electricity Supply to discuss the sale of PowerGen. I do not expect there to be any implications for the regulatory regime of any sale of PowerGen to a single purchaser.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the European Community's acceptance of a 15 per cent. limit on holdings in privatised electricity companies will be renegotiated in the event of the sale of PowerGen to one bidder.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government's special share proposals for the privatised electricity companies did not
  521
  require specific approval from the European Commission. As I said in the House on 23 July at column 42, if a trade sale proceeds a golden share would be inappropriate for a subsidiary. The Government believe that the public interest is better protected by a contractual provision in the sale and purchase agreement.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met Sir Michael Richardson of N.M. Rothschild to discuss the sale of PowerGen.

  Mr. Baldry
  Details of my right hon. Friend's meetings with his and the electricity industry's advisers are confidential.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the trade unions representing the work force at PowerGen regarding the trade sale proposal.

  Mr. Baldry
  Representatives of the trades unions met my right hon. Friend and me on 24 July, and raised a number of issues. My right hon. Friend reaffirmed that any new owner of PowerGen would have to take on the same obligations in respect of the work force as PowerGen has now. My right hon. Friend also confirmed that arrangements would be made for PowerGen employees to receive benefits broadly comparable to those they would have received in a public offering of the company's shares.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the board and management of PowerGen regarding the proposal for a trade sale of PowerGen.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend and I have had discussions with the chairman, chief executive and non-executive members of the board of PowerGen concerning the possible trade sale of the company. The chairman has promised the company's co-operation in taking forward the trade sale and flotation options in parallel.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will assess the implications for the United Kingdom coal mining industry of the sale of PowerGen to any company with substantial coal mining interests.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom coal mining industry has a prosperous future if it can produce coal at a competitive price. This will be the case whether or not PowerGen is sold to a company with substantial coal mining interests.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Wakeham
  There is one political adviser currently employed in and paid for by my Department, Mr. Guy Black. It is not the practice to reveal the salaries of advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential. As regards expenses, the normal civil service rules apply.
  522
  In respect of the privatisation of the electricity supply industry, two public relations advisers are retained by the Department to provide marketing and public relations advice: Dewe Rogerson, jointly with the industry; and Lowe Bell Communications. Details of their contracts are commercially confidential.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what amounts of plutonium are currently covered by international nuclear safeguards ageements worldwide.

  Mr. Baldry
  The approximate quantities of material subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreements at the end of 1989 are given in the first table on page 115 of the IAEA's annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he intends to exclude companies incorporated outside the United Kingdom in(a) other European Community countries and (b) non-European Community countries from bidding for PowerGen or National Power;

  (2) what (a) classes of company and (b) specific companies he proposes to exclude from bidding for (i) PowerGen and (ii) National Power.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has not excluded in advance any companies that may bid for PowerGen. All bidders will be considered on their merits. There is currently no proposal to sell National Power to a private purchaser.

  British Nuclear Fuels plc
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what guidelines his Department has laid down to British Nuclear Fuels plc for contract work undertaken with companies based outside the United Kingdom in reprocessing in regard to British Nuclear Fuels retaining responsibility for plutonium separated in the reprocessing; and if he will list the respects in which the guidelines differ from International Atomic Energy Agency and non-proliferation treaty safeguards.

  Mr. Baldry
  The return of plutonium arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel by British Nuclear Fuels plc to its country of origin or to any other destination is made only subject to application of safeguards and on receipt of assurances covering peaceful use, physical protection and controls on re-transfer. The guidelines for returning this material remain as set out in the statement by the then Foreign Secretary, now Lord Callaghan, on 31 March 1976 at columns 514–16, which has been reaffirmed by the Prime Minister. These guidelines ensure that the return of such plutonium is fully consistent with our international non-proliferation obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what financial targets and external financing limits have been set for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1990–91; and what the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's capital expenditure programme is to be in 1990–91.
  523
  Mr. Wakeham
  I have set the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority a financial target for 1990–91 of 4 per cent. return on net assets on a current cost basis. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's external financing limit for 1990–91 is £45 million and its capital expenditure programme £25 million.

DEFENCE

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

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Property receipts are credited to defence votes.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes have been sold by his Department since the beginning of 1989 and in the last three months; and what criteria is used in deciding to whom the properties will be disposed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  From 1 December 1988—the closest date to the beginning of 1989 for which figures are available—to 30 July 1990, 2,894 homes were sold by the Ministry of Defence, 725 of them during the last three months of that period. These figures include both married quarters and Ministry of Defence civilian houses. Surplus married quarters that are suitable for immediate individual sale are normally offered for sale to service personnel through the services discount scheme; quarters not suitable for sale in this way, for example, dwellings designated in law as "defective", flats in England and Wales, and properties with utilities below adoption standard are normally offered for sale in bulk by tender on the open market. Surplus Ministry of Defence civilian houses are normally offered for sale to the sitting tenant at the appropriate discount; vacant properties and those whose tenants do not wish to purchase are offered for sale on the open market.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy guidelines exist for his Department in dealing with empty properties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Not all empty properties are surplus to requirements. Properties are empty on occasion because they are undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work, already allocated to families due to move in shortly or held for planned troop deployments. It is our policy to dispose of all properties surplus to long-term requirements. Those that are surplus to current requirements but for which a long-term need has been identified are normally offered for short-term leasing to local authorities or housing associations when security considerations allow.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to make available properties disposed of by his Department to housing associations or local authorities.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Properties suitable for bulk disposal are normally offered for sale by tender on the open market; housing associations and local authorities are free to bid for them. On occasion we have sold 524
  properties to them direct. In addition, we are discussing with the Housing Corporation the establishment of a scheme to make MOD properties available to housing associations for subsequent sale or lease to service personnel.

  Japan (Military Expenditure)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the level of Japanese military expenditure over the last five years and on the likely trend in expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  According to recent editions of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' publication "The Military Balance", Japanese defence expenditure over the last five years was:

  (billion Yen)

  1985–86

  3·1

  1986–87

  3·3

  1987–88

  3·5

  1988–89

  3·7

  1989–90

  3·9

  Plans for Japanese defence expenditure are a matter for the Government of Japan.

  Teamwork 90
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide an estimate of the cost to his Department of United Kingdom participation in NATO exercise Teamwork 90.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Costs attributable to exercises such as Teamwork are not indentified separately and could not be calculated without disproportionate effort. As the participation of the ships, aircraft and personnel involved is consistent with their normal training activities, the additional costs of the exercise will be limited to such items as travel and subsistence allowances.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what activities will take place, and when, at(a) each RAF station involved in Scotland and (b) which Scottish waters in the NATO exercise Teamwork 90.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Current plans envisage the use of RAF bases in Scotland at Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Leuchars and Stornoway. A large number of shipping movements are planned to take place off Scotland and the Cape Wrath and Garvie Island ranges will be used. It would be inappropriate to give precise details of the timing and location of activities in the exercise, which will be held from 6 to 23 September.

  Flying Sorties
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list by(a) tactical training area and (b) Ministry of Defence ranges for the years (i) 1988, (ii) 1989 and (iii) 1990 to date, the number of flying sorties that have been carried out by military jet aircraft; and if he will show in his answer from what NATO air force they came;

  (2) if he will list by low-flying area and for the years (a) 1988, (b) 1989 and (c) for 1990 to date, the number of low-flying sorties that have been carried out by military jet aircraft, and if he will show in his answer from what North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air force they came.
  525
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It would require disproportionate cost and effort to provide the information in the detail requested. The hon. Member may however wish to refer to the statistics on low-flying sorties for years up to 1988 presented in evidence by my Department to the recent Defence Committee inquiry into low flying and published in the Committee's fifth report for the Session 1989–90 (HC 120) at page 140. The numbers of low-flying sorties carried out in the United Kingdom in 1989 and 1990 to date, on the same basis, are as follows:

  1989

  1 1990

  Total sorties

  144,323

  61,977

  Numbers by aircraft type

  Buccaneer

  2,029

  728

  F-4

  2,469

  912

  Harrier

  6,483

  2,720

  Hawk

  17,601

  7,535

  Jaguar

  7,278

  3,202

  Jet Provost

  13,797

  5,382

  Tornado

  21,741

  10,133

  A-10

  11,337

  5,358

  F-111

  11,903

  4,988

  Other aircraft including helicopters

  49,685

  21,019

  1 January to May.

  Low-flying sortie statistics are not broken down geographically, but an indication of the proportion of low-flying movements carried out in different low-flying areas appears at page 159 of the report.

  Insurance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 245, what are the reasons why insurance cover is not provided for non-military persons having flights in military aircraft; and what steps are taken to ensure that non-military persons are aware that they have no insurance cover.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  If a non-military person undertaking an air experience flight in a United Kingdom military aircraft were injured as a result of the Ministry of Defence's negligence, the individual could, under common law, pursue a claim for compensation against the Ministry. The Ministry is not insured against this eventuality, choosing to carry it as an acceptable risk. Non-military personnel are not routinely advised of the Ministry's insurance position.

  Defence Studies Centre
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding has been made available by his Department for the foundation of a centre for defence studies at King's college in the university of London.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The amount of grant will be agreed with the Ministry each year, the objective being to sustain the centre each year for up to five years with a grant equivalent to £100,000 at 1989–90 prices. The aim is that in the longer term the centre shall become financially independent of Ministry funding.

  Graduates
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion(a) graduates and (b) postgraduates in (x) pure and applied sciences, (y) engineering and
  526
  (z) computer sciences engaged by the Ministry of Defence following graduation were of all graduates and postgraduates engaged by his Department in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  From available records it is not possible to give a complete breakdown distinguishing between graduates and postgraduates for the science and engineering categories requested. To ascertain this detailed information would require a disproportionate amount of effort.

  A breakdown of science and engineering graduates entering the MOD service since 1984 and an indication of the postgraduate entry for the scientific group is as follows:

  Year

  Graduates

  Science Post graduates

  Engineers Graduates only

  1984–85

  128

  41

  83

  1985–86

  180

  55

  68

  1986–87

  242

  77

  53

  1987–88

  301

  50

  90

  1988–89

  202

  73

  130

  1989–90

  145

  48

  99

  The postgraduate entry figures represent those recruited with experience in lieu of qualifications as well as those qualified to PhD level. The postgraduate entry to the engineering service is known to be very small.

  Computer scientists are an integral part of the science entry. From an analysis of information available for 1989–90, about 6 per cent. of those engaged were computer scientists. It is a reasonable assumption that a similar proportion of computer scientists were recruited in previous years.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for each of the last five years, how many graduates have joined(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force; and what proportion of the armed services' strength this represents.

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

  Simulation Exercise
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the United Kingdom participation in the Allied Command Europe simulation military exercise held at the NATO computer centre in the Federal Republic of Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I presume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to exercise ACE 89, a NATO theatrewide command post exercise, which took place between 6 and 17 November 1989 at the United States warrior preparation centre, Einsiedlerhof in the Federal Republic of Germany. The major objective was to evaluate the ability of computer-assisted exercises to allow senior commanders and their staffs to practise air, ground and sea operations throughout Allied Command Europe, without the costs and environmental implications of putting forces in the field. In addition to those United Kingdom personnel holding NATO appointments who took part, 1 British Corps provided a response cell.

  Veteran Aircraft
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the flying accidents involving veteran aircraft owned by his Department which have occurred during the last 15 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Date

  Aircraft Type

  Description

  17 April 1985

  Sea Fury T20

  Crashed on landing at Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down

  25 May 1986

  Vampire T11/Meteor T7

  Collided in mid-air at RAF Mildenhall

  30 May 1988

  Meteor T7

  Crashed on approach to Coventry Airport

  10 June 1989

  Sea Fury FB11

  Ditched into sea near Turnberry

  14 July 1990

  Sea Fury T20

  Forced landing near Yeovilton

  Regiments
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the regiments and corps in the British Army, indicating the number of regular and Territorial Army units of that cap badge in each case.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table. Territorial Army units of the same cap badge as Regular Army units are those bearing the same name as the Regular unit. A major unit is one of battalion size or equivalent.

  The Corps and Regiments of the British Army:

  Regular Units:

  Territorial Army Units:

  1. Household Cavalry

  The Life Guards

  The Royal Yeomanry

  The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)

  The Royal Wessex Yeomanry

  2. Royal Armoured Corps.

  1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

  The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry

  The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)

  The Queen's Own Yeomanry

  4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards

  The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry

  5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

  The Queen's Own Hussars

  The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars

  9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)

  The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own)

  13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)

  14th/20th King's Hussars

  15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars

  16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers

  17th/21st Lancers

  1 Royal Tank Regiment

  2 Royal Tank Regiment

  3 Royal Tank Regiment

  4 Royal Tank Regiment

  528

  Regular Units:

  Territorial Army Units:

  3. Royal Regiment of Artillery

  22 major units

  6 major units

  4. Royal Engineers

  13 major units1

  8 major units

  5. Royal Signals

  16 major units2

  11 major units

  6. Infantry

  (a) The Guards Division

  1 Grenadier Guards

  2 Grenadier Guards

  1 Coldstream Guards

  2 Coldstream Guards

  1 Scots Guards

  2 Scots Guards

  1 Irish Guards

  1 Welsh Guards

  (b) The Scottish Division

  1 Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)

  1/52nd Lowland Volunteers

  1 Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment)

  2/52 Lowland Volunteers

  1 King's Own Scottish Borderers

  1/51st Highland Volunteers

  1 Black Watch

  2/51st Highland Volunteers

  1 Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)

  3/51st Highland Volunteers

  1 Gordon Highlanders

  1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)

  (c) The Queen's Division

  1 Queen's Regiment

  5 Queen's Regiment

  2 Queen's Regiment

  6/7; Queen's Regiment

  3 Queen's Regiment

  1 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  5 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  6 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  3 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  8 Queen's Fusiliers

  1 Royal Anglian Regiment

  5 Royal Anglian Regiment

  2 Royal Anglian Regiment

  6 Royal Anglian Regiment

  3 Royal Anglian Regiment

  7 Royal Anglian Regiment

  (d) The King's Division

  1 King's Own Border Regiment

  4 King's Own Border Regiment

  1 King's Regiment

  ⅝ King's Regiment

  1 Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorks

  1 Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)

  1 Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th)

  4 Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th)

  2 Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th)

  5 Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th)

  1 Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  4 Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  1 Duke of Wellington's Regiment

  1 Yorkshire Volunteers

  2 Yorkshire Volunteers

  3 Yorkshire Volunteers

  4 Yorkshire Volunteers

  (e) The Prince of Wales's Division

  1 Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  4 Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  1 Cheshire Regiment

  3 Cheshire Regiment

  1 Royal Welch Fusiliers

  3 Royal Welch Fusiliers

  1 Royal Regiment of Wales

  3 Royal Regiment of Wales

  4 Royal Regiment of Wales

  1 Gloucestershire Regiment

  1 Worcestershire and Sherwood Forester Regiment

  3 Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  529

  Regular Units:

  Territorial Army Units:

  4 Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  1 Royal Hampshire Regiment

  1 Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)

  3 Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)

  1 Duke of Edinburgh's Royal

  1 Wessex Regiment

  Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire)

  2 Wessex Regiment

  (f) The Light Division

  1 Light Infantry

  5 Light Infantry

  2 Light Infantry

  6 Light Infantry

  3 Light Infantry

  7 Light Infantry

  8 Light Infantry

  1 Royal Green Jackets

  4 Royal Green Jackets

  2 Royal Green Jackets

  5 Royal Green Jackets

  3 Royal Green Jackets

  (g) The Brigade of Gurkhas

  1 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles

  1 2nd King Edward VII's own Gurkha Rifles

  6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles

  7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles

  10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles

  (h) The Parachute Regiment

  1 Parachute Regiment

  4 Parachute Regiment

  2 Parachute Regiment

  10 Parachute Regiment

  3 Parachute Regiment

  15 Parachute Regiment

  7. The Special Air Service

  1 major unit

  2 major units

  8. The Honourable Artillery Company

  1 major unit

  9. Other Corps

  Army Air Corps

  4 major units3

  Royal Army Chaplains Department

  Royal Corps of Transport

  15 major units4

  12 major units

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  22 major units

  29 major units

  Royal Army Ordnance Corps

  19 major units

  Royal Electricial and Mechanical Engineers

  22 major units

  Royal Military Police

  3 major units

  Royal Army Pay Corps

  Army PVR figures 1983 1st quarter 1990 1st quarter

  Male Officers

  Female Officers

  Servicemen

  Servicewomen

  Total

  1983

  1st quarter

  69

  2

  417

  19

  507

  2nd quarter

  162

  3

  424

  17

  606

  3rd quarter

  146

  6

  503

  19

  674

  4th quarter

  130

  5

  563

  21

  719

  1984

  1st quarter

  83

  2

  569

  23

  677

  2nd quarter

  171

  7

  585

  18

  781

  3rd quarter

  153

  8

  637

  24

  822

  4th quarter

  155

  8

  700

  21

  884

  1985

  1st quarter

  128

  9

  730

  19

  886

  2nd quarter

  210

  9

  658

  24

  901

  530

  Regular Units:

  Territorial Army Units:

  Royal Army Veterinary Corps

  Small Arms School Corps

  Military Provost Staff Corps

  1 major unit

  Royal Army Educational Corps

  Royal Army Dental Corps

  Royal Pioneer Corps

  Intelligence Corps

  4 major units

  1 major unit

  Army Physical Training Corps

  Army Catering Corps

  4 major units

  1 major unit

  Army Legal Corps

  General Service Corps

  Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

  Women's Royal Army Corps

  1 major unit

  1 Includes Queen's Ghurka Engineers.

  2 Includes Queen's Ghurka Signals.

  3 Includes one TA squadron.

  4 Includes Ghurka Transport Regiment.

  Manpower Shortages
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the shortfalls in manning for the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, listed by officers and other ranks, at the latest available date.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Shortfalls in service manpower are measured by comparing adult trained strengths against trained manpower requirements. As at 31 March 1990, shortfalls were:

  Royal Navy—170 officers and 1,293 servicemen/women

  Royal Marines—202 servicemen

  Army—447 officers and 4,839 servicemen/women

  Royal Air Force—371 officers and 5,718 servicemen/women

  Premature Voluntary Release
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the figures for premature voluntary release from the Army and Royal Air Force for the period 1983 to 1990 by quarter, in the form of the reply of 18 May 1989,Official Report, column 275–76;

  (2) what are the figures for premature voluntary release from the Army for the fourth quarter of 1989 and any quarters of 1990 for which figures are available now, in the form of the reply of 18 May 1989, Official Report, column 275–76.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the tables:
  531

  Male Officers

  Female Officers

  Servicemen

  Servicewomen

  Total

  3rd quarter

  167

  4

  769

  22

  962

  4th quarter

  190

  15

  779

  36

  1,020

  1986

  1st quarter

  128

  6

  686

  28

  848

  2nd quarter

  209

  6

  570

  38

  823

  3rd quarter

  188

  7

  580

  28

  803

  4th quarter

  136

  6

  807

  36

  985

  1987

  1st quarter

  116

  7

  618

  30

  771

  2nd quarter

  194

  11

  791

  35

  1,031

  3rd quarter

  173

  9

  749

  29

  960

  4th quarter

  178

  12

  839

  34

  1,063

  1988

  1st quarter

  120

  7

  861

  42

  1,030

  2nd quarter

  173

  7

  929

  29

  1,138

  3rd quarter

  208

  11

  912

  36

  1,167

  4th quarter

  154

  3

  1,024

  24

  1,205

  1989

  1st quarter

  103

  9

  1,042

  27

  1,181

  2nd quarter

  194

  11

  1,051

  32

  1,288

  3rd quarter

  238

  11

  1,018

  26

  1,293

  4th quarter

  138

  4

  990

  22

  1,154

  1990

  1st quarter

  142

  6

  1,002

  22

  1,172

  Royal Air Force PVR figures 1983 1st quarter-1990 1st quarter

  Male Officers

  Female Officers

  Servicemen

  Servicewomen

  Total

  1983

  1st quarter

  75

  10

  248

  123

  456

  2nd quarter

  73

  10

  248

  122

  453

  3rd quarter

  62

  8

  192

  111

  373

  4th quarter

  58

  7

  176

  95

  336

  1984

  1st quarter

  92

  12

  277

  133

  514

  2nd quarter

  109

  10

  428

  135

  682

  3rd quarter

  79

  7

  348

  71

  505

  4th quarter

  55

  6

  371

  115

  547

  1985

  1st quarter

  109

  12

  414

  100

  635

  2nd quarter

  90

  10

  434

  137

  671

  3rd quarter

  88

  11

  374

  107

  580

  4th quarter

  58

  8

  487

  123

  676

  1986

  1st quarter

  61

  12

  460

  109

  642

  2nd quarter

  74

  11

  457

  129

  671

  3rd quarter

  87

  11

  370

  122

  590

  4th quarter

  64

  13

  355

  121

  553

  1987

  1st quarter

  89

  11

  362

  132

  594

  2nd quarter

  99

  13

  446

  162

  720

  3rd quarter

  63

  7

  422

  108

  600

  4th quarter

  48

  6

  483

  122

  659

  1988

  1st quarter

  91

  10

  509

  128

  738

  2nd quarter

  92

  21

  694

  146

  953

  3rd quarter

  76

  11

  649

  127

  863

  4th quarter

  54

  4

  897

  139

  1,094

  1989

  1st quarter

  101

  15

  975

  155

  1,246

  2nd quarter

  70

  13

  879

  184

  1,146

  3rd quarter

  107

  16

  754

  140

  1,017

  4th quarter

  67

  11

  644

  149

  871

  532 533

  Male Officers

  Female Officers

  Servicemen

  Servicewomen

  Total

  1990

  1st quarter

  103

  12

  705

  140

  960

  Nuclear Test Verification
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in verification research in regard to nuclear testing since March.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government continue a programme of verification research as part of the United Kingdom's contribution to the work of the ad hoc group of scientific experts at the conference on disarmament in Geneva. This group last met in March and meets again at the end of this month. Work in the interim has concentrated on preparations for a technical trial (GSETT-2) involving the exchange of seismic data.

  Queen Mother (90th Birthday Flypast)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the military flying parade over central London to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen Mother; and what assessment was made of the risks posed in flying vintage planes over London in the display.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The three services have a funded allocation of flying hours for training and display purposes, and the flypast to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen Mother was covered by these allocations. There were therefore no additional costs to the defence budget.

  The risks involved in flying vintage aircraft over London were considered most carefully. Given that all the pilots involved were fully operational squadron pilots with extensive flying experience, and that the aircraft are maintained to the highest standards, the risks were assessed to be minimal.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he, his Ministers or officials of his Department have raised the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the nuclear non-proliferation review conference during meetings with defence Ministers and officials abroad in the past month.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Nuclear proliferation and the non-proliferation treaty are kept under continual scrutiny by Ministers and officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence. We are active, at various levels, in encouraging non-parties to accede to the treaty, and will play a full part in the proceedings at the 1990 NPT review conference.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals in regard to nuclear materials management and security have been prepared by his Department for the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in August.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 9 May 1990 at column 181.

  Military Equipment (Exports)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of alleged breaches of legislation that regulates the export of lethal and non-lethal military equipment by Euroean and north American companies.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This is a matter for the Government of the country or countries concerned.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any restrictions on the export of non-lethal defence equipment to(a) Iran, (b) Iraq, (c) Libya and (d) Guatemala.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All exports of defence equipment are considered on a case-by-case basis. In addition, there are guidelines in respect of Iran and Iraq announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 29 October 1985 at column 450, and the United Kingdom has had an embargo on all new defence sales to Libya since May 1984.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his department makes of the legislation of European and north American Governments that regulates the export of lethal and non-lethal military equipment.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This is a matter for the Government of the country concerned. There are, in addition, international fora in which these matters are discussed.

  Redundancies
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for making redundancy payments to(a) his Department's civilian staff and (b) service personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The arrangements for making redundancy payments to civilian staff in the Ministry of Defence are contained in the rules of the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS). These provide for benefits according to age, length of qualifying service and rate of pay at the time of redundancy. In the unlikely event that the benefits payable under the PCSPS amount to less than the statutory provision, staff may receive a special payment to bring them up to the level paid under the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

  The arrangements for making redundancy payments to service personnel are determined in the light of the circumstances at the time when reductions of this kind become necessary. Under the terms that have applied in redundancy exercises in recent years, personnel have, in addition to the normal benefits which would be awarded in respect of service given, received tax-free lump sums to compensate for premature termination of career. Personnel who have not yet completed the minimum service normally necessary to qualify for an immediate pension, but who have completed at leat 12 years' reckonable service, have also been awarded an immediate

  535
  pension which is proportionate to the service given. These terms would not necessarily apply to any future redundancy scheme.

  Military Training
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legislation regulates the provision of military training by British companies to foreign military forces.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  When such training might involve the release of United Kingdom classified information, it would be covered by the Official Secrets Acts 1911–1989.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the scale of force reductions that could result from a second round of conventional disarmament talks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO is committed to seeking further limitations on the offensive capabilities of conventional armed forces in Europe beyond those currently under negotiation at the CFE talks in Vienna, including limitations on military manpower. The high-level task force is tasked with examining what could be done; it would be premature to speculate as to the outcome.

  Cancellation Charges
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cancellation charges are attached to the contracts for production and development of(a) the Chieftain replacement, (b) the first auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel, (c) the first type 2400 submarine, (d) the Rapier field standard C missile, (e) the Trigat medium-range anti-tank missile, (f) the Trigat long-range anti-tank missile, (g) the naval version of the EH101, (h) the multiple launch rocket system phase III, (i) the advanced short-range air-to-air missile, (j) the NATO identification system and (k) the joint tactical information distribution system.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Defence contracts usually contain provisions for a contractor to be paid for work done up to the date of cancellation and reasonable additional costs arising from the cancellation. The actual payments made to a contractor in the event of a cancellation would vary accordingly to the circumstances.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ships by ownership and type will be carrying chemical weapons from Nordenham to Johnson Island in the Pacific.

  Mr. Tom King
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

  Defence Arms Control Unit
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the current number and (b) the grades or ranks of staff attached to the defence arms control unit.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The defence arms control unit consists of 18 civilian and military posts in London; in 536
  addition, there are four posts attached to the United Kingdom's delegations in Vienna and Geneva, three military and one civilian. The posts, by grade/rank and location, are as follows:

  London

  1 x Assistant Secretary (Grade 5)

  1 x Colonel

  3 x Principals (Grade 7)

  3 x Lt. Colonel (one detached to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

  1 x Wing Commander

  1 x Higher Executive Officer

  3 x Executive Officers

  1 x Administrative Officer

  2 x Administrative Assistants

  1 x Personal Secretary

  1 x Typist

  Vienna

  1 x Brigadier

  1 x Group Captain

  1 x Personal Secretary

  Geneva

  1 x Colonel

  Equipment (Unit Costs)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it became Government practice not to provide declassified information on the unit costs of equipment.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) on 14 January 1988 at column 373.

  Military Forces (Expenditure)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 23 July, what is the approximate total expenditure reduction that has resulted from the interim measures that have already been implemented to alter the readiness of British military forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is too early to calculate what reduction in United Kingdom defence expenditure might result from the recently implemented interim measures to alter the readiness of some alliance forces; although we estimate that it will not be substantial.

  Service Units (Running Costs)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library whatever information is available on the average annual running cost of(a) the defence arms control unit, (b) the Directorate General Information Technology Systems, (c) the equipment accounting centre, (d) the Royal Naval supply and transport service, (e) the Royal Corps of Signals, (f) the Royal Corps of Transport, (g) the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, (h) the Army Catering Corps, (i) the Royal Pioneer Corps, (j) the Royal Army Education Corps, (k) the Royal Army Medical Services, (l) the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, (m) the Army Physical Training Corps, (n) the Royal Army Chaplains' Department, (o) the General Service Corps, (p) the Royal Army Pay Corps, (q) the Women's Royal Army Corps, (r) the Royal Military academy Sandhurst, and (s) the Royal Military school of music.
  537
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The figure for the average annual running cost of the corps and other organisations listed by the hon. Gentleman is not held in the form required and could be given only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy regarding the release of information on the average annual running costs of service units.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information on the running cost of service units, as on other subjects, is given freely, provided it can be made available in the form required without disproportionate cost and without compromising security.

  Peacekeeping Operations (Training)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training in peacekeeping operations is given to(a) non-commissioned officers and (b) officers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Peacekeeping is one of the subjects covered in general training provided for all commissioned and some non-commissioned officers. Individuals and units to be deployed on specific peacekeeping operations receive further training and briefing appropriate to their tasks and the location and conditions in which they will be serving.

  Household Division
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 23 July, whether the London tourist board has ever provided any financial assistance to assist the Household Division in carrying out its ceremonial duties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Service Personnel
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate average number of service personnel attached to each(a) armoured regiment, (b) armoured reconnaissance regiment, (c) artillery regiment, (d) engineer regiment, (e) infantry battalion, (f) Gurkha battalion, (g) Army Air Corps regiment, (h) Tornado GR1 squadron, (i) Harrier squadron, (j) Jaguar squadron, (k) Nimrod squadron, (l) Tornado F3 squadron, (m) Phantom FGR2 squadron, (n) Hercules squadron, (o) VC1O squadron, (p) Fleet class submarine, (q) Oberon class submarine, (r) anti-submarine warfare carrier, (s) assault ship, (t) type 42 destroyer, (u) type 22 frigate, (v) type 21 destroyer, and (w) Leander class frigate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men, of what rank and age, left the armed services in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested. Statistics on outflow by age in 1989 and of outflow by rank in 1989–90 will be available shortly, at which point my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to my hon. Friend. To provide statistics by rank and age would entail disproportionate cost.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There is only one non-civil servant employed to advise Ministers within the Ministry of Defence. He is Mr. Keith Simpson, who is special adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence. It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of individual advisers, as these are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential. Mr. Simpson is entitled to normal civil service rates of travel expenses and subsistence allowances. In addition, he may be provided with secretarial assistance.

  Public relations advice to Ministers in the Department is provided by the chief of public relations and his staff. There are no public relations advisers in the Ministry of Defence paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government.

  Trident
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what dates GEC, Plessey, Rolls-Royce, Tarmac and Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. are likely to complete their contracts on the British Trident programme.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  These companies are involved with a very large number of Trident-related contracts. Their forecast completion dates extend over a significant period, and a number will not complete until the late 1990s.

  HMS Invincible
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the mayors and officials of London boroughs who were invited to functions connected with the visit of HMS Invincible to London in June.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the charity banquet held aboard HMS Invincible by the White Ensign Association. Invitations for this function were issued by the association and it is not for me to comment on its guest list.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the purposes of the visit by HMS Invincible to London in June.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Invincible's visit to London was a normal port visit providing rest and recreation to the ship's crew. While in London the ship was able to provide a venue for a charity banquet organised by the White Ensign Association.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by college, all those research projects funded by his Department currently under way in each of the Welsh university colleges.
  539
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not our policy to provide details of individual research arrangements.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts and agreements currently exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to the verification of arms control treaties by seismology.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The MOD has no contracts or agreements for seismology research. There are arrangements for the acquisition of seismological data for research purposes.

  Nuclear Submarines (Tilbury)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from(a) the port of Tilbury authorities and (b) Thurrock borough council in respect of the possible use of the port of Tilbury by Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. I have nothing further to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon) on 5 May 1989 at column 277.

  Royal Navy Vessels (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of all Royal Navy vessels which have visited the port of London since 1 January 1989, giving their date of arrival, date of departure and details of moorings.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all open days, by ship, which have taken place on Royal Navy ships visiting London since 1 January 1986.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Records of days on which HM ships are open to the general public are not kept. However, the Ministry of Defence is unaware of any such open days held in the port of London in the period specified.

  Defence Byelaws
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the application of defence byelaws to footpaths and common land.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Byelaws made under section 14(1) of part II of the Military Lands Act 1892 can interfere with highways only in exceptional circumstances, such as when the subject land includes a range danger area. The Secretary of State for Defence is then empowered to make byelaws which, given the consent of the responsible highways authority, can temporarily divert or restrict the use of highways and stop up or divert footpaths crossing or running inconveniently or dangerously close to such land. As for common land, no byelaws may be made under section 14(1) of part II of the Military Lands Act 1892 which take away or prejudicially affect any right of common.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all military lands byelaws made by his Department that cover common land.
  540
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: A recent review of our records suggests that the following byelaws made under the Military Lands Act 1892 cover areas of common land in use for military purposes:

  RAF Greenham Common Byelaws 1985

  Sennybridge Training Area Byelaws 1974

  RAF Fylingdales Byelaws 1987

  The Warcop Principal Training Area Byelaws 1981

  Surrey Commons Military Lands Byelaws 1978

  Aldershot and District Military Lands Byelaws 1976

  Willsworthy Range Byelaws 1980

  Okehampton Range Byelaws 1980

  Merrivale Range Byelaws 1979

  Strensall Common Byelaws 1972

  Press Officers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are a total of 221 posts on the strength of the defence public relations staffs. These include staff in the single service command headquarters and in central staffs in the MOD. Latest available figures show there to be 207 staff in post and 14 vacancies. These figures include administrative support staff.

  International Military Services Ltd.
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which International Military Services Ltd. has traded since its inception; and if he will outline the extent to which its trading activity is supervised by officials of his Department.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Although a wholly owned MOD company, IMS Ltd. operates, like any other company, on a commercial basis. It has, however, been the policy of successive Administrations not to give details of defence export business with specific countries.

  Nerve Gas
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his oral answer of 17 July,Official Report, column 850, if he is now able to provide the information on the date of the proposed movement of stocks of nerve gas from Nordenham through the English channel and the contingency plans which exist in case of accident.

  Mr. Tom King
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Government Spending
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table restating table B2 of Cm. 1021 on the basis of the 1989 White Paper's departmental groupings.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table analysing at sub-programme level the classification changes and other

  541
  changes underlying table B2 of Cm. 1021's summary of the differences between the 1989 White Paper's plans for 1989–90, together with parallel figures for the difference between the 1989 White Paper's plans for 1989–90 and the latest available outturn figures for that year.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Taxpayers
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) working and (b) non-working people do not pay tax.

  Mr. Ryder
  Available estimates for 1990–91 are given in the table. They are based on a projection of the 1987 family expenditure survey and are provisional.

  Single people and married couples not liable to tax in 1990–91

  millions

  Single people:

  in employment

  1·0

  out of employment

  6·5

  Married couples:

  Both in employment

  0·2

  one partner in employment

  0·5

  neither partner in employment

  2·4

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current estimated cost to his Department in 1990–91 of tax relief on private medical insurance; how many people benefit; and what proportion of these are estimated already to have private medical insurance.

  Mr. Ryder
  Tax relief on private medical insurance for the over-60s is estimated to cost about £40 million in 1990–91. This estimate is based on the assumption that about 600,000 individuals with 330,000 policies will benefit. It is also assumed that about 90 per cent. of these initial beneficiaries already have private medical insurance.

  Savings
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much a person would have to have in savings at current interest rates to generate income of(a) £3,000 per year and (b) £5,000 per year; how many people have savings at these levels; and how many of them are pensioners.

  Mr. Ryder
  Savings of £20,450 and a gross interest rate of 11 per cent., the current rate of return on a 90 day building society investment account of between £10,000 and £25,000, would yield income of £2,250 in 1990–91, the equivalent of £3,000 gross to a basic rate taxpayer. The corresponding level of savings for an income of £5,000 gross would be £32,600 with a gross interest rate of 11·5 per cent.

  Estimates of the number of people with investment income (including interest on savings) of (a) more than £3,000 and (b) more than £5,000, in 1990–91 are given in the table.
  542

  Gross investment income, 1990–91 £

  Aged under 65 (millions)

  Aged 65 and over (millions)

  Total (millions)

  More than £3,000

  1·5

  1·1

  2·6

  More than £5,000

  0·9

  0·7

  1·6

  Estimates are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are provisional. These estimates are subject to a large degree of uncertainty since some investment income on which tax is deducted at source is not reflected in the survey.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to his Department in mortgage tax relief of(a) a 1 per cent. increase in mortgage lending rates, (b) the cumulative cost since mortgage rates began to rise in June 1988, up to the end of 1989–90 and (c) the estimated cost in 1990–91.

  Mr. Maples
  An increase of 1 percentage point in the current level of mortgage interest rates would increase the annual cost of mortgage interest relief by about £550 million. The estimated additional cost of mortgage interest relief, resulting from the increases in mortgage rates above their 10 per cent. level of June 1988, was £2·8 billion up to the end of 1989–90. The cost will to a large extent have been offset by an increase in the tax yield on interest from deposits. The cost of relief in 1990–91 is estimated to be about £8 billion, taking the conventional assumption that interest rates remain at their current levels.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the Inland Revenue rules on the proposals by companies and pension funds seeking to encourage members to transfer their share of assets from the protection of a closed pension fund to an open fund.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are no Inland Revenue rules on this subject.

  Cereals (Import Levy)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the highest import levy on wheat in the last 12 months; and what is the import levy on wheat on the most recent convenient date.

  Mr. Ryder
  In the period 25 July 1989 to 24 July 1990 the highest rate of import levy on wheat (CN Codes 10 01 10 10 and 10 01 10 90) was £137·5144 per metric tonne.

  The levy rate at 24 July 1990 was £103·0138 per metric tonne.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the import levy on maize at the latest convenient date and what has been the highest import levy on maize in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Ryder
  The import levy on maize (CN Code 10 05 90 00) at 24 July 1990 was £103·4049 per metric tonne. This levy rate was the highest in the period 25 July 1989 to to 24 July 1990.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of properties suitable for residential use and administered by the Crown estate (i) empty for more than six months, (ii) empty for more than one year and (iii) the location of these properties in terms of the region and local authority area.

  Mr. Major
  I understand from the Crown Estate that of the properties administered by them that are suitable for residential use, 2·14 per cent. have been empty for more than six months and 3·63 per cent. have been empty for more than 12 months. These figures reflect both the slow-down in the residential market, and properties awaiting planned modernisation.

  The properties are located as follows:
  (a) regionally in Scotland, the North East, the East and West Midlands, the East, London, the South East and the South West.
  (b) by local authority area in Moray, Stirling, Holderness, Huntingdon South and North Kesteven, South Holland, Hinkley/Bosworth, South Staffordshire, Huntingdon, City of Westminster, Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Windsor and Maidenhead, Hastings, Weymouth and Portland, Tunbridge Wells, Rother, Kingston, Elmbridge, West Somerset and Kennet.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table, showing for each nationalised industry privatised over the period 1979 to 1990 or in course of being privatised(a) the date of the original ministerial announcement of impending privatisation, (b) the date of publication of a White Paper or comparable document, (c) the date of publication of the relevant Bill, (d) the date on which Royal Assent was given and (e) the date of the actual privatisation;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing, for each nationalised industry, public corporation, trading fund or Government-owned company sold since 1979 (a) the fees and commissions paid by Government Departments to merchant bankers, solicitors, underwriters, advertising agencies, and like advisers and expenditure, (b) the estimated cost of Government and civil service manpower on these activities, (c) the comparable expenditure on fees and commissions paid by the said enterprises, (d) the estimated cost of enterprise time on these activities, (e) the asset value, at both historic and current cost, at the last balance sheet date prior to the sale, (f) the gross proceeds of the sale and (g) net sales proceeds to the Exchequer;

  (3) if he will publish a table showing, for each nationalised industry, public corporation, trading fund or Government-owned company sold since 1979 (a) the name of the enterprise and the date of the sale, (b) the number of founding shareholders, (c) the number of shareholders at successive anniversaries of sale, or at the nearest available date, (d) the proportion of shares at each date held by the largest 10, 50 and 100 private shareholders and (e) the proportion of shares initially retained by the Government, and the date and percentages of subsequent disposals.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
  544
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of subsidies paid in 1978–79 to companies privatised since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The companies privatised since 1979 received subsidies of £19 million in 1978–79. This excludes capital grants and public dividend capital which, as they are not payments for current expenditure, do not fall within the national accounts or public expenditure survey definition of subsidy.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 18 July,Official Report, column 590, how much British Gas Employee Share Trustees Ltd., would have saved if the shares in British Gas had been sold to them at a price equivalent to that at which they were sold to S. G. Warburgs.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The price at which shares were sold to British Gas Employees Share Trustees Ltd. was halfway between that at which they would otherwise have had to buy in the market and the price achieved by the Treasury in the bought deal with Warburgs. Both sides therefore benefited equally from the sale to the extent of some £300,000.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each nationalised industry, public corporation, trading fund or Government-owned company sold since 1979 in cases where a golden share existed at the time of sale(a) the name of the enterprise and the date of the sale, (b) the principal eventualities against which that golden share was designed to safeguard, (c) the expiry date and the date on which the golden share has been retired and (d) restrictions on the size of shareholdings, or on the nationality of shareholders, including how these have changed over time; and if he will place in the Library copies of relevant documentation under (b), (c) and (d).

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have today placed in the Library details of the Government's special shares in privatised companies. The memorandum and articles of association of the relevant companies may be obtained from Companies House or the companies themselves.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table for 1989–90 outturn and 1990–91 year to date, comparable with table 21.5.13 of Cm. 1021.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Outturn figures for net privatisation proceeds in 1989–90 are given in the table. Figures for 1990–91 will be reported in the usual way. The target for net proceeds in 1990–91 is £5 billion.

  Net privatisation proceeds 1989–90

  Company

  £ million

  British Gas plc—redemption of debt

  800

  British Petroleum plc—sale of shares (third instalment)

  1,367

  British Steel plc—sale of shares (second instalment)

  1,285

  British Telecommunications plc—loanstock

  92

  Forestry Commission

  14

  Rover

  150

  Short Brothers

  30

  Water plcs—sale of shares

  493

  545

  Company

  £ million

  Miscellaneous1

  -7

  Total

  4,224

  1 Includes expenses which cannot be netted off the associated sale because they arose in a financial year in which there were no proceeds from the sale.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish(a) a table of financial targets published for the nationalised electricity, gas, telecommunications and water industries in the period 1978 to 1990, indicating both revisions and outturns against targets and (b) a similar table for external financing limits.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  To provide a table with all the information requested would involve disproportionate cost. Some of this information is, however, readily available in public expenditure White Papers, cash limit outturn White Papers and the individual industries' annual reports and accounts.

  Civil Service Pay
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 July,Official Report, column 461, if he will list the reduction in pay levels in home civil service pay to take account of pensions in each of the years (a) 1960, (b) 1964, (c) 1969, (d) 1971, (e) 1973, (f) 1974 and (g)

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

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost to the Exchequer of mortgage interest relief at current interest rates and (b) the proportion of those paying national insurance contributions having a mortgage.

  Mr. Maples
  In 1990–91 the estimated cost of mortgage interest relief is about £8 billion. An estimated 48 per cent. of those paying national insurance contributions have a mortgage.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage proportion of the total yield of income tax in the year 1989–90, or the latest available year, accounted for by(a) taxpayers at the top rate of 40 per cent., and (b) taxpayers at the standard rate with gross incomes broadly equivalent to half, one, one and half, two and three times average earnings.

  Mr. Major
  It is estimated that in 1990–91 the income tax liability of higher rate taxpayers will represent 35 per cent. of total income tax liability. The percentage of total tax liability resulting from basic rate taxpayers with gross incomes broadly equivalent to half, one, one and a half, two and three times average earnings would depend on the size of the income bands assumed.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the yield in a full year under the tax regime applying in the latest available year, if the top tax rate of 40 per cent. had been raised to 100 per cent. on the 546
  assumption that those with incomes liable to taxation at 40 per cent. had taken no precautionary or offsetting steps to mitigate the extra impost.

  Mr. Major
  The yield in a full year at 1990–91 levels of income of increasing the top rate of income tax from 40 per cent. to 100 per cent. is estimated to be just under £18 billion.

  The estimate takes no account of any behavioural effects that might result from such an increase.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Major
  The Economic and Finance Council met in Brussels on 23 July. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Italian presidency outlined its objectives for the Council over the next six months. These will include preparation for the forthcoming intergovernmental conference on EMU, progress in the investment services, money laundering and capital adequacy directives, agreement on VAT and excise systems by the end of the year with a further discussion of the coverage of VAT rates, a further effort to strengthen mutual assistance in direct taxation, discussion of taxation in relation to the environment and transport, and consideration of a revision of the financial perspectives to take account of German unification. Economic and monetary union was discussed and I outlined our proposals for progress beyond stage one. It was agreed that these should be remitted to the monetary committee for further study. The German Finance minister, Herr Waigel, gave a short report on German economic, monetary and social union. The President of the Commission, Mr. Delors, gave an account of his recent visit to the Soviet Union.

  The Council had an exchange of views on the Commission's latest proposals for VAT systems and for raising travellers' allowances. The Council will return to these subjects in October. The Commission asked for further discussion of excise rates at the October meeting and promised to table proposals on excise systems and structures before the end of September.

  Finally a convention was signed which will provide a mechanism for solving transfer pricing disputes between tax authorities. This formed part of the package of three tax measures to encourage cross border co-operation which was agreed at the meeting of the Council on 11 June.

  Tax Inspectors
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the amount of revenue brought in by each tax inspector in a year; and what is their average salary.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The receipts for inspectors of taxes cannot be separately identified. Taking all Inland Revenue employees, excluding valuation office staff not employed on taxes work, the tax receipts per employee for the year 1988–89—the most recent year for which figures are available—amounted to £1·12 million per head, with an additional £474,000 per head in national insurance contributions collected. For that year, the average salary of Inland Revenue staff was about £10,500.

  Tax and National Insurance
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average individual cumulative gain(a) in current prices and (b) in 1990–91 prices to those earning (i) £5,000, (ii) £10,000, (iii) £15,000, (iv) £20,000,
  (v) £25,000, (vi) £30,000, (vii) £40,000, (viii) £50,000, (ix) £60,000 and (x) £70,000 as a result of changes in taxation and national insurance since 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: Estimates of the annual change in liability resulting from the changes in income tax rates, allowances, and thresholds and national insurance contribution rates and limits are in the table. The estimates are based on a provisional 1990–91 income base projected from the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes. National insurance contribution limits for 1978–79 have been indexed by the change in the RPI between October 1977 and October 1989. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1990–91 levels by reference to the statutory formula and allowing for independent taxation. The comparisons shown in the table between these indexed regimes and the 1990–91 tax and NIC regimes therefore reflect budgetary changes in rates and allowances, but not (i) any changes since 1978–79 in the definition of the income tax base nor (ii) the introduction of independent taxation.

  For the purposes of these calculations, the indexed 1978–79 income tax and NIC regimes have been directly applied to the 1990–91 income base. In practice, retention of these regimes, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Average reduction in income tax and national insurance contributions per individual1 in 1990–91 compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Range of individual's income in 1990–91 (£)

  Average reduction at 1990–91 prices (£)

  Under 5,000

  170

  5,000 to 10,000

  340

  10,000 to 15,000

  520

  15,000 to 20,000

  640

  20,000 to 25,000

  890

  25,000 to 30,000

  1,310

  30,000 to 40,000

  1,990

  40,000 to 50,000

  3,790

  50,000 to 60,000

  6,720

  1984–85 £ million

  1985–86 £ million

  1986–87 £ million

  1987–88 £ million

  1988–89 £ million

  Grants in aggregate Exchequer finance

  13,320

  13,230

  14,130

  15,170

  15,623

  Other grants

  6,250

  6,575

  7,203

  7,575

  7,235

  Rates (net of all rebates)

  12,953

  13,881

  15,702

  17,120

  18,904

  Trading surpluses, interest and dividend

  1,188

  1,210

  1,355

  1,407

  1,690

  Rents

  2,871

  3,089

  3,055

  3,042

  3,006

  Borrowing from central Government (PWLB)

  3,329

  5,752

  5,723

  4,089

  4,941

  Borrowing from other sources

  -943

  -4,078

  -5,574

  -2,801

  -4,492

  Other receipts

  -379

  -243

  408

  -984

  -140

  Total income

  38,589

  39,416

  42,002

  44,618

  46,767

  The footnotes in table 21.4.13 of Cm. 1021 still apply except that "other grants" excludes the repayment of VAT and "other receipts" excludes the imputed income from non-trading capital.

  As for a territorial breakdown I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his previous question about table 21.4.13.
  548

  Range of individual's income in 1990–91 (£)

  Average reduction at 1990–91 prices (£)

  60,000 to 70,000

  10,110

  Over 70,000

  31,690

  Total

  760

  1 Individuals paying either income tax or NIC under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report tables for the financing of local authority expenditure separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are directly comparable with the United Kingdom table printed as table 21.4.13 of Cm 1021.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Data are not held in a form which allows the disaggregation of table 21.4.13 of Cm 1021 across territories. Consequently it is not possible to provide analyses directly comparable to this table except at excessive cost. However, much of the information requested is contained in a slightly different form in:

  i. Local Government Financial Statistics England

  ii. Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics

  iii. Welsh Local Government Financial Statistics

  iv. Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics

  These are published annually by the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland respectively and are obtainable from the Library.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report tables for the financing of local authority expenditure in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, in a form comparable to table 21.4.13 of Cm. 1021, but analysing the financing of local authority expenditure as in table 21.4.6, and not the financing of local authority expenditure on a national accounts definition.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The table shows the financing of local authority expenditure as defined in table 21.4.6 of Cm. 1021 for the United Kingdom:

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing reconciliations for England, Scotland and Wales between local authority current expenditure as in Table 21.4.8 of Cm. 1021 and the respective aggregate expenditure for grant purposes in successive Revenue/Rate Support Grant Orders.
  549
  Mr. Lamont
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the relationship of the Medicines Control Agency with the Treasury differs from that of the former medicines division of the Department of Health.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  None, as the Medicines Control Agency remains part of Department of Health.

  £ million

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Capital Consumption

  1,273

  1,354

  1,469

  1,555

  1,657

  VAT refunds

  982

  1,063

  1,280

  1,261

  1,410

  Company Securities

  5

  14

  71

  177

  128

  Others

  225

  469

  251

  442

  -215

  Total

  2,485

  2,900

  3,071

  3,435

  2,980

  The nature of these adjustments is explained in appendix C of Cm. 1021.

  British Gas
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 18 July,Official Report, column 590, how many market makers were selected to tender for the 54,000,000 British Gas shares sold to S. G. Warburg and Co.; and whether any higher, if conditional, tender was received.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Four market makers, including S. G. Warburg and Co. Ltd., were invited to bid for the shares. No higher tender was received than from Warburgs although an equal, but conditional, bid was received from one other bidder. In those circumstances, the Government accepted the unconditional bid.

  Nationalised Industries
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for each organisation which was classified as a nationalised industry in the 1980 public expenditure White Paper, or has been so classified in a subsequent White Paper, the employment of that organisation as at 31 March 1979 and at each successive 31 March up to 1990.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information requested is readily available in the individual industries' annual reports and accounts.

  Indirect Taxes
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing, for 1987, indirect taxes as a percentage of disposable income for each quintile group of non-retired households ranked by original income, on the same basis as in table G on page 95 of "Economic Trends" No. 422, December 1988.

  National Accounts Adjustments
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing, separately for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, the composition of the national accounts adjustments in table 21.4.13 of Cm. 1021.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The data for the components of the national accounts adjustments are not held in a form which permits a disaggregation of the adjustments across territories, except at excessive cost. However, there is no reason to believe their territorial breakdown is disproportionate to the composition of local authority expenditure. The table sets out the principal components of the national accounts adjustments shown in table 21.4.13 of Cm. 1021:

  Mr. Maude
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Child Care
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of introducing a tax allowance for child care costs, set against the taxable income of the mother, equal to £50 per week(a) per family with children under the age of 16 years and (b) per family with at least one child under the age of five years, giving the numbers of each who would benefit from such an allowance.

  Mr. Maude
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Inflation
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each month since 1979(a) retail prices index inflation, (b) inflation excluding mortgage interest rates, (c) inflation excluding mortgage interest rates and the poll tax, or equivalent, (d) the average inflation rate for the European Economic Community and (e) the average inflation rate for those countries currently full members of the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of investment overseas by British companies in each financial year from 1978–79 to the present.
  551
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: Figures on overseas direct investment by United Kingdom companies over the period 1978–79 to 1989–90 are as follows:

  United Kingdom direct investment overseas (including miscellaneous)

  £ million

  1978–79

  4,236

  1979–80

  6,123

  1980–81

  4,821

  1981–82

  5,631

  1982–83

  4,888

  1983–84

  5,132

  1984–85

  7,713

  1985–86

  5,931

  1986–87

  13,559

  1987–88

  21,196

  1988–89

  22,973

  1989–90

  17,142

  Source: Economic Trends.

  EC Payments
  Mr. Bob Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net amounts paid to the EEC for each year from 1979; and what is the estimated amount to be paid in 1990.

  Mr. Ryder
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Marginal Tax Rates
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people face marginal tax rates, both including and excluding social security, of(a) over 40 per cent., (b) over 50 per cent., (c) over 60 per cent., (d) over 70 per cent., (e) over 80 per cent., (f) over 90 per cent. and (g) over 100 per cent.: (i) now and (ii) in each year since 1978–79.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information up to 1989–90 was provided in my reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 16 March at columns 400–01. Estimated numbers facing marginal deduction rates including social security, in the specified ranges for 1990–91 are shown in the table.

  Rates

  11990–91 thousands

  100 per cent. and over

  —

  90–99 per cent.

  40

  80–89 per cent.

  170

  70–79 per cent.

  200

  60–69 per cent.

  10

  50–59 per cent.

  2—

  40–49 per cent.

  130

  1 Projection based on 1985, 1986 and 1987 FES uprated to 1990–91 levels and incorporating DOE guideline community charges announced in January 1990 and including the effect of Community Charge Benefit.

  2 Denotes an estimate of fewer than 2,500.

  Excluding social security and national insurance, no taxpayers experience marginal deduction rates of more than 40 per cent.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what areas outside the existing pilot scheme in East Anglia he intends to extend the agricultural set-aside scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the countryside premium scheme for set-aside land, currently operated by the Countryside Commission in seven eastern counties of England. The question of extending the present scheme would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an announcement on the arrangements for the third year of the set-aside scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friends and I have reviewed the workings of this scheme in the light of the experience of its first two years. Our policy is that the scheme, which has as its primary purpose the reduction of surplus production of cereals and other crops, should protect the environment and should, where possible, go further and lead to environmental improvements. In general we favour integrating, so far as possible, environmental measures into agricultural policy. We have therefore decided to make a number of amendments to the scheme for 1990–91 and subsequent years.

  First, we have decided to require the plant cover on fallow set-aside land to be cut twice a year instead of once as at present with suitable time gaps between cuts. This should achieve an improvement in the appearance of such land.

  Secondly, we are extending the list of environmental features that farmers participating in the scheme will have to maintain and protect to include stone walls, vernacular buildings, unimproved grassland, moorland and heath.

  Thirdly, we have decided to introduce a limited grazed fallow option. Under this farmers who kept livestock in the base year 1987–88 will be able to graze animals on fallow land up to a limit of the number of livestock units on the holding in the base year. We have also agreed to allow producers of deer or goats to graze these animals on their fallow set-aside land up to a limit of one livestock unit per hectare if they did not have livestock in the base year. This will be of benefit to fibre producers. I am aware that some farmers have in the past been concerned about the possible effects of a grazed fallow option on upland livestock producers, but this limited provision should allay their fears while being very positive environmentally.

  Fourthly, equivalent changes will be made to the Countryside Commission's countryside premium scheme which offers additional aid on suitable set-aside land in seven eastern counties for management practices designed to achieve specific environmental and recreational benefits. This will be helpful in the re-creation of wildlife habitats.

  The Government have also decided to increase the rates of aid for permanent fallow and rotational fallow, partly to offset the increased costs arising from the new management rules.

  New entrants to the scheme will receive the higher rates and will be bound by the new management rules. Existing

  553
  participants may also opt to observe the new management rules and receive an appropriate adjustment to rates. Those wishing to continue to observe the old rules may do so but will be paid at existing rates of aid.

  The revised rates for permanent and rotational fallow are as follows:

  Permanent fallow

  LFA

  non-LFA

  (i) new participants

  202

  222

  (ii) existing participants under new rules

  190

  210

  (iii) existing participants under old rules

  180

  200

  Rotational fallow

  (i) new participants

  182

  202

  (ii) existing participants under new rules

  170

  190

  (iii) existing participants under old rules

  160

  180

  The rate of aid for grazed fallow will be approximately half the permanent fallow rate. We have also decided to introduce differential rates of aid in order to reflect better the savings made in the setting aside of large proportions of land on larger farms. Farmers who set aside to fallow more than 100 hectares of land and more than 75 per cent. of their area eligible for set-aside will receive lower rates of payment on the hectarage above 100 ha.

  Application forms and explanatory literature will be available from local offices of Agriculture Departments on 27 August 1990. All applications should be submitted by 30 September 1990.

  An amending statutory instrument incorporating these changes into the existing legislation will be laid before Parliament.

  I have placed in the Library a detailed guidance note providing information on the new rules of the scheme.

  Horsemeat Products
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to alert consumers to the horsemeat products imported to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Horsemeat and horsemeat products are covered by the provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Labelling Regulations 1984. Under the Food Safety Act it is an offence to offer for sale any food that is falsely described or labelled, advertised or presented in a way that is likely to mislead as to its nature, substance or quality. Under the Food Labelling Regulations horsemeat products have to indicate clearly that they contain horsemeat so that consumers are aware of this fact.

  Export Subsidies
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount spent by the European Commission in export subsidies on agricultural products for each year since 1980; and how much was spent in respect of wheat for each of those years.

  Mr. Curry
  The expenditure charged to the Community budget on export refunds on agricultural products, excluding refunds on exports for food aid, and on wheat—grain and flour—for each year since 1980 is as follows:
  554

  (in mecu)

  Export refunds on agricultural products

  Export refunds on wheat1

  1980

  5,695

  n/a

  1981

  5,209

  n/a

  1982

  5,054

  n/a

  1983

  5,560

  809

  1984

  6,619

  492

  1985

  6,716

  478

  1986

  7,409

  692

  2 1987

  9,115

  1,662

  3 1988

  9,686

  1,228

  1989

  9,633

  1,157

  1 Expenditure on wheat not separately available before 1983.

  2 Refers to expenditure incurred in a 10-month period (1 January-31 October 1987).

  3 Refers to expenditure incurred in an 11½-month period (1 November 1987-15 October 1988).

  Source: EAGGF annual reports.

  Wheat
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total domestic consumption of home-grown wheat in the latest convenient 12-month period.

  Mr. Curry
  The latest MAFF estimate of total consumption of home-grown wheat within the United Kingdom for the marketing year ended on 30 June 1990 is 10·68 million tonnes.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made on the review of pesticides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Companies have been required to submit details of data held in support of all pesticides approved prior to 1981. The Advisory Committee on Pesticides has considered the priority to be given to each one and an ordered list will be published shortly.

  Tuna
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to meet his counterparts in the European Community regarding the banning of imported tuna caught with dolphin by-catches.

  Mr. Curry
  I have no plans at present. The United Kingdom fully supported the Community's endorsement of the United Nations resolutions against indiscriminate large-scale pelagic drift netting which involved the incidental take of dolphins. Further, the United Kingdom supported this resolution at the recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission. Tuna fishing does not necessarily involve incidental take of dolphins and I am aware that some tuna products are advertised as having been obtained from fisheries that have not involved by-catches of dolphins.

  Whales and Dolphins
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has made representations to his counterpart in the Danish Government concerning the recent slaughter of whales and dolphins in the Faroe Islands.
  555
  Mr. Curry
  When the International Whaling Commission met this July I again made plain my concern to the Danish authorities about the traditional pilot whale hunt in the Faroe Islands, particularly in relation to improving the humaneness of the hunt.

  Dairy Products
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect for New Zealand's dairy farmers of the decision taken by the European Commission on 19 July to raise export restitutions on dairy products.

  Mr. Curry
  It is for the New Zealand Government to assess the likely effect on New Zealand dairy farmers.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the light of the current state of the international dairy market and the negotiations now taking place in Geneva on the general agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay round, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the decision taken by the European Commission on 19 July to raise export restitutions on dairy products.

  Mr. Curry
  The Commission acted on its own authority and without consulting member states. We had, however, made it clear on earlier occasions that we were opposed to an increase in export refunds in the dairy sector at this time. The world dairy market is already depressed as a result of declining demands coupled with increasing production and low-priced eastern European exports which have not previously played a significant part in the market. Clearly increasing the level of subsidised exports from the Community is not the right way to tackle our underlying problem of overproduction.

  Public Footpaths
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken in calculating set-aside payments to take into account public footpaths along the side of or across a field; and by how much a payment varies, between a field of given acreage with a footpath and a similar field without a footpath.

  Mr. Curry
  Areas of fields not cropped because of farm tracks, pylons, footpaths or broad margins amounting to more than 0·1 of a hectare are not eligible for set-aside payments. Taking the example described, a field without footpaths would contain a slightly higher proportion of land eligible for set-aside and would therefore receive a slightly higher payment than a field of similar size with footpaths amounting to more than 0·1 of a hectare.

  Agricultural Dwellings
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action he intends to take to ensure that the Ministry's duty as an independent adviser to local authorities on proposals for agricultural dwellings is not compromised by the commercial advice given by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service;

  (2) what action he intends to take to ensure the independence of the Ministry's assessment of the financial viability of proposals for agricultural workers' dwellings.
  556
  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 3 July at column 493. I have nothing further to add.

  Dioxins
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place the food surveillance results and information on the advisory level of intake for dioxins that were presented to the Toronto dioxins symposium in 1989 in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  The paper in question gave an overview of the Ministry's programme of work on dioxins in food and included interim results of a survey of levels in fish and milk. These were all below the Department of Health's guideline levels for intake of this substance through the diet.

  A full account of this, and the work currently in progress, will be published as a food surveillance paper towards the end of 1991. In the meantime I am placing a copy of the symposium paper in the Library, as requested.

  A more detailed consideration of the presence of dioxins in the environment, including food, may be found in pollution paper 27 "Dioxins in the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment last year.

  Slaughterhouses
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of man years of his staff involved in advising on hygiene and welfare standards in abattoirs from 1983 onwards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Local authorities are responsible for enforcing legislation on hygiene and welfare at abattoirs. Officers of my Department visit all abattoirs to advise on hygiene and welfare standards and, in relation to exporting premises, to ensure that Community requirements are observed. The manpower involved for each year since 1983–84 was as follows:

  Man-years

  1983–84

  53

  1984–85

  52

  1985–86

  56

  1986–87

  45

  1987–88

  45

  For subsequent years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 15 March at column 323.

  It is planned to devote additional resources to this work as the industry prepares for the single market.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received the report on general conditions of the visit by European Community inspectors to 14 slaughterhouses in March 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 22 March at columns 736–38 and the letter that I sent to him on 23 April.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the slaughterhouses that
  557
  were visited by European Community inspectors in March 1989 and 1990; if he will indicate those which had their approvals suspended; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  European Community inspectors visited the following slaughterhouses in England and Wales in March 1989 and 1990:

  March 1989
  England Wales Slaughterhouse (EWS) numbers 8, 23, 32, 44, 53, 60, 77 and 103.

  March 1990

  EWS 33.

  On the question of suspensions, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 23 July.

  Tuberculosis
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the actual cost of his tuberculosis eradication scheme(a) in general and (b) for badgers for each of the last 10 years; what are his estimates for future expenditure for 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will give the number of man years of those employed in his Ministry on (a) tuberculosis eradication in general and (b) tuberculosis and badgers for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 5 July,Official Report, column 687, how many outbreaks of tuberculosis have been recorded on a county-by-county basis for each year since 1986; if he will indicate, for each year and in each county, how many outbreaks were considered to have connections with badgers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  In a number of counties in the south and west of Great Britain, a significant proportion of the now confirmed cattle TB breakdowns are considered to have connections with badgers.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of cattle have contracted tuberculosis on a county-by-county basis in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The table sets out for counties in England and Wales for the years 1986–89 the numbers of tuberculosis reactor cattle slaughtered in which tuberculosis was confirmed, expressed as a percentage of the total number of cattle in the county. Information in the form requested is not available for earlier years.

  County

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Avon

  0·006

  0·003

  0·035

  0·042

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  0·004

  —

  Cornwall

  0·005

  0·014

  0·011

  0·025

  Clwyd

  —

  —

  —

  0·0005

  Derbyshire

  —

  —

  —

  0·0005

  Devon

  0·0009

  0·010

  0·003

  0·002

  Dorset

  —

  0·004

  0·003

  0·002

  Durham

  0·008

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed

  0·002

  0·001

  0·003

  0·002

  Gloucestershire

  0·010

  0·025

  0·024

  0·019

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  0·004

  Hampshire

  0·002

  —

  0·0008

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  0·0007

  —

  —

  558

  County

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  —

  0·0006

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  0·002

  Norfolk

  0·002

  —

  —

  —

  Northumberland

  —

  —

  0·0005

  —

  Powys

  0·002

  —

  —

  0·0004

  Somerset

  0·0003

  0·003

  0·0003

  —

  Staffordshire

  0·002

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  —

  0·003

  Surrey

  0·006

  —

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  —

  —

  —

  0·008

  Wiltshire

  0·0008

  0·0009

  —

  —

  Yorkshire

  0·0002

  —

  —

  0·0002

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce, as part of his tuberculosis control programme, areas where badgers are not killed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Badgers are not killed in the Gloucestershire study area and, at the time of his report, Professor Dunnet considered additional such areas to be unjustified. This possibility has been reconsidered as a means of assessing the effect of any badger control strategy with the same result.

  Badgers
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dead badgers his Ministry has received for each year since 1985; and if he will indicate the causes of their death where known.

  Mr. Gummer
  The vast majority of badger carcases submitted by the public were the result of road traffic accidents, but records are not kept of the cause of death. The numbers received and examined were:

  Number

  1985

  1,826

  1986

  2,060

  1987

  1,967

  1988

  2,015

  1989

  2,085

  Committees (Disclosure of Information)
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 23 July, if he will place in the Library copies of the forms that members of(a) the Food Advisory Committee, (b) the Veterinary Products Committee and (c) the consumer panel have to sign concerning the disclosure of information from those committees.

  Mr. Gummer
  Members of these committees are not asked to sign forms about the disclosure of information.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect on the tuberculosis eradication programme of the extra demands on the state veterinary service resulting from BSE.

  Mr. Gummer
  The tuberculosis eradication programme has not been affected by the work generated by BSE.

  Salmonella
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tests in each of the last six months were undertaken for salmonella on eggs at ports of entry; how many consequently were found to include salmonella-contaminated eggs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  So far this year, I have received no reports of imported consignments contaminated with salmonella enteriditis or typhimurium.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will invoke article 36 of the treaty of Rome to prohibit salmonella-contaminated eggs being imported into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  As the hon. Gentleman is aware, it would be illegal to attempt to use article 36 to prohibit the import of eggs on such grounds.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Curry
  There is one special adviser, Mr. R. Gueterbock, currently employed by this Department. My Department employs no public relations advisers. Mr. Gueterbock is paid by the Department, but it is not our practice to reveal the salaries of special advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential. The normal civil service rules apply to expenses. In addition, any special adviser may be provided with secretarial assistance.

  Land Prices
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price per hectare of average quality arable agricultural land in England on the latest available date; and what was the comparable price in the previous year.

  Mr. Curry
  Official price statistics of agricultural land do not distinguish between land uses. The bulk of arable production takes place on land grades 1, 2 and 3. The latest available average price of land, including buildings, for these combined grades sold in England is £4,370 per hectare and relates broadly to calendar year 1988; the comparable figure for 1987 is £3,555 per hectare.

  Poultry Imports (Portugal)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to counter the import of poultry from Portugal in view of the incidence of Newcastle disease there.

  Mr. Gummer
  In the absence of harmonised Community rules, current national import conditions require that all poultry imported from Portugal is accompanied by a certificate signed by an official 560
  veterinarian confirming that there has been no case of ND in the flock of origin or any hatchery within 20km during the three months prior to export.

  In addition such birds are also subject to a period of at least eight weeks post in port followed by a period of at least 12 weeks quarantine isolation under official veterinary supervision.

  These safeguards have worked efficiently to prevent the introduction of ND into this country by imported poultry. There have been no outbreaks of ND in Great Britain from any source since 1984.

  Rendering Industry
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 23 July, if he will list the dates on which he had meetings with representatives of the United Kingdom rendering industry.

  Mr. Gummer
  As stated in my earlier reply to the hon. Gentleman, Ministers in this Department frequently meet representatives of the rendering industry. My most recent meeting with the industry was on 11 July, and I also visited a plant belonging to one of the largest United Kingdom renderers on the same day.

  Aspartame
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he received a dossier of documents concerning the safety and testing of aspartame from Dr. Erik Millstone of Sussex university; what action has been taken to refer them to the committees of experts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My officials first received a set of documents from Dr. Millstone on 28 September 1989 and have received further documents on two subsequent occasions. All have been passed to the Department of Health to be brought to the attention of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemical in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment in connection with its current review of aspartame. Dr. Millstone has also written to me directly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Salmon
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether fisheries conservancy board bailiffs and a scientist were authorised to remove salmon for the purpose of stripping eggs from them during the salmon seasons 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90 on the Grillagh river in County Londonderry.

  Mr. Brooke
  No.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many reports have been received by the Fisheries Conservancy Board of poaching and illegal salmon stripping on the Grillagh, Clady and Maine rivers since November 1988; and what action has been taken.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Fisheries Conservancy Board receives a substantial number of reports, mostly oral, about poaching throughout its area of responsibility, but, as no central record of reports is maintained, it is not possible to quantify the number received in relation to specific watercourses. All reports are investigated by board staff.
  561
  In January 1989 the board received information from a local angling club that there were dead salmon in the Grillagh river. On investigation a board bailiff found a number of dead fish some of which had been cut open. Subsequently allegations were made that board staff were involved in the stripping of salmon and the illegal operation of a hatchery.

  Because of the alleged involvement of its staff the Fisheries Conservancy Board referred the investigations to the Royal Ulster Constabulary for investigation. Following the submission of its report the Director of Public Prosecutions directed "No prosecution".

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many subject access requests under the terms of the Data Protection Act his Department has received; what was his estimate of the number of requests that would be received; what consideration he is giving to the subject access fee charged by his Department as a result; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments have received a total of 28 subject access requests since November 1987. The estimated number of requests was 3,800 annually. I have no plans to reconsider subject access fees.

  Strangford Lough
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to issue new leases of the foreshores of Strangford lough; and if he has any plans for its future management under a locally based democratic and representative structure.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The issuing of leases of the foreshore of Strangford lough is a matter for the owners. The Crown Estate is the major owner of the foreshore.

  The future management of foreshore contained in the Strangford lough area of special scientific interest is a matter between individual owners and occupiers and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The Department will consult widely regarding the formulation of management plans for Strangford lough in the context of the proposed marine nature reserve.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals for the leasing of the beds of Strangford lough; and what proposals there are for its future management under a democratic representative structure based within the local community.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The issuing of leases of the sea bed of Strangford lough is a matter for the owners. The Crown Estate is the major owner of the sea bed. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland will consult widely regarding the formulation of management plans for Strangford lough in the context of the proposed marine nature reserve.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he commissioned the Queens university Belfast marine biology station in Portaferry to prepare a survey and report on a management structure for Strangford lough; whether this survey is completed; and if he proposes that this report will be made available to the public.
  562
  Dr. Mawhinney
  On 9 January 1989, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland commissioned the Queen's university, Belfast, to carry out a study of the human and physical factors affecting Strangford lough, especially the natural resources of the lough. The final report has not yet been received. The report will not be published, but much of the material will be used as the basis for a consultation document on the future management of Strangford lough.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates he declared the area of special scientific interest (part 3) for Strangford lough; how many applicants have since been issued with consents; what is his estimate of the total remaining potential applicants; and if he will make a statement about his proposals to make this area of special scientific interest acceptable to those landowners and users who have not applied for consent.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Strangford lough (part 3) area of special scientific interest (ASSI) was declared on 21 April 1989. Thirty-five applicants have been issued with consents to carry out notifiable operations under article 25 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. It is not possible to estimate the number of remaining potential applicants. The indications are that the ASSI is gaining widespread acceptability with landowners and occupiers.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consents have been issued by the Department under the ASSI (part 3) for Strangford lough; and how many of these consents were in respect of notifiable operations which are not such as would cause any damage to the scientific interest but which are required by article 10 of the 1989 amending order No. 492 to the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (NI) Order 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has issued 35 consents to the carrying out of notifiable operations within the Strangford lough (part 3) area of special scientific interest.

  It is a legislative requirement that a single list of notifiable operations should be drawn up for each ASSI as a whole. Each of these operations has the potential to damage the scientific interest in some part of the ASSI but may not cause damage in other parts. The 35 consents to notifiable operations so far issued are for operations which will not damage the scientific interest in the locations concerned.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he has any plans to cease using accountancy firms sued by the Government for negligence;

  (2) whether he has any plans to cease using accountancy firms found to be unprofessional by the joint disciplinary scheme;

  (3) whether he has any plans to cease using accountancy firms criticised by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to my previous reply on 15 January at column 17.
  563
  The Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments are aware of the need, before awarding contracts, to take into account all relevant considerations and to make such inquiries as are necessary to establish the professional competence of the firm concerned. In this connection, close links are maintained with Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry and the relevant guidelines on the employment of accountants, accountancy firms and advisors are followed.

  Stevens Inquiry
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were arrested as a result of the Stevens inquiry; how many are (1) male and (2) female; how many have been charged with(a) murder, (b) attempted murder, (c) possession of arms and/or ammunition, (d) explosives, (e) membership of an illegal organisation, (f) collection of, or being in possession of, information relating to known or suspected terrorists and (g) collection of, or being in possession of, information which might be of use to a terrorist organisation.

  Mr. Cope
  As a result of the inquiry led by DCC Stevens, 94 persons have been arrested, of whom 59 have either been charged or reported for offences. This includes two females. The requested information on charges is as follows:

  Charge

  Number of persons

  Murder

  Nil

  Attempted murder

  Nil

  Possession of arms and/or ammunition

  9

  Explosives

  Nil

  Membership of an illegal organisation

  Nil

  Collection, recording or possession of information likely to be useful to terrorists

  29

  No specific offence exists of collection of or being in possession of information relating to known or suspected terrorists. Where persons were found to be in possession of photographs and so on of known or suspected terrorists they have been charged under section 22(1) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978.

  It should be noted that two of the nine persons charged with possession of arms and/or ammunition are also included in the 29 charged with the collection, recording or possession of information likely to be useful to terrorists.

  Milk
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to change the statutory role of the Northern Ireland Milk Marketing Board; and if he will make a statement about the future of the Milk Marketing Board.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have no proposals at present to change the statutory role of the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland.

  Boyd House, Ards Hospital
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents there are in Boyd house at Ards hospital; what is the demand for places at Boyd house; and if he will make a statement about the future of Boyd house.

  Mr. Needham
  There are 44 residents in Boyd house, with 17 people on the waiting list for admission. The organisation of services at local level is a matter for the health and social services boards. We are not aware of any proposals by the Eastern board relating to the future of Boyd house.

  Community Care
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will introduce the community care reforms in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on community care.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government's proposals for the development of community care in Northern Ireland are as set out in the policy paper "People First", which the Department of Health and Social Services published in March 1990.

  The proposed changes will, however, be introduced more slowly than originally intended. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health told the House on 18 July, the Government have decided that it would not be practicable to implement all the reforms simultaneously in April 1991. In particular, the present social security arrangements for people needing care in private or voluntary residential care and nursing homes will continue until April 1993. Since the social security system operates on a national basis, Northern Ireland will follow the new national timetable. This means that health and social services boards will not begin purchasing care on behalf of their clients in residential homes and nursing homes until 1 April 1993.

  It is, however, intended to maintain the momentum on developmental work needed to turn the concept of high quality community care into a reality. The Department will be issuing a series of implementation documents on key aspects of the reforms for consultation over the next few weeks. Health and social services boards will be implementing the proposals on arm's length inspection units and complaints procedures from next April; and will have additional time to prepare thoroughly for successful implementation of the other major changes.

  Irish Language
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total funding made available by his Department each year for the maintenance of the Irish language.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Irish is widely taught in schools and colleges of further education in Northern Ireland. It is also available in initial teacher training and in the universities. However, the costs of these forms of support are not held centrally.

  In addition, full Irish-medium education is provided in two schools, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste in Belfast and Steelstown primary school in Londonderry. In 1989–90 the running costs for such Irish-medium education were

  565
  approximately £367,000. Capital grants have also been made in the past to the Bunscoil amounting to £443,000. A further allocation of £20,000 has been made available to Bunscoil Phobal Feirste to assist in the development and production of curriculum materials in Irish language.

  Funding of Irish language projects by the central community relations unit also began last year under the cultural traditions programme and grant in the region of £90,000 was paid. Provision in the present financial year is around £200,000 including support for the Ultach trust.

  In addition, funding has been provided for a project at Queen's university, Belfast to research the origins of Irish place names; funding in this financial year is £130,000.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Irish Government to release members of the Protestant minority from the need to pass examinations in Irish as a condition of public employment.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have not raised any matters relating to the Protestant minority in the Republic with the Irish Government. However, questions relating to the language requirement for Northern Ireland residents seeking employment in the education sector in the Irish Republic have been raised.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the reasons for the bans on the use of Irish in prisons(a) in correspondence, (b) during visits and (c) on forms; what is the average time taken to censor Irish language publications for prisoners' use; and what is the practice on the provision of opportunities for Irish sports in prisons in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  I regret that in the time available it has not been possible to provide the information requested. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Lough Neagh
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what quantity of water is abstracted by his Department each day from Lough Neagh; and what effect it has on the water level in the lough and on the flow to the lower River Bann.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Water taken from the lough has no material effect on either the level of the lough or the flow to the lower Bann.

  The top 25 millimetres (inch) of the lough contain some 9,500 million litres—2,000 million gallons—of water, which is equivalent to about 75 days' supply at peak demand.

  The flow from the lough to the lower Bann averages some 8,000 million litres—1,750 million gallons—a day, or some 65 times the net amount abstracted for the public water supply.

  The water service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland currently abstracts up to 220 million litres—48 million gallons—a day from Lough Neagh.

  Some 96 million litres—21 million gallons—is returned to the lough after use and treatment. The result is a net export of some 124 million litres—27 million gallons—a day.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.

  Mr. Cope
  No one is presently employed in such a capacity.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether republican and loyalist(a) remand prisoners and (b) convicted prisoners are separated in Northern Ireland prisons.

  Mr. Cope
  I regret that in the time available it has not been possible to provide the information requested. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Religious Schools
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any proposals to grant formal constitutional or statutory guarantees to Protestant and Roman Catholic schools that they will be treated equally as envisaged in paragraph 8·51 of the report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights (Cm. 1107).

  Dr. Mawhinney
  As was said when the SACHR report was published on 26 June 1990, it is a document of breadth, sensitivity and complexity whose recommendations need careful consideration before any conclusions are reached.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the framework granted to Roman Catholic schools with the formation of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools will be extended to Protestant and integrated schools.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The vast majority of schools in Northern Ireland, other than the voluntary grammar schools, are either controlled schools or Catholic maintained schools. Since controlled schools are in the ownership and management of the education and library boards, there is no need to establish a further body for them analogous to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.

  There are a small number of maintained schools still in the ownership of the Protestant churches and there are seven maintained integrated schools. I have no plans at present to establish bodies analogous to the council for these schools.

  Universities
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of Northern Ireland domiciled undergraduate entrants to British universities and Irish universities, outwith Northern Ireland, in each year since 1968.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:
  567

  Academic year

  British Universities

  Republic of Ireland Universities

  1968–69

  326

  359

  1969–70

  418

  211

  1970–71

  508

  171

  1971–72

  569

  148

  1972–73

  754

  106

  1973–74

  746

  168

  1974–75

  674

  143

  1975–76

  716

  132

  1976–77

  681

  154

  1977–78

  753

  158

  1978–79

  764

  192

  1979–80

  767

  162

  1980–81

  884

  131

  1981–82

  835

  144

  1982–83

  813

  140

  1983–84

  954

  118

  1984–85

  944

  118

  1985–86

  996

  82

  1986–87

  1,096

  99

  1987–88

  1,215

  61

  1988–89

  1,288

  62

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Antrim North of 19 July,Official Report, column 1160, whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to consider an alternative to and a replacement of the Anglo-Irish Agreement through the present proposed negotiations, in the terms set forth in his recent letters to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) and the hon. Member for Antrim, North.

  Mr. Brooke
  I am happy to confirm that the terms of my letters of 4 May to the hon. Gentleman and to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) do indeed remain the policy of Her Majesty's Government. In the context of discussions about possible future arrangements for the government of Northern Ireland, we would give serious consideration to any implications for the agreement that such arrangements might have, and we would also consider any proposal—including any proposal for an alternative to the agreement—that would advance the underlying objectives of achieving peace, stability and reconciliation.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Minister will now carry out the duties allocated to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) in the last Cabinet Office document intituled, "A List of Ministerial Responsibilities".

  Mr. Brooke
  I have decided that these duties will be reallocated as follows.

  My noble Friend Lord Skelmersdale will assume responsibility for the Department of Agriculture. I shall myself answer in this House on agriculture matters. In the Department of the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Wiltshire, North (Mr. Needham) will take on responsibility for the roads service, the works service and
  568
  the public record office, to add to his existing responsibilities for planning, urban affairs, the lands service and comprehensive development. My hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) will assume responsibility for housing, local government, historic monuments, conservation, environmental protection, the water service, ordnance survey, the lands registry, the registry of deeds, and transport, including the fire service.

  Other ministerial duties remain unchanged. I continue to have overall responsibility for the work of the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments.

  Motorways
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many miles of Northern Ireland motorways central safety barriers are(a) up to British and European standard and (b) sub-standard; and how soon the sub-standard barriers will be replaced.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: There are 11 miles of tensioned steel safety barriers which meet British standards on Northern Ireland's 69 miles of motorway. A contract for the provision of a further 3 miles is currently under way. The remaining 55 miles have a non-standard central earth mound barrier which is unique to Northern Ireland. A programme to replace the mound barrier with steel barriers will be completed over a number of years.

  AIDS
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland (i) by patient characteristic and (ii) in total.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 July 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

  a. People who have died with AIDS

  Date

  Male (cumulative)

  Female (cumulative)

  Total (cumulative)

  31 December 1987

  3

  —

  3

  30 June 1988

  3

  —

  3

  31 December 1988

  4

  —

  4

  30 June 1989

  9

  —

  9

  31 December 1989

  11

  —

  11

  30 June 1990

  13

  —

  13

  b. People with AIDS including those who have died

  Date

  Male (cumulative)

  Female (cumulative)

  Total (cumulative)

  31 December 1987

  4

  —

  4

  30 June 1988

  7

  —

  7

  31 December 1988

  10

  —

  10

  30 June 1989

  13

  1

  14

  31 December 1989

  14

  2

  16

  30 June 1990

  17

  2

  19

  569

  c. HIV antibody-positive persons

  i. By patient characteristic:

  Date

  Homo sexual-Bisexual

  Intravenous Drug Abuser (IVDA)

  Homo philiac

  Recipient of Blood

  Hetero sexual

  Undeter mined

  Male

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  31 December 1987

  17

  1

  —

  16

  1

  —

  4

  3

  —

  —

  30 June 1988

  19

  1

  1

  16

  1

  —

  4

  4

  —

  —

  31 December 1988

  22

  1

  2

  16

  1

  —

  4

  4

  —

  —

  30 June 1989

  26

  2

  3

  16

  1

  —

  5

  5

  1

  —

  31 December 1989

  27

  2

  3

  16

  1

  —

  6

  7

  1

  —

  30 June 1990

  135

  2

  3

  16

  1

  —

  6

  8

  1

  —

  1 I also IVDA

  All columns are cumulative.

  ii. In total

  Date

  Male

  Female

  Total

  31 December 1987

  39

  3

  42

  30 June 1988

  41

  5

  46

  31 December 1988

  44

  6

  50

  30 June 1989

  51

  8

  59

  31 December 1989

  53

  10

  63

  30 June 1990

  61

  11

  72

  All columns are cumulative.

  Fair Employment Commission
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the questions from the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 18 July relating to the Fair Employment Commission, what is his estimate of the cost of answering each of those questions; and by how much this sum is over the limit allowed for the answer of a parliamentary question.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: Consideration must be given to the cost to public funds in terms of the time and effort required to provide an Answer. It is estimated that the cost of answering the hon. Gentleman's questions would have been in excess of £600.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission in the Moyle district council area or by reference to the postal code or codes which cover that area; and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 24 July 1990]: The firms listed are those in the Moyle district council area which have been registered by the Fair Employment Commission. The total number of employees is shown opposite the name of the firm.

  Registered concerns in Moyle district council area

  Number of employees

  Leabank Private Nursing Home

  1 Beechwood avenue

  Ballycastle

  33

  Old Bushmills Distillery Co. Ltd.

  Bushmills

  Co. Antrim

  136

  Parkmanor Private Nursing Home

  Quay road

  Ballycastle

  30

  570

  Number of employees

  Glendun Nursing Home

  16 Strandview park

  Cushendun

  Co. Antrim

  40

  Corrymeela Community

  5 Drumaroan road

  Ballycastle

  26

  Cusick A (Contractors) Ltd.

  New street

  Armoy

  Ballymoney

  26

  North Antrim Turkeys Ltd.

  Processing Plant

  14–16 Seneiel road

  Bushmills

  66

  Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce

  Community Employment Ltd.

  12 Market street

  Ballycastle

  69

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the policies of the Department of Education on citizens advice bureaux in Belfast.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: The citizens advice bureaux in Belfast, as elsewhere in Northern Ireland and indeed in the rest of the United Kingdom, are voluntary advice-giving agencies independent of the Government and I do not interfere in their operations or determine their policies.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any funds provided to Derry Youth and Community Workshop under the youth training programme in the last financial year are unaccounted for.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: The Department of Economic Development has still to receive audited accounts for 1989–90 from the workshop management committee. A recent financial inspection carried out by the youth training programme inspection team has not found any irregularities.

  Community Service Grant
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether consideration is being given to improving community service grant aid to local authorities who face particular demands from disadvantaged areas.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: I have no plans to increase the community services grant aid to councils, which stands at £1,935,000 this year.

  The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that councils have the ability either to increase their resources from the rates or to alter their priorities in the allocation of their available resources. He can be assured that the allocation of grant to each council is made on as fair and equitable a basis as possible.

  Maternity Services
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research his Department has funded to assess the safety or the comparative costs of delivery in(a) district general hospitals, (b) general practitioner maternity units and (c) at home; and if he will give the conclusions of each project funded.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 11 July 1990]: The Department of Health and Social Services has not funded any research in these areas in recent years, but account is taken of the results of any relevant research undertaken elsewhere.

  R-plates
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether any research has been done on the effectiveness of the R-plate scheme for newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the use of R-plates on motor vehicles in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 16 July 1990]: To date no specific research has been carried out on the effectiveness of the R-plate scheme for newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland. The R-plate scheme was introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 April 1968. This requires the newly qualified driver to display R (for restricted) plates on the front and rear of the vehicle for a period of 12 months after passing the driving test. R drivers may not exceed a speed of 45 mph. Speed limits for roads of 30 mph and 40 mph must, of course, be obeyed.

  The 45 mph speed restriction allows the newly qualified driver to gain experience for one year at lower speeds and warns other drivers that the vehicle is likely to be driven by an inexperienced driver.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary accident statistics show that lack of experience in the first five years of drivers and motor-cyclists is a major contributory factor in relation to responsibility for accidents. Drivers are only half as likely to be responsible for an injury accident in the first year—the R-plate year—after passing the driving test as in the second year.

  Research is being commissioned to determine whether the R-plate scheme contributes to this effect.

  Political Parties (Discussions)
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with political parties in the Province.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1990, c. 1157–58]: Despite a further intensive round of exchanges, it has not yet proved possible to secure final agreement on the basis for holding political talks.

  After the holiday period, when all the main potential participants should again be available, I intend to resume my efforts to resolve the outstanding issues. For that purpose I plan to hold further meetings with the political parties and with representatives of the Irish Government in September.

SCOTLAND

  Bypasses (A76 and A77)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest dates when he expects statutory procedures to begin on the bypasses for Mauchline and New Cumnock on the A76 and Maybole and Girvan on the A77.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The road orders for the A76 New Cumnock bypass have been made and the draft compulsory purchase order was published in April 1989 and there is one objection still outstanding. It is intended to publish draft road orders for the A76 Mauchline bypass during this financial year. The options for the A77 Maybole and Girvan schemes are currently the subject of detailed investigation and no date has yet been set for the publication of draft orders.

  HIV Infection
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has drawn about the likely future incidence of HIV infection in Dundee, following the results of the project to screen pregnant women for HIV infection at Ninewells hospital; and what assessment he has made of the likely funding implications which will arise for Tayside health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The results of an HIV antenatal screening study in Dundee, which is being funded by the medical research council, have not yet been fully collated and assessed, and it is, therefore, too early to draw firm conclusions from them.

  It is not feasible at present to assess the likely funding implications which will arise for Tayside health board from the results of the study.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the instance of HIV infection in (i) men and (ii) women per 1,000 of population for(a) Dundee and (b) Scotland, in each year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the incidence of HIV infection in men and women per 1,000 of population for Dundee is unavailable. The information for Scotland, based on the numbers of males and females who have been identified and reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit as being HIV antibody positive, is set out in the table:
  573

  HIV antibody positive persons

  Number1

  Incidence per 1,000 of population

  Male

  1983

  42

  0·02

  1984

  128

  0·05

  1985

  226

  0·09

  1986

  307

  0·12

  1987

  221

  0·09

  1988

  133

  0·05

  1989

  108

  0·04

  Female

  1983

  10

  <0·01

  1984

  41

  0·01

  1985

  86

  0·03

  1986

  135

  0·05

  1987

  99

  0·04

  1988

  53

  0·02

  1989

  43

  0·01

  1988 and 1989 Accident Rates

  1988

  1 1989

  A77

  North of Ayr

  Trunk

  Dual 2 + Single 4

  0·29

  0·37

  Non-Trunk

  Single Urban

  3·04

  2·70

  South of Ayr

  Trunk

  Single 2

  0·43

  0·45

  Non-Trunk

  Single Urban/Rural

  0·64

  0·75

  A74

  North of M74

  Trunk

  Dual 2 + Single

  0·46

  0·15

  Non-Trunk

  Single Urban

  1·65

  1·62

  South of M74

  Trunk

  Dual 2

  0·15

  0·19

  A96

  Highland

  Trunk

  Single

  0·27

  0·30

  Grampian

  Trunk

  Mainly Single

  0·43

  0·37

  Non-Trunk

  Dual 2 + Single Urban

  4·76

  4·34

  1 Based on provisional accident figures and 1988 traffic volumes averaged over relevant section of route.

  Note:

  Accident rates are expressed in terms of the number of accidents per million vehicle kilometres.

  1. Number of fatal accidents on A77, A74 and A96 in years 1988 and 1989

  A77

  North of Ayr

  South of Ayr

  Total

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Glasgow)

  Trunk

  Non-trunk

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  January

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  March

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  3

  April

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  May

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  June

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  October

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  November

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  December

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Year

  3

  6

  1

  —

  1

  3

  —

  1

  5

  10

  A74

  North of M74

  South of M74

  Total

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Glasgow)

  Strathclyde

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  January

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  3

  1

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  March

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  April

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  May

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  June

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  3

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  October

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  574
  1 Does not include 97 cases where the sex was not specified in reports.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the accident and fatal accident figures for each month of 1988, 1989 and any months of 1990 currently available for each stretch of the A77, A74 and A96, for the whole of each road, and on a directly comparable basis.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested for years 1988 and 1989 is provided in the following tables; figures are not available yet for 1990.
  575

  A74

  North of M74

  South of M74

  Total

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Glasgow)

  Strathclyde

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Year

  2

  —

  2

  4

  4

  4

  3

  4

  11

  12

  A96

  Highland

  Grampian

  Total

  Trunk

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Aberdeen)

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  January

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  February

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  March

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  2

  2

  April

  —

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1

  May

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  June

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  September

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  October

  —

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1

  November

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  December

  —

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  3

  3

  Year

  2

  —

  19

  11

  —

  1

  21

  12

  2. Number of accidents on A77, A74 and A96 in years 1988 and 1989

  A77

  North of Ayr

  South of Ayr

  Total

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Glasgow)

  Trunk

  Non-trunk

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  January

  11

  7

  7

  4

  1

  6

  —

  1

  19

  18

  February

  10

  6

  5

  5

  4

  4

  1

  —

  20

  15

  March

  7

  14

  13

  5

  3

  8

  1

  2

  24

  29

  April

  9

  8

  4

  8

  5

  4

  1

  1

  19

  21

  May

  4

  11

  9

  10

  5

  1

  1

  1

  19

  23

  June

  3

  14

  5

  16

  5

  2

  —

  —

  13

  32

  July

  10

  11

  8

  8

  5

  6

  1

  1

  24

  26

  August

  9

  14

  17

  7

  4

  6

  1

  —

  31

  27

  September

  3

  8

  9

  10

  5

  5

  —

  —

  17

  23

  October

  11

  12

  14

  7

  4

  7

  —

  —

  29

  26

  November

  11

  8

  10

  14

  8

  4

  —

  —

  29

  26

  December

  13

  16

  16

  10

  7

  6

  —

  1

  36

  33

  Year

  101

  129

  117

  104

  56

  59

  6

  7

  280

  299

  A74

  North of M74

  South of M74

  Total

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Glasgow)

  Strathclyde

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  January

  1

  —

  2

  8

  3

  5

  5

  4

  11

  17

  February

  1

  —

  2

  5

  2

  7

  3

  3

  8

  15

  March

  2

  2

  6

  5

  6

  5

  1

  7

  15

  19

  April

  2

  2

  4

  4

  6

  8

  3

  3

  15

  17

  May

  4

  —

  4

  4

  2

  1

  3

  4

  13

  9

  June

  1

  2

  2

  3

  1

  6

  5

  3

  9

  14

  July

  5

  —

  6

  3

  6

  7

  8

  4

  25

  14

  August

  2

  1

  —

  1

  4

  9

  5

  6

  11

  17

  September

  2

  —

  6

  2

  5

  6

  5

  2

  18

  10

  October

  5

  —

  12

  2

  1

  2

  7

  4

  25

  8

  November

  2

  1

  5

  6

  4

  5

  4

  9

  15

  21

  December

  3

  2

  4

  9

  2

  3

  1

  5

  10

  19

  Year

  30

  10

  53

  52

  42

  64

  50

  54

  175

  180

  576 577

  A96

  Highland

  Grampian

  Total

  Trunk

  Trunk

  Non-trunk (Aberdeen)

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  1988

  1989

  January

  5

  4

  14

  9

  17

  11

  22

  15

  February

  4

  5

  19

  12

  21

  12

  25

  17

  March

  2

  2

  15

  10

  17

  13

  19

  15

  April

  —

  2

  12

  9

  17

  12

  17

  14

  May

  3

  3

  5

  8

  8

  11

  11

  14

  June

  2

  1

  14

  9

  15

  13

  17

  14

  July

  5

  1

  15

  15

  16

  18

  21

  19

  August

  4

  3

  13

  10

  16

  14

  20

  17

  September

  —

  2

  10

  8

  13

  12

  13

  14

  October

  2

  3

  12

  14

  15

  19

  17

  22

  November

  1

  2

  19

  21

  21

  24

  22

  26

  December

  1

  4

  13

  14

  18

  18

  19

  22

  Year

  29

  32

  161

  139

  194

  177

  223

  209

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce measures to reduce the number of traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government are pursuing a wide range of measures in an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents. These include engineering measures to improve the roads, publicity and advice to engender greater public awareness of the need for care on the roads, and legislation to improve standards of road safety behaviour.

  In the last financial year, I committed £1 million to be spent specifically on low-cost accident investigation and prevention (AIP) schemes which funded 70 engineering schemes throughout Scotland. For this financial year I have committed a further £1·2 million to be spent on AIP work and to date 78 schemes have been approved throughout Scotland.

  The Scottish Development Department has set up a specialist AIP team which liaises with the AIP teams also recently introduced by regional councils. Their combined efforts should play a major part in achieving the goal the Government have set of a reduction in road casualties by one third by the year 2000. Specific sites that have a bad accident record are looked at in detail with a view to undertaking low-cost engineering remedial works specifically designed to alleviate the particular problems identified. Strategies to bring improvements for routes as a whole are also being prepared.

  Regional councils have been asked to set casualty reduction targets for local roads in their transport policies and programmes.

  In terms of publicity, 1990 has been designated as Scottish Road Safety Year as part of efforts to tackle major areas of concern in Scotland related to speeding, drinking and driving and child pedestrian accidents. This is in addition to the Government's national campaigns and publications aimed at specific road safety issues. In May the Government announced wide-ranging proposals for the reduction of child casualties on roads, when they published the findings of the report on child pedestrian accidents and crossing behaviour in Scotland. It identified both engineering measures and educational measures aimed at adults, especially parents, and drivers, which would improve road safety. These proposals have been issued to the regional and island councils' roads, education
  578
  and health service departments. It is envisaged that casualties can best be reduced through the publicity and co-ordinated responses of all these groups.

  On the legislative side, responsible road user behaviour is fostered by effective and fair traffic laws. We intend to introduce legislation at the earliest possible opportunity to implement the proposals to improve road traffic law that are set out in the White Paper, "The Road User and the Law". In addition, new legislation has recently come into force on child rear seat belts and we intend to introduce amended regulations for Scotland on road humps.

  Heather Moorlands
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to preserve heather moorlands in Scotland; and whether he will introduce a moorland management grant analogous to the financial support for forestry and sheep grazing.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The preservation of heather moorlands in Scotland is encouraged in a number of ways. The farm and conservation grant scheme provides grants for the enclosure of areas of heather moorland to protect them from livestock and muirburn, and heather regeneration and bracken control continue to be eligible for grant. Three of the four mainland environmentally sensitive area schemes contain prescriptions for the retention of existing areas of heather and in all four there is the requirement to make muirburn for good heather management in accordance with the standards set out in the joint DAFS-NCC report entitled "A Guide to Good Muirburn Practice". Heather areas can also be notified as SSSIs by the NCC if the area is of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features. I am considering what further measures to preserve heather moorlands may be required.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide an analysis, comparable with table 21.4.8 and with the local authority expenditure in Cm 1015, showing that local authority expenditure in Scotland which falls outside expenditure within his own responsibility.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is as follows:
  579

  Local authority expenditure in Scotland on services outwith the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland

  £ million

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 outturn

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 estimated outturn

  Current

  Agriculture, fisheries and food

  4

  3

  4

  4

  3

  3

  Trade, industry, energy and employment

  7

  9

  9

  9

  13

  13

  Social security

  257

  299

  349

  404

  423

  478

  Total

  268

  310

  362

  417

  439

  495

  Capital

  Trade, industry, energy and employment

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Roads and transport

  1

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the revenue received in 1989–90 from those who were required to pay 20 per cent. of their poll tax; and what is the estimated revenue that will be received in 1990–91 from such payers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the poll tax rate of collection he is assuming in determining the level of support for local authorities in 1991–92.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The decision that my right hon. and learned Friend announced yesterday was based on a considered view of what local authorities should reasonably spend next year and of the level of support from central Government that was appropriate. The decision took account in particular of views on these matters that had been expressed to him by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, but my right hon. and learned Friend did not accept the convention's suggestion that the taxpayer should be burdened with the consequences of the failure of local authorities to collect the sums due to them.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects people who had between £8,000 and £16,000 of savings in the financial year 1989–90 and who have applied for a poll tax rebate to have their claims decided; and when he intends to publish full details of how this particular rebate scheme is to be operated.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Draft regulations prescribing the details of the community charge special payments scheme have been the subject of consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and will be laid shortly. Responsibility for operating the proposed scheme will rest with local authorities and it will be for them to decide when they are able to make payments to successful claimants.

  Water Supply Pipes
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value of grants paid by each district council in Scotland for the replacement of water supply pipes made of lead during the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 and for the current financial year to date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Replacement of lead plumbing is usually carried out in conjunction with other 580
  works, and in these cases it is not possible to identify the cost of the plumbing work separately. Grants payable on applications approved in the years 1988–89 and 1989–90 for the replacement of lead plumbing alone were as in the table; returns have not yet been received for the period from April 1990 onwards.

  Private sector improvement grants approved by local authorities Value of grants involving lead plumbing work only

  District

  1988–89 £000

  1989–90 £000

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  —

  —

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  —

  —

  Roxburgh

  —

  —

  Tweeddale

  —

  0·2

  Central

  Clackmannan

  23·0

  19·3

  Falkirk

  14·3

  14·6

  Stirling

  4·8

  2·2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  2·5

  1·3

  Nithsdale

  3·5

  15·5

  Stewartry

  0·9

  1·8

  Wigtown

  6·2

  3·1

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  3·0

  7·7

  Kirkcaldy

  41·7

  102·6

  North East Fife

  0·4

  1·9

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  241·7

  219·2

  Banff and Buchan

  11·0

  6·4

  Gordon

  9·8

  18·2

  Kincardine and Deeside

  4·2

  8·4

  Moray

  3·2

  2·4

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  6·2

  5·3

  Caithness

  0·1

  3·5

  Inverness

  4·8

  8·0

  Lochaber

  1·2

  —

  Nairn

  0·3

  0·3

  Ross and Cromarty

  7·6

  12·2

  Skye and Lochalsh

  —

  —

  Sutherland

  —

  0·7

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  67·1

  36·6

  Edinburgh

  792·0

  993·1

  Midlothian

  15·9

  18·5

  West Lothian

  30·4

  40·8

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  44·4

  43·2

  581

  District

  1988–89 £000

  1989–90 £000

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  43·4

  60·0

  Clydebank

  1·4

  3·0

  Clydesdale

  3·5

  3·7

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  1·0

  2·8

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  4·1

  6·5

  Cunninghame

  28·5

  30·0

  Dumbarton

  13·2

  16·7

  East Kilbride

  3·6

  0·2

  Eastwood

  97·6

  145·0

  Glasgow

  669·4

  666·4

  Hamilton

  14·1

  3·7

  Inverclyde

  35·2

  18·4

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  16·4

  15·3

  Kyle and Carrick

  76·3

  65·4

  Monklands

  21·2

  21·8

  Motherwell

  4·9

  3·2

  Renfrew

  82·8

  178·1

  Strathkelvin

  50·6

  65·9

  Tayside

  Angus

  2·4

  7·2

  Dundee

  —

  2·1

  Perth and Kinross

  74·2

  50·4

  Islands Councils

  Orkney Islands

  7·1

  3·2

  Shetland Islands

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  0·2

  0·1

  Expenditure (£ million) at 1990–91 prices

  Financial year

  Motorway and trunk roads

  Local roads

  Railways

  Airports

  Other transport

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  1975–76

  182

  687

  27·2

  8·4

  48·0

  1976–77

  173

  518

  23·9

  4·4

  60·0

  1977–78

  193

  475

  23·5

  4·7

  60·4

  1978–79

  182

  376

  29·7

  7·7

  98·7

  1979–80

  177

  393

  32·2

  9·2

  60·2

  1980–81

  164

  363

  38·2

  4·9

  31·0

  1981–82

  171

  378

  37·8

  6·3

  34·5

  1982–83

  169

  386

  39·8

  5·6

  27·6

  1983–84

  155

  387

  39·5

  4·8

  30·6

  1984–85

  160

  368

  44·6

  4·7

  33·5

  1985–86

  158

  375

  37·1

  4·3

  42·4

  1986–87

  147

  367

  37·1

  3·7

  34·6

  1987–88

  159

  350

  32·8

  4·1

  25·5

  1988–89

  149

  369

  34·0

  4·0

  14·8

  1989–90

  174

  369

  30·0

  3·2

  28·0

  Notes:

  1. Railways—Support by Strathclyde regional council under section 20 of the Transport Act 1968 for British Rail services in Strathclyde.

  2. Airports—Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.: grant from the Scottish Office to ensure the continuation of operations at eight highlands and islands airports which provide the communities they service with vital social, business and welfare links. Public expenditure figures relating to BAA airports in Scotland are not held centrally.

  3. Other public transport investment—Other expenditure by central and local authorities on transport provision. A detailed breakdown of these figures is not available, but they include expenditure on railways (other than section 20 support and British Rail's direct expenditure in Scotland) and expenditure on local authority aerodromes.

  4. The expenditure has been converted to 1990–91 prices using GDP deflators.

  Health Expenditure
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the amounts he indicated to each health board for support finance for the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91, (b) how much was budgeted by
  582
  1 Returns outstanding.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of employees of the Greater Glasgow health board, broken down by categories and grades, at the end of each of the last five financial years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not readily available by category and grade for the end of the financial years. Information on grades within categories could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is, for each year since 1975, the total amount of public funding in (1) roads, (2) railways and (3) airports in Scotland in 1990 moneys.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 July 1990]: The information held centrally is given in the table.

  I shall write to the hon. Member when the figures for British Rail's direct expenditure in Scotland become available.

  individual boards in those years and (c) the actual expenditure for support finance by individual boards for those years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Indicative levels were last set centrally for 1988–89. Health boards were asked to set their own targets for 1989–90 and 1990–91. The available information is given in the table:
  583

  £ million

  Health board

  1988–89 Indicative levels

  1988–89 Payments

  1989–90 Health board expenditure target

  1989–90 Payments (provisional)

  1990–91 Health board expenditure target (provisional)

  Argyll and Clyde

  0·308

  0·085

  0·100

  0·159

  0·100

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0·257

  0·315

  0·505

  0·568

  0·402

  Borders

  0·149

  0·086

  0·041

  0·062

  0·032

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0·180

  0·168

  0·132

  0·133

  0·120

  Fife

  0·285

  0·534

  0·578

  0·712

  0·561

  Forth Valley

  0·221

  0·259

  0·523

  0·421

  0·585

  Grampian

  0·511

  0·652

  0·662

  0·664

  0·665

  Greater Glasgow

  0·897

  1·224

  2·014

  0·917

  1—

  Highland

  0·510

  0·377

  0·242

  0·242

  0·148

  Lanarkshire

  0·402

  0·120

  0·060

  0·125

  0·186

  Lothian

  0·509

  0·651

  0·712

  0·959

  0·710

  Orkney

  0·015

  0·001

  0·020

  —

  0·020

  Shetland

  0·017

  0·017

  0·017

  0·016

  0·018

  Tayside

  0·361

  0·337

  0·364

  0·314

  0·260

  Western Isles

  0·103

  0·075

  0·027

  0·030

  0·075

  TOTAL

  4·725

  4·901

  5·997

  5·322

  3·882

  1 Not available.

  Arrests
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were arrested by the police in Scotland in 1986, 1988 and 1989.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available.

  Gaelic
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total funding made available by his Department each year for the maintenance of the Gaelic language.

  Mr. Lang
  In the current financial year some £306,000 will be provided, by my Department, as grant aid under the provisions of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 to bodies that support Gaelic. A further £1·2 million will be spent on projects under the specific grants scheme for Gaelic education. From 1992–93 the Scottish Office will provide £8 million for the establishment of a Gaelic television fund which will be used to make an additional 200 hours of Gaelic television programming to be broadcast annually on top of the 100 hours currently transmitted by the television companies in Scotland.

  Press Officers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press officers are employed by his Department.

  Mr. Rifkind
  In addition to the director and deputy director of the Scottish Information Office, 21 information officer grades were employed on press office duties at 1 July 1990.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the political advisers and public relations advisers currently employed to advise Ministers in his Department, including those persons paid by other organisations and seconded to the Government, giving in every case the source of payment, rate of salary and expenses.
  584
  Mr. Rifkind
  Two special advisers, Mr. Graeme Carter and Mr. Alan Young, are employed in the Scottish Office to advise Ministers on political matters. They are employed and paid directly by my Department. It is not our practice to reveal salaries of individual advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are, therefore, confidential. Expenses are payable to them at the normal civil service rates.

  There are no public relations advisers on the staffing strength of the Scottish Office either paid directly or on secondment from another organisation.

  In respect of the privatisation of the electricity supply industry, two public relations companies are retained by the Department jointly with the two Scottish electricity companies to provide marketing public relations advice —PR Consultants Scotland and Citigate Communications Ltd.. Details of the contracts are commercially confidential.

  Community Care
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he plans to meet representatives of(a) voluntary agencies representing carers and the elderly, (b) the nursing and medical professions and (c) the directors of social work departments to discuss the implications of the delayed implementation of the care in the community proposals;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the expenditure implications of the delay in the implementation of the care in the community proposals.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect on closure proposals for hospitals housing elderly patients of the delayed implementation of the care in the community proposals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As with all hospital closures, proposals submitted by health boards to close hospitals housing elderly patients will be considered on their merits, and the availability of suitable alternative care will be one of the factors taken into account.
  585
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss the delayed implementation of the care in the community proposals.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall consider carefully any request from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss the revised programme for the implementation of the Government's proposals for community care.

  EC Structural Funds
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of European Community structural funds aimed at correcting regional and national imbalances was given to projects within(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland in each of the last seven years; and what level of such funding is expected for (i) Strathclyde and (ii) Scotland in 1990–91 and 1991–92;

  (2) what action he has taken to enable Scotland to obtain a full share of European structural funds up to and beyond 1992.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Sexual Abuse
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what specialised centres Her Majesty's Government support with public funds for young women sexually abused in(a) Scotland, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Glasgow and (d) Aberdeen.

  Mr. Lang
  My Department provides core funding in the form of grant assistance under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to a number of voluntary organisations, including Scottish Women's Aid, which support local organisations providing accommodation for women who are the victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. Direct funding of local projects in this and other fields of social work is primarily the concern of local authorities; projects in certain urban areas may also be eligible for support under the centrally funded urban programme. No accommodation funded in this way is provided specifically for young women who are sexually abused.

  Mental Handicap
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what requirements a health board, social work department or any other relevant body employs in respect of the assessments of the suitability of(a) the owner, (b) the manager and (c) anyone holding a position of responsibility in a private nursing home for those suffering from mental handicaps.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The registration and inspection of private nursing homes are the responsibility of health boards and are governed by the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 and the regulations made thereunder, the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Regulations 1988.

  Health boards may refuse to register an applicant if they are satisfied that he, or any person employed by him at the home, is not a fit person, whether by reason of age, conduct or otherwise.
  586
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will undertake a review of the arrangements by which the suitability of persons engaged in the ownership and management of private nursing homes for people with mental handicaps are assessed and monitored; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No. I am satisfied with the current arrangements whereby under the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 health boards have a responsibility for assessing the suitability of applicants for registration to run a nursing home and their employees.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessments health boards and other relevant bodies are required to make in the event of(a) a change of ownership and (b) a change of management in respect of a privately owned nursing home for those with mental handicaps.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The registration and inspection of private nursing homes are governed by the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 and the regulations made thereunder, the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Regulations 1988.

  In the case of a change of ownership a fresh application for registration must be made to the health board.

  Where the management changes the change must be notified within 72 hours to the health board, which requires to be satisfied that the person employed is a fit person by reason of age, conduct, qualification or otherwise.

  Heart Disease
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current rate of electro-cardiogram testing for heart diseases per 1,000 of population in each of the health board areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of staff trained and employed in electro-cardiagram testing for heart disease by each of the health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Road System
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the units or project teams responsible for the road system in Scotland together with their addresses, directors, and the last prior professional appointment of those directors.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are two project teams located within the Scottish Office roads directorate, New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh, which have responsibility for the preparation and management of major trunk road schemes in Scotland. The project directors are Mr. R. D. Udall and Mr. J. A. Howison whose prior professional appointments were as principal engineers within the Scottish Development Department's chief road engineer's office.

  Intensive Care Units
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many intensive care units there are; and what is the total number of beds in such units which have(a) a one-to-one nurse to patient relationship, (b) at least five beds per unit, (c) more than 250 admissions per annum and (d) full-time residential care.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Traffic Wardens
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to transfer the functions of traffic wardens to the private sector.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have no such plans.

  Hospital Closures
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will direct health boards to suspend all plans for closure of geriatric, psychiatric and mental hospitals until April 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am aware that some boards are considering changes in the pattern of geriatric services which will ultimately require ministerial approval. Formal proposals will come forward in due course and each will be considered on its merits. There are, however, no closure submissions before me at the moment.

  Brook Advisory Centre, Edinburgh
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with national health service authorities in Scotland regarding alternative arrangements for pregnant women presently served by the Edinburgh Brook Advisory Centre in the event of its closure.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding community health education and the role played by the outreach team of the Brook Advisory Centre of Edinburgh.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Prisoner Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of mentally ill or disturbed men and women who are currently serving terms of imprisonment.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 April 1990 to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) at columns 361–62.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to facilitate the transfer of mentally ill and disturbed prisoners to mental hospitals.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. I believe that the existing arrangements for the transfer to suitable hospitals of prisoners requiring in-patient treatment for mental disorder under sections 70 to 72 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 are functioning satisfactorily.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many psychiatric patients have been discharged from psychiatric hospitals and long-stay mental hospitals in the last year for which records are available; and how many more have been referred to the care of local authorities.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of unemployed claimants in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow and (b) Strathclyde on 1 January 1983 and 1 January 1990; and what is the current number.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Private Tenancies
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures for rents for private tenancies by local authority area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available for all private tenancies. Information is held centrally only in respect of the average rent of tenancies where the rent has been registered by the rent officer.

  Average registered rents for the calendar year 1989 are set out in the table:

  Area

  Average registered rent £/annum

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  1,327·50

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,025·84

  Roxburgh

  922·36

  Tweeddale

  1,443·70

  Central

  Clackmannan

  850·00

  Falkirk

  339·20

  Stirling

  1,476·66

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  1,167·28

  Nithsdale

  1,427·73

  Stewartry

  1,330·22

  Wigtown

  1,534·75

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  1,584·65

  Kirkcaldy

  1,667·34

  North East Fife

  1,508·72

  Grampian

  City of Aberdeen

  1,332·90

  Banff and Buchan

  1,302·89

  Gordon

  1,645·26

  Kincardine and Deeside

  1,782·48

  Moray

  1,597·38

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1,879·09

  Caithness

  1,088·32

  Inverness

  955·03

  Lochaber

  1,167·20

  Nairn

  724·80

  589

  Area

  Average registered rent £/annum

  Ross and Cromarty

  1,117·22

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1,020·00

  Sutherland

  905·00

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  1,604·31

  City of Edinburgh

  1,448·92

  Midlothian

  1,255·30

  West Lothian

  1,897·43

  Strathclyde

  Argyll

  1,198·67

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  1,840·00

  Clydebank

  835·21

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  1—

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  772·40

  Cunninghame

  1,124·26

  Dumbarton

  777·54

  East Kilbride

  2,489·33

  Eastwood

  1,302·85

  City of Glasgow

  1,023·77

  Hamilton

  983·50

  Inverclyde

  1,337·89

  Kilmarnock and Loudon

  1,096·66

  Kyle and Carrick

  1,624·12

  Lanark

  1,400·15

  Monklands

  979·09

  Motherwell

  1,154·62

  Renfrew

  1,308·82

  Strathkelvin

  1,478·40

  Tayside

  Angus

  1,327·04

  City of Dundee

  1,211·77

  Perth and Kinross

  1,259·80

  Islands Councils

  Orkney Islands

  1,300·00

  Shetland Islands

  817·20

  Western Isles

  1—

  1 No rents registered.

  Derelict Land
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total area of land recovered from dereliction in each district authority area during the last five years; if any formerly listed buildings were demolished in any recovery programmes; what is the present area of dereliction in each district authority area; and by how much the extent of derelict areas has changed, over the past five years, in each of these district authority areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Of the four pieces of information requested, three are not collected centrally. As

  Deaths

  Heart disease

  Lung cancer

  Health board of residence

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1 1989

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1 1989

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,936

  2,016

  1,922

  1,846

  307

  312

  368

  397

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,601

  1,790

  1,775

  1,571

  232

  258

  277

  321

  Borders

  545

  494

  520

  486

  64

  78

  84

  74

  Dumfries and Galloway

  617

  684

  689

  716

  91

  85

  83

  109

  Fife

  1,398

  1,360

  1,506

  1,432

  229

  244

  243

  243

  Forth Valley

  997

  1,008

  1,079

  1,062

  132

  183

  230

  203

  Grampian

  1,772

  1,873

  1,978

  1,866

  266

  291

  327

  318

  Greater Glasgow

  4,568

  4,510

  4,298

  4,233

  1,018

  1,085

  1,152

  1,075

  Highland

  819

  850

  833

  796

  88

  113

  126

  109

  Lanarkshire

  1,960

  2,185

  2,272

  2,194

  325

  357

  412

  411

  590
  for present levels of dereliction, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 24 April at column 59.

  Junior Hospital Doctors
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the British Medical Association in Scotland to discuss the problem of junior doctors' working hours; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I have not formally met representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss junior doctors' hours of work.

  Local Authorities (Capital Receipts)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will lift restrictions preventing local authorities from diverting money from capital receipts into the building of houses.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no restrictions that debar local authorities from using the capital receipts arising from the sale of assets, including council houses, to which the housing revenue account applies for the purpose of financing the construction of new council houses. Within the aggregate levels of the appropriate consent to incur capital expenditure issued by my right hon. and learned Friend under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, local authorities are free to determine their own priorities for council housing investment.

  Waste Producers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimated cost for regulating producers of waste(a) in Strathclyde and (b) in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Regulatory responsibility is shared between district and islands councils, river purification boards, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate. Expenditure figures to cover all those activities are not available centrally.

  Heart Disease and Lung Cancer
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest statistics concerning(a) deaths and (b) sufferers from (i) heart disease and (ii) lung cancer in each of the health board areas; and what were the comparable figures in 1975, 1980 and 1985.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures that are held centrally are as follows:
  591

  Heart disease

  Lung cancer

  Health board of residence

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1 1989

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1 1989

  Lothian

  2,874

  2,890

  3,057

  2,791

  578

  615

  650

  604

  Orkney

  93

  82

  91

  89

  9

  10

  14

  12

  Shetland

  74

  86

  70

  91

  9

  11

  12

  8

  Tayside

  1,826

  1,757

  1,779

  1,755

  291

  288

  303

  323

  Western Isles

  190

  183

  152

  166

  11

  21

  26

  27

  Scotland

  21,270

  21,768

  22,021

  21,094

  3,650

  3,951

  4,307

  4,234

  1 Provisional figures.

  Sufferers Number of Patients Discharged after In-Patient Care for Heart Disease

  Health Board of Residence

  Year of Discharge

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1988

  Argyll and Clyde

  3,027

  3,432

  3,941

  4,722

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2,127

  2,736

  3,400

  3,883

  Borders

  564

  732

  1,184

  1,422

  Dumfries and Galloway

  985

  1,021

  1,613

  2,078

  Fife

  1,810

  2,414

  3,069

  3,506

  Forth Valley

  1,426

  1,770

  2,773

  2,986

  Grampian

  3,799

  3,708

  4,821

  5,836

  Greater Glasgow

  9,128

  9,502

  12,321

  14,328

  Highland

  934

  1,130

  1,759

  2,029

  Lanarkshire

  3,240

  4,227

  5,561

  6,005

  Lothian

  5,860

  6,400

  9,015

  9,496

  Orkney

  91

  66

  93

  146

  Shetland

  55

  55

  126

  140

  Tayside

  3,811

  4,405

  5,601

  6,054

  Western Isles

  138

  210

  287

  276

  Outside Scotland1

  1,452

  505

  562

  510

  TOTAL

  38,447

  42,313

  56,126

  63,417

  1includes 'Not Known' and 'No fixed abode'.

  Note: The figures shown are the only available statistics on the number of people who suffer from heart disease. When interpreting these figures it should be borne in mind that someone who suffers from heart disease could have several episodes of in-patient care in any particular year.

  Number of New Registrations of Lung Cancer

  Health Board of Residence

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1 1988

  Argyll and Clyde

  326

  349

  435

  426

  Ayrshire and Arran

  252

  278

  322

  300

  Borders

  69

  99

  93

  69

  Dumfries and Galloway

  93

  95

  103

  116

  Fife

  267

  292

  271

  279

  Forth Valley

  155

  224

  260

  227

  Grampian

  323

  364

  379

  385

  Greater Glasgow

  1,151

  1,258

  1,248

  1,076

  Highland

  106

  73

  132

  93

  Lanarkshire

  349

  407

  432

  442

  Lothian

  668

  725

  750

  654

  Orkney

  9

  7

  12

  12

  Shetland

  9

  7

  9

  13

  Tayside

  316

  292

  354

  375

  Western Isles

  13

  8

  16

  16

  Scotland

  4,106

  4,478

  4,816

  4,483

  1 Provisional figures

  Note:

  The Scottish cancer register provides information on the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in Scotland. The figures shown are, therefore, estimates of the incidence of cancer. Prevalence figures are not immediately available.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce measures to create more jobs in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  ; I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  NHS Trusts
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will extend the consultation period in relation to the submission of views to him regarding hospitals becoming 592
  self-governing trusts; if he will list the individuals and organisations to whom copies of the application prospectus have been sent; what is the total cost of the production, printing and distribution of the prospectus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Empty Properties (Health Boards)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of empty properties owned by health boards in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole (i)

  593
  is currently empty awaiting sale, (ii) has been empty for more than six months and (iii) has been empty for a year or more.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Young People (Sex Education)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about teaching of safe sex to young people by specialised professional centres.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The teaching of safe sex to young people is undertaken by a wide range of organisations. At national level the Scottish Health Education Group (SHEG) produces educational material which aims to provide young people with information and advice to help heighten awareness of the risks and problems sexual relationships can cause, particularly in relation to HIV infection and AIDS. The group is about to undertake fresh research that will explore perceptions of sexual health among young people in the 16 to 25 age group to ascertain the need for new health education material in this area.

  At the local level, health board family planning clinics play a valuable role in providing free and accurate contraceptive advice and information on the need for safe sexual practices. Doctors and practice nurses also have a role to play in this area. The school system also undertakes an important role in the delivery of sex education. A joint SHEG/Scottish Consultative Committee on the Curriculum working party on health education in schools has recently reviewed the structure of health education programmes for the 10 to 14 age group: this review has included extended consideration of the treatment of sexuality and relationships. The working party's report, which advocates the concept of the health-promoting school, is expected to be published in September. In addition, of course, parents have a direct responsibility for the instruction of their children in the matter of sex education.

  Voluntary organisations also operate at both the national and local levels and contribute to the teaching of safe sex to young people.

  Slaughterhouses
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the slaughterhouses that were visited by European Community inspectors in 1989 and 1990; if he will indicate which have had their approval suspended; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following slaughter houses in Scotland were visited by EC inspectors in 1989 and 1990:

  1989

  Inverurie Scotch Meat Company Ltd., Inverurie

  David A. Hall Ltd., Broxburn

  British Beef Company Ltd., Hawick

  G. D. Vivers and Sons, Annan

  Dundee Public Abattoir, Dundee

  Mathers (Inverurie) Ltd., Inverurie

  1990

  Aberdeen Meat Marketing Company Ltd., Banchory

  Inverurie Scotch Meat Company Ltd., Inverurie

  McIntosh Donald, Portlethen

  Buchan Meat Producers Ltd., Turriff

  William Watt, Strathaven

  J. Kelly and Sons (Meat) Ltd., Larkhall

  Scotbeef (Meat Packers) Ltd., Bridge of Allan

  594
  Two of the slaughterhouses listed are currently suspended from engaging in intra-Community trade in sheepmeat. The suspension is applied until structural or operational requirements are attended to and it would not be appropriate to identify those plants that may be suspended at any one time.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a list of abbatoirs in Scotland indicating which are European Community approved and which have had their European Community licences suspended.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Borders Region

  *British Beef Company Ltd, Hawick

  Scottish Borders Abattoir 1980 Ltd, Galashiels

  FMC (Meat) Ltd, Kelso

  Central Region

  *Scotbeef (Meat Packers) Ltd, Bridge of Allan

  Duncan Stevenson, Dunblane

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  *G. D. Vivers and Sons, Annan

  *United Meat Packers (Scotland) Ltd, Lockerbie

  *FMC (Meat) Ltd, Dumfries

  Lockerbie Abattoir Ltd, Lockerbie

  Castle Douglas Abattoir, Castle Douglas

  Robinson-Wyllie Ltd, Newton Stewart

  Rhins Bacon Company (1953) Ltd, Stranraer

  Fife Region

  St. Andrews Abattoir Company Ltd, St. Andrews

  Grampian Region

  *Buchan Meat Producers Ltd, Turriff

  *Inverurie Scotch Meat Company Ltd, Inverurie

  *Mathers (Inverurie) Ltd, Inverurie

  *Aberdeen Meat Marketing Company Ltd, Banchory

  *McIntosh Donald, Portlethen

  *Grampian Country Pork Ltd, Buckie

  Moray Abattoir Company Ltd, Elgin

  FMC (Meat) Ltd, Forres

  Grantown on Spey Abattoir, Grantown on Spey

  Highland Region

  Thurso Slaughterhouse Company Ltd, Thurso

  Wick Abattoir, Wick

  John M. Munro Ltd, Dingwall

  Grants of Dornoch Ltd, Dornoch

  Portree Slaughterhouse, Isle of Skye

  Lothian Region

  *Gorgie Public Abattoir, Edinburgh

  *Euroscot (Meat) Exports Ltd, Bathgate

  *David A. Hall Ltd, Broxburn

  Messrs R. Y. Henderson and Son, Linlithgow

  Strathclyde Region

  *Highland Meats Ltd, Saltcoats

  *William Watt, Strathaven

  *Glasgow Abattoir Company Ltd, Glasgow

  *J Kelly and Sons (Meat) Ltd, Larkhall

  *Buitelaar (Kilmarnock) Ltd, Kilmarnock

  *Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Company, Paisley

  Cambletown, Abattoir, Cambletown

  Rothesay Abattoir, Rothesay

  Biggar Auctions Market Company Ltd, Biggar

  J Ramsay and Sons, Carluke

  Robertson Bros, Ardrossan

  James Craig (Abattoir) Ltd, Ayr

  James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd, Shotts

  Wishaw Abattoir Ltd, Wishaw

  Ballevulin Slaughterhouse, Isle of Tiree

  Ballygrant Slaughterhouse, Islay

  595

  Mull Slaughterhouse, Isle of Mull

  Scarnish Slaughterhouse, Isle of Tiree

  Blackwaterfoot Slaughterhouse, Arran

  Tayside Region

  *E C Matheson and Sons Ltd, Brechin

  *Dundee Public Abattoir, Dundee

  *FMC (Meat) Ltd, Perth

  Strathmore Meat Ltd, Forfar

  H W Irvine, Blairgowrie

  Orkney Islands

  *Hatson Slaughterhouse, St Ola

  Pierowall Slaughterhouse, Westray

  Stronsay Slaughterhouse, Stronsay

  Shetland Islands

  Boddam Slaughterhouse, Boddam

  Laxfirth Slaughterhouse, Laxfirth

  Mid Yell Slaughterhouse, Mid Yell

  Vementry Slaughterhouse, Sandsting

  Western Isles

  Stornoway Abattoir, Stornoway

  Craigston Slaughterhouse, Isle of Barra

  Leverburgh Slaughterhouse, Isle of Harris

  Locheport Slaughterhouse, North Uist

  Strombane Slaughterhouse, Lochmaddy, North Uist

  Note:—All abattoirs which are EC approved are denoted by an asterisk.

  Two of the abattoirs listed are currently suspended from engaging in intra-Community trade in sheepmeat. The suspension is applied until structural or operational requirements are attended to and it would not be appropriate to identify those plants that may be suspended at any one time.

  Scottish Natural Heritage
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many posts will be required by the proposed natural heritage agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Natural Heritage will inherit the staff of the Countryside Commission for Scotland and the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland. I am not yet in a position to quantify the total complement of staff which the new body will require.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average price per hectare of average quality arable agricultural land in Scotland on the latest available date; and what was the comparable price in the previous year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Agricultural land price statistics do not differentiate between land qualities or distinguish arable land from other types of agricultural land. The average prices of farms sold with vacant possession and remaining in agriculture during 1987 and 1988, the latest years for which complete records are available, were as follows:

  1987 (£ per hectare)

  1988 (£ per hectare)

  All farms

  848

  758

  Lowground farms

  1,130

  994

  Heart Operations
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of time patients in the Greater Glasgow health board area must wait before receiving coronary heart bypass operations.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  During the financial year 1989–90, the median waiting time for coronary heart bypass operations in hospitals in the Greater Glasgow health board area was 63 days for urgent cases and 167 days for routine cases.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce legislation relating to the United Kingdom forestry industry.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have no plans to introduce legislation relating to the United Kingdom forestry industry.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, following the European Commission report on forest damage in Europe, his Department intends to raise in the European Community the issue of forestry policy in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The European Community does not have a common forestry policy. Responsibility for forestry policy rests with the individual member states.

  Firearms
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what category of certificate has been issued to cover the firearms displayed on HMS Plymouth on the River Clyde at Glasgow.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Special Olympics Games
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why was it decided that no Scottish Office Minister should attend the opening ceremony of the European Special Olympics Games in Glasgow on Saturday 21 July.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It had been planned that a Scottish Office Minister would attend, but in the event because of circumstances arising none was able to do so.

  Rating Valuation
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost per domestic dwelling of carrying out the last valuation exercise for rating purposes in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available. The 1985 revaluation in Scotland covered both domestic and non-domestic property and the cost of valuing different classes of property is not separately identifiable.

  Milk
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to prevent in the future the sale of untreated or unpasteurised milk in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
  597
  Mr. Rifkind
  The present restrictions in Scotland on the retail sale of raw milk for human consumption have, since their introduction in 1983, been fully justified by the dramatic decline in the incidence of reported milk-borne infections.

  Proposals have recently been received from the EC Commission aimed at generally improving the health rules and standards for the production and marketing of raw milk across the Community. They seek to establish microbiological and antibiotic residue levels, but, as presently drafted, would not of themselves outlaw the sale of raw milk that met the prescribed standards.

  These proposals, which, if adopted, would not come into force until 1993, are presently the subject of public consultation, but our aim in any discussions on them will be to maintain the high public health standard of milk which we have achieved.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends fully to implement the recommendations of the 1984 SDD report regarding ferruginous discharges into rivers and streams.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  While the Scottish Development Department (SDD) did not produce any report on this subject in 1984, it was reviewed in a report "Water Pollution Control in Scotland—Recent Developments" published in August 1983. This report did not make any specific recommendations regarding ferruginous discharges, but if the hon. Member would care to write to me with details of his particular concerns, his letter will receive careful attention.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Establishments
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to make regulations exempting small bed-and-breakfast establishments in Scotland from non-domestic rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  As I announced on 19 July I have decided, having considered the many responses received to the consultation paper on this subject, to prescribe that dwellinghouses that are made available for letting as bed-and-breakfast accommodation to no more than six persons per night are to be included within the statutory 598
  definition of domestic subjects. This will ensure that the occupiers of such premises are not liable for non-domestic rates. The relevant regulations— the Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (No. 2) (Scotland) Regulations 1990—have been laid before Parliament today.

  These regulations implement our proposal for clarifying the boundary between domestic and non-domestic subjects in the case of bed-and-breakfast establishments, thus ensuring the consistent treatment of such premises for rating purposes. I am confident that they will be welcomed by the operators of many small establishments, especially in rural areas.

  Scottish Bus Group
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available the prices paid for individual subsidiaries of the Scottish Bus Group.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Transport about the publication of sale prices of the subsidiaries of the National Bus Company. Sale prices of the subsidiaries of the Scottish Bus Group will be made available in due course once privatisation has been completed.

  A1 (Roadworks)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the timing of proposed works to the A1 road at Pencraig hill in East Lothian.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 July 1990]: A report has been received from Lothian regional council which considers the provision of crawler lanes on a short section of dual carriageway at Pencraig hill to prevent the build-up of "platoons" of traffic behind slow-moving vehicles at this location. The scheme will now be reviewed by the new A1 steering group which is required to identify a programme of overtaking opportunity schemes between Edinburgh and Morpeth. In the first instance, the group will require to identify five overtaking opportunity schemes by next spring for early implementation, and Pencraig hill will be considered in this context.

  PROCESSED ANIMAL MATERIAL
  PROCESSED ANIMAL MATERIAL
  BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
  BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
  AGRICULTURAL TRAINING BOARD
  AGRICULTURAL TRAINING BOARD
  AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADVISORY SERVICE
  AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADVISORY SERVICE
  MEAT INSPECTION CHARGES
  MEAT INSPECTION CHARGES
  ELECTRONIC TAGGING OF CATTLE: EVALUATION
  ELECTRONIC TAGGING OF CATTLE: EVALUATION
  ANIMAL WELFARE LOBBY
  ANIMAL WELFARE LOBBY
  NORTHERN IRELAND: SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY
  NORTHERN IRELAND: SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY
  NUCLEAR ELECTRICITY: COSTS
  NUCLEAR ELECTRICITY: COSTS
  COVENANTS: INLAND REVENUE STATEMENT
  COVENANTS: INLAND REVENUE STATEMENT
  ECOFIN COUNCIL, 23rd JULY
  ECOFIN COUNCIL, 23rd JULY
  ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
  ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
  NERVE GAS: TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS
  NERVE GAS: TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS
  CAMBODIA: POLICY
  CAMBODIA: POLICY
  CAMBODIA
  CAMBODIA
  NUCLEAR WEAPON TESTING
  NUCLEAR WEAPON TESTING
  BRITISH COUNCIL COSTS IN ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
  BRITISH COUNCIL COSTS IN ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
  NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
  NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
  MIGRATORY FISH: CONSERVATION
  MIGRATORY FISH: CONSERVATION
  ARAL SEA: REPLENISHMENT
  ARAL SEA: REPLENISHMENT
  INTER-AMERICAN: INVESTMENT CORPORATION
  INTER-AMERICAN: INVESTMENT CORPORATION
  ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S RESPONSIBILITIES
  ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S RESPONSIBILITIES
  CHURCH SCHOOL CLOSURES
  CHURCH SCHOOL CLOSURES
  RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS
  RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS
  COMMON LAND
  COMMON LAND
  LOCAL AUTHORITY SPENDING
  LOCAL AUTHORITY SPENDING
  NOISE NUISANCE
  NOISE NUISANCE
  OPEN AIR PERFORMANCES: WARNINGS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS
  OPEN AIR PERFORMANCES: WARNINGS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS
  VEHICLE LICENCE PLATES
  VEHICLE LICENCE PLATES
  FISHING VESSELS: ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
  FISHING VESSELS: ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
  SALMON POACHING BETWEEN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND
  SALMON POACHING BETWEEN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND
  YOUNG OFFENDERS IN SCOTLAND: UNCOMPLETED COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS
  YOUNG OFFENDERS IN SCOTLAND: UNCOMPLETED COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS
  SCOTTISH LEGAL AID BOARD
  SCOTTISH LEGAL AID BOARD